Comments on Vince Burlapp Car Page: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu 2.4 Liter test drive

If I am going to "waste" 23K(or whatever this car ...

2007-11-06T23:33:00.000-08:00

If I am going to "waste" 23K(or whatever this car tops out at)... I'll buy an Azera on sale(and after bargaining, too) Edmunds Editor's Pick for car between 25-30K msrp for 07, in mid-sized sedans.
Or go even cheaper, and get the Sonata-Azera knockoff for 3K less, and just shy a few HP of the Azera.

Sorry. I only drive 8-10,000 miles per year, and keep my cars -usually- 6-7 years.
5/100K does not cut it for my warranty needs, Ten Years(10) 100K does.

That extra 2(or 3) years of warranty is nice, for drivetrain.
I'd say"Chrysler' has best drivetrain warranty, but who really buys a Sebring?

Sorry, guys, this thing looks like a Camry and Chevy mated( that design, in general, and Bulbuous nose/grille....reminds me of the Mantee-nosed Camry).
Sure, I sit inside the car when I drive, but I don't live in the thing, and got to look at it sometimes, in the 6-7 years I'd own one.
The VOLT... that is what this car should have looked like, or make a 3 door "Sport" Malibu version, with that general design theme, and I'd buy one(for 20K).

Your mistake, just another Northstar regardless of...

2007-11-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

Your mistake, just another Northstar regardless of your bias or comments. Three years from now to those who buy this always remember, I told you so.

this is my next car!!!!!!!

2007-11-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

this is my next car!!!!!!!

"Car and Driver (and other car magazines) are the ...

2007-11-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

"Car and Driver (and other car magazines) are the worse place to find out about what to buy."

I haven’t read Car & Driver, but all the Malibu reviews I've read have agreed with your review... overwhelmingly favorable. The design is good, the build quality appears to be very good and the interior is a very pleasing combination of materials and design… although I am not sure yet what I think of the interior door panels. This is a very smart looking car that will likely make owning a Chevy a consideration for a lot more people.

Malibu: Lack of rear arm restAccord: Lack of Decid...

2007-11-05T22:13:00.000-08:00

Malibu: Lack of rear arm rest

Accord: Lack of Decided Style....and NO split folding rear seat? Unacceptable...

I'd consider a Malibu LTZ over an Accord EX-L.....I don't drive from the backseat anyway....

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! "Vince"

2007-11-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! "Vince"

Thanks for the great review of the new Malibu, Vin...

2007-11-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the great review of the new Malibu, Vince. I saw the car in the flesh at a local Chevrolet dealer over the weekend as I drove past, and I have to agree that it looks much better in the flesh than what I saw in photos. It really is a very striking car, and I really appreciate hearing your perspective on it. I am a 30-yo young professional and there's not a chance I would have considered a Chevrolet product before, but I too thought the car looked great in person and will definitely be willing to give it strong consideration when I'm ready to buy next spring. Thanks again.

Car and Driver (and other car magazines) are the w...

2007-11-05T08:09:58.758-08:00

Car and Driver (and other car magazines) are the worse place to find out about what to buy.
These guys compare everything to a BMW, take family cars on the track(!!!) and only care about 0 to 60.

Go ahead and read them. You'll never get an answer to the question "Should I buy one?" from them.

Many bloggers like me were invited and so far they pretty much all liked the car.
I don't really care what elitist car magazines have to say.
And if you are really in the market to buy a car, you shouldn't either...

"HA!!So there!! GM makes a better mid size family ...

2007-11-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

"HA!!

So there!! GM makes a better mid size family car than Honda and Toyota!! READ IT AND WEEP all you GM haters!!"

Ummm, What? Who says? Vince is not a professional automotive journalist. If I were going to base my future purchase off of what someone says or recommended it would be a major automotive magazine like Car and Driver and not a blogger like Vince Burlapp (no offence Vince).

Glitz and glitter can only get you so far. While this car might be more exciting than the Accord or the Camry, it certainly won't have the long term reliability or resale value of Honda or Toyota. If I were in the market for a vehicle such as this I would buy the V6 Accord and never look back.

While GM has improved by leaps and bounds they still haven't been proven yet, you all need to remember that.

MR

So GM spent money to include a shiny Chevy sill pl...

2007-11-05T01:51:00.000-08:00

So GM spent money to include a shiny Chevy sill plate, but wouldn't make a rear armrest. Typical GM laziness and stupidity.

You've not done it again, GM. And you've not earned my money again.

Don't hate GM, just don't care. Only car Honda int...

2007-11-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

Don't hate GM, just don't care. Only car Honda intestests me in is maybe the 18K CR-Z hybrid. With gas at 3.19 a gallon, and going up again, MPG rules.
Toyota? Corolla? Well, if they would hybrid-it for 19-20K.

Anyhow, no fold down rear seat armrest... Hyundai/Kia has one.

The V6 gets better MPG than this I-4.
Costs less, too.

If I need a Midsized sedan, I will stick with Sonata.
Five(5) Speed Auto-Manual shifter....not 4 speed automatic, like this "new" Malibu I-4.

No Offense Meant..buy what you like!

I think the Malibu is overwhelmingly the best look...

2007-11-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

I think the Malibu is overwhelmingly the best looking midpriced family sedan on the market. To me, the Aura is the second best looking, and I see them everywhere lately. GM has pulled-out all the stops in the past two years. They started with the Aura and improved upon that formula. If this progression continues, there is no doubt that people won't mind saying they own a "Chevrolet."

As for the criticism of the Aura, I'm pretty shocked that people think so little of the interior. I haven't driven the latest Accord, but the interiors of the Camry and Sonata just don't compete. I drive an Audi, so I'm used to great interiors. Whenever I travel on business, I try to rent an Aura when I can because it's the only car that doesn't make me feel like I'm driving a rental.

I'm not in the market for a car like the Malibu, but I wouldn't hesitate recommending it. From the reviews so far, the Malibu is going to do very very well. Kudos Chevy.

HA!!So there!! GM makes a better mid size family c...

2007-11-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

HA!!

So there!! GM makes a better mid size family car than Honda and Toyota!! READ IT AND WEEP all you GM haters!!

I see what you mean, but I didn't notice any cheap...

2007-11-04T14:36:23.270-08:00

I see what you mean, but I didn't notice any cheap feeling while using the windows.
The controls in general felt smooth and solid.

Hey vince, i'm GM all the way, but can i just say ...

2007-11-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

Hey vince, i'm GM all the way, but can i just say one thing. Don't u think the window controls seem to have a cheap feel? they definately do in the aura, impala, and the lacrosse. I'm comparing the feel and the clicking noise to the tahoe, yukon, cts, and lucerne window controls. I just wanted to put that out there because no one has ever adressed it. Maybe i'm wrong, but it would be greatly appreciated if u gave me your feedback vince. thanks.

First, thanks to all for enjoying my review.Now so...

2007-11-04T10:38:48.008-08:00

First, thanks to all for enjoying my review.
Now some answers:

-I did drive the Fusion when it came out, but just the V6.
Also a very nice car I would consider. But the interior is really a few steps behind the competition.
But the revised 2009 model will be introduced at the L.A Auto show in a couple of weeks. And it has a new interior.
I'll report on it as I will be there for the press day.

-I must say the car pictures here is the base model. The LT models and LTZ have metallic trim on the door armrests.

-I never felt the plastic front seats back because there was more than enough leg room in the 1st place.

-The Maxx is gone and will not be replaced. Apparently it was really beloved by most owners. But not enough people wanted one.
I still think if a new one could be designed to look fantastic, it would find ann audience.

-I did like the seat. For the main reason that I didn't really notice them. There is a lever for the lumbar support so you can make it firmer.
The lumbar in the Accord was really bad. Pushing into my lower back. And it could be changed.

-The rear seat is a split design.60/40.
With the back of the seats covered with a hard surface so you won't damage any soft surface.

-The Chevy name will deter many people. But think about cars like the PT Cruiser. When it came out, not now...
I remember seeing people in it who 6 months before would have never been caught dead driving a Chrysler.
Same thing for the 300.

-I never drove the G6 so I can't comment.
The steering on the 2.4 Liter is one of the 1st thing I noticed.
It was very steady on center. You could easily drive straight with your hands off. But it felt very smooth when turning. Without any of the weird fake feel most current steering systems have.
I know, I 've read the opposite from other reviews and I don't get it. It felt more like a Camry but with a bit more feel to it. A very natural feel.

i drove a g6 with electric steering and it sucked....

2007-11-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

i drove a g6 with electric steering and it sucked. did they update it?>

I doubt I'll ever see a Malibu in the metal, but I...

2007-11-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

I doubt I'll ever see a Malibu in the metal, but I think its easily the best looking US mass market car for a great many years. Chevrolet deserve to have a winner with this one.

Great review Vince. It also sounds like a pretty ...

2007-11-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

Great review Vince. It also sounds like a pretty honest one too. I agree with that center stack. The light silver looks like it does'nt belong. It reminds me of the new center stack of the new Focus. Blah! The darker one you mentioned would look better. Maybe one can get the dealer to swap it out when purchasing. I think the door panel looks good but the inside door handle and window switch look very bland. A little contrast would be nice. Overall it seems it's a very nice car though.

Vince, how was the acceleration of the 4 cylinder?

John M.

It does seem that GM has finally turned the corner...

2007-11-04T05:57:00.000-08:00

It does seem that GM has finally turned the corner. Maximum Bob has shot or locked up the accountants and let the designers and engineers finally have the most say in how a car looks, feels, and is built. This is the product that I have always believed GM could build...

How does it compare to the Ford Fusion?You are rig...

2007-11-04T05:56:00.000-08:00

How does it compare to the Ford Fusion?

You are right that the Chevy name will be a deterrent. Most people are sheep and don't want to stand out or make a bold choice they would have to explain to their friends.

If Chevy keeps in the right direction which includ...

2007-11-04T04:40:00.000-08:00

If Chevy keeps in the right direction which includes
reliability, design, and safety, maybe the Chinese won't be its future owners. I think need to add a 10 year warranty.

KIt makes me happy to see the new Malibu is a darn...

2007-11-04T03:48:00.000-08:00

KIt makes me happy to see the new Malibu is a darn great car. Too bad the lack of a wagon version will keep me away.

Vince, does the rear seat fold down, and if it doe...

2007-11-04T03:23:00.000-08:00

Vince, does the rear seat fold down, and if it does, is it a split design? Sounds very promising.

That is very important to me. I use that feature on my 98 Accord 4 door at least once every couple of weeks.

I just wish Honda put a split 60/40 rear seat in.

I first have to run the Honda into the ground before looking for a replacement. It only has 182K on it.

Vince-Thanks for telling how the seats and steerin...

2007-11-04T01:25:00.000-07:00

Vince-
Thanks for telling how the seats and steering are in the new malibu! I wasn't sure if the electric steering would be good or numb! But it sounds like you liked it. And we know you're just as picky as we are!

So basically you liked the seats? I was test driving a Ford Edge and thought those were awesome seats, yet the ones in the Saturn Aura, weren't that good, little thin on the bottom cushion. The malibu is better than the aura's seats?