ponchoman49

Less costly to build, about 5 MPG more in real world driving, 3 better in the rating for highway, smaller and less complex and probably lighter too.

Wow the base V6 G8 is rated for only 17/25. Thats only one better than the much higher powered V8 model and poor by todays standards. The Saturn Aura and Malibu 3.6 engines are also rated low at 26 highway. Why is this engine so thirsty?

Be sure to wash your hands thouroughly after handling with that lead paint and all.

It will be here in time for $5.00/per gallon gas.

Whoops, I meant to say folding rear armrest. I fixed it in my previous post. Also I doubt that the base LS Malibu with larger std tires and stability conrol will still be $19995 for 2009.

Never heard of this before now. Those 4 door Malibus of that time period were very nice driving cars and had a trunk that would put the current Malibu to shame. I never cared for the 229 V6 Chevy engine though. They were underpowered like the Buick 231 and seldom ever ran very well when the miles started accumulating. I did drive a really clean 1981 maroon Classic 4 door sedan with the 267 2BBL V8 and that ran much smoother and stronger than the 229. Would be interesting to see how the 4 speed stick drove with the 229.

(MX0) Automatic transmission is now the standard and only transmission on 1LT Sedan and 2LT Sedan Strange that they would eliminate the 5 speed stick on there volume selling 1LT and 2LT Cobalt sedans. Also why delete power pedals from the Malibu? They already killed the useful fold flat passenger seat on the Malibu line and now the power pedals are going. Why does the Malibu need 17" tires std on base LS models? That and the std stability control is going to drive the base price up to nearly 21K with destination which is too high and it still uses the old 4 speed automatic and doesn't have a fold down rear armrest or overhead assist handles which is lame. The addition of bluetooth is a good thing but I hope we didn't sacrifice power pedals to get it!

Now the only way to tell the year of a car is when it is an all new model redesign or by missing/decontented items that the previous years version had. Take the Impala for instants. The 2006 model had std bodyside moldings, dual rear seat map pockets and an 8-way power drivers seat. The 2008 model looks identical but look closer and you will no longer see that bodyside molding unless it's ordered as an option. The 8-way power seat gives way to a cheaper 6-way with manual recliner and only the passenger seat gets a map pocket on the lower end LS and LT models. The interiors of todays cars are all very similar with the same ol same ol gray, black and tan no color like in the 90's or earlier cars. Grilles/tail lights etc are rarely ever changed and todays cars are plainer than ever on the outside with styling on some at an all time low. It would be so nice to see some brand distinction again with nice round tail lights on Impalas and Malibus, some interior color choices like red, white and blue, a return to some exterior trim to spice up the oh so bland plain cookie cutter exteriors and yearly changes to identify model years.

Sadly the 09 Impala looks to be a re-run of the 06-08 versions. They really should have done something about the seats and upped the 3.5 to 224 HP as in the G6/Aura. As you mentioned some round taillights would have been nice and maybe a more eye catching Malibu like front end could round out the picture.

I wish they would make bodyside moldings an option or bundled into an option package like the Charger does. Anything to dress up the rather plain dull sides of the vehicle.

I can tell you that is a very rare to find a Bonneville of this vintage with bucket seats, floor shifter, limited slip, guages and sport steering wheel. If that was me ordering that car back in 79, I would have ordered it with the 5.7 liter 350 4 BBL V8 in place of the silly vinyl roof, the RTS ride and handling suspension and the Pontiac rally IV wheels with red Pontiac center crests in place of the horrid heavy wire wheel hub caps. This car with those options is really sharp and colorful and in sharp contrast to todays bland generic colorless sedans with there gray interiors. These cars also ride like a dream. I would also be very leary of that 301 4BBL with 152,000 miles. They were known for weak bottom ends, timing chain failure and cam and lifter issues. Of course this all may have already been done to this engine anyways but was never mentioned in the writeup.

Other than the Aveo 5 hatch, 6 speed/4 banger on the Bu, DI V6's in the Lambdas, updates 2.2 Ecotecs and SS supercharged 2.0 in Cobalts and the 50th Ann Impala, 09 looks to be yet another re-run year for GM.

There is nothing wrong with offering chrome wheels as an option. Just because it isn't the latest fad doesn't mean that everybody has to suffer because it isn't the latest "in" thing. It's all about choice. There are traditional buyers that may want the extra flash and elegance that chrome offers and there are those that like the plain generic monotone look that few will notice. The Malibu offers lots of choice. Chrome or plain. Bodyside moldings or no moldings. Many different interior color combinations. 3 different wheel sizes, 2 different engines and now trannys etc. More car companies need ot start offering the consumer more choices like this instead of the same ol crap that has been dished out for the past 10 years or so.

I think this will do quite well if the base price is considerably lower than the other Lambdas and kudos for the Malibu inspired interior, bodyside moldings, dash and blending in of the best design elements from the Enclave and Acadia.

I noticed that the 08 Charger and 300 with the 2.7 engine are now downrated to only 178 HP. This engine started out with 200 HP in 1998 then was downgraded to 190 in the Magnum and 300C, then down to 189 HP in the 2008 Sebring and Avenger and now 178 for the Charger and 300. You would think that Chrysler would be trying to find ways to upgrade this engine or at least keep it consistent with it's 1998 editions. I remember having my dads 1999 Lumina 160 HP 3100 V6 and my buddy had a 2007 Charger 2.7 190 Hp rental and we raced from light to light and I always beat him by a full car length each time! And the Lumina has over 150K miles on it! Weight seems to be the issue with these cars and sticking the 4 speed automatic in 2.7 base cars and now RWD 3.5 SXT's is really hurting this car even further. I drove a 2007 magnum SXT wagon with the 3.5 and 5 speed automatic and that tranny really kept that engine in it's powerband. Now granted the 2.7/4 speed automatic is probably fine for the proverbial old lady going to the store but I would have liked to see Chrysler keep the 200 HP rating and stick a 5 speed automatic as std equipment for a few extra hundred bucks. As for the rest of the car, I always liked the styling of the Charger and applaud Chrysler for baking up something different than the rental car generic look of a CamCord or Sonata. This car is very powerfull looking, despite the lackluster 2.7 underhood on most rental cars, rides awesome and has very good handling and stability. The interior has a few quirks but is roomy and comfortable and the trunk is plenty big enough. I would consider the RWD SXT model with the 3.5 but it now comes with only the 4 speed automatic. They should at least make the 5 speed an option.

Tone down the front end a little and throw a bodyside molding on her and I would buy one. Make mine a 3.6 DI with 6 speed automatic.

What kind of gas mileage are you seeing with it. Just curious....

The grille is odd and the interior hardly looks any different but the outside looks pretty good and less bland than some other competitors such as the Lexus ES series.

The new Malibu does not have more rear seat legroom than the Impala. I know because my buddy actually owned a 2007 Impala 3LT before it was sadly totaled on the thruway. Both cars are rated at 37.6 and my tall friend with the seat adjusted where he is comfortable has the rear seatbacks of both touching my knees back there. The Impala as I stated above has more interior volume and greater width which shows up right away when squeezing 3 people into the back seat of the Malibu vs 3 people sitting with arms touching in the Impala. Styling is very subjective. Personally neither me or my friend cared for the Malibus rear end treatment and without the optional bodyside moldings the side of the car looks rather plain and bland. Sure the Malibu has less of a front and rear overhang and has a longer wheelbase. Too bad that longer wheelbase translates into LESS rear legroom, trunk space, shoulder room and much greater weight compared to my 2007 Malibu LT. Motor Trend, Car & Driver and CR ranked Malibu midpick in real world tests not quick walk by glances based on styling judgements or emotional appeal. My buddys 3LT 3900 handled amazingly well and we never felt the need for better cornering prowess. The suspension handles every bump really well and the ride is very quiet. The W-body cars I have owned have been very reliable and rattle free. My 2007 Epsion Malibu with only 27K has already developed front end rattles, intermediate steering shaft failure and replacement and now the drivers side strut is making noise everytime I make a left hand turn. All this and I baby the car. The new Bu is based on the longer wheelbase Maxx that suffered the same rattles and noises according to many on the forums. We have g-forced his Impala with it's old fashioned outdated pushrod 3900 and outdated 4 speed automatic tranny more times than I care to remember and it consistently averages out to 6.3-6.4 seconds 0-60. The new Malibu with it's fancy DOHC twin cam engine and 6 speed automatic did the same run on the same roads in 6.2-6.3 seconds which is a small difference. That 3900 can really get you into trouble quick on the highway because the Impala is so quiet and you really have to look down to see how fast your going. That revvy DOHC V6 and 6 speed automatic are great on paper and the automotive journalists love them because they are trendy but in real world the Malibu gets worse gas mileage, costs more to make and outright performance is pretty darn close. Plus the 4 speed automatic always shifts smooth and is right there when you need it. The Malibu and Auras we have driven with the 6 speed didn't always shift smoothly and always had the engine revving which grew annoying in hilly terain. This is a well documented fact in many write ups of both of those Epsilon cars. Yes the DOHC V6 is quieter and more refined, I will give you that.

It's going to take a lot more than a rebadged Holden and the new Toyota Vibe before I will break out the champagne.

It's interesting all the hate piled on the old fashioned low tech outdated W-body. But lets take a look at the all new Malibu with way more modern Epsilon underpinnings a DOHC V6 and modern 6 speed automatic. Impala LT V6 3.9 V6 vs Malibu LT V6 3.6 V6 mileage 18/28 17/26 weight 3637 3649 trunk cu.ft. 18.6 15.1 passengers 5/6 5 V8 option model yes no overhead assist grips yes no flip and fold rear seat with rear center armrest yes no passenger volume cu.ft 104.5 97.7 wheelbase 110.5 112.3 length 200.4 191.8 width 72.9 70.3 fuel tank 17 16.4 Sure the Malibu has a prettier interior look, a telescoping wheel and is a few ticks quicker to 60 but the old W-body seems to stack up better in most other catagories compared to the all new Malibu.

So now Toyota needs 5 SUVs, the RAV 4, this ugly thing, the Highlander, the Saquoa and the land Cruiser. Talk about not being green. Throwing all your eggs in the SUV basket is not going to make Toyota the green friendly division like they make themselves out to be.

I grew up during the 70's and 80's and had to live with a 85 HP Fairmont (my first car) a 110 HP 231 gutless Cutlass, a 140 HP 301 2BBL Lemans, 140 HP 307 Cutlasses etc. They were all dogs but at the time they seemed ok as everything else was slow. 1983 saw the 190 HP HO 305 F-bodies which seemed like race cars along with the 175 HP 5.0 Mustangs. 1984 saw the birth of the fuel injected Buick turbo 3.8 in the T-Types and Grand Nationals but it wasn't until 1986 that saw the return of a true powerhouse in the form of the intercooled turbo 3.8 GN's and the fortified TPI 350 Vettes. Who could forget the 1989 Trans Am pace car with a Buick intercooled turbo and 250 underrated HP. Yes cars were pretty slow during the 80's but there were some pretty quick ones too. And lets not forget that cars back then didn't have 100 airbags, ABS, AWD, 18" tires, 200 lbs of insulation and side guard door beems to make them so heavy like todays cars. A full sized car like a Olds 98 or Buick Electra from 85-90 only weighted 3200-3300 lbs. Vettes were little more than 3000 lbs. Mid sizers like the Celebrities weighted 2700 lbs and Cavaliers were in the 2500 lb ballpark.

Quote:Shortly after that initial production run, Dodge will be offering three versions of the Challenger as 2009 models. The base model will be powered by a 3.5L V6 and will be mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The 3.5L will be replaced by Chrysler's upcoming 4.0L Phoenix V6, but probably not until the 2011 model year Actually it looks like only the base much cheaper priced V6 model will have a 4 speed automatic. The V8's all come with a 5 speed auto.

The silly fender crease, vent and slab sided plain look is getting so old and tired and done to death as is the asinine letter name nonsense.