Chevy Malibu Maxx

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Comments

  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I think most Malibus will stickier in the low 20's and yes, that seems reasonable. 27K is too much, I'd be looking elsewhere. That said it would never sell for that either.

    Love my Intrigue, resale is no worse than any other GM sedan around here. I know it's worse in some areas. I won't be selling any time soon anyway. It runs well and I will run it for a total of 8 years most likely (5 more) where resale is not very important anymore.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Wow, I've seen 3-year-old Intrigues go for $7000 here.

    Here's an example of a striking GM car:

    http://www.km77.com/marcas/opel/astra_04/0primera/texto.asp

    Why can't GM make this kind of car in America? It is perhaps that its core buying audience is too stupid?
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Ya, with how many miles?

    Looks like a Golf. Yawn.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Seeing as we have a higher percentage of University Grads in the US as % of the general population, the reverse is no doubt true.

    We all know you like to think the fact that you know a few people in Europe and have been there a few times (guess what, a lot of us here in Edmunds do and have) make you superior to your neighbors (and in your defense, if I lived in Texas I might be tempted to grasp at anything to make me seem different as well).

    It doesn't. It is getting a little tiresome. It is getting a little sad. Say what you think about the car. Leave the insults about those who disagree for some European based I hate the US site.
  • jchan2jchan2 Member Posts: 4,956
    At my local dealer, they have 4 Accord DX, over 150 LX, 75 EX, 25 LX-V6, and nearly 85 EX-V6. At least they have the four base DX models with no air conditioning. (Buy the LX or get a dealer installed unit for A/C)At the Toyota dealer, they have over 100 Camry LEs, 50 Camry LE V6, 25 XLE (both four-cylinder and V6) and about 20 SEs. (Both four cylinder and V6) More LE 4 cylinders are on the way too. I think that dealers would stock more LS sedans and LS Maxx on intro dates, and stick them next to the Cavalier and the Old Malibu- to try to move some of those mediocre cars.
  • vcjumpervcjumper Member Posts: 1,110
    Hmmm has nothing on Ion. ;-)
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    magnetophone, well, I'll say it for reg, since he's tied up with the new baby. Looks quite a bit like the upcoming Mazda 3 (due here in December). Yawn.

    Not a big fan of Opels, but the Vectra wagon is the prettiest Opel I've ever seen. Time will tell if Chevy blew it by not offering a wagon in addition to the sedan and Maxx. (Also think the European Accord (aka Acura TSX) wagon is handsome).

    (Sorry, but it was a few months ago that I saw the Vectra wagon pix, and can't remember where. reg might remember).

    dindak: I'm nearly convinced that when we both drive the new Maxx in Dec./Jan. we'll both agree that we've found it, and eventually join maxx (where is he?) in owning one. Assume you're shopping for a 2nd car. Great idea to run the Intrigue into the ground. You can get it serviced at any GM dealer and the 3.8 will last a good long time. My comment about the Equinox was a bit tongue-in-cheek. I do think it's the best-looking small SUV, but the Chinese-built 3.4 gives me some pause, as does the Honda 3.5 in the '04 VUE (never a good idea to mix 2 mfrs. products in one vehicle).

    Harry
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    No Maxx for me until at least this time next year. Have to pay the Intrigue off first. Would love to join you if something changes before that.

    3.4L is made in China, but it's the same mill that they make in the U.S. as far as I can see. It a political thing that GM is doing by importing, nothing else. Nox and other small SUVs may get the nix is the insurance is too high though. Maxx insurance should be similar to the sedan if not the same.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    Agree. I don't intend to purchase anything before next July, since the extended warranty on my '98 runs through late August '04. I'd join you in running a car into the ground if it weren't for the fact that I'm a one-car household. Can't take the risk in relying on the old Bu solely. At least mine has been paid for for 2 years now.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    (raining here again. Great weekend. Better this weekend than next, though.)

    For the heck of it, I just checked the Web sites of the 5 (yes, 5, typical South FL) Chevy dealers within 20 miles. Ironically, my dealer refers you to gmbuypower.com, but gmbuypower isn't yet set up to search for '04s. Another dealer claims to have a large inventory of '03 Malibu Classics. Didn't know such a thing existed. Think they're calling the base Classics, since the LSs are listed as LSs.

    Anyway, don't see a single '04 listed for the 4 dealers that let you search directly. Probably because it's such a hike to KS. Bet the first day or 2 of production went to the press (for road tests) and other non-customer-intended things. But I also bet that dealers in the midwest might have some already.

    Anybody see any listed near them? I'm not about to travel to the midwest, I'm just curious.
  • avemanaveman Member Posts: 122
    I give GM credit for putting out the Maxx. At least they have the hatch base covered in a maintsream car. I don't know why GM would not want to offer either the Cobalt or the Malibu as a wagon. If Mitsubishi does well with the Lancer wagon, maybe GM will wake up.I think the current marketing craze is if people want utility they must be jacked up off the ground and hoist into the air in a crossover or truck based SUV. If wagons are good for europe why not the US. One main reason for me not to buy GM,would be if a competitor offered a good wagon platform. As far as sedans GM is great. Maybe I had too much fun trying to tear the gearbox out of my old 81 Subaru DL wagon. The small wagon rules. No Suv.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    And in January-April comes not only a Mazda3 sorta wagon but the Mazda6 wagon and hatch. Prices should be interesting. May or may not be trouble for the Maxx.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    logic1, well Europe is a large place. I bet countries like Albania throw off the curve from places like Sweden. And, I've lived there. Big difference.

    I was being sarcastic, but I seriously believe that GM has a form of institutionalized dumbing down of its products. Artificial price subsidies for rebates is a good example. Maybe it's time to expect better.

    Speaking of the new Astra, take a look at pictures of the interior. Absolutely striking. GM knows how to build a stellar cockpit, yet due to the people who buy GM's in droves in America, we are not able to be treated to such luxury.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Oh, and logic1, it turns out the city in the United States with the highest per capita percentage of college graduates is a city in Texas.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Ya, and what is the priuce of that Astra Golf?
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    First, from experience with the now-defunct '04 Malibu Discussion (as some of you know), getting "punchy" with other members and leading the discussion far off-topic will likely land us in the same boat again. If we lose this discussion, then we'll all be stuck listening to the wining about old-style-Malibu problems, and I've mostly grown tired of that. Your choice (and you're welcome, Revka). So cool it, please. Thanks.

    To wrap up the Mazda sidetrack, the 3 that looks like the Astra is the hatchback. Mazda is dumping the Protege 5-style "mini-wagon" in favor of a Golf-style 5-door. As far as the 6, we've already discussed, and come to the conclusion, that the 6 wagon won't affect the Maxx much. Don't think we ever considered that the 6 hatch might, however.

    Harry
  • jchan2jchan2 Member Posts: 4,956
    My local dealer has five 2003 Malibu's. Three LS' and two base. Not a single 04' malibu just yet. They're on their way I hope.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    If it's the same pricing as the old Astra, it will go from roughly $11,000 for the base 1.4 to $23,000 for the turbo model with 200hp.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    which is a size up from the Astra. The honest price comparison would be the Signum with the Maxx.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    Just so you don't accuse me of calling the kettle black, I don't know if there's a discussion re: the HHR yet. But did notice an article in AutoWeek on-line today about it. The link is below, and feel free to "cut&paste" it elsewhere.

    http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- - _code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=02656807

    Harry
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    In about a year GM will have the VUE, Equinox and the HHR. Throw in the Maxx, and you have four car/wagon/small ute vehicles with sales goals approaching 300k per anum.

    GM either feels people will pass up compacts (but then why make the Cobalt?) for an economical wagon type vehicle, or it may think people are going to give up on bigger Utes.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Magneto : Never heard of an $11k Opel before.

    logic : With gas prices on the rise and SUV insurance through the roof, I suspect people may be taking a second look at getting something else in the years to come. GM is smart to hedge it's bets on crossovers like the HHR, NOX, Maxx and whatever else. Don't be surprised if you see a hatchback version of the Cobalt also.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    There sure will be a lot of very practical vehicle choices.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Really? My cousin has a 2002 Vauxhall Corsa "Joy" or something like that with like a 1.0 engine, and I think they bought it for a hair over $9,000.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    The prices of the Signum are from €22,000 to €32,000 according to what I read in Ireland...
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    "I was being sarcastic, but I seriously believe that GM has a form of institutionalized dumbing down of its products."

    yes, for the Springer set and those who feel they don't deserve better than a Grand Am in a lot of cases.

    "Artificial price subsidies for rebates is a good example. Maybe it's time to expect better......"

    ..........yeah......

    "Speaking of the new Astra, take a look at pictures of the interior. Absolutely striking."

    .......yeah........

    "GM knows how to build a stellar cockpit, yet due to the people who buy GM's in droves in America, we are not able to be treated to such luxury."

    GM figures to build its interiors and some of its powertrains to the lowest level that will sustain their now mediocre market share. They know that they can build ANYTHING with wheels and tires in the USA and will still be able to sell 27% market share and 'x' amount of vehicles produced. They can poop on a front wheel drive chassis and throw slumberland couches inside with fisher price plastic controls and dashes and doors and they will still make their numbers AS LONG AS THEY DANGLE THE REBATES out there. Its just too easy for them to build a B minus product rather than an A product because they have so many dealers and so much buy US sentiment, they can literally sell ANYTHING to the faithful and still make 'quota'.

    There are signs of some of this antiquated pathetic business model within Detroit changing, but still we see lapses in 'logic' (sorry, had to use the word). Why not bring the Astra and Vectra to US in its same form with minimal changes if the overall result is so much better? The first battle cry we hear from the faithful is 'it will cost too much'. BS. Anything in volume can be made and sold cheaper. Duplicating efforts is actually more expensive. The Astra is all set to go designed and everything, yet Chevy will burn billions or millions making an all new car just for itself. Look at the money wasted on the new Ion......what a styling blunder that car is.

    Real truth is that the faithful are scared that if GM 'upgrades' its cars (ala VW, etc) it will no longer have the blue collar look and feel to it that so many seem to be willing to put up with. Also, if the price goes up, even just a little, the faithful will be priced out of the opportunity to actually buy a new car periodically they fear, even though after resale hits it may actually cost you more to own an Intrigue or Impala vs. an Accord over time. Plus then, if you couldn't change your own oil, what would you spend half your Saturday wasting valuable time on?
  • vcjumpervcjumper Member Posts: 1,110
    Seems reluctant to build premium compact and midsize vehicles for the NA market to compete with Jetta's, TSX's, RSX etc for whatever reason. Maybe they think it will end up like Oldsmobile did regardless.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    2 things:

    1) Today's AutoWeek web site also has interesting news on 2 other fronts not related to this discussion, if you're interested. Picture and info about the Lancer wagon and a major delay in redesigning the Focus (and some stuff some of you will love about the US Focus vs. the Euro Focus). (I'm beginning to think Ford is dying fast. Also, now the Taurus will be around until '09 with minimal changes and the Futura might be delayed from '06 (good for the Malibu)). Check out autoweek.com.

    2) After spending part of a day recently reading through the "problems" posts on the Accord, Camry, Altima, Sonata and 6, you GM-bashers might be shocked. I think the new Malibu has a shot at blowing them all away in quality (also the interior of the new Bu is supposedly a giant leap up for GM so don't knock it until you see it in person). The others are all having some nasty stuff, worse than I ever had (initially). Makes me wonder why the resale values on the Malibu are so low (rebates, I imagine).
  • orangelebaronorangelebaron Member Posts: 435
    hhhhhmmmm.... the Autoweek article states that Ford spent 100 million to advertise it's 2003 Focus.
    Now just imagine what a nicer car it could be if they actually put some of that money INTO the Focus!!!
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    magneto : Wow, $9k for a 1.0L motor. That's an expensive go-kart.

    ;-)

    Reg : You are in your glory when you spill your guts like that aren't you?

    wpbharry : So far i have read the exterior fit and finish is very good and the interior is good but not great.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    GM claims the interior on the Pontiac Grand Prix for 2004 is a major improvement, as well. The cloth in that car would make the interior decorator for a house of ill repute blush with shame.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    First, at least from pictures, I find the dash of the new Malibu much more pleasing to look at than in the [non-permissible content removed]. Might not have quite the small tolerances, but it's much more visually appealing to me. I agree that the Passat takes the cake for mid-size interiors, but on the whole I HATE Euro dashboards. All those tiny buttons with incomprehensible hieroglyphics do absolutely nothing for me. In most, you can barely read the radio and climate control readouts in sunlight. Thank GOD the Yanks don't have I-drive (what a fiasco), and don't get me started on BMWs styling of late...

    Launches: The CTS, ION (yes, that has a hideous interior, but am warming up to the exterior, except for those "seperate-color roofrails") and Grand Prix (despite the cloth, John, which I haven't seen) have all been trouble-free or nearly so. As I said yesterday, the [non-permissible content removed] are squirming, and their probs don't seem to be going away at 15K or even 25K miles. So, it's not just a case of shoddy initial quality.

    As you all know, no rebates=no new Malibu. Really don't know what I'll do then. Thought the Accord was a good backup plan, but guess not.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    The other cars I am looking at most seriously are the Mazda6 wagon/hatch and even the Mazda3 hatch. The Malibu Maxx would have to REALLY impress me to dissuade me from the Mazda. Not saying it isn't possible, but it probably isn't very likely.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    You are right, Euro dash board designs are bad, VW especially. Quality materials do not make up for it.

    GM's car launches have gone very well as of late. No major issues, certainly less issues than the new Accord. I think Honda is feeling the pressure of churning cars out quickly.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    John, you better spend the time reading through all of the "problem posts" on the 6 before you jump. You might have already...

    The Accord and Altima seem to be having the worst problems, but the 6 and Camry aren't great either. The 3 will be made in Japan, I assume, so that might fare better.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I don't know, I find most European dashboard designs to be quite easy.

    I am beginning to agree with you with US Ford's decline. While the Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, Ka, SportKa, Fusion, etc. in Europe are all quality cars that sell well, in the US, there is not much to be proud of.
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    Surprise, surprise, its "G6". I like Grand Am better.

    Just so we're all speaking the same language.

    http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- _code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=04722757
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's pretty risky, Grand Am does a LOT of volume. GM is trying to sell at higher prices, but it'll definitely come at the cost of volume.

    Not that I'm a fan of the current car, but you can't ignore sales volume completely.

    -juice
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Reminds me of Saturns.

    -juice
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    How so? It has one of the most distinctive noses in the industry.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Looks like a cross between a Mazda 6 and a Buick Regal from this perspective. Looks ugly!
  • wpbharrywpbharry Member Posts: 399
    G6 pix (thanks, dindak) aren't that great. I love the front-end, hate the rear (reverse of the new Bu) (the rear doesn't look the least bit like a Pontiac; more like a Neon). But, most importantly, it's a let-down from the concept and DEINITELY not a car destined to move that much upmarket.

    Harry
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    With all that camoflage? The G6 was a very attractive concept at the autoshows last year. It is somewhat impractical as it is too low and the rear windows too small. The actual car will be as close to the concept as possible.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    magneto : I am shocked you hate it. You usually love everything GM makes.

    wpbharry : Keep in mind this is not likely a final version of the car and the styling details ect are likely to change not to mention the tires and the fact that parts of it are hidden. Won't get a good look until January.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    It doesn't appear to have the same presence as the concept car. Alas, neither did the AZTEK.

    It said standard v6. Hope its not a PUSHROD v6.
  • jchan2jchan2 Member Posts: 4,956
    Nothing wrong with tried and true.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    how will people think of a NEW pontiac car with a new name if it still has the same old garbage under the hood? There is nothing at all then to suggest to the buying public that the car is improved or even different from all the previous grand ams.......might as well buy that year old rental from the airport then.......putting the same powertrain under the hood that has been existence since the 1980 Citation does absolutley nothing to improve the image or driving character of the car so it can play on a level field with the competition.

    Honda seems to be able to regularly evolve and change and continually improve what it puts under the hood and it still exceeds performance and reliability of GM's 'tried and true'. They do this while maintaining equal or lower total ownership costs.
  • avemanaveman Member Posts: 122
    What is wrong with taking proven technoloy and improving it. I have no idea what engine will be in the Pontiac.But from what I have learned about engines, I would love to have the new 3.5 litre engine in the Malibu.With 200hp and great fuel economy, what more do you want.I for one am glad that GM is proud enough of it's engines performance that they do not have to have more horsrpower in every application.Good driveablity,good power and good mileage is what many people want.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    have a version of the new high output engine in the CTS. The hard top convertible coupe should. Heck, it may even cost more than a base CTS with a hard top convertible.
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