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Author Topic: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu  (Read 25836 times)

Offline MKII

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #20 on: November 06, 2007, 01:59:31 pm »
Why are they designing the rear part of the front seats with this plastic incasing?
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #21 on: November 07, 2007, 03:32:23 pm »
Quote from: MKII on November 06, 2007, 01:59:31 pm
Why are they designing the rear part of the front seats with this plastic incasing?

Not sure. They may say so the rear fabric doesn't get scuffed or for the rear legroom, but I call bullocks on that. Figure it is cheaper to encase the side torso/thorax air bags, and also less finishing/engineering/cost needed to have the seat indent with the plastic than cleanly cutting/sewing and sculpted the seat with cloth like some imports. No matter, it works, just appears bulky and cheapish (the seams on the side, etc).

Nit-picking aside, this, the Enclave/Acadia, and the Saturn Astra are the best GM interiors I've seen. CTS is very nice too, but for whatever reason not in love with it. Haven't seen a Pontiac G8, but that oughtta be really different from anything else GM offers here with respect to design/components in the same way the Astra feels foreign.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2007, 06:07:40 pm by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #22 on: November 08, 2007, 04:01:04 pm »
Went today and looked at Malibu, Accord, Camry, Altima.

Malibu does rank near the top, at the top depending what strikes your fancy. Really the competitors are no further ahead, and it was a base model I tried... will be looking out for more loaded version. Seemed the rear leg room was best or near best of all I tried. Good interior design. Getting out, the side bolster seemed like it doesn't have firm enough foam in it.

Accord has by far the best instrumentation guages and buttons. Also good rear seat headroom. Front dash curve hit my knee when I got out of it. To me the styling is quite upscale, but depends on the model.

Camry (only tried the XLE, which may give it some advantage) had the most comfortable front seats. Felt very similar spacially to Malibu. Also, felt much more solid and higher quality than I remembered. Was impressed.

Altima had the worst graining on the dash, but the beige colour didn't help. I liked the front seating and I personally felt most comfortable. However, overall it felt a little older in design. Rear curved roof does hurt rear headroom.
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Cortina

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #23 on: November 11, 2007, 01:57:15 pm »
Quote from: sirAQUAMAN64 on November 08, 2007, 04:01:04 pm
Went today and looked at Malibu.

Is there really a salmon pink interior or was that just a bad photo.  :-\
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Offline Agiledood

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #24 on: November 13, 2007, 12:30:08 pm »
Quote from: Mitlov on November 03, 2007, 09:27:25 pm
The Passat called.  It'd like its taillights back.

The Malibu returned the call...it would like to know what shop the broken down Passat is being repaired at so it can drop off the lights.....which didn't work in the first place...  :rofl2:
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barrie1

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #25 on: November 14, 2007, 12:53:16 am »
 O0 O0 O0 O0 O0 :) ;D :rofl: :rofl:
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Offline rrocket

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #26 on: November 14, 2007, 12:57:43 am »
Overall design is very nice.  Interior too.  Hopefully it's reliable.....
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mdxtasy

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #27 on: November 14, 2007, 12:59:20 am »
Quote from: rrocket on November 14, 2007, 12:57:43 am
Overall design is very nice.  Interior too.  Hopefully it's reliable.....

We know the taillights won't.  ;)
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Offline Scaerio

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #28 on: November 14, 2007, 05:00:24 pm »
Quote from: Loudpedal on November 03, 2007, 10:22:00 pm
I imagine this is what would be produced if a Chinese manufacturer were to produce an automotive knockoff of an Acura TL. 

Interesting, because I think that from the rear quarter view it looks like a bigger version of the Civic...
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Offline ovr50

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #29 on: November 14, 2007, 07:19:08 pm »
I think GM has this one right on, and they deserve to sell a bunch of them - hope they do. Lot's of folks are bummed with GM product, with good reason, so this car could help restore GMs shine again.  :thumbup: :thumbup:

Beats hell out of the new Accord, IMO.  ;D
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Offline Scaerio

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #30 on: November 15, 2007, 04:05:03 pm »
Quote from: Scaerio on November 14, 2007, 05:00:24 pm
Quote from: Loudpedal on November 03, 2007, 10:22:00 pm
I imagine this is what would be produced if a Chinese manufacturer were to produce an automotive knockoff of an Acura TL. 

Interesting, because I think that from the rear quarter view it looks like a bigger version of the Civic...

But that doesn't mean that I don't like it.  It is a good looking package and deserves to do well.
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Cortina

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #31 on: November 18, 2007, 06:19:32 pm »
I'm just not sure about the backlights.  :-\





http://www.wheels.ca/article/asset/32986

Quote
2008 Chevrolet Malibu

PRICE: $22,995 - $33,610

ENGINE: 2.4 L inline-4,! 3.6 L V6

POWER/TORQUE:
169 hp/160 lb.-ft. (2.4 L ); 252 hp/251 lb.-ft. (3.6 L )

FUEL ECONOMY: (L/100km)city 9.6, hwy. 6.5 (2.4); city 12.2 city, hwy. 7.8 (V6); city 8.5, hwy. 6.2 (hybrid)

COMPETITION: Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima

WHAT’S BEST: Quiet ride, smooth engines, interior quality, good handling

WHAT’S WORST: Brake pedal feel, no Maxx version
« Last Edit: November 18, 2007, 06:21:19 pm by Cortina »
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Offline 2latecrew

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #32 on: November 18, 2007, 06:30:19 pm »
I always had a grudging admiration for the previous version Malibu as a good vlaue "transportaion appliance". Having had several of them as rentals (espcially the V6) I found them feature rich, roomy and did what wa needed to get you from point a to b. Certainly not my dream but as an appliance pretty decent.

This looks loike a jump in class in terms of interior and feel. Dissapointed they plan to seel so few V6 models. A v6 at the price of a competitor 4cyl was one of the appeals for me. I look forward to trying one as a rental.
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Cortina

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #33 on: November 18, 2007, 07:06:41 pm »
I just wish the lights look like this  :)

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mar1990

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #34 on: November 18, 2007, 07:34:11 pm »
Quote from: Cortina on November 18, 2007, 07:06:41 pm
I just wish the lights look like this  :)



I agree.  Its like one designer worked on the trunk lid, and the other worked on the rear quarter panel. And they never spoke to each other.

There is one model of BMW that is really bad for that (its a fairly recent model)  Its like there were 4 designers working on it (one for each quarter).  really hideous actually.
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Offline safristi

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #35 on: November 19, 2007, 01:58:10 pm »
It's GM's Make OR BREAK car IMHO.....a quantum leap from the Olde 'BU......butt the rear is kinda forgotten lookin' and plain Jane......US prices are $19K to $26K...hope they REDUCE the canuck ones if they wanna sell many here.
   The old 1st year Caveat applies.........is it gonna match or beat the competition ..I just wished they had BEAT...Accord...Camry and Sonata...NOT just snuggled into the same BED...................Time will TELL........a Brave effort Nonetheless.... :thumbup: :cheers:............. the Salmon interior is fer the SPAWN OF SATAN CROWD.... U NO Who U R
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Offline Dante

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #36 on: November 19, 2007, 03:02:30 pm »
I sat in one today at lunch. They have a black LTZ on display at Yorkdale Mall.
The car had the brown interior and a lot of chrome (bling) everywhere. I have to say I was impressed with the interior and little details execution. Apart from missing retractable grab handles (why GM????), everything is in place. Good materials and feel. The trunk opening may be a bit too narrow, but it's damn deep; almost I cannot even reach all the way to the back.

Nice effort GM!  :thumbup:
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binmtv

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #37 on: November 28, 2007, 03:15:28 pm »
i too like you!
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Cortina

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #38 on: November 29, 2007, 01:51:12 am »
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Offline PJungnitsch

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Re: First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
« Reply #39 on: December 08, 2007, 09:10:31 pm »
I've rented one of the older versions before, and quite liked it. Sounds like this new one is even better. Still, not everything is coming up roses....


Like a day at the beach, grit mars Malibu sun

....Impressions were colored, however, by some glitches. They are problems that no others have reported, says Malibu chief engineer Mike Meloeny.

The V-6 model was tainted by a light howl from under the hood, a vibration in the steering wheel at idle and low speed, and violent shifts by the automatic transmission in some low-gear situations.

The hybrid delivered a scare. Its powertrain kept racing and trying to fling the car forward after hard acceleration followed by firm braking. It finally required a full-on panic stop — anti-lock brakes kicking in, car nose-diving — to overcome the wildly revving engine and obey a red light. Only happened once, but …

...the hybrid got the same 18 mpg, give or take, as the other two engines. Meloeny says the hybrid would do better in stop-and-go driving.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2007-12-06-drive07-malibu_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
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