ponchoman49

I like this car too. Did you get a chance to check out mileage? I agree about the hard plastics on the dash and the weird grains used and also the sunroof without trim. I would like to see Buick add the trim around the sunroof option, eliminate the intrusive trunk hinges, add the 3.6 liter V6 as an option to the base 3800 and add the telescoping steering column from the LaCrosse at least on the better models for 2008.

It looks good. I still prefer the looks of the Acadia/Outlook better though.

Toyota: Moving in the wrong direction

If the bland nerdy looking 07 Elentra is anything to go by for current design language for Hyundai, I can't see this doing very well. The Azera is hardly stunning either with it's odd frumpy rear end.

I'm hoping when this does move to NA, they give it more Pontiac like tail lights and less Asian like side styling. The rest of the car is good but these issues need to be addressed.

I'm real partial to my 1982 Regal Sport Coupe and most any 1978-1987 Regal. Mine has 2-tone dark blue/light blue paint, T-tops, bucket seats/floor shifter, the 3.8 liter carbed turbo and is loaded with options. It is currently being restored but hopefully I will have some pics this summer when it is done.

I'm going out on a limb here: the new Malibu looks very much like a Jetta or VW in general and that is one of many problems I have with it. It looks very sterile and generic/germanic which some may like and others may not. The generic exterior totally clashes with the american influenced interior which is much better overall executed IMO. About the only exterior part I like on this new 08 Malibu is the front end treatment which looks bold and gives a distinctive look. It's a shame that didn't transfer into the rest of the body. The lack of bodyside moldings is not only a dumb move(just like the Camry and Jetta of course) but it just draws attention to the overall blandness and leaves the whole side of the car unprotected to an unforgiving world. The rear end treatment could have been penned by Kia or Mitsubishi and just doesn't say Chevrolet to me. The interior is nice but I will reserve final judgement on it's quality after checking out many examples. What does stand out is the lack of overhead grab handles, lacks of rear seat heat ducts and the obviously missing rear seat center armrest. No Nav screen, bluetooth, keyless start and some of the nifty features of the Chrysler C-body Sebring/Avenger certainly won't go unnoticed in comparisons. Neither will the fuel economy of the V6 which, using the old rating system from the identical Aura powertrain, is 20/28 versus 22/32 for the current Malibu and 22/31 for the Camry and 20/30 for the Sonota and 22/30 for the Optima. And the 2 biggest problems I have with the new 08 Malibu- no more Maxx which offered something that the other class segment leaders never had and several smaller interior dimensions compared to the smaller, shorter wheelbase 04-07 Malibu sedan! This is, I fear, one of those cars that will not stand up well for internet comparisons to it's competitors when cross shopping online, even if it does drive nice and accellerate better than before and seems to follow the current trend of when less tries to be more.

They always make lots of excuses but the real problem is that this is a sorry excuse of a pickup truck!

Toyota: Moving nowhere!

It still looks ok in a fad age of overly long side air extracters and no bodyside moldings.

It looks like a green high top sneaker. I'll pass.

How sad! Is car design coming to this? If cars start looking this dumb and futuristic, I will never buy a new car again.

What is wrong with the name Regal. That name can be used on both NA and Canadian models, doesn't mean masterbation in French and doesn't use up 2 names for one car which is ludicrous. Also LeSabre was on the best seller list for 10 years running. Can the Lucerne say that?

3800/4 speed automatic

The front looks odd and a bodyside molding would go far in breaking up the bland side but we should have more wagon choices and this would be a good one to have available.

Time for bed junior!

The 4.3 liter V6 diesel was offered from 1982-1985 so the Regal would have the 5.7 liter smoker V8.

Those wheels are atrocious!

How did they manage to downgrade the 3500 to 215 hp for 2008 when for 2007 it has 224 in the Aura/G6 and 217 in the Malibu?

Notice there is no talk about the transmission. Even GM is embarressed that it still used 4 speed automatics for 2008 on luxury cars.

This needs to be freshened very soon. A car with fantasy land pricing needs to look a bit more impressive than this.

A better effert than the STS, especially the interior. Bet it still has the exact same engines and seriously outdated 4 speed automatic though.

They didn't go far enough. A special edition/Platinum should have a nice chrome bodyside door molding, more distintive front end treatment and a nice interior. This car is so sterile like a cold hard German car that it virtually goes unnoticed at several local dealerships. Meanwhile the Escalade and DTS are being snapped up like crazy because they LOOK like Cadillacs.

The Tundra looks like a child designed it's exterior and interior. Time for Toyota to hire back the adults.

Wow, it's amazing that GM has the money and resources to spend on this fancy technology yet 2008 Grand Prix/LaCrosse W-bodies are still being made with 3800's and 4 speed automatics!