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Comments
I think they're people who don't like cars, who are cheap Wal-Mart going lower-middle class folks who shop for the best value.
They see V6 and they go "ooh! power!" regardless of how smooth it is.
They see $4000 off of MSRP and go "ooh! cheap! I can tack on more of my negative equity onto a new loan!"
They see the cladding and little dials and widgets and think that means luxurious.
Reg: you are correct in that GM needed to go the extra mile to ensure the malibu would eat into the "big 3's" profits. They do have to watch the bottom line price of the car, to ensure it doesn't get out of hand, but you are correct, cutting corners will not win over the masses.
How's this for braindead: I went to my Chevy dealer yesterday and talked to the only salesperson in the place (the same idiot who didn't know a Maxx from a hole in the wall 5 months ago). I asked a simple question: when are you getting your deliver of malibu sedans. He gets out a brochure and starts reading me the fine print from GM. I started laughing and said, can't you answer my question by looking at your order sheets? He attempted to do so, and came back to tell me that he has two on order (which probably meant that 2 people had preordered them which has nothing to do with how many the dealership is in line to get delivered). What an idiot. Just another black eye for GM, using cardboard cutouts to sell cars rather than using human beings who graduated from some form of school system.
Great review of the Malibu by Joe Knycha. He loved the car but had to reserve himself a bit because of a GM media black out imposed until Sept 1. Basically he said the car is very competitive with Camry and Accord and had best in class fuel economy to boot. I don't know this guys work so I can't tell you if he is a good reviewer, but he did say that "GM always had the capability to build a family sedan to rival the best, one wonders why it took so long".
http://www.globeandmail.com/globemegawheels/20030806/Malibu.html
One word of advice: the Globe's auto writers are notoriously soft. Richard Russell (not the author of the 'Bu piece but he has several on their site) used to work for our local paper and was widely regarded as a bit of a joke. He has a review of the Saturn Ion on the Globe site today that probably was written by GM Media. No mention of the car's failure in the marketplace nor of its many shortcomings. So take the Globe's stuff with a few large grains of salt.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
How can he write that without commenting anything about its driving behavior.....GM imposes a 'blackout'? what the * is that? But yet, in the same breath he can contradict the blackout and say that 'it has' built a family sedan that can compete with the best. But he can't tell us why? LOL!
The rest of the article is just a press release. It also goes on to say the car is a 'clean sheet design', however, the engine itself is only 'extensively upgraded' (which BTW confirms that its not a NEW engine, just as I figured, its not a clean sheet design).
While I can buy his basic point that the car is a good car, what I am criticizing here is that basically the writing and article itself is entirely useless, as much as a typical showroom brochure. Sounds like the car is good, and I can surely buy that, but come on, tell us more about the driving experience and less regurgitating a press release.
That writer must be a yes person.....WRITE THIS!.....ok, sir what would like me to write......? GM must have wined and dined him 6 bodacious hookers at his disposal and a week of free steak dinners at Hereford House or Manny's and a lifetime supply of Scotch and NFL sunday ticket.
And probably some kraft dinner and tim hortons.
"GULP" Does GM really expect me to keep this piece of junk Mazda together until March?????
I also found it interesting that everthing in front will be the same as the Maxx. That means, I'll know in a few weeks if I'll fit in it. I'm nervous though, since that means the additional space is being given solely to the rear passengers. SIGH
I remember when I saw a first drive of the VUE in the paper they did the same thing.
-juice
-juice
I'll grant you the Camry and Accord are great cars and hot sellers -- but I don't think it has much to do with the engines. I bet most buyers are impressed by the high quality interiors, good use of interior space, easy-to-drive handling characteristics, and inoffensive styling. In fact, lots of Camcord owners probably don't even know how many cylinders are under the hood, or precisely what a "cylinder" even is. People choose Japanese sedans over GM sedans largely because they can see the difference in the interiors (something that anyone can see, even if they know nothing about cars) and they have bad memories of that 1980 Citation they used to own that got recalled a dozen times. Using high-tech engines is not going to be the magic bullet that stops GM's market-share slide. Visible build quality and reputation for reliability are the real issues in that regard. We'll just have to wait and see if the new Malibu measures up.
-Andrew L
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Chevy will have to win those people back with innovative features, price advantage and time to build a better reputation. If they can do that, and I think they can, sales will come back.
Anyway, the Maxx is supposed to be as reliable as the current Malibu which is a good seller. Over the past few days, I've been seeing more of them than Accords(new and old).
Where did you read that mis-information?
3.5L is for Saturn only.
That 3.5L will never be in any Chevy.
For the 3-4 mpg difference I'll stick with the smoother Honda mill. And no flames, MT has ALREADY said the 'new' (cough) 3.5 pushrod mill is still not as smooth as a Honda.
To date, you can't tow with a Pilot, MDX, or Odyssey unless you add a tranny cooler. So even Honda realizes that they certainly weren't exactly over-engineered. You even need to add a power steering cooler to tow anything at all.
Noone is perfect, that's all.
-juice
-juice
And pushrods in a truck engine make enough sense to me.
For towing a Chevy, Ford, Dodge, or NISSAN TITAN. The lame-o stupid idiots who thought a UNIBODY v6 SOCCER MOM SUV would tow their precious boat or horsetrailer deserve all they have coming to them.
-juice