I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today!

ab348

That generation of Malibu was (I think) the first generation of GM vehicles to use the Epsilon platform, which seemed well-designed. Handled well, quiet, some versions were challenged on interior room though. The concurrent Impala was on the old W-body platform which didn’t drive as nicely IMO, probably in part due to the wheezy pushrod V-6 they used.

Regarding that Altima, I had just the opposite reaction to yours. I remember visiting the Nissan dealership nearby one Sunday when they were closed to see them on their lot. I remember walking up to the first one I saw and being favorably impressed by the overall size and the interior. Then I got to the back and saw those taillights. My opinion turned around instantly. They were Nissan’s take on “Altezza” taillights, which for a few years back then were the favorite aftermarket add-on for the tuner culture, predating the new Altima model. I remember thinking that all it needed was a fart-can muffler. Hated the Altima once I saw those lights under clear plastic.

fintail

If one likes those Malibus, come to Spokane, still plenty around. I agree that wheelcover design is not the best. I recall the early Euro wheelcover too, almost like they used the disc Taurus L wheelcover as inspiration, odd choice as later Lumina Euros had nice enough looking wheels.

I think the 3rd gen Altima looks good from most angles and has aged well, but I think the rear light design is almost a retro dated thing now - very hip when new but now of a certain point in time. IIRC Nissan went to CVTs a few years after than one launched, which has not helped survival rates as much of the driver base doesn't seem to be maintenance addicts. Speaking of Altimas, the first one had an upmarket appearance (in my eyes) when launched, funny to think it was effectively 33 years ago.

andre1969

In the long run I'm glad I didn't do it, but when the '02 Altima came out, I really liked it alot. Enough that I briefly entertained the idea of trading my '00 Intrepid. I even liked the taillights...they made me think of a modernized version of a late 50's Dodge, with the two round lights on top of each other.

But, the poor resale value of the Dodge Intrepid actually saved me, in this case. I can still remember some of the details. It was March of '02, so I'd only had the Intrepid around 2 years and 4 months. But I had about 56,000 miles on it. I owed $11,300 on it, and they offered me $6500 in trade, and offered to roll the negative equity into the new loan. I forget now what the total, out-the-door price was, but I do remember I was looking at a $480 or so car payment! And this was just a fairly basic, 4-cyl Altima, priced in the lower $20K range. The Intrepid, meanwhile, was $347.66/mo. There was no way I could have justified that.

The Altima was more comfortable than the Intrepid, to me. The seat went further back, so I could stretch out better. The back seat was a bit tighter, but still big enough. It was a little bit quicker than the Intrepid, but I remember not liking the way that 4-cyl (a 2.5) sounded, at all. I remember back then people saying that the Japanese 4-cyls made the domestics sound like outdated lawn equipment, but somehow Nissan missed that memo.

As for that '04-07 Malibu, I don't care for the styling, but I do remember they seemed pretty comfortable inside, and seemed pretty well built, at least when it came to fit and finish. The Malibu was boxy, upright, and efficient, but the Pontiac G5, which was on a longer wheelbase, was more low-slung and lanky, and seemed a lot more cramped. My favorite version of that platform was actually the Saab...9-3, or whatever it was? I thought that was a good looking car, and thought it was amazing that it was the same basic platform!

stickguy

on the way home this afternoon, in traffic, someone driving around in a 1960ish Olds midsized (Cutlass or some such) convertible. Nice weather so top down. Looks very sharp.

roadburner

I saw a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 on a trailer. It may have been a clone; the stripes didn't look right to me.

stickguy

the problem is, once those old cars get restored, a real one and a clone have the same chance of having incorrect details (stripes, badges).

and philosophically, at that point (if the entire car is redone), does it really matter that it started life as something specific instead of ending up that way?

uplanderguy

People often want restored as per build sheets.

I know I did.

uplanderguy

One last memory of that-gen Malibu of the mid'00's:

At the time, I thought the 'Maxx' version seemed practical, and I thought the adjustable rear seats seemed a good idea.

First time I saw a Venza, I was immediately reminded of a Malibu Maxx.

fintail

Make the Maxx AWD and it would have been ahead of its time for sure. I always thought those were cool in their own way, I would have picked one over a trunkback for sure.