2000-2011 Chevrolet Malibu

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Comments

  • stillmcstillmc Member Posts: 1
    My dealer (PA) got the new LT in yesterday. He offered to let me drive it but I didn't have the time. He said they are only making LTs now so dealers can show all the bells and whistles. They also expect only 2 more before the end of October and he has no allowance for ordering more before then. I actually like the new styling, but the most impressive thing was the mileage ratings.
  • bcmalibu99lsbcmalibu99ls Member Posts: 625
    Doesn't the "classic" Bu have better highway mileage than the "modern" one? I've read the new Bu has 27 mpg/highway, while the old one has close to 30 (I think), and my record is 37, fully loaded no less
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    http://www.nationalpost.com/driversedge/story.html?id=57266361-CF- B9-4C0F-9BAC-763D155218E0
  • rcf8000rcf8000 Member Posts: 619
    New 'Bu highway rating is 32.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- _code=reviews&loc_code=index&content_code=09653912
  • bcmalibu99lsbcmalibu99ls Member Posts: 625
    Two-three years from now we would not see people on this forum crying about warped rotors, malfunctioning HVAC controls, intake gaskets, well, you get the picture :-)
  • jtrujillo86jtrujillo86 Member Posts: 300
    I got my car back today and here's what's wrong:

      - Oil pan cracked and/or warped; leaking oil.
      - CV boot cracked and leaking oil/grease.
      - Acc. drive belt cracked.

    The pan itself (parts cost) is $150.
    The CV boot parts and labor is $250.

    I don't understand how they came to the conclusion that the oil leak on the side of my block is the pan. Isn't the pan at the bottom of the block? DUH!

    Well, I'm not gonna do anything with it. I just need get the darn thing off my hands. It's past the point that I WANT a new(er) car...Now I NEED a newer car.

    Jeremy :(
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    Jeremy, get a used escort or neon for $800 until the new Maxx comes out. BTW: one dealer in my area says he has one Malibu. I hopefully (if he is not lying) will check it out tomorrow morning.
  • vcjumpervcjumper Member Posts: 1,110
    If I were to get a lemon, I would not return to the manufacturer of said vehicle for my next car.. Why reward incompetence? A little spite is not a bad thing. It would be like Maxx4me buying another Mazda for his next vehicle.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    More than a few new Accord owners complaining of warped rotors, rattles and loose trim.
  • snaabsnaab Member Posts: 74
    Dad came home with a 2004 Malibu LS V6 today. Very nice. Car # 201 off the line. Anyone interested in pics let me know. Maybe ill take some and post em.
  • jtrujillo86jtrujillo86 Member Posts: 300
    from Chevrolet. When I was at the dealer, I saw a 2003 silver bu LS in for an oil change. I wanted to grab those keys and take her for a spin! Then I started to think - if I get another bu, I'll have to worry about the alternator again and the manifold thing. I want a Jetta so bad I can taste it. I have heard everyone's side, but like some Edmunds people say, More people on these boards come to complain, rather than to say how great their car was. I guess I'll see for myself if the Jetta is truly bad or not. I just gotta get rid of mine first!
    Jeremy
  • avemanaveman Member Posts: 122
    companies are pretty good at keeping track of problems with their cars.Any major issues the the old Malibu or it's engine should have been taken care of when redsigned.Don't confuse defective or under designed stuff with CV joints or boots which will break on any car with enough wear or time.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    geez vcjumper, I hardly think spending $800 on a temporary car to tie you over until a good one comes along is rewarding Chrysler or Ford! Give me a break!! You're right: limit your mind to whatever is on the market at the time your car fails....great idea!
  • bcmalibu99lsbcmalibu99ls Member Posts: 625
    I am aware of quality problems with Hondas, but my answer was to the statement that with 04 Bu GM "finally got it right." Time will tell. So far they've got the design way wrong. Ugly front, ugly steering wheel, and the antenna in front of the roof, not in the back. Saved 10 bucks per car, cheap sob's. Hopefully, the quality will be comparable to 02 and 03 Bu's.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. What is ugly to you may or may not be ugly to the Malibu's INTENDED customers, which may or may not include you. As for the radio antenna, can we be any MORE nitpicky?
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    Sorry Harry: I get to the dealer; the sales manager comes out (same guy I called last night who said: ummmm, yeah we got one in) right in the middle of a regional sales meeting. He goes: let me find where it is.....comes out with the key, and drives us down to their car holding area. We get there, walk all around, and don't find it. We then drive back to the dealership where he tells me that if it is not on the lot (which it wasn't since we walked all over it too) it must be locked up in the service bays getting prepped. Therefore, I didn't see the thing; I'm so glad I don't have to deal with these retail geniuses when I buy my cars. Thank goodness for my great buying service. Sorry Harry; my detailed report will have to wait.
  • bcmalibu99lsbcmalibu99ls Member Posts: 625
    I agree that beauty is very subjective. Some people even like Pontiak Azteks, duh! Doesn't mean Aztek is not a warthog :-)

    As for the antenna, I am picking on it because it is very prominently displayed, and it's screaming "10 bucks saved by not placing me in the back!!!"
  • vcjumpervcjumper Member Posts: 1,110
    I wasn't referring to the temp car.. I was referring to making his next "long term" car another chevy.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Yes, I agree. Quality and durability will be key in the Malibu's success. If it is indeed as well built as Camcords are, I can see the Bu being a top five seller in a couple of years. If not, sales will continue as is.
  • jtrujillo86jtrujillo86 Member Posts: 300
    I know problems are going to arise on every car, but one with 63K miles, in my opinion, should not have cracked CV boots. And about a 2003 having alternator and manifold problems - It will happen. Chevrolet is using the same alternators and manifold design that it used in 1997, on the 2003 Malibus. (Holy cow, I'm starting to sound like regfootball; I guess I'm starting to see his point of view about GM products!)

    Jeremy
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    he, he...sounds like my 626 Jeremy!!
  • snaabsnaab Member Posts: 74
    here is a link that will take you to some pics. we will have the car till mid november. so far so good. let me know if anyone has any questions or wants particular pics.

    http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/amulay2003
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    thanks for the pictures snaab. I sure don't like the fabric pattern. I hope the grey cloth interior will make the "chess board" disappear a bit. I also get the feeling that the rear brake lights are only the lower part of the actual lens (one on each side). I don't like that either if it is the case. I like having 5 brake lights, not three.
    BTW: I called the dopey dealer I visited this morning. He had the malibu LT locked in the paint shed (closed for the weekend), and could not get it out. I find it hard to believe that he is the only dealer to have one in this area. Even my UBS dealer did not have one. If any place was going to get the first one, I would think it would be my UBS dealer since they move LOTS and LOTS of cars annually in the DC area. Very strange indeed....
  • gmallthewaygmalltheway Member Posts: 77
    The chevy dealership i buy all my cars from has TWO new Malibu LT's. A Sport Red and Navy blue one. Very nice as far as I'm concerned. I'd love to trade in the 02 Malibu on a new one and be the VERY FIRST person around here to be driving one, but i doubt it happens. I was able to sit in the Blue one, the leather seats have improved alot in comfort from the 02 Body style. I love the way it looks front, back, interior.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    I find it funny that everyone is posting on the Maxx page, when you are all talking about the sedan. Reg: I'll be the first to tell you that you are wrong when I sit in the sedan (8 ^ (l). The 6's leg room is not good at all; neither for front or rear passengers. Since I sat in a 6 and own a 626, I can say that my 1996 626 has better leg room than the 6. I can dangle my left leg and not hit the fire wall. I cannot do this in the 6. Despite Mazda posting the driver's leg room at 42.3, I have often found these numbers to be totally bogus. With the Bu having adjustable pedals and a posted leg room length of 41.9 inches, I expect I will find the Bu having MUCH better driver's and passenger's leg room than the 6. Only time will tell. If my dealer would just get one in, I'll drive it to my Mazda dealer and do a side by side comparison.
    BENCH SEATS?? Come on people, look a bit closer at snaabs pictures will ya?: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/amulay2003/vwp?.dir=/2004+Malibu- - - - &.dnm=111-1125_IMG.jpg&.view=t
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    The "thing" on the roof is not the antenna. The antenna is embedded in the rear window glass. The "thing" on the roof is the XM radio antenna, and if you don't have XM, you don't get the "thing". By the way, the On-Star satellite transceiver is in a strip at the center top of the windshield, so it no longer requires another "thing" on the roof, unlike on the current Impala, which has 2 "things" on the roof.

    Harry
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    whew...thanks Harry. I too could not believe that an antenna would be on the front. It looks dumb. Since it is integrated in the back glass, will I have to drive around in my Maxx with the gate up just to get good reception? he, he, he
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    I'm gonna get sick if I keep this pace up.

    More on the antenna bit. Most new cars introed since '99 (some earlier), have gone to a radio antenna in the rear window glass, since power antennas are unreliable and the fixed-type ones are too vulnerable to vandalism. Reception, reportedly, does suffer in non-major-metropolitan areas, in which case you might consider XM and get the "thing" on the roof.

    For 2 reasons, GM switched to a "thing" on the roof for OnStar a year or 2 ago and away from the antenna attached to the outside of the rear window. That one could be unscrewed and stolen and in some cases, absent-minded owners who forgot to unscrew it before going through a car wash had to buy a new rear window (not fun). I believe the '04s are the first that have the windshield strip for OnStar.

    My snooping around my Chevy dealer has paid off for something....

    Harry
  • rcf8000rcf8000 Member Posts: 619
    The car I saw had the antenna on the roof (ugly, in my opinion), and it had OnStar but not XM shown on the window sticker.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
  • rcf8000rcf8000 Member Posts: 619
    I didn't have to look closely to see that. I know what I saw.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    Remember, I haven't seen the new Malibu in person yet. There is a chance that the Malibu doesn't have the OnStar strip. I do know that the new Cadillacs have it.

    The last '03 Impala in the showroom that I looked at had 2 "things" on the roof: a short, pointy thing in front (apparently that's OnStar) and a flat boxy "thing" above the rear window (apparently that's XM). If the "thing" on the roof front of the new 'Bu is pointy, then that's OnStar and they cheaped out on the strip. (If I have the 2 "things" backwards, blame my dealer.) Personally, I'd go for OnStar but not XM since I'm in a populated area.

    After seeing snaabs pix, I'm no longer sure I'll even go for a new Malibu or Maxx (my comments are in the Maxx forum), but maybe more likely a Grand Prix.

    Harry
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    Okay, curiousity question.

    I don't have XM, I have Sirius. But, wpbharry, you wouldn't go for XM since you are in a populated area? What does that have to do with more than 60 music choices--about half of them with NO commericals (on Sirius NONE of them have commercials), choices NOT available in most areas--four full time jazz formats, beautiful classical music, alternative music of nearly every description, classic country, hiphop, rap--you name it--chances are excellent that it's there; coast to coast service, full time news from around the world, excellent talk stations, fewer annoying deejays (even fewer on SIRIUS), (on Sirius coast to coast NPR, but NOT Morning Edition or All Things Considered).

    Satellite radio was the best choice I ever made. It is well worth the approximate $11 a month I pay, yearly, in advance. XM is 9.99 but has commercials on the most popular music stations, but even then NO more than 4-6 minutes per hour versus up to 18 on regular FM. ALL this for less than the price of a CD per month. I used to buy an average about one a month--I can't remember the last time I played a CD--or had the regular radio on (except for NPR for Morning Edition).

    You aren't interested in XM because you live in a populated area. I don't get it.
  • rcf8000rcf8000 Member Posts: 619
    The antenna was "pointy"--definitely OnStar.

    I'll give you a good example of how much the dealers know. I asked if the car had a telescoping steering wheel. I had read that it did, but I couldn't get it to telescope. The salesman said that they had decided that it didn't have a telescoping steering wheel. But a close reading of the window sticker showed that it DID, or should have it. So I got back into the car and gave the steering wheel a big tug, and, what do you know, it telescoped!
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    The only down side I have heard about Sirus is that the sound quality isn't as good as XM. Unfortunately neither is available for sale up here yet though it can be received if one subscribes through a US address.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    1) OK, curiosity has gotten to me. After my 10:30 appt. this morning I'll stop by my Chevy dealer (I've got a strategy). Will let you know.

    2) Antenna redux: Now I think that they're differnt shapes and locations, depending on the car model. The Saab 9-3 has OnStar standard, and its "thing" is at the rear of the roof and kind of squarish AND pointyish. I'll ask the Sales Mgr. if they have one on the floor. If they do, it'll be a LOADED LT for sure.

    3) XM radio: I'm tired of paying all of these monthly bills. Cable, cell phone, etc. etc. We have several good stations in my area, and when I don't like what's playing, in goes the CD. XM or Sirius is a great idea for folks that don't live near a big city, but since I do, I'm not willing to pay for XM per month, especially after adding a monthly fee for OnStar (that I'd get for sure). The decision is obviously a personal one.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    Indeed it is. And Sirius sound quality is as good as or better than XM. Much depends on the installation. Direct connection beats FM modulator every time!

    Let's move on with the Malibu discussion, I was just curious as to why you thought only people in unpopulated areas (ha ha) benefit from satellite radio (by the way, that is the way cable tv started out as well...)
  • bcmalibu99lsbcmalibu99ls Member Posts: 625
    would be great if they carried news/talk stations from major US cities. Say, I root for Cleveland teams but live in Dallas. I would love to get a couple of Cleveland stations on the satellite radio, as well as stations from Seattle, New York, Miami, New Orleans, you name it, so that I could listen to those stations no matter where in the states I am. But it seems like they haven't thought of it, and that's just too bad
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    They did think of it. XM carried commercial stations for a while. Surveys indicated that MOST customers did not want to pay to hear commericals. With the exception of one, those commercial stations were removed.

    Car companies have exclusive deals. Want factory satellite on your Malibu? It'll be XM. Sirius is signed on with Ford and others.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    They extensively tested both around town and out of town on a TechTV show and found reception and sound quality better on XM. That said, it could depend on where you live. They were in California.

    I can't see ever getting it even when it is available up here. I just don't drive enough and I usually listen to radio on satellite at home which is commercial free.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    Would it surprise you to know Tech TV was a partner of XM Radio? It was.

    I am quite certain THAT was an unbiased test.

    Yeah, right! :)
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    Did an on-line search with the Sales Manager and we couldn't find a single '04 anywhere in South Florida yet. "They'll arrive when they arrive". Bet he'll call when some come in...

    Harry
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I had read a similar review in a stereo magazine a while back.

    Having watched the Screen Savers for many years, I do not believe the hosts are biased at all. One of their biggest sponsors is NVidia and they regularly recommend ATI graphic chips.

    Like I said, I have no knowledge of these things, I'm just telling you what they came back with. I could care less. As long as you are happy, great!
  • ees1996ees1996 Member Posts: 31
    Just want to know if anyone has seen any and if you have at what dealer.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    Sorry all. I FINALLY made it through all of the postings that I missed from approx. 9/2 - 9/8.

    My only further point is re: the one that maxx made about legroom (since neither he or I can seem to find a new Malibu anywhere nearby us). My current '98 LS has an advertised front legroom of 41.9, which is exactly the same in the new car. The legroom in mine is the MINIMUM acceptable. (Also, a friend's '98 base w/o the power seat has more legroom than mine with the power seat; go figure). Which raises the question: is the 41.9 on the '04 measured with the adjustable pedals all the way forward, all the way back, or in the middle?
  • avemanaveman Member Posts: 122
    I think that GM should offer a 5 speed manual in the Malibu.If they are making the Malibu a better drivers car,and they want to increase market share, why don't they package the car to apeal to more people.Some folks take their small 2.2 liter engines with a 5 speed trans.GM is not stopping you from doing that,but you can't do it in a Malibu. I could see not offering a manual on the last Malibu, but if you are trying to expand your horizions well. Is this not tweaking for the american market in a bad way.It may be a cost thing. They need the profit the auto trans offers.A simaalr note come from Mitsubishi with the Lancer wagon. They offer sporty models of sedan and wagon but no manual trans in the wagon.To me this is a slap in the face of what some customers want.I think the Malibu sounds like a great car. But I don't think I would want a 2.2 liter with an auto trans.The good thing is for people that like or their budget likes cars with small engines, there are still models and dealers that offer manual transmissons.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    great question Harry. I have sat in so many cars in the past 2 years; I first researched their leg room numbers. I can confidently say that they must pull these numbers out of their hat since they never seemed to mirror reality. My worst opponent has been the gas pedal. I always feel like I have to jam my leg right through it to get a comfortable position. I believe the adjustable pedals (as was the case when I tried out the Ford Taurus) will quell my angst.
  • dtownfbdtownfb Member Posts: 2,918
    I guess I must be inthe same boat as you guys are...the daddy long leg gang

    The numbers don't tell anything. You also have to take into account steering wheel position, seat angle, seat height, etc. About the only way you can compare leg room is to sit in each vehicle and adjust the seats.

    Re; manual transmission: There is no way Gm will offer a manual in this car. too conservative. Plus there isn't much demand in this segment to justify a manual tranny.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    somebody better tell Honda, Nissan and Mazda!
This discussion has been closed.

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