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GM really messed that up, though.
At first only the Eco model was available, and it's a mild hybrid that simply isn't competitive in the hybrid arena, yet there was no significant price advantage either. All for an eAssist system imported from China. 3 strikes. :sick:
You have to launch with your best foot forward, Chevy put up their worst.
It's a shame, too, because reviews for the non-hybrid model are actually far more favorable.
If anything, GM should have launched a performance model first, get the buzz going about how the 'bu is sportier/better than expected, then launch the volume models because that's what people end up buying.
It's not a bad car at all, but they did botch the launch by focusing first on the weakest model in the lineup.
Edit: hosts - can we ask Car_Man to do that?
For the same terms, say a 36 month lease, 12k miles per year.
For today, and then for November 2009, prior to the Saylor accident.
I was figuring people always buy the highest loaded-up trim. I know that's how dealers like to stock their lots full. I do know the 4 cylinder Accord outsells the V6, but man, people must be buying useless extended warranties, gap insurance, mechanical insurance, car alarms, and other dealer add-ons to be getting included in that average new car price of near 30K dollars!
I seriously doubt that.
Quick unscientific check, fitzmall has 36 Malibus in stock, no haggle prices range from $21k to $28k, and only 3 out of those 36 break $26k.
Considering not a single one hits $30k that's incredibly doubtful.
Maybe $30k list with an average discount of $7,000. Maybe.
Any whooo, seems the Malibu is stuck at the low end of the market. Most of those are 21-23k.
I don't think a link was shared previously.
Anyway, good luck holding the EPA liable for anything. :shades:
I can't find a single, non-factual or even slightly offensive statement in lemko's post.
You are correct and that's why lemko didn't respond. I was commenting about you to lemko so I'm glad you responded to my post. :P
Two out of three vehicles that I own are made by GM. I test drove an Acadia against a CX-7 and a CX-9 numerous times before settling on the Acadia. The Mazda products simply had too much road noise.
What's funny is that circlew had issues with his 2003 Yukon Denali. So much so that he is one of the most anti-GM posters I've ever seen. I owned a 2002 Yukon Denali and other than one wheel sensor failing under the warranty period the vehicle was absolutely flawless except for the 12 mpg that is. So I end up with an Acadia as a replacement and he ends up with a Mazda. I don't know how to explain his OCB.
Of course Ford's a domestic brand so they do have home field advantage.
If Truman had allowed MacArthur to wipe out the Communist Chinese I'm sure you will agree that it would be an entirely different market one that Buick might find similar to the US where they are far from successful.
I don't know how much GM actually gains from the success of Buick in China, anyway, especially when costs are weighed in - costs that the cookie cutter MBA set likes to ignore. Opening up that market comes at a price, much of which hasn't been paid yet.
Sometimes, those who think they are the most open-minded, are the most narrow-minded. I discovered that on my own at about age 23 or 24.
You also seemed to insist once that I shouldn't have the feelings I do since I hadn't ever been to see the USS Arizona Memorial. Like that would be a necessity (although I would love to see it).
There is room for all opinions.
I had a Korean and Chinese roommates in college that were both born in their native countries and immigrated to the US with their parents as little kids. Neither liked Japanese cars and at the time, both drove Chevys.
God Bless America!
I had a Taiwanese friend when I was in school. He had an Accord - saw anything more expensive as being too showy. A lot of those who buy their way in and settle in my area love to be showy. I think the anti-Japanese thing might be some media hype.
Toyota's customers have bad drivers that don't know to shift into neutral when Unintended acceleration happens for the higher prices of todays automobiles (at least Toyota's)
Wonder how much of that 200 Million will go towards new Lexus?
Which Greenville? Ohio?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Have any of the windows fallen into the doors yet on the Jetta? Friend bought one years ago and teh check engine light stayed on all the time despite repeated returns to the selling dealer and the windows dropped into the doors, one-by-one.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
No problems with Jetta windows so far.
How's the back seat legroom in that Jetta compare to your Malibu?
Then again, weren't they pretty heavily regulated. I know there were even rules about the wheelbase and turning circle on those cabs....
A friend had a Passat 1.8T that spent so much time in the shop, I thought she owned the Ford Five Hundred loaner they kept giving her.
The 2 VW family also ditched their Touareg and drive an Ody and a Venza now.
Hmm...that coming from someone who continues buying bottom-basement Chevy's. I am honored!
Regards,
OW
Aren't you a believer in market trends? Malibu sales were way ahead of Sonata. Now they are far below. What happened?
Regards,
OW
But they sure took a lick'in to GM, Ford and Chrysler over in this neck of the woods. Perhaps they got auto religion from their bailout.
Regards,
OW
Probably 2 reasons:
1 - they might be able to pick up the entire company for a song in bankruptcy
2 - Nissan has had their NV200 (the same one that NYC approved) for use a black cab in London. It gets much better fuel economy and more importantly emits 50% fewer emissions than the current black cab and meets the other specs required including the 25' turning radius.
The radius is based on being able to turn around in the front drive of the Savoy in London without having to back up.
I counter your focus group of 1 with my own: my 2005 1.8T Passat has 101K without any major mechanical issues.
Really, the only significance of anecdotal evidence and individual experience in the overall picture is the influence that particular experience or event has upon the individual involved... In this case, whether the car was a lemon or an iron horse, and whether or not that experience would incline that individual to buy or avoid the same Nike/model car in a future purchase.
Any other use is just an attempt to add weight to a point one is making.
You had a good experience... Someone else has a bad experience. If we're talking about a limited production run of 25-50 cars, that might be significant. When sales are in the 100's of thousands, not so much...
A minor issue, in the grand scheme of things. My Dodge Neon never had a window regulator failure, but that was because it had crank windows. If they were power, I'm positive the failure rate would be higher and worse than any VW/Audi.
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Aren't you a believer in market trends? Malibu sales were way ahead of Sonata. Now they are far below. What happened?
The Malibu has had a bad launch and a handful of auto writers didn't like it much. I was the first person I'm aware of to quote here or other places online, about the rear legroom reduction. Now, back to my original question.
Certain Hyundai models are on the Top Ten Researched Cars or 2012 list. Again, the Sonata outsells the Maluibu and the Impala. Since not a single GM is on the list, you must be right about the Foreign bias.
Top 10 most researched new and used cars for 2012
Since the Hyundai brand is still growing here in America, I assume their overall quality, warranty and owner satisfaction all are ahead of GM.
2002 Hyundai Sales = 375,119
2012 YTD November Sales = 643,572
GM lost market share during that period. CR be damned!
Regards,
OW
You left out "J.D. Edwards be damned too". But you always leave out pertinent stuff.
I just went out and looked at it in the garage. The rear-seat legroom behind my wife's driver-seat position looks just fine. I'd say it looks like a little less than in our '11 Malibu, but fine.
I know you disagree Andre, and I know you're a lot taller than me, but I think our '11 Malibu has cavernous rear-seat legroom...at least behind where my wife and I set the seats. When the '08 was introduced, I swear I remember a writer calling the rear seat "limo-like". The car isn't wide inside, but since primarily only four sit in it, that doesn't bother me very much.
If I put the front seat back to where I'm comfortable, I can't fit in the back seat. But, someone of more average height probably could. And, the front seat really wouldn't have to be moved up very far for me to be able to fit in the back.
However, the 2013 Malibu took it to an extreme. When I put the seat back to where I'm comfortable, I don't think anybody could fit behind me. And, for even an average-sized adult to fit in the back, I think you'd have to move the seat so far forward that the driver's position would be severely compromised.
BTW, I just called the body shop as I was asked to provide the claim number the other day and I just remembered to do so. The young lady at the body shop, very friendly and who remembered me from when my Lark rolled down the driveway into our six-week old Cobalt a few years back, is named Tabitha. I asked her about 'Bewitched' and she said her sister's name is Sabrina!
In that photo you provided, one can see the depth of the cutout for the rear door. That's one thing I think adds an expensive look to that era Malibu...long rear doors, like other (but pricy) cars.
When I first looked at a '13 Malibu in my dealer's showroom nearly a year ago, a glance in the rear seat made me take notice of the reduction in legroom back there, right away (as I've said, I posted it here before I started seeing it be written about quite a bit...am I a 'trail blazer'? (bad pun)). Much later I climbed in a '13 and set the front seat to where I'd sit (my wife moves it up even a bit further), and I got in the back and I was fine...my knees didn't touch the seat back. But the difference was visibly noticeable to me.
I do like the new Malibu's dash, door panels, and rear-seat center armrest better than the interior in ours. Taillights look better, obviously.
I think if you re-read the post, you'd come away with a different term than "argue".
They must share a supplier with Ford;) I've had window regulator issues with the drivers window on my '07 Expedition twice. It still sounds like it could break anytime, but with domestic vehicles I'm accustom to tolerating things which sound like they are on the verge of failing.