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08' Malibu drive test

7 messages,  Last post on Dec 08, 2007 at 7:42 PM

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#3 of 7 Re: Another opinion [pao] by marclar Dec 07, 2007 (10:44 am)
Replying to: pao (Dec 07, 2007 4:35 am) Pao,   although the Malibu I drove was in fact the '08 model, it was not the new body style that is about to be debuted in spring of '08. My rental appears to be a model made in November 2007 so it was marked '08 year model (same on the door sticker).   I certainly hope they have the electric steering fixed. Although the thumping was not noticable with traction control off. Replies to this message: csandste (Dec 07, 2007 5:49 pm) marclar (Dec 08, 2007 12:49 am)
#4 of 7 Re: Another opinion [marclar] by csandste Dec 07, 2007 (5:49 pm)
Replying to: marclar (Dec 07, 2007 10:44 am) Although I have and like the previous gen. Malibu Maxx, I think it's very misleading to call this an '08 Malibu. It's a Malibu Classic. Replies to this message: marclar (Dec 08, 2007 12:49 am)
#5 of 7 Re: Another opinion [csandste] by marclar Dec 08, 2007 (12:49 am)
Replying to: csandste (Dec 07, 2007 5:49 pm) Perhaps it is misleading to call it an '08 but thats what they marked it and my insurance paper also says so. I have also never faced a Malibu that closely ever before and never researched the models.
#6 of 7 Re: Another opinion by talldriver1 Dec 08, 2007 (6:48 pm)
Yes the old model Malibu is still selling to the rental fleet and call Malibu Classic. Guess they try to hold the new Malibu resell value by not selling it to the fleet too many too quick. But I think it is a wrong decision to keep calling Malibu on both. People who don't follow car business, go rent the Malibu (classic) and think it is bad, then go tell everyone that the 'new' Malibu's is a bad car! The 'real' 08 Malibu is night and day different compare to the old design; at least to all of the reviews I'd read and 5 minute sit time at the dealership. The electronic steering from the Malibu Classic have received nothing but bad reviews. The interior is also horrible; the gray color panels (only SS have black I believe) make the cheap material look even cheaper. I looked at the new 08 Malibu (both LT1 and LTZ), and test drove 08 Accord LX and 07 Camry LE; to me the Camry have the worst fit and finish but nicely design; doesn't preform that well too. Accord is nice, both on fit and finish and performance, but I really hate the exterior design and the radio/AC control are hard to use when driving (but I am sure the owner will get used to it). Malibu LTZ is amazing on material, better than both Accord and Camry, fit and finish is about Camry but below Accord; exterior look really good too; only thing I don't like is the super sizes steering wheel. The LT1 ( just looking in from outside) somehow feel water down too much, maybe because the use of color make it look...rental.   Will soon go drive one and see how it perform! Replies to this message: csandste (Dec 08, 2007 7:42 pm)
#7 of 7 Re: Another opinion [talldriver1] by csandste Dec 08, 2007 (7:42 pm)
Replying to: talldriver1 (Dec 08, 2007 6:48 pm) Although the new Malibu is admittedly superior to the old one, I must say that my 05 Maxx is aging very well. I looked at a number of mid-sized cars last year before buying my wife an 07 Optima. The Optima's build quality was quite a bit better than the Camry, although only the four cylinder can compare in the engine department. Frankly, I prefer my Maxx as a day-in day-out driver, primarily because of increased room. My wife likes the Optima. I'd take either over the Camry but not over an old or new Accord. Price dependent (sixteen thou for either), they're better buys than most Japanese iron if you don't intend on trading in every three years.   The electric steering of the last gen Malibu can seem sloppy until you get used to it. It took me a couple of months to get used to it. The car's Opel platform is pretty good. The failure of a steering column did set me back a thousand bucks. If that happens again, I will be ticked off. I would never call the steering or suspension dangerous.   I'm not sure what engine you had since you didn't describe the car accurately. I suspect you have the 3.5 ohv engine which had 200 horsepower and has since been increased. It's old (and being replaced on the new car), but rock steady and gets more than 30 mpg on the highway. Plus with the GM OLM, you will get about 7000 oil change intervals if you don't abuse the engine-- and it sounds like you did.   Again, it may technically be an 08 but your subject heading is very, very misleading. You could ask a hundred people what the 08 Malibu looked like and none of them who knew would indicate the old car. That's a trick question. The last old platform rental continuation in 04 was simply named the Classic. I'm surprised Chevy didn't keep the Classic name on the old car. Everything I'd read on the subject indicated that they would do so.

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