Comments on: Spied: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu in detail

By: GarbageMotorsCo

GarbageMotorsCo — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:17:19 +0000

Always a rental, always will be.

By: John Landers

John Landers — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:04:54 +0000

Looks like a direct competitor to the VW Passat.
Very similar.
Except the Malibu will own the Passat on pricing and reliability.
The current Malibu, despite its hideous ugliness, is the most reliable midsized sedan on the market, according to JD Power.

By: 56oval

56oval — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 21:26:22 +0000

SCDD.

Same Chevy; Different Day.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 22:04:40 +0000

My 05 Malibu LT is 2 years old…great in the snow…never in the shop…peppy V-6… 32-34 mpg on the road and over $5,000 cheaper after rebates/offers than my parents Camry…the 08 in SS form should be a winner…buy american !!!!

By: charles lacy

charles lacy — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:04:12 +0000

current and first generation(1998-99) malibus werent bad, and thousands cheaper than overpriced imports. reliable too.

By: StanFord

StanFord — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 02:06:55 +0000

Meeh… I’m not holding my breath.

By: Jack Yan

Jack Yan — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 05:33:15 +0000

Not bad at all. I was expecting far worse, but this Chevy looks contemporary and confident.

By: V'duv Kux Klan

V'duv Kux Klan — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 03:35:26 +0000

It dosent look that bad, at last looks better than the ugly new Chrysler Avenger, lets see how the finalproduct looks

By: The Stig

The Stig — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:54:09 +0000

From what I can tell under the disguise GM may have hired Chris Bangle to design the front of the car. Something so revolutionary that it looks like a 7-series going down the road … in reverse.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:30:10 +0000

Front grill looks great! Very aggressive. I hope they change the headlights a bit…..those side markers stick out way too far! (I doubt they are the finished product though). The rest of the car looks pretty good too. A BA-ZILLION TIMES BETTER THAN THE CURRENT VERSION!!!

By: JCWhitless

JCWhitless — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:10:56 +0000

Put a pickup truck bed on the back and then call me…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:27:33 +0000

This exact hype that you GM fans have pined on this next Malibu is no different from the hype that was the current model in 2003. And look how that one turned out.

The 1997 Malibu and its corporate badgemate the Cutlass won “car of the year” from none other than MotorTrend Mbuku Kanyau so you were correct in 1997.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:23:43 +0000

This car has always been rental fodder and I’d expect no difference with the next one. Another wonder of mediocrity from the king of mediocrity that is GM.

By: Mr.Guy

Mr.Guy — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:50:16 +0000

Time for GM to reclaim the most sold car in America.

By: Delbert

Delbert — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:14:39 +0000

It sure looks better than the Camry but that wasn’t much of a task. That Camry is hideous.

It sure scares the bejezus out of the import bootlickers too, they are falling all over themselves making up excuses.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:00:05 +0000

I like it. Will it be an Accord or Camry killer? Probably not because of all the import lovers (as in this forum) unwilling to even try it. Keep in mind, Toyota has over twice the recalls (talk about quality!)this past year as GM and Honda, well I have nothing on them (although I personally don’t like their new styling trend, just me though). I just hope GM doesn’t go cheap as hell on the interior or put a pansy engine in this thing.

By: Mbuku Kanyau

Mbuku Kanyau — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 19:51:41 +0000

Can we wait and see this vehicle in production trim before we declare it better than sliced bread?

And all of u who think ToyohonNiss are holy, please think again, tables can Turn..
Just look at the new Hyundai’s GM SUV’s and Cadillac’s, Ford’s Lincolns, Jarguars, etc…

Japanese products are not unbeatable. And only a fool spend thousands of $$$ without cross shopping

So before u buy that Sonata or Accord, please go to your Mazda or Ford Dealer, and test drive the 500 or Milan, and then give Holy Honda your money.

Do not rely on Motortrend to make decisions for u. Nor your folly of brand royalty. You will end up loosing

By: Prototype66

Prototype66 — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:18:22 +0000

Plus………That car is sweet!!
Don’t lie to yourself!

By: Prototype66

Prototype66 — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:17:00 +0000

Bla bla bla blaccord yack yack yack yacamrey
When will some of you stop drinking koolaid. Imports are not all that anymore thanany other car company in this day and age. Considering the level of compititon in this terrible economic market your going to tell me GM has a “I dont give a sh#@ throw it together cheap ” attitude. Get your head out of the clouds and look back into reality dudes. Your crazy if you think quality isn’t up to par in all companies. come..on!!

By: 2006300C

2006300C — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:36:10 +0000

That front took its inspiration from the SS concept, some brightwork and a quality interior could make this a winner.

By: IamwhoIam

IamwhoIam — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:35:23 +0000

a step far above the current version. This will sell like hotcakes.

By: IamwhoIam

IamwhoIam — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:35:22 +0000

a step far above the current version. This will sell like hotcakes.

By: Joe Gakenheimer

Joe Gakenheimer — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:10:40 +0000

Not bad, similar lights as the past Impala and current Cobalt and Corvette.

By: Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:02:19 +0000

Renton….there you go again ! Yee of little faith.

By: Jimbo - G Mill$

Jimbo - G Mill$ — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:48:18 +0000

eww

nicely said jtg.

By: al

al — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:47:26 +0000

i like the tail lamps

By: jtg

jtg — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:44:55 +0000

White trash and car rental agencies, feel free to rejoice! No one with any pride would want to drive something called a “Malibu.” Another pos that will depreciate 50% within one year after purchase.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:35:58 +0000

well from what i can tell GM has another great vehicle coming up! How can anybody say at this point if its goin to be the camry or accord killer or not… come on now people.. no body knows anything about this malibu yet! Dont make judgments just because of the past Malibu sucked! They only way anybody can tell if this will hurt the carmy and accord is to wait till the details come out and/or being able to test drive one for yourself!!!

But i do think that the new malibu does look promising!

By: mth

mth — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:23:31 +0000

I agree that if Hyundai can build a Camry killer, GM can too. But this is not it. Hyundai has a shorter distance to go. When I worked for a Chevy dealer, I owned a 2004 Malibu. I liked it but I can honestly say that beyond having some unique options that the Camry and Accord do not have, there is no way they come close to the quality. The new camry looks and feels like money.

By: Quagmire

Quagmire — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:18:07 +0000

#19, this is still Epsilon I. The Epsilon II Malibu will be out in 2010. It got delayed so GM can speed up the Zeta cars. The next Impala should be on Zeta and its styling cues should be from the 60′s Impala.

#26, GM is not dumping the FWD market. The cars that are going to be RWD are the Camaro, Corvette, G8( Grand Prix replacement), GTO( if it comes back. Still a bit iffy), Impala, DTS, Lucerne/Statesmen, and possibly the Velite( if there still funds left over from the other Zeta’s).

By: GM number1-4ever

GM number1-4ever — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:14:35 +0000

Don’t you mean “Go down” to Passat Standards? I hope not!

By: Betty Swollocks

Betty Swollocks — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:12:17 +0000

RWD is great in a 3 series or sporting sedan, but I bet it wouldn’t make any of you guys buy a Malibu or Camry or Accord so stop going on about whether it is fwd or RWD as on a car like this it makes no difference. This looks way better than the current generation and may even be nearly up to Passat standards.

By: Hoof Arted

Hoof Arted — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:03:34 +0000

The fact that GM is starting to come out with very good, very competitive, very well made and very stylish cars (like the new Malibu here) will come as a nasty surprise to a lot of imports. A very nasty surprise.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:29:46 +0000

Renton, Every car it is competing against is front wheel drive, so what exactly are you talking about.

By: Garris

Garris — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:29:37 +0000

GM (and Ford, for that matter) really need to shorten their overhangs. What otherwise looks like a nice design here is instantly dated by long overhangs.

The grille, BTW, reminds me more of the recent red swoopy Chevy concept sedan (sorry, I can’t remember the name) than the Tahoe. All the rumors have been saying we’d see the noses of future Chevy sedans inspired by that concept car.

By: fromes

fromes — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:50:17 +0000

I like this, much better shape then the current model. Now if this model gets a better interior along with a more advanced engine and transmisson it could really stack up against the accord and camry.

By: GM number1-4ever

GM number1-4ever — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:17:21 +0000

actually GM is planning to make all of their cars RWD, its one of their incentives

By: Betty Swollocks

Betty Swollocks — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:16:33 +0000

I just wet myself laughing at the above comments. I’m all for competition in the market and would love to see rejuvenated GM and Ford products on my shopping list, but having only one car maker would make that maker very complacent and it would start producing shit again. #24 you should love the competition not hate it.

By: GM number1-4ever

GM number1-4ever — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:03:28 +0000

There are going to be some “Going out of business” sales at the Import stores, i can see it now! Everyone would rather have a GM vehicle than some overhyped pile of shit. Time to dump your Accord, Camry, Altima, Mazda 6 and Subaru Legacy for a real car. The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is going to kill every other vehicle on the road. The American Revolution is in full force and taking names. GM will own ALL of the competition across the globe

By: Kaptain75329

Kaptain75329 — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:59:32 +0000

It’s clear to me that GM got the hint: styling is an important part of the equation when it comes to building cars. They’ve managed to long work out the bugs in reliability, styling looks like it’s in good hands, and I can only hope they are paying every bit as much attention to interior build quality and fit & finish in general. The thing that irritates me about GM and Ford is that these new cars of theirs look great in photos but don’t stand up to the competition when you get your hands on them – you can always tell where the corners were cut just by touching the dash. If GM follows Ford’s pattern with the F-150, the Fusion, and the Mustang, then I won’t be worried.

Speaking of Ford, chuck (#16) – the Mazda6 is a Mazda. Ford is the one borrowing from them for the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln Zephyr (now known as the MKZ). The CD3 platform, of which is the basis for the Mazda6, was developed by Mazda and is being applied to other cars as Ford sees fit; they can do that because they own Mazda. Your point would be at least half correct had you mentioned a Mazda3. (Too bad we’re talking midsize cars here and not compacts.) The Mazda3 rides on the C1 platform, and that is a design developed by Ford so it can be used in the Volvo S40 and Euro Focus as well. Considering the raving praise lauded on the Mazda3, the Volvo S40, and the Euro Ford Focus, not to mention owning a 3 myself, I don’t have a problem with Ford DNA in my car. The kind of “shit” Ford is putting out is “The Shit”.

By: Bertha Venation

Bertha Venation — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:34:17 +0000

It looks better and way more VAG in detail than Hertz like the present model. Will wait to see the production version

By: Renton

Renton — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:11:15 +0000

#19 – really?

This is another lame FWD platform? AWD on a FWD platform still sucks.

GM, you are retarded.

By: v&g

v&g — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:06:39 +0000

It Does Have A Lot Of Body Mass A Crease Should Fix That. I Wish The Roof Was Alittle Lower. But If Powered Right(250-270bhp) This May Be The Car To Save Gm Or At Least Help. Until Teh Next Impala.

By: chris2

chris2 — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:54:53 +0000

It is a EPS II platform which is FWD or AWD. Not sure if they will offer the AWD on the Malibu though.

By: Carnut4ever

Carnut4ever — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:54:29 +0000

A very nice Malibu from GM. A big departure from the current boring car. It has nice stance and the body is crisp and clean. It really looks like the new Opel Omega when viewed for the first time. Very UnGM-like. I hope they follow the design lines of the Saturn/Opel design language. I agree, the “Tahoe family look” doesn’t work on cars. It makes the Five Hundred look old LOL…