I had to drive a Chevy Malibu for 2 weeks.

[FrustratedUser]

That car $ucks.
The engine is noisy and runs rough.
Interior is worse than crappy.

 

[ElFenix]

old one or new one?

 

[RaiseUp]

What car do you usually drive?

 

[FrustratedUser]

New, 3500 miles, rental car.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
old one or new one?

I'm guessing he's talking about a rental, so a new one. Like it matters though.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: ElFenix
old one or new one?

I'm guessing he's talking about a rental, so a new one. Like it matters though.

well they changed platforms completely...

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: RaiseUp
What car do you usually drive?

'97 Olds 88 Regency. A boat with power and comfort. Styling is more questionable.

 

[RaiseUp]

The Malibu is better.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: RaiseUp
The Malibu is better.

No

 

[RaiseUp]

haha

 

[TitanDiddly]

They call it the Malibu for a reason.

 

[VTEC01EX]

Those new Malibu "Classics" are terrible. That's what he got guaranteed, GM doesn't want the new Malibu to be a fleet car, that's why they redesigned it. They still sell the old style as the "Classic" so they pump up their EPA average MPG with 4 cyl fleet sales.

I hate GM.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: VTEC01EX
Those new Malibu "Classics" are terrible. That's what he got guaranteed, GM doesn't want the new Malibu to be a fleet car, that's why they redesigned it. They still sell the old style as the "Classic" so they pump up their EPA average MPG with 4 cyl fleet sales.

I hate GM.

Yeah, the 'Classic' was the one. Felt real cheap.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: VTEC01EX Those new Malibu "Classics" are terrible. That's what he got guaranteed, GM doesn't want the new Malibu to be a fleet car, that's why they redesigned it. They still sell the old style as the "Classic" so they pump up their EPA average MPG with 4 cyl fleet sales. I hate GM.

Yeah, the 'Classic' was the one. Felt real cheap.

Right, like VTEC01EX pointed out, that's actually the old Malibu, now soldering on as a "fleet rental" only.

 

[FrustratedUser]

So they don't sell it to anyone else than rental companies and fleet managers?

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
So they don't sell it to anyone else than rental companies and fleet managers?

Yup.

 

[Xionide]

:music: When I say mali you say bu. Mali! :music:

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
So they don't sell it to anyone else than rental companies and fleet managers?

Yup.

Must be expensive to keep a product line just for that, on second thought, maybe not considering the quality.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser So they don't sell it to anyone else than rental companies and fleet managers?

Yup.

Must be expensive to keep a product line just for that, on second thought, maybe not considering the quality.

Not really, the plant and all the tooling have already been amortized. Plus there is that CAFE benefit like VTEC01EX points out. Kind of smart all the way 'round. Two or three years from now, the resale value of the new Malibu won't be taking a hit from a flood of used fleet sales either.

 

[Blayze]

Parents have a 1998 V6 Malibu LS and it runs great, not sure about the new models.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser So they don't sell it to anyone else than rental companies and fleet managers?

Yup.

Must be expensive to keep a product line just for that, on second thought, maybe not considering the quality.

Not really, the plant and all the tooling have already been amortized. Plus there is that CAFE benefit like <STRONG>VTEC01EX </STRONG>points out. Kind of smart all the way 'round. Two or three years from now, the resale value of the new Malibu won't be taking a hit from a flood of used fleet sales either.

That actually makes sense.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Blayze
Parents have a 1998 V6 Malibu LS and it runs great, not sure about the new models.

I'd say a V6 usually runs greater than a plain jane I4.
;-)

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
That car $ucks.
The engine is noisy and runs rough.
Interior is worse than crappy.

I feel your pain.

Once, I had to drive a Cheyy Cavalier for about three months and a Sunbird for two days. Those cars proved to me that GM had no clue on how to built cars that competed with Honda. Driving them was like being punished for not speinding more money on a car.

 

[VTEC01EX]

The Classic is actually a worse car from a build quality and materials quality standpoint than the older Malibus. I remember riding in one (also a rental car) a few years back, and compared to the newer "Classics" I've been in, they've clearly cut some corners. The dash board plastics, the control knobs, etc all appear to have a cheaper feel. There's just a piece of black plastic where there used to be a glossy textured trim piece that helped to jazz up the terribly bland surroundings a little. But I guess if you're renting it, you wouldn't really care. It just makes you feel even happier when you get your own car back.

 

[Vette73]

Yea as others have said you got the NEW older cheap one with the 4cyl.

GM has always had problems keeping fleet cars re-sales high so they do this it keeps the price of the REAL NEW car up and at the same time makes it look really good if you happen to drive the NEW OLD one.

I have driven a NEW new one with the V6 and it was nice, for its price and range. Felt more like a Jap/honda type car, but a large % of Malibu owners are former Jap car owners. Notice how the car does not REALLY fit the same shape and image of most Chevys? I guess when they lost the prizm they wanted something to still attract Jap car owners.