Ask the Car People.SM


2013 Chevy Malibu

98 messages,  Last post on Apr 18, 2013 at 6:29 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Malibu Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Future Vehicle, Sedan

Messages Page 5 of 11

#36 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [malexbu] by djm2

Jan 22, 2012 (11:33 am)

Replying to: malexbu (Jan 20, 2012 9:20 pm)
Hi All:
 
      I will be attending an auto show on January 27th, and hopefully they will have a new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu at the show.
 
      My choice in terms of a vehicle has come down to two vehicles. ------ A 2012 XLE Camry or a 2013 LTZ Malibu. ------- (The Camry will hold its value better than the Malibu, and the Toyota dealer has excellent service. ------ On the other side of the issue, I like the looks of the Malibu, but it will lose value quicker than the Camry. ------- The Chevrolet dealer also offers excellent service.) ------ The new Malibu will have twin exhaust out the back, while the Camry offers a single exhaust. --- I like the look! ------- (To get a twin exhaust, I would have to purchase a V6 XLE Camry!) ---- Do I go for "looks," ----- or do I go for "value?"
 
      Best regards. -------- Dwayne

#37 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [bryan] by malexbu

Jan 22, 2012 (12:08 pm)

Replying to: bryan (Jan 22, 2012 7:00 am)
Thank you all (djm2, onefunkar and bryan, so far) for summarizing your experience -- this is, indeed, very helpful! I won't be replying to each post, to reduce the noise in the thread, but I do appreciate all of them.
 
bryan: so, the six-speed transmission does get you a noticeably better MPG? Do you feel the difference between the 4- or 6-speed ones when you drive? (I know that "six" is the only option now, just am curious.)
 
And I am now torn between the 4- and 6-cylinder engines
 
Thanks again!..

#38 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [malexbu] by djm2

Jan 22, 2012 (1:51 pm)

Replying to: malexbu (Jan 22, 2012 12:08 pm)
Hi Malexbu:
 
       As I have said earlier, ----- I have two vehicles that I use mostly for long "over the road trips." ------ (A 2007 V6 XLE Camry & a 2010 4 cylinder LTZ Malibu)
 
      The Camry gives me excellent mileage with "off brand 87 octane gasoline" at speeds of 60mph. (I have had this vehicle up to 34mpg based on the "on-board computer read out!" --- I do not use cruise control!)
 
      The Malibu also gets good mileage on the same fuel. I have gotten 33mpg at 60mph.
 
      The V6 engine in the Camry will "pin your body to the back of the seat" when you put the trans into passing gear on the highway, ---- and coming out of the toll booth, I could probably stay with the average GT Mustang. It reminds me of the operating characteristics of the 1956 98 Olds of past generations! It is simply very powerful!
 
      The 4 cylinder Malibu does not have anywhere near the power of the Camry, but the engine is very smooth and adequate for highway driving.
 
      I like the 4 cylinder Malibu, and I would assume that the new 2.5 four cylinder that will be great in the new 2013 Malibu.
 
      I would like to see GM offer a two door version of the Malibu with a 6 speed stick and a heavy duty clutch, & dual exhausts! It would look great in a deep Cherry paint or a deep bottle Green!
 
     Once GM re-programmed the computer in the Malibu it went from a maximum of 27mpg to 33mpg and its performance increased.
 
     The original equipment Goodyear tires were garbage. They could not hold air between my 2,500 service intervals. I immediately replaced them with Michelin tires. The car drives totally different. It is great in the snow. It is like a tank! ---- If I purchase a Malibu, the dealer will have to work with me in terms of replacing the Goodyear tires with Michelin tires. (If I cannot do this, there will be no deal!) ---- The 2012 Camry comes with Michelin tires!
 
     I have two great dealers, ------ so service is not an issue with regards to a purchase.
 
     Vehicle Price and the trade in value of the 2007 Camry will be a factor, but if the figures are close a decisions will have to me made!
 
Best regards. --------- Dwayne

#39 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [malexbu] by onefunkar

Jan 22, 2012 (6:39 pm)

Replying to: malexbu (Jan 22, 2012 12:08 pm)
i really like the 3.6 v6 not quite the mileage but close and alot more power and easier on the engine but it really doesnt matter because thanks to government regulations malibu no longer comes with a v6...

#40 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [malexbu] by bryan

Jan 23, 2012 (3:16 pm)

Replying to: malexbu (Jan 22, 2012 12:08 pm)
bryan: so, the six-speed transmission does get you a noticeably better MPG? Do you feel the difference between the 4- or 6-speed ones when you drive? (I know that "six" is the only option now, just am curious.)
 
Yes, mileage with the 6-speed is clearly better. I drive the same route each week DC to Delaware coast and fill up at same station each return trip. I reset the Trip B odometer each time I gas up. The '08 usually has used almost an extra gallon compared to the '10, with same miles travelled.
 
It took getting used to the 6 speed in this car; the 6 speed in the '08 CTS I had with the 3.6L was to me the perfect combo; never noticed the car shifting or downshifting--it seemed seamless to me. However, I did notice the shifts in the 6 speed Malibu before I had the reflash done like the other poster above. I do notice the shifts in the '08 4 speed, but they seem a little different, but hard to describe how. The 4 cylinder engine has enough power for me; I can pass with no problem on 2-lane highway when I need to.
 
You asked in your original post if I would buy the car again--I did! I liked the '08 so much I purchased the '10. It's interesting how they are very similar yet also somewhat different. Each is a 2LT. Same cashmere interiors. The '08 is dark blue metallic and the '10 is mocha steel metallic.
 
The '08 is a tad quieter--no sunroof; the '10 has one. The daytime dash lighting is better in the '10. The '08 door cupholder area is nicer than the '10. The outside mirror and power door lock buttons are in different positions. Either set up works fine for me. The fit seems "closer?" on the '08 than the '10, especially the gap where the driver's door wood trim meets the dash wood trim.
 
Hope this helps. I like the cars and it's nice to see others are enjoying their Malibus too.

#41 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [bryan] by overtheedge

Jan 29, 2012 (11:56 am)

Replying to: bryan (Jan 23, 2012 3:16 pm)
Just a heads up on the 2012 and 2013 Malibu's. Both received some additional upgrades to the 6SPD transmission, with the 4CYL, that improve shift feel and FE. For the person who has the 2010, I highly encourage you to try the 2012+ models for comparison. I don't think GM changed the FE sticker on the 2012, but you should notice improvements in real world driving.

#42 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [bryan] by malexbu

Feb 01, 2012 (4:27 pm)

Replying to: bryan (Jan 23, 2012 3:16 pm)
Thank you again, bryan and everybody who shared your experience with the Malibus of this generation.
 
So, I just traded in my Malibu 2005 (oh, how I miss that great car already!...) and got the 2012 LS, which I am beginning to like now. A big difference...
 
I'll share my experience with the new car later, on a proper board; let me fill it up at least once...

#43 of 98 Malibu forums by malexbu

Feb 01, 2012 (4:38 pm)

I don't know the mechanism for creating and hosting new forums here, but whoever has this power and knowledge: I would suggest to create several new boards per the Malibu generation.
 
E.g. "Malibu 8-th generation", "... 7-th...", "... 6-th..." , "... 5-th ...". These cars are so dramatically different that to lump them up under "Chevrolet Malibu" doesn't make much sense to me. I already feel a bit guilty talking about the 7-th generation on the board for the 8-th (2013+).
 
Can we have this done?

#44 of 98 Re: New Camry Vs New Malibu [malexbu] by bwia

Feb 01, 2012 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: malexbu (Feb 01, 2012 4:27 pm)
Congratulations malexbu on the purchase of your 2012 Malibu LS. We also own an LS but had the dealer put in Katzkin cocao/cashmere leather which matched the interior perfectly. The result? better leather than even a Lexus.
 
Enjoy the ride.

#45 of 98 Re: Malibu forums [malexbu] by kirstie_h HOST

Feb 03, 2012 (9:47 am)

Replying to: malexbu (Feb 01, 2012 4:38 pm)
That would require a great deal of effort, moving posts, etc, and would at this point create more confusion than it resolves. Plus, most people don't understand the difference between generations. We do have a number of model-year specific discussions for the Malibu, just not the 2012.
 
If you would like to start a specific discussion for the 2012, just go to the main Malibu forums page here: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ef254d5/
 
There's an "add a discussion" link above the top discussion on the list. You're more than welcome to start that one, but please don't create a bunch of new ones for previous model years. Thanks!

Messages Page 5 of 11

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement