2008 Malibu

[Intrepidation]

I much prefer the Malibus current styling to the 07 Camry. The Camry is just all wrong in it's front pig snout and melted bar of chocolate rear end look, it's interior that doesn't always fit together with all the gaps, it's smaller trunk, it's lacl of door protection/decoration and now it's problematic tranny. The Malibu is hardly perfect either with it's less powerfull 3500 V6 to Toyotas new 3.5, lack of a 5 or 6 speed automatic(even though GM's is smoother and a bit more troublefree), terrible seat material and a very unintegrated center stack. But I always like how the Malibu dove better than the Toyota and it does get slighly better highway mileage with the V6 plus it looks a bit crisper than the bland Camry.

I don't care for the new Camry's styling, but it's lightyears better than the fugly Malibu (inside and out). Especially in S trim where it get's lower body cladding and a blacked out grill instead of the damn fish gill grill.

Even the old Cmry looked better, and that's saying a lot.

Hell, a damn Scin xB looks better, and I hate those!

Edited April 26, 2006 by Dodgefan

[regfootball]

i was struggling today to come up with any decent looking mid size to large sedan with a nice interior and great powertrain (and with available manual/v6 or v8) for working man's wages.

there isn't any. either the styling sucks, or the interior sucks, or the engine sucks.

even with all these choices, none of them jump out as obvious answers to the question a lot of folks ask.

that the Honda in its mediocre styling but with nice interior has to win this title by default is disappointing.

Edited April 27, 2006 by regfootball

[Intrepidation]

i was struggling today to come up with any decent looking mid size to large sedan with a nice interior and great powertrain (and with available manual/v6 or v8) for working man's wages.

there isn't any.  either the styling sucks, or the interior sucks, or the engine sucks.

even with all these choices, none of them jump out as obvious answers to the question a lot of folks ask.

that the Honda in its medicore styling but with nice interior has to win this title by default is disappointing.

While I know you will hate this, and I can already picture your response, the Sonata fits the bill pretty well. You get a nice interior (I've sat in one, it's nice, don't tell me it's a PoS), you can get a decent V6, with a 5-speed automatic, and it looks pretty good. And on top of that, it's well priced.

[Flybrian]

While I know you will hate this, and I can already picture your response, the Sonata fits the bill pretty well. You get a nice interior (I've sat in one, it's nice, don't tell me it's a PoS), you can get a decent V6, with a 5-speed automatic, and it looks pretty good. And on top of that, it's well priced.

If he's interested in one, why not wait another year until Enterprise does another fleet buy and clears out all their '06 Sonatas?

Yes, Virginia, they fleet the hell out of these crates.

[Snate]

i was struggling today to come up with any decent looking mid size to large sedan with a nice interior and great powertrain (and with available manual/v6 or v8) for working man's wages.

there isn't any.  either the styling sucks, or the interior sucks, or the engine sucks.

even with all these choices, none of them jump out as obvious answers to the question a lot of folks ask.

that the Honda in its medicore styling but with nice interior has to win this title by default is disappointing.

I hear that. What about the 07 Altima or Aura?

Edit: The aura doesn't have a stick available...so nm.

Edited April 27, 2006 by Snate

[haypops]

Isn't the Saab 9-3 close. It's a little small and a little pricey (even with limited standard colors) but close.

[Sixty8panther]

I liked the new Malibu when it first came out.  Its upright stance and rear end styling reminded me of the '55 Shoebox. 

Funny you say that... I said it was like a 21st century 57 Bel Air with the 69 Camaro

style speed lines on the feners.

[regfootball]

sonata

bad interior, no manual, bland exterior (mostly the front end sucks).

no sports suspension package. like so many others, its only 1/2 to 2/3 of the total package.

While I know you will hate this, and I can already picture your response, the Sonata fits the bill pretty well. You get a nice interior (I've sat in one, it's nice, don't tell me it's a PoS), you can get a decent V6, with a 5-speed automatic, and it looks pretty good. And on top of that, it's well priced.

[regfootball]

If he's interested in one, why not wait another year until Enterprise does another fleet buy and clears out all their '06 Sonatas?

Yes, Virginia, they fleet the hell out of these crates.

ROTFLMAO!!!!

exactly. the new 'grand am'. college kids all over will be buyen um.

all i would have to do is pick up one from the hertz near my house. they have like 6 of them and its a small rental outlet. sonatas camrys and corollas in greater abundance than Tauri.

[regfootball]

I hear that.  What about the 07 Altima or Aura?

Edit:  The aura doesn't have a stick available...so nm.

07 altima interior does not enthuse me and looks a little cheeseball. the styling is too similar and in some ways exactly like the current alt and maxima.

[regfootball]

Isn't the Saab 9-3 close.  It's  a little small and a little pricey (even with limited standard colors) but close.

the linear is in the ballpark pricewise. the 9-3 has begun to look dull to me, inside and out and is smaller than a real midsize. the v6 turbo is too pricey.

the aura is about as close as it gets now, except no stick with V^ and I'd not prefer Chrome on the trim. Plus, the interior is a bit overdone and has a cheap GM center stack.

[Intrepidation]

sonata

bad interior, no manual, bland exterior (mostly the front end sucks).

no sports suspension package.  like so many others, its only 1/2 to 2/3 of the total package.

The exterior is bland, but it ain't ugly like the PoS Malibu, bloated like the Accord, odd looking like the new Camry, or as bland as a Ford 500. The interior is not cheap, It's got better quality materials than the Malibu and a better design. I've seen both, sat in both, the Maibu is cheap. The Sonata doesn't have a manual in V6 form, but in the midsize segment, how many buyers want a manual? Target customers for the most part don't. For those who do, get the new Altima, which is far superior to any of the mentioned cars. I like the Fusion better than all these though. Anyway, a lot of buyers, who don't want or care about a manual aren't gonna go carving the twisties. It handles fine for the segement, not class leading, but better than a LaCrosse or a malibu or a 500 (which has no manual or sport suspension option) I bet.

ROTFLMAO!!!! 

exactly.  the new 'grand am'.  college kids all over will be buyen um.

all i would have to do is pick up one from the hertz near my house.  they have like 6 of them and its a small rental outlet.  sonatas camrys and corollas in greater abundance than Tauri.

I never said I wanted a Sonata, I'd much prefer a Caliber SRT-4, Charger, 300C, Magnum, or Challenger or Sky....or maybe the new Avenger/Sebring..those look promising. Or maybe the new Altima.

Still, I will defend the car because it's a good car, and better than many of the cars in this segment. A lot of you guys who hate this thing seem baised against it just because it's from Hyundai, if the Malbu was anywhere near as good, or even if it had a Malibu badge on it, I bet you'd be singing a different tune. It's not a bad car, it's not a poorly built car, it's not at the top of the class but it's far from the bottom.

Edited April 27, 2006 by Dodgefan

[Snate]

The restyled Malibu is a MUCH better looking car than the Sonata...the pre 06 ones I could see...but not the new ones. The Sonata is far too derivative...escort front and accord rear.

Interior is a wash. The Sonata looks more upscale...Malibu will probably look better 10K miles down the line.

Powertrains are a wash too. Sonata has slightly more power and is more "techie"...Malibu will be more reliable and get significantly better mileage.

Both cars are heavily fleeted so resale is unknown.

[Intrepidation]

The restyled Malibu is a MUCH better looking car than the Sonata...the pre 06 ones I could see...but not the new ones.  The Sonata is far too derivative...escort front and accord rear. 

Interior is a wash.  The Sonata looks more upscale...Malibu will probably look better 10K miles down the line. 

Powertrains are a wash too.  Sonata has slightly more power and is more "techie"...Malibu will be more reliable and get significantly better mileage.

Both cars are heavily fleeted so resale is unknown.

5-speed VS 4-speed mhmm...

How do you get an Escort front end out of the Sonata? Are you stoned? Accord rear end I can see, but IMO it looks like what the Accord's butt should hav been. Plus all kinds of cars use that rear end style. Pick a bunch of recently redesigned Lexus'

While the restyled Malibu is an improvement over of braces whereing ones, it's still ugly everywhere else. And what proof do you have it's interior will hold up better 10k miles down the road, when we saw pictures of another GM product, the Lucerne, with a loose headliner. This is froma brand new "premium" car at an autoshow. Doesn't bode well for the budget car from Chevy.

[Snate]

5-speed VS 4-speed mhmm...

Right...the Sonata will be somewhat faster but at the expense of 4-5 MPG...I'd say the number of gears is irrelevant.

How do you get an Escort front end out of the Sonata? Are you stoned?  Accord rear end I can see, but IMO it looks like what the Accord's butt should hav been. Plus all kinds of cars use that rear end style. Pick a bunch of recently redesigned Lexus'

The escort connection is pretty obvious and the rear...well saying more cars than the accord have it doesn't exactly help the "derivative" styling argument

While the restyled Malibu is an improvement over of braces whereing ones, it's still ugly everywhere else. And what proof do you have it's interior will hold up better 10k miles down the road, when we saw pictures of another GM product, the Lucerne, with a loose headliner. This is froma brand new "premium" car at an autoshow. Doesn't bode well for the budget car from Chevy.

Using an example of an autoshow car doesn't work out too well...imagine how many hands are on those cars. I sat in an accord at the Chicago auto show that was falling apart...but I've been in them before so I knew it was just lots of people playing with it.

I've been in Sonatas and Malibus after they are released from the fleet...like I said the Sonatas are falling apart...the Malibus aren't much better but they are. Altimas are the worst...then again they 02-06 ones have horrible interior quality so thats no surprise.

[Intrepidation]

Right...the Sonata will be somewhat faster but at the expense of 4-5 MPG...I'd say the number of gears is irrelevant.

The escort connection is pretty obvious and the rear...well saying more cars than the accord have it doesn't exactly help the "derivative" styling argument

Using an example of an autoshow car doesn't work out too well...imagine how many hands are on those cars.  I sat in an accord at the Chicago auto show that was falling apart...but I've been in them before so I knew it was just lots of people playing with it.

I've been in Sonatas and Malibus after they are released from the fleet...like I said the Sonatas are falling apart...the Malibus aren't much better but they are.  Altimas are the worst...then again they 02-06 ones have horrible interior quality so thats no surprise.

Show me this escort that looks so much like it please. Also, I can pull out a bunch of other cars that are dierivative. The Malibu is unique...in the worst possible way.

Think I'll check out my neighbor's Sonata when it hits 10K and see if it's "falling apart"

[regfootball]

Jesus, every 3-4 weeks I am forced to bring up old Escort pics again

ebay-escort

Snate notices it too. the thing is derived from the design of the old escort!

5-speed VS 4-speed mhmm...

How do you get an Escort front end out of the Sonata? Are you stoned? Accord rear end I   can see, but IMO it looks like what the Accord's butt should hav been. Plus all kinds of cars use that rear end style. Pick a bunch of recently redesigned Lexus'

While the restyled Malibu is an improvement over of braces whereing ones, it's still ugly everywhere else. And what proof do you have it's interior will hold up better 10k miles down the road, when we saw pictures of another GM product, the Lucerne, with a loose headliner. This is froma brand new "premium" car at an autoshow. Doesn't bode well for the budget car from Chevy.

Edited April 28, 2006 by regfootball

[Intrepidation]

Jesus, every 3-4 weeks I am forced to bring up old Escort pics again

ebay-escort

Snate notices it too.  the thing is derived from the design of the old escort!

Ok, dude...you need your eyes checked. How can a vehicle that is rounded off at every edge look like a vehicle with hard edges? Unless by similar you mean headlights a grill a logo and a bumper, then yes, they are similar.

[Flybrian]

A lot of you guys who hate this thing seem baised against it just because it's from Hyundai...

That's somewhat right. I dislike it because its Korean, which in this case does not refer to country of origin but to design. The inside is filled with parts bin leftovers, chintzy center stack readouts, ugly deadplates on "loaded" models, an awkward and downright ugly radio positioning, weird ignition cylinder angle, asymmetrical cutlines running all over the place, ill-located hazard/airbag display, and worst of all, the same f-in seventy-five cent TIMEX travel clock that's graced every Hyundai since the Excel.

[Focusst]

In the words of wagnor "How can a company sell a rolling toaster?" the scion XB. Scion shocked me more than the Altima. When i first saw a XB on the news i nearly craped my pants think wow that thing would never sell. Yet some idoits went out and bought those ugly ass POS's. Amazing!

Just proves the point that if GM's new Malibu is to be an ox pulling a cart there would be some yo yo's that buy them because they look different or some would say "they are so cute." The car market will always have the idiot buyers. Inescapable.

[regfootball]

That's somewhat right. I dislike it because its Korean, which in this case does not refer to country of origin but to design. The inside is filled with parts bin leftovers, chintzy center stack readouts, ugly deadplates on "loaded" models, an awkward and downright ugly radio positioning, weird ignition cylinder angle, asymmetrical cutlines running all over the place, ill-located hazard/airbag display, and worst of all, the same f-in seventy-five cent TIMEX travel clock that's graced every Hyundai since the Excel.

^

aside from that, the side glass and pillars are almost dead ringers from escort to sonata. the front end is very close with slight difference in the grille and headlights. the rear flanks are similar but a little crisper.