Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Chevrolet Malibu vs. Toyota Camry vs. Honda Accord
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Both vehicles had alternator failures as well as transmission issues. Every 6 months something was guaranteed to break, whether is was the cruise control, rear differential (costly), egr valve, maf sensor, and the list goes on. The K1500 cost me dearly out of pocket while the Blazer had an extended warranty, but I never got a loaner.
Needless to say, the Blazer and K1500 went and I bought an Accord and 4Runner. The Accord has had three window switches replaced in 11 years and the 4Runner in six years has had two repairs, one major, and all those repairs were under warranty. Not a single issue since the warranty expired. I won't consider GM at this time, even though I have a buncha GM Card dollars. Otoh, two of my brothers are sold on GM as their most dependable vehicle. One brother has a 2007 Malibu that been problem free, and he commutes 800 miles weekly to work and back.
Last but not least, no one year old cat converters should be failing. They're built the way they're engineered, so if they're failing then GM engineers are the cause. Rarely are failing parts not built to specs, and if they are, they're usually recalled.
no matter how hard I maintained my vehicles and kept them clean (ie washed them like a religion) I still had to bring them in or have them towed to the dealerships when things went wrong (at 3 and 4 years old)
have done the same maintenance work done on my Japanese vehicles, two of which are almost 6 years old now and neither have had to be brought in to the dealership or BE TOWED into the dealership for any kind of work other than normal maintenance items
I need to say this because people like you and dmathews will make some point to say that I'm saying all Japanese cars don't have problems, and I'M NOT!!!
That was a factor, but poor product, overextended dealerships, overpaid employees, lack of management vision, etc.all increased the demand for cash flow making them more susceptible than some other firms.
At least G.M. has never hid/lied to the American people on problems with their vehicles like Toyota has
Hmm, I recall having an undisclosed Chevette tranny in a V8 Monte Carlo that was not disclosed until they got caught. Then there was the plastic manifolds on the 3.8L V6 that only got stepped up to after threats of litigation and exposed publicity. Don't kid yourself, companies from everywhere will try to hide potentially high cost problems if they can get away from it.
you know why GM and Chrysler had to file for bankruptcy, its because of their lies and half-truths to the American people for almost 30 years saying they products were well made and reliable cars when in fact they were not (THIS IS PRE-2008) GM and Chrysler top level managment didn't want to listen to the American people and focused on making huge gas guzzling SUV's that no one wanted when gas hit over $4 gallon and they just sat on their lots; the Japanese companies started planning fuel efficient vehicles many years ago and decreased their SUV and minivan productions at the time gas hit record high numbers and they never suffered the sales loss that GM and Chrysler did
I never heard of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, or Mazda getting money from Japan when sales were tanked last year and in 2008 - you give me the link to the article that says that; I didn't here Ford, Toyota, Honda, etc whining like GM and Chrysler were for gov't money to keep them a float; and then to have their top execs each fly on their own personal jets while their companies were tanking to go to a meeting in DC to request tax-payer money was simply outrageous and just shows the disconnect between GM and Chrysler exec management and the American public- that kind of mentality is what got them into a bankruptcy situation not the economy- plus I don't know what cool-aid your drinking but Toyota beat GM for #1 in global sales for 2009 and 2008 so this idiotic idea that GM is selling more than Toyota still is a fantasy in your head!
I think there was a reason why the top five vehicles traded into the cash for clunkers program were GM, Ford, and Chrysler vehicles while the most bought cash for clunker vehicles were Toyota's and Honda's - if that doesn't show what the country as a majority is saying with the car they prefer I don't know what does
You can trash talk Toyota all you want to me and to everyone else about defects (which I admit was wrong for them to cover up), quality, problems, etc but there is a reason why the Camry has been the top leading mid-size sedan in the US for the last 10 years
Oh and I know there are not problems with my [non-permissible content removed] vehicles, as you put them, because I'm coming up on 6 years with two of them and have never had to bring them in or have them towed into the dealership for anything like I did on my GM vehicles at the 6 year mark; all I have to do is normal maintenance on them and I have peace of mind!
Anyone who thinks the Japanese do not help their auto industry have no clue.
Further... Toyota is no better than the big three with recalls. They hide them well and seem to get a free pass from the press because of their past quality but they are a for profit corporation just like any other. Nothing more.
For the last freakin time, I never have nor do I currently own a Toyota; I've heard some Toyota people talk about the sludge and others say its not true if you use the right oil, I have no idea because I DON'T HAVE A TOYOTA!
I dunno - the dealer assured me I had the proper tranny. It wasn't until I received federal court documents telling me I had a Chevette tranny in a large V8 engine and was entitled to extended warranty coverage that I found out the truth. GM didn't notify me, nor the dealer. I'm not looking to pound GM, nor defend Toyota, but hiding something to me is the same as lying. I learned long ago not to totally trust any company, domestic or foreign. As for Toyota, I think they were dumb and totally mishandled this UA problem initially. If they had been more forthright they would have avoided a lot of the fallout, just like when GM put Chevy engines in Oldsmobiles and ended up having to issue customer checks after states attorneys got involved. That was 'lying" in my opinion, GM got caught and it cost them. They tried to pass off a different engine than advertised.
A great example of this, I used to buy many years ago an extended warranty which of course the salesman said would cover anything once the factory warranty ended after 3 or 4 years; extended warranties are nothing but another way for the auto manufacture to hose more money out of the customer that you won't get back when you do have problems; consistently, once I was out of factory warranty the dealerships always came back when something was wrong and said, "oh that isn't covered under the extended warranty because its normal wear and tear"
I had that excuse given to me time and time again by the service department and unless your a skilled mechanic, which most people are not, like myself, you have to take the dealership for their word and how do you know something wore out normally or if it failed prematurely - its all a bunch a BS the dealerships dish out to get more money out of you; suffice it to say I stopped buying extended warranties 20 years ago
Exterior: Malibu > Camry > Accord
Interior: Accord > Malibu > Camry
Ride Quality: Camry > Malibu > Accord
Seat Comfort: Camry > Malibu > Accord
Resale Value: Accord > Camry > Malibu
MPG: Malibu = Camry > Accord
Technology Options: Accord > Camry > Malibu
Turning Radius: Camry > Accord > Malibu
Price: Camry > Malibu > Accord
Trunk Room: Malibu > Camry > Accord
Gotta be careful here - if Honda and Toyota keep cutting back on quality some of that premium is going to start going away down the road. Also, you've got to look at net out of pocket sale price versus trade in down the road when you calculate depreciation. Publications can't really do that when they calculate it because everyone pays a different price, so they have to use sticker. Incidently, just got an email from my dealer telling me Honda will double incentives for current Honda owners through the end of the month.
I don't see any cut back in quality. My 03 Accord has been just as good (better in many ways) as my 92 Accord was. I got $5,000 for the 12 year old 92, with 140k miles on it (private party). I see the 03 holding it's value just as well.
Incidently, just got an email from my dealer telling me Honda will double incentives for current Honda owners through the end of the month.
If you can get one for less than MSRP, that also helps the resale value. A win+win.
Only if you were lucky enough to buy yours with the big rebates. Those that didn't take a big hit when they sell it as incentives and cheap fleet sales are what kills the resale of a car, something G.M. has finally found out and has cut way back on.
I predict Toyota takes a major image hit with their annoucement of stopping sales and production of half their product line until they solve the "sticking gas pedal" issue......
This is a major step by an auto manufacturer to STOP both production and sales until a problem is solved........believe there is a major issue either with a component or engineering design problem which is safety related.......so much for quality control! This problem has been around for more than a year now....and they still havent found a solution to it....
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/27/report-toyota-was-legally-required-to-stop-se- lling-recalled-mod/
"On a related note, Toyota dealers are also reportedly getting instructions from the Mother Ship on how to answer questions related to the recall. AN editor James B. Treece reports that when asked if any accidents have been reported, dealers are encouraged to respond, "The number of accidents is still under investigation" without further confirmation. As Treece notes, the spin continues, as just a simple yes or no would suffice."
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It could be that this is a Denso equipped car, and not a CTS equipped one.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/28/did-nhtsa-know-of-toyota-woes-back-in-2004/
--------------
1. I don't think I am "lucky", the Malibu is widely regarded as a well made car.
2. One doesn't have to read the paper long to realize Japanese (Toyota) quality is a myth.
2) Plus, the Malibu was not widely regarded as a well made car until the 2008 model year - its still relatively new so its got a few more years till we see if its long term reliability lasts - thats why I like Motortrend's long-term update section
you guys seem to be obsessed with Toyota because in everyone of your posts you either mention them or attack them profusely - take a chill pill guys, its only a car company
Hmmmm.
How many recalls did Toyota have within the last 12 months corporate wide?
How many recalls did GM have within the last 12 months corporate wide?
Etc., Ford.
Nissan?
Honda?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
GM............ 10,500 .. 4,998 .. 1,370 .... 547 .. 1,749 .. 2,239
Ford.............5,800 .. 6,715 ...1,739 .. 5,534 .. 1,605 .. 4,522
Chrysler....... 5,800 .... 836 ... 1,874 .. 2,060 .... 337 ..... 590
Toyota......... 1,100 .. 2,374 ..... 657 ..... 638 ...1,039 ...4,912
source: NHTSA database
Make your own judgement. Until last year the leader in recalls was normally either GM or Ford.
Just because the Malibu has a new pretty face, doesn't mean it'll be any better in terms of longevity than the previous model. GM just seems to cover everything up with a new pretty face.
Things have changed. I asked about 1 year recalls? Who's the leader?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
That's what they keep saying, but then, they've been saying that a lot longer than 6 years. My father's 99 Malibu was supposed to be up with the competition too. NOT even close. Didn't fall for it then, and I'm not falling for it now.
Perhaps Toyota, will just forget about the Camry and just make a new car? GM does it all the time. FAIL! :lemon:
Yes, but not EVERY car company has recalls and is then forced to stop selling their cars which is the case with Toyota.
I'm sure GM has had such a recall before, if not more than one.
GM has been getting progressively better for years and the assertion that all their cars were "crap" up until recently is also nonsense.
People are not "obsessed" with Toyota, but those that haven't drunk the kool-aid are tired of hearing about how wonderful Toyota is and now that they have been shown to be hiding problems why wouldn't people talk about. 19 people are dead, it's a safety issue not a faulty switch.
If Toyota gets their reality check in gear and stop treating Americans as dumb fish to be scaled of their dollars, they can recover.
I would like to read more about comparing the cars than hasseling each other over the past of the cars or their peers or the current problems of one company. There are other topics here where that's being fought out by defenders of toyota's purity.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,