Article Comments - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu First Look, First Drive, and Full Test

106 messages, Last post on Mar 30, 2008 at 2:11 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Sedan

First Look: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu - There's more to the new Mailbu than just the sheet metal and the low-sheen plastic. Even the proportions look significantly better thanks to a wheelbase that's a whopping 6 inches longer than the outgoing Malibu (now the longest in the class). From nose to tail, the Malibu measures 3 inches longer than before, and this visually pushes the wheels to the corners of the car and gives it a stable look. These dimensions should also provide GM with the means to make tangible improvements in ride quality and handling compared to previous efforts. (more)

First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu - he new Malibu shares the same basic chassis as the well-received Saturn Aura, and this means the expected MacPherson strut front suspension and multilink independent rear. It differs from the Aura only in tuning, really. Chevrolet says it used a new tuning philosophy for the Malibu, and as far as we can tell, this means the car now slots between the mushy Camry and the sporty Accord. (here)

Full Test: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ - The new Malibu jumps smack in the middle of most consideration lists. It might even sell well to the lost generation in California. (more)

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#68 of 106 Re: COMPARISON MEANS NOTHING [toyota4life] by flemo123 Nov 14, 2007 (8:37 pm)
Replying to: toyota4life (Nov 14, 2007 6:32 pm) #67 I agree. It's not good enough for US marque's to release a few good cars. They have many many years of substandard products that have set the buying public against them. It may take several generations of model releases to win the public perception and get the image of American car manufacturers on a par with the likes of Honda, Toyota and Nissan, let alone the big name Germans. At this stage its not enough to compete. GM, Chrysler and Ford need to be creating cars that are head and shoulders above the competition to surpass the poor image factor. It's a legacy that's tough to shirk. Look at Buick. A few passable body redesigns are not going to change the fact that the average buyer remains in the over 65 demographic and the Buick brand is destined to disappear within 10 if not 5 years. It's really about brand value, something that only time can build.
#69 of 106 Reminder! by KarenS HOST Nov 15, 2007 (7:25 am)
This topic is for comments concerning the articles linked above, which is about the 2008 Malibu. If you wish to compare it with other vehicles, please use the search function to your right to see if one already exists. If not, please create a new discussion in the appropriate Forum. Thanks for your cooperation.
#70 of 106 I went and looked... by tir Nov 16, 2007 (3:42 pm)
I went and looked at got in and drove both a Malibu LTZ and LS. The cars were good looking form the outside. So I held my breath and got in, I am not sure who makes the Malibu but it isn't GM. Look I am a salesman for a competitor and I was looking only from the standpoint of what I would be selling against. So understand I wasn't looking at this car in a friendly way, and darn this is a nice car. That interior isn't a GM interior at least any that I have seen until now. The LTZ couldn't be touched by anything that I have looked at in the 27k price range. The Interior materials are just flat nice. The whole appearance is one of a car in the 33 to 35k range. The back seat area falls down some but sheesh this is just one heck of a car. If you drive it you will find that it is quiet really quiet. It drives better than most of its competition. I know because I am dreading the next four years with the damn things across the road from me. I am not a fan but this car is just flat impressive at a price point that Joe Anyone can afford. Knock GM all you want but if their products keep improving at this rate the only one that will be laughing will be GM.
#71 of 106 Re: COMPARISON MEANS NOTHING [toyota4life] by albook Nov 16, 2007 (3:48 pm)
Replying to: toyota4life (Nov 14, 2007 6:32 pm) can you find me a better selling car? In the last few months the Accord outsold the Camry. That will definitely definitely outsell the camry this time around. It's a better car all around. That's beside the point. The Malibu will do well, as many of its aspects are better than the Camry's- like performance, and interior. Only thing the Camry has over it is its sterling reputation. Oh- wait! That doens't exist! Consumer reports doens't even reccomend the Camry! Outsell the Camry? not right now. But It will take a noticeable chunk of the segments' sales. Yes the Malibu will make a good rental car. Hopefully the Camry I've reserved from Enterprise in Chicago two weeks from now will be, too!
#75 of 106 Re: COMPARISON MEANS NOTHING [toyota4life] by bmark Nov 21, 2007 (3:44 pm)
Replying to: toyota4life (Nov 14, 2007 6:32 pm) Read the link from Edmunds bro. Car is already selling well in the first month. With limited supply. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123628 Replies to this message: albook (Nov 22, 2007 12:43 pm) csandste (Nov 22, 2007 12:49 pm) bmark (Nov 22, 2007 6:35 pm)
#76 of 106 Looks to be an early sucess anyway by tir Nov 21, 2007 (9:38 pm)
I work for a auto group that has a few Chevy dealers in the area and they are reporting a lot of traffic in the stores around the Malibu and selling them pretty quickly as well. I'll say this much, the interior is as nice as anything out there even in the LS versions and just gets great in the LTZ. We shall have to see how the reliablility is but assuming that works out they just might have a really solid hit on their hands. I just saw the spy photos of the Gen 2 Opel version so I would suspect that we'll see an upgrade again in 5 years to this iteration. The G6 could really use a redo so that will probably have to happen 1st I would think. Its nice to see that GM got the word on the interors that used to be such a turn off. They even lighted the interior door handles on the LS version, the whole car just seems to scream "yeah we paid attention to detail here". The seams in the interior are just that tight and the body work panels are uniform. Even the hood isn't a roll over type but has to be percisely right or it won't fit at all. I'd really like to hear what other folks who have driven this car and given it a good hard look think of it. Replies to this message: csandste (Nov 22, 2007 9:00 am)
#77 of 106 Re: Looks to be an early sucess anyway [tir] by csandste Nov 22, 2007 (9:00 am)
Replying to: tir (Nov 21, 2007 9:38 pm) Looks like they're advertising much more than they did for the Aura. Hopefully that will drive sales. Personally I like the exterior styling of the G6, but the interior is very disagreeable. I have a Malibu Maxx and I think it's much nicer day in, day out than the G6 (although my experience in a G6 is limited and as a passenger).