Traded in the Accord....

Hi, All

So after talking and thinking about it for a while I did it. I traded in my 07 SE V6 for a 08 Malibu (V6).

It was not an easy desicion. Accord had a lot to offer in the driveability department. What killed it was the constant rattles/squeaks. That stuff was popping out unpredictably with no rhyme or reason. Going to the dealer was mostly a waste of time. I did a fair bit of DYI as well, but only a certain number of them were succesful, so the feeling of satisfaction of DIY was owerweighed by the feeling of frustration.

So, to make long story short. Honda Accord is not my kind of car. Honda is not my kind of car company. While it certainly is a refined drive, it was just not enough for me. I don't want to bash Honda here because, ultimately, it's a personal desicion. I can see how what is a deal breaker for me is a no more than a minor flaw for somebody else.

Driveaccord comunity is great. I have come to appreciate it during the past year and I will stay here, much like Stephencrosby :) Communities like driveaccord are hard to come by.

Yury

It's a shame, but it's true, Hondas have more rattles than they should. :thumbsdow

I wish you the best of luck with your Malibu. And stick around, even though you don't have your Accord anymore you can still contribute a lot to this forum :yes:

Yury,

According to man rules, it didn't happen unless you can prove it with pictures.

Really, I am anxious to see your overall opinion of the car and that 3.6L V6.

It's a shame, but it's true, Hondas have more rattles than they should. :thumbsdow

I wish you the best of luck with your Malibu. And stick around, even though you don't have your Accord anymore you can still contribute a lot to this forum :yes:

Thanks!
Will definitley stick around :) I like this forum a lot:)

Yury,

According to man rules, it didn't happen unless you can prove it with pictures.

Really, I am anxious to see your overall opinion of the car and that 3.6L V6.

Steven, next week after I pick it up :) Most likely I will do a shoot next weekend :)

At this point I only have an impression from a test drive. Positive obviously :)
The motor is pretty punchy and the car feels solid and composed. Low end tourque is there for sure. At some point I was getting off the light. Pushed the gas somewhat conservatively, the engine didn't rev up that much but I noticed the car in the right lane just float back :)

The 6 speed is pretty smooth. Like the fact that it has a paddleshift, although I am not going to use it that often I am afraid :) But it definitely appeals to my inner auto geek :)

I will post more when I get some seat time in the car.

Constant squeaks & rattles would turn me off to any car, Honda or otherwise. I'm also anxious to see the new one.

What trim level did you get? I really like the LTZ myself.

Yury, you are right to say what is minor for me may be a deal breaker for you... however, am glad that you're sticking around.

+1 on the "anxious waiting" of your reviews on the malibu. it was my 2nd choice...

P.S. Yury

I subscribed to this thread and expect these photos to be of a "professional" nature since your other photos are nothing short of amazing :)

No cell phone photos will do! :D

What trim level did you get? I really like the LTZ myself.

I got 2LT + Lt Performance Package. It's pretty close to LTZ, but less expensive.

P.S. Yury

I subscribed to this thread and expect these photos to be of a "professional" nature since your other photos are nothing short of amazing :)

No cell phone photos will do! :D

Thanks, I'll see what I can do :) BTW, I don't even have a cell phone with a camera right now, my Sony Ericsson developed a problem and now is being repaired :)

Best of luck with it. GM is finally coming around. I like the looks of the new Malibu!

I just traded my Accord for the same reason, although I went over to a VW GTI (totally different direction). My car had more problems than just squeeks and rattles - I figured if I'm going to drive something unreliable, it might as well be fun and unreliable. Good luck with the Malibu, if I need to jump back into a sedan that's where I'm going to go as well!

The Malibu and Accord are vastly different rides. Everything from noise, ride comfort, engine performance is different. The Malibu is for those who want to go from A to B in quietly, comfortably while the 7th Accord is for those who want to know what is going on under the wheels. I've driven the 3.6 V6 LTZ and its just not my kind of ride. Its not a fast revving engine and lively to me. Plenty of torque though. Good luck with it.

The Malibu and Accord are vastly different rides. Everything from noise, ride comfort, engine performance is different. The Malibu is for those who want to go from A to B in quietly, comfortably while the 7th Accord is for those who want to know what is going on under the wheels. I've driven the 3.6 V6 LTZ and its just not my kind of ride. Its not a fast revving engine and lively to me. Plenty of torque though. Good luck with it.

This is true.

It also bothers me that the gauges don't even have a redline...

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2008/Chevrolet/2008.chevrolet.malibu.20149420-E.jpg

I like to be fully informed when I'm looking at my dash... just a qwerky need of mine I guess. IMO, it might as well not even have a tachometer.

I find that interesting being that with the AT's anymore, you have no control of what is going on even if you can see the information. New cars are not going to let you far into the redline of a motor unless you buy a true Manual tranny (which is not available in the 3.6L V6 Malibu).

I find that interesting being that with the AT's anymore, you have no control of what is going on even if you can see the information. New cars are not going to let you far into the redline of a motor unless you buy a true Manual tranny (which is not available in the 3.6L V6 Malibu).

true. however I do find modern ATs very adequate for real life. keep in mind that I was a die-hard manual guy for years. Grew old I guess, no longer see the point in all the tedios work :)

on the other hand even Accord's traditional AT setup is quite good in mountains. We took a trip to Laurentians last year and I swear I couldn't do better with a strick. I am, of course talking about doing D3 and 2 shifts.

I'm a manual guy as well, but the truck is a 6AT. Being that they don't sell a manual and towing is much better with an automatic made me okay with the tranny choice. Acutally, this tranny is very smart and I've been impressed in my year of ownership.

I hear lots of good things about that 3.6L V6 and GM is using it in all of their upscale models (CTS, Arcadia/Outlook, Aura) and the quiet interior is a very nice change from Honda's distinct road noise.

The Malibu and Accord are vastly different rides. Everything from noise, ride comfort, engine performance is different. The Malibu is for those who want to go from A to B in quietly, comfortably while the 7th Accord is for those who want to know what is going on under the wheels. I've driven the 3.6 V6 LTZ and its just not my kind of ride. Its not a fast revving engine and lively to me. Plenty of torque though. Good luck with it.

Yeah, they are defferent. but Malibu not quite your dad's Buick, it's quite composed and quick.

Anyway, I think all cars have their personalities, and for me it's often the case that I can like 2 abolutely different ones, each one for their strenghts. That's why I have no problem leaving Honda's driving characteristics behind.

I'm a manual guy as well, but the truck is a 6AT. Being that they don't sell a manual and towing is much better with an automatic made me okay with the tranny choice. Acutally, this tranny is very smart and I've been impressed in my year of ownership.

I hear lots of good things about that 3.6L V6 and GM is using it in all of their upscale models (CTS, Arcadia/Outlook, Aura) and the quiet interior is a very nice change from Honda's distinct road noise.

My stance of manuals now rather philosophical at this point :)
The way human-machine interaction is going is automation with adequate override. While humas are good at certain types of desicion making, we are extremely slow and unreliable compared to mechanisms. I've been watching May Day lately and I see that commercial aviation figured this out long time ago.
So...in my mind a good system is the one that is intuitive and transparent and allows a human jump in at any point and intervene. Stick is definitely not that. Part of the driver's function is pure mechanical and the shifting process is way to slow and clunky. Well, on a racetrack you can hassle and shift real well...but not going home afte after 8 hours in the office and an hour in a gym :)
I think autos, especially manumatics are right on. The lack of some fine control compared to stick is pretty small....too small to ignore the benefits of automation, unless you're in it for fun :) On the other hand a good AT is not entirely un-fun when you learn it.

BTW, my understanding is that good manumatic or even CVT will let you force the gear up for economy (as long as you're not stalling the engine)....this is about the only thing I see you can do with MT and not traditinal AT.

GM's "Family First" pricing?

At a certain price-point, I felt this current gen' Malibu can be & should be a winner, as well as a big-seller.

GM's "Family First" pricing?

At a certain price-point, I felt this current gen' Malibu can be & should be a winner, as well as a big-seller.

not in Canada. but I managed to rake up some other discounts and use my GM points so worked out ok.

Hopefully you won't have the problem I had last year on a rental Malibu in Orlando.

Repeatedly, a chime goes off and the power steering cuts out completely when I tromp the throttle, this happens on a on-ramp as well as going straight.......

Still had no idea why!

Malibu........ Hey if you like it good for you.Dont they have real bad resale value or any American car for that matter.

Hopefully you won't have the problem I had last year on a rental Malibu in Orlando.

Repeatedly, a chime goes off and the power steering cuts out completely when I tromp the throttle, this happens on a on-ramp as well as going straight.......

Still had no idea why!

Sounds like you may be talking about prev. generation or 08 Malibu classic. The electic steering in those is not the best. That was especially bad in 04 model. Either that or 4 cyl current gen model, those are electric too. 08 V6s are is hydraulic.

EDIT: it may even sound vaguely familiar...but that was in the previous generation.

Malibu........ Hey if you like it good for you.Dont they have real bad resale value or any American car for that matter.

They do. That's why it was not an easy decision. On the other hand the car is really nice, I just plain like it more than accord.

Keep in mind Yury, if this car turns out to be fairly reliable, the resale value will skyrocket as the time goes on. Hyundai products used to have horrendous resale value, but my dads 01 Elantra (used as a tow car behind an RV) is appreciating in value as Hyundai continues improve on quality.

I for one would love to see GM/Ford/Chrysler succeed in the future.

Keep in mind Yury, if this car turns out to be fairly reliable, the resale value will skyrocket as the time goes on. Hyundai products used to have horrendous resale value, but my dads 01 Elantra (used as a tow car behind an RV) is appreciating in value as Hyundai continues improve on quality.

I for one would love to see GM/Ford/Chrysler succeed in the future.

That'd be a nice scenario, but if it doesn't go up and the car is reliable I'd take that :)

Btw, the prev. generation was pretty reliable. Not without quirks, but overall reliable.

I hope you have a good experience with your Malibu. When I travel for business my company uses National rent a car which means I get to drive a lot of midsize GM products. In the past I would never buy a GM product. My mother in law used to own a 1998 Buick midsize four door sedan which had absolutely no road feel through the steering or the suspension. Also, It was always in the shop for something. But the new GM mid size cars drive very nicely. The only rental car that I liked the drivability better was a Volvo.

Hi, All

So after talking and thinking about it for a while I did it. I traded in my 07 SE V6 for a 08 Malibu (V6).

It was not an easy desicion. Accord had a lot to offer in the driveability department. What killed it was the constant rattles/squeaks. That stuff was popping out unpredictably with no rhyme or reason.


You're supposed to ignore the rattles, it's called getting used to it. Here's what you won't get with the Chevy V6..Our V6 Accord gets better gas mileage then a 4 cylinder Camry, Real Talk, I got the same car you got but for MY 2006. This might not be important to you but a 4 cyl Camry gets roughly 320 miles till Low Fuel in preDOMINANTly city driving and I get that with my V6. Most say it's a decent motor because they don't know the tricks to get it to perform and it's worth keeping for this alone but I also get good performance. The secret is always using great gas and certain motor oil, I kid you not. Malibu is an American car and so you will not know if the thing will even start or make it to where you want to go day in and day out. You will miss this security blanket built-in to all Accords, both V6 and I4. Big mistake. You didn't even give your car a chance because you have to massage and wring out stuff like performance and gas mileage. It's a keeper, the Malibu haha domestic-land is IMO, a car that blends in with all the also-rans but nothing that will get you the gold and silver medals.. There is a reason why the Camry is the best selling and the Accord the second best selling passenger car in America. Needless to say, I respect your freedom and liberty and hope it goes well for you but as you allready stated, you will sorely miss the driveability. The key for the V6 is knowing the tricks. What you don't know won't hurt you, IMO. Enjoy your new ride.

You're supposed to ignore the rattles, it's called getting used to it. Here's what you won't get with the Chevy V6..Our V6 Accord gets better gas mileage then a 4 cylinder Camry, Real Talk, I got the same car you got but for MY 2006. Malibu is an American car and so you will not know if the thing will even start or make it to where you want to go day in and day out. You will miss this security blanket built-in to all Accords, both V6 and I4. Big mistake. You didn't even give your car a chance because you have to massage and wring out stuff like performance and gas mileage. This might not be important to you but a 4 cyl Camry gets roughly 320 miles till Low Fuel and I get that with my V6. Most say it's a decent motor because they don't know the tricks to get it to perform and it's worth keeping for this alone but I also get good performance. The secret is always using great gas and certain motor oil, I kidd you not. It's a keeper, the Malibu haha domestic-land is IMO, a car that blends in with all the also-rans but nothing that will get you the gold and silver medals.. There is a reason why the Camry is the best selling and the Accord the second best selling passenger car in America. Needless to say, I respect your freedom and liberty and hope it goes well for you but as you allready stated, you will sorely miss the driveability however you hardly got much else without knowing the tricks. What you don't know won't hurt you, IMO. Enjoy your new ride.

It's not 1999 anymore...Domestics are catching up.

True, the domestics are catching up. But will they ever match the imports? Domestics are always a step or two behind the leaders. The domestics cannot measure up to the imports when it comes to compact cars.

Rattles and squeaks do not bother me since I have the tunes in my car at an enjoyable audible level.

It's not 1999 anymore...Domestics are catching up.

lol whatever, they've been saying that for 20 years now

man, i don't even notice the rattling in my car. the radio is usually on. it's not even that big of a deal.

I will say this: I have just decided on a new X-over SUV after test driving one for a weekend. It is a Japanese competitor to Honda. It is the top of the line model just like my Accord (which will stay in the family). All I can say is it feels sooooo much nicer than the Accord in every way.

I'm talking ride comfort, quietness, solidity, leather quality (not even close), feature content, transmission smoothness, engine torque, etc. Honestly, I cannot believe how unrefined my Accord feels in so many areas compared to my new car coming in a week or so. Sure, I may be giving up a Consumer Reports rating of well-above average to "just" above average, but hey... I can live with theoreticals.

I think what the the OP is stating and I concur with strongly is that as nice as the Accord is and how well it sells, there are negatives to 'em and real positives the competition has that makes one want to give another brand a chance. And I have one of the best Accords on this forum... never a single problem, squeak or rattle. But it does have a crispy ride, noisy interior on less than smooth roads, less refined transmission manners, stiff and cheapish leather, and some component weaknesses (which I haven't encountered yet :paranoid:).

Granted, there are so many nice aspects of my Accord EXL-V6 (crisp looks, wonderful engine, great steering, terrific safety, unequalled interior design, and total dependability) that it makes it impossible for me to trade it in or sell it... that's why my daughter will love having it as her own and my wife and I will feel comfortable with her driving it.

I just don't think that Honda is the last and only word in automobiles.:)

Guys and gals. Maybe we shouldn't turn this thread in 'domestics vs import' argument....it's never ending.
I made made decision based on my personal preferences and I am not the first person on this forum doing so. If you are happy with your car power to you. I wasn't. I worked on liking it, accepting it for what it is, but at the end i had to call it a day, enough is enough.
End of story.

To each his own.

I'm thrilled for you, Yury. Good to know you have found something you like a bit better. There's a reason there's all the choices out on the open market. You, of course, are now required to report back to us on the experience! Enjoy the smoother ride and good luck.

FYI: I was shopping the GM Lambda's hard which use the same high feature V6 I believe you will have. There were some intermittent cam problems being chased...be on the lookout. The suspension and build seem to have come a long way otherwise.

Make it easy. Toyota and Honda ARE the benchmarks in the small and midsize markets. Nissan is probably right below that. Cars like the Fusion, Malibu, and Sonata look promising. However, Honda and Toyota still sell 30,000-40,000 cars a MONTH, it will take time for the other brands to catch up. The Malibu is the most exciting car to come out of GM in 20 years..........:)

BTW, the Saturn Aura is another version of the same platform. I've always thought it pretty good looking. But, I note it doesn't come up in conversations about the Malibu.

I'm thrilled for you, Yury. Good to know you have found something you like a bit better. There's a reason there's all the choices out on the open market. You, of course, are now required to report back to us on the experience! Enjoy the smoother ride and good luck.

FYI: I was shopping the GM Lambda's hard which use the same high feature V6 I believe you will have. There were some intermittent cam problems being chased...be on the lookout. The suspension and build seem to have come a long way otherwise.

thanks :) will report once I get the car tomorrow :)

You're supposed to ignore the rattles, it's called getting used to it. Here's what you won't get with the Chevy V6..Our V6 Accord gets better gas mileage then a 4 cylinder Camry, Real Talk, I got the same car you got but for MY 2006. This might not be important to you but a 4 cyl Camry gets roughly 320 miles till Low Fuel in preDOMINANTly city driving and I get that with my V6. Most say it's a decent motor because they don't know the tricks to get it to perform and it's worth keeping for this alone but I also get good performance. The secret is always using great gas and certain motor oil, I kid you not. Malibu is an American car and so you will not know if the thing will even start or make it to where you want to go day in and day out. You will miss this security blanket built-in to all Accords, both V6 and I4. Big mistake. You didn't even give your car a chance because you have to massage and wring out stuff like performance and gas mileage. It's a keeper, the Malibu haha domestic-land is IMO, a car that blends in with all the also-rans but nothing that will get you the gold and silver medals.. There is a reason why the Camry is the best selling and the Accord the second best selling passenger car in America. Needless to say, I respect your freedom and liberty and hope it goes well for you but as you allready stated, you will sorely miss the driveability. The key for the V6 is knowing the tricks. What you don't know won't hurt you, IMO. Enjoy your new ride.

What a polite backhand to the face!

BTW, the Saturn Aura is another version of the same platform. I've always thought it pretty good looking. But, I note it doesn't come up in conversations about the Malibu.

Probabaly because Saturn's advertising budget is 1/20th of what Chevy'sis...........:thmsup:

My neighbor has a black loaded Aura, sweet looking car, he loves it.

What a polite backhand to the face!

well, as they say "whatever floats your boat" :) I found it hard to even read though the end of that :) as long as it makes the poster happy .... :)

well, as they say "whatever floats your boat" :) I found it hard to even read though the end of that :) as long as it makes the poster happy .... :)

I'll ask a personal favor of you. Please keep letting us know about the good (and bad) of your experience with the Malibu. Like I have stated on here many times, I gave up on domestics after horrible experiences with new and used cars alike. However, if the Malibu and others show strong reliability after a few years, who knows?

Does Pontiac have a car on that platform?

Probabaly because Saturn's advertising budget is 1/20th of what Chevy'sis...........:thmsup:

My neighbor has a black loaded Aura, sweet looking car, he loves it.

I always liked the Malibu better though...Aura looks a little too much like a G6 and while it's not that bad a look, it's not quite my thing.

I always liked the Malibu better though...Aura looks a little too much like a G6 and while it's not that bad a look, it's not quite my thing.

Must be the VW Passat taillights.........:)

I'll ask a personal favor of you. Please keep letting us know about the good (and bad) of your experience with the Malibu. Like I have stated on here many times, I gave up on domestics after horrible experiences with new and used cars alike. However, if the Malibu and others show strong reliability after a few years, who knows?

Does Pontiac have a car on that platform?

I actually think of starting writing reviews as I change car frequently...I should probably write one about the Accord as well (I will try and stay level headed, I think I can do that.)

Yes, of course, I will do write ups, possibly multiple ones as time passes by.

Pontiac I think, is stuck with a G6 platform, but I am not 100% on that, maybe there's something in works.

Does Pontiac have a car on that platform?

Yep...the G6. They've done a decent job with it. Had it as a rental must be close to 2 years ago now when they first came out. It was decent...better than std GM build inside and rode well. I'd give it a 7 out of 10...higher if it shows it can hold up.

Must be the VW Passat taillights.........:)

mmm...no, although it's an ok look. What I don't like about Aura and G6 is that the car looks like a compact. It it's a midsize it might as well look like midsize :)

Yep...the G6. They've done a decent job with it. Had it as a rental must be close to 2 years ago now when they first came out. It was decent...better than std GM build inside and rode well. I'd give it a 7 out of 10...higher if it shows it can hold up.

G6 is the same as the prev. malibu - outdated 3.5 pushrod motor paired with 4 speed auto....Unless they changed it for 08/09.

G6 is the same as the prev. malibu - outdated 3.5 pushrod motor paired with 4 speed auto....Unless they changed it for 08/09.

Pretty sure the G6 was the first release of this GM platform, followed by the Aura and new Malibu. The drivetrain may be more antiquated but the chassis was new. Will have to check with more time later when I can.

Pretty sure the G6 was the first release of this GM platform, followed by the Aura and new Malibu. The drivetrain may be more antiquated but the chassis was new. Will have to check with more time later when I can.

I think you're right. Actually Aura was the turning point, it came (and still does) in 2 trims, one is the old 3.5/4 speed combo and the new 3.6/6 speed.

well, as they say "whatever floats your boat" :) I found it hard to even read though the end of that :) as long as it makes the poster happy .... :)

What floats our boats are Honda Accords but there is a method to our madness in terms of that V6 Accord is all I was trying to communicate. I am happy with the status quo that is our Accord. It's not always as glamorous and exciting as switching to brand new cars every two years. One word: driveability. You said it, I believe in it. (with the right "tools" in place)

What floats our boats are Honda Accords but there is a method to our madness in terms of that V6 Accord is all I was trying to communicate. I am happy with the status quo that is our Accord. It's not always as glamorous and exciting as switching to brand new cars every two years. One word: driveability. You said it, I believe in it. (with the right "tools" in place)

Let me rephrase - no, Accord does not float my particular boat. Hence the change.

mmm...no, although it's an ok look. What I don't like about Aura and G6 is that the car looks like a compact. It it's a midsize it might as well look like midsize :)

The Malibu has a nicer interior than the Aura and G6 as well. Anyway, congratulations on the new car. The new Malibu looks like a very nice car.

^^^ thank you :)

I will say this: I have just decided on a new X-over SUV after test driving one for a weekend. It is a Japanese competitor to Honda. It is the top of the line model just like my Accord (which will stay in the family). All I can say is it feels sooooo much nicer than the Accord in every way.


So, what did you get, or do we have to guess?
Nissan Murano?

So, what did you get, or do we have to guess?
Nissan Murano?

Mazda CX-7 or CX-9? Nissan Rogue?


Offtopic: I find it interesting how literally 'X' is used for 'cross' and America. When I first saw 'Pedestrian Xsing' I was a little puzzled :) someone had to explain it to me :)

I for one would love to see GM/Ford/Chrysler succeed in the future.

Who wouldn't. Why would we want to inflict so much pain and damage on our nation by wishing our automakers continue to fail?

BTW at the OP for the benefits/disadvantages of auto or stick, I agree Auto is smooth and nice, but it makes it more annoying to randomly rev your engine at people or break the tires loose. That takes more effort in AT than I like...

Mazda CX-7 or CX-9? Nissan Rogue?


Offtopic: I find it interesting how literally 'X' is used for 'cross' and America. When I first saw 'Pedestrian Xsing' I was a little puzzled :) someone had to explain it to me :)

Very true. X-mas also.
The word "cross" is often misidentified and mislabeled for religious terminology. Therefore they initated the xmas from christmas. X represents the word or name christ, and cross, having to do with Christ, was also eliminated for the same purpose. I guess it offended somebody and they changed it.
Emotions!

At least, thats what i think!

Very true. X-mas also.
The word "cross" is often misidentified and mislabeled for religious terminology. Therefore they initated the xmas from christmas. X represents the word or name christ, and cross, having to do with Christ, was also eliminated for the same purpose. I guess it offended somebody and they changed it.
Emotions!

At least, thats what i think!

I see Xmas here sometimes, not too often. Canada too is pretty big on not offending various religions, but "pedestrian crossing" is still that :) i don't recall that being challenged during all the time I've been here.

Who wouldn't. Why would we want to inflict so much pain and damage on our nation by wishing our automakers continue to fail?

BTW at the OP for the benefits/disadvantages of auto or stick, I agree Auto is smooth and nice, but it makes it more annoying to randomly rev your engine at people or break the tires loose. That takes more effort in AT than I like...

yes, that's one example where AT is more restrictive...but that's basically from the realm of racing, so it's a different use :)

btw, i see no problem breaking the tires loose in manual mode and all the way down to 1st.

For what its worth in the reliability section, a good buddy of mine has a 08 Malibu he got last year as a company car. 25K+ miles on it, and its still doing very well. (Just rode with him from Oshkosh Wi to Detroit Mi in it a few weeks ago). Interior is in good shape, everything seems to be holding up well and I know the car has never let him down on the road. This guy is a true roadwarrior as well, so this car IS NOT getting babied in any way shape or form. I've been a Honda guy since I was 18, but I gotta admit, riding in that beast did make me pause and question my line of thought. Its been said a bunch of times, as long as you are happy with the car then that is really all that matters. :D

I mirror the sentiment of many posts in this thread-- Hope the new car works out well!

Although I must say I've been fortunate in the sense that I don't yet appear to have any significant rattle/squeak problems with my Accord, I do understand this has been an issue with at least some Hondas. And as much as rattles infuriate me, I won't tolerate them for any reason-- Particularly if the car in question is of recent vintage.

If Honda loses customers because of their lack of attention to noise control, be it rattles/squeaks or road noise (an issue they continually refuse to address), they deserve it. And if the likes of GM and Ford can build vehicles that compete well with the best Japanese manufacturers, I expect it will compel Honda to finally correct some of their shortcomings (such as the aforementioned road noise irritant).

So I say bring it. Competition only serves to improve our chances of finding better cars. And in my opinion, any manufacturer who can't or otherwise won't step up needs to...

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs16/f/2007/216/6/1/Bite_My_Shiny_Metal_Ass_by_Red_Flare.jpg

:)

But yes, please let us know how things work out with the Malibu. I'd be very interested to hear how things are after, say, 6 months to a year of ownership (specifically in terms of rattles, reliability, efficiency, etc). The real test of a vehicle's quality comes only after a good amount of time has passed, and I'm hopeful that GM might have gotten this car right. It's sounding very encouraging thus far!

well put :D :D

Congrats and good luck with the Malibu. Recent domestic products are leaps and bounds ahead of what they once were. Def keep us posted on your likes and dislikes, especially what features / technology stand out or are a put off, etc . . .

On a related note or two about comments in the thread . . .

In regards to people’s personal preferences: Everyone has the right to like or dislike anything for whatever reason they want. Freedom of choice FTW! As far as automobiles go, I find myself supporting the company as much as the product. I’ll put up with a rattle or road noise because in the big picture, I respect and support the company’s (in this case Honda) overall direction. They do lots of great things and I want my $$ to support them in all of their endeavors.

AT vs MT . . . Yes ATs have gotten very good and they’re great at keeping the average Joe moving along, but they still can’t come close to the intuition of a driver. Cars can’t see hills coming or anticipate a curve or traffic (not quite yet). While VSA, brake mitigation, and other technology can enhance an AT’s performance, they can also work with a MT. Availability of MT is one thing that always forced me to cross domestic products off the shopping list. Try to add leather, NAVI, or some other upscale features and it comes bundled with an AT . . if a MT is even available to begin with. MT availability is a + for Honda in my book. While I can appreciate specific applications are better with an AT, I’ll always want a sedan or coupe with a MT if at all possible. That could be the one thing that would drive me (literally) away from Honda.

Congrats and good luck with the Malibu. Recent domestic products are leaps and bounds ahead of what they once were. Def keep us posted on your likes and dislikes, especially what features / technology stand out or are a put off, etc . . .

thanks. will do.



AT vs MT . . . Yes ATs have gotten very good and they’re great at keeping the average Joe moving along, but they still can’t come close to the intuition of a driver. Cars can’t see hills coming or anticipate a curve or traffic (not quite yet).

that's what I was trying to say before - complete automation is not yet attainable and is a different topic altogether pertaining probably more to artificial intelligence than anything else.

however, what has been achieved, especially so in the recent years, is solid overrideable automation. I, for one, would have a problem with a car that only had "D" position. Because others are important too and not just in the snow. Hill coming? Lower the range. Same goes for a curve (I routinely drop to D3 in Accord on my way home). My understanding that even forcing the gear up is done is some cars (I've been told that Malibu is one of them, but I have to see for myself).

With a few tweaks that seem to be being introduced gradually these days, your average family hauler would take away the mindless routine but would let you jump in and drive manually with full manual control. Automation on commercial jets is like this (well, according to "May Day" on Discovery channel :)) I think, on a grand scale, this is the way to go.


While VSA, brake mitigation, and other technology can enhance an AT’s performance, they can also work with a MT. Availability of MT is one thing that always forced me to cross domestic products of the shopping list. Try to add leather, NAVI, or some other upscale features and it comes bundled with an AT . . if a MT is even available to begin with. MT availability is a + for Honda in my book. While I can appreciate specific applications are better with an AT, I’ll always want a sedan or coupe with a MT if at al possible. That could be the one thing that would drive me (literally) away from Honda.

Yes, MT are harder and harder to come by. I think largely due to convenience of AT of any kind.

But, perhaps, just perhaps, an average Joe is onto something. After all, learning to use gearing in typical scenarios is not that hard, I am sure many people are aware of the principles but choose to slow down on a curve instead just due to simplicity of that action. Simple automation should give you the choice for more control or simplicity. What it shouldn't be is unpredictable or unintuitive. They should also not be too ambitious and attempt to do too much leaving the driver with false feeling of safety.
It's tricky to design, but I am quite convinced that it is doable. It's almost done in many modern ATs, especially manumatics.

AT vs MT . . . Yes ATs have gotten very good and they’re great at keeping the average Joe moving along, but they still can’t come close to the intuition of a driver. Cars can’t see hills coming or anticipate a curve or traffic (not quite yet). While VSA, brake mitigation, and other technology can enhance an AT’s performance, they can also work with a MT. Availability of MT is one thing that always forced me to cross domestic products of the shopping list. Try to add leather, NAVI, or some other upscale features and it comes bundled with an AT . . if a MT is even available to begin with. MT availability is a + for Honda in my book. While I can appreciate specific applications are better with an AT, I’ll always want a sedan or coupe with a MT if at al possible. That could be the one thing that would drive me (literally) away from Honda.

And not just AT with the domestics, 3-speed autos with lock-up torque converters or 4-speed AT...........yuck, that is so 1990's..........:thumbsdow:thumbsdow

I think the imports had 5 speed autos for many years.........:yes:

I just traded my Accord for the same reason, although I went over to a VW GTI (totally different direction). My car had more problems than just squeeks and rattles - I figured if I'm going to drive something unreliable, it might as well be fun and unreliable. Good luck with the Malibu, if I need to jump back into a sedan that's where I'm going to go as well!

You and I did the exact opposite: I got rid of my '06 VW Jetta due to it constantly being at the dealership for repairs and purchased an '06 Accord Sedan 6MT V6. Hope I didn't make the wrong choice.

-Wes

You and I did the exact opposite: I got rid of my '06 VW Jetta due to it constantly being at the dealership for repairs and purchased an '06 Accord Sedan 6MT V6. Hope I didn't make the wrong choice.

-Wes

You are the one who defines 'wrong' :) Depending on your priorities it may be a very good choice. Accord certainly is reliable and drives well.

You are the one who defines 'wrong' :) Depending on your priorities it may be a very good choice. Accord certainly is reliable and drives well.

Well, I'm loving the Accord now so I suppose time will tell. And regarding the original thread topic, I've heard many great things about the new Malibu and it really looks like GM is stepping up to the plate. I want nothing more than to see our domestic car makers meet or surpass the foreign makers (it would be purely anti-American to think differently) and this may be a step in that direction. I know when we start looking for my wife's next car in a few months we'll sure be eyeing the new Malibu! :thmsup:

-Wes

I shouldv'e gotten me a cd with American Pie song to play when I drive away from the dealer tonight :)
Drove my chevy to the levy....:)

Just being silly :) That's song has been stuck in my head past couple of days :)

I shouldv'e gotten me a cd with American Pie song to play when I drive away from the dealer tonight :)
Drove my chevy to the levy....:)

Just being silly :) That's song has been stuck in my head past couple of days :)

It's not to late too download the song and burn it to a CD.:thmsup:

It's not to late too download the song and burn it to a CD.:thmsup:

Can't do that at work and I am not going home before picking up the car :) Guess that'll have to wait :)

There will be other times I guess :)

I'm excited for you. What color is the interior?

There will be other times I guess :)

I'm excited for you. What color is the interior?

Gee, I wish I could be less excited....Couldn't get a good night sleep for like 3 nights :)

It's black with silver around the radio in front and a stripe of fake wood on the dash at the level right above the radio....if I remember correctly :) Could not find a picture of that combination, so I am going by memory :) The shifter and some other areas are of some light color, can't quite remember which.

Being a Chevy man myself I was also going to get the 08 Malibu. But with past experience with GM I decided to lean to the honda. I bet that Malibu will have just the same amount of ratles that the Accords do if not more given milage and time. Not saying its a bad ride but just my .02

Being a Chevy man myself I was also going to get the 08 Malibu. But with past experience with GM I decided to lean to the honda. I bet that Malibu will have just the same amount of ratles that the Accords do if not more given milage and time. Not saying its a bad ride but just my .02

I had a base trim 03 Ford Ranger that was more solid that the Accord during 2 years I drove it. Next was base trim Vibe, same story.
I test drove a brand new 08 Rav4 - rattle box. I test drove a 07 Murano - rattles, but not as bad as he Rav4. I drove a 05 Maxima - dash creaks.
Now get this....Drove a rental 08 Sebring for 2 weeks ..... not a single rattle the entire time.

So, I concluded that hard and fast rules do not work that well. Then I researched the Malibu and went on
- what people were saying on forums
- Ratings on JD Power that were 5 stars in the interior quality (that is the category where rattles and such are accounted for among other things)
- what I saw on a testdrive (Asked fiancee to take everything from the glovebox and keep in on her lap. Made the salesperson keep his left hand with a watch away from the door. Yelled at my fiance for speaking on the cellphone. Heard something, stopped and found it was a shrink wrap on the floor. Ripped that off, quiet from that point on.....the guy must've thought I was nuts...well I kinda am :D)

From that point on fingers crossed :)

It's black with silver around the radio in front and a stripe of fake wood on the dash at the level right above the radio....if I remember correctly :) Could not find a picture of that combination, so I am going by memory :) The shifter and some other areas are of some light color, can't quite remember which.
http://www.egmcartech.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/2008_chevrolet_malibu_official_gallery_image_6.jpg
Like this?

^^^ yep, looks like it

Gen 7 Accord has a nice looking interior I thought. But this lowly chevy disabused me of that notion :D

That is a very nice looking interior!

thanks :) will report once I get the car tomorrow :)

Please keep us posted on the fuel economy. I've heard mixed results regarding fuel economy on the 3.6L V6. I'm curious as to how it compares to the 3.0.

should have went for the red interior/brown, when i first saw it i was amazed, chevy making that kind of interior, very nice all around.

good luck with the new car. american auto makers are really improving, but there is still something that will always steer me away from buying american cars for a while :(

should have went for the red interior/brown, when i first saw it i was amazed, chevy making that kind of interior, very nice all around.

good luck with the new car. american auto makers are really improving, but there is still something that will always steer me away from buying american cars for a while :(

that's LTZ only leather interior...didn't want to spend money on that, ebony is nice enough :)

Please keep us posted on the fuel economy. I've heard mixed results regarding fuel economy on the 3.6L V6. I'm curious as to how it compares to the 3.0.

3.6 will not be as good as 3.1 (that's what you meant? the 170 hp 2 gens back?). But it's a way higher performing engine. It actually has a quite a lot of brute force. Low end is quite nice, very accessible.

City fuel economy is one of he few wrinkles - it's a tad higher than what it can be.

Btw, it has 2 mpg readouts - average (between resets) and instantaneous. Instantaneous is fun to watch. In time I am hoping to optimize my driving based on that.

So overall the car is nice.

It does have an american feel. The susension is absorbent, I can plow though the same bad roads at significantly higher speeds and comfort level than in accord.

Steering/suspension might not be as refined as Accords, it's a little ... bulkier.
However, with that suspension and steering (which is not bad in practice, just feels more American) there's not much body lean, just a tad more than accord. Overall, requires a little used to, but the ride is both comfortable and controllable.

Interior is quite well done. Some very minor misalignments in a couple of spots, but you really have to be looking for it. All storage bin doors work effortlessly, nothing sticks (like finicky center storage covers and glovebox that in Accord that require right angle and pressure), nothing is finicky. knobs and switches are almost as good as Accord's. The ratio buttons and knobs have slight play in them, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The power window switches are actually better than in Accord. Feel more precise and natural.

Radio display looks old because they use outdated microwave style display. However that is combined with pretty impressive usability of the radio. It's intuitive and easy to use, even when playing MP3 disks. ID tags are displayed, you can view Song name, artist and whatever easily. Nested folders are flattened into a structure with one level of folders, so if you create a directory for artist and albums in it, albums will appear sequentially. XM seems easy to use too, but I haven't played with it much.

I guess that is not that big a deal nowdays, but it is easy to use. That applies to pretty much all controls in the car....Everything seems to be in the right place.

Ok, I will continue later....

3.6 will not be as good as 3.1 (that's what you meant? the 170 hp 2 gens back?). But it's a way higher performing engine. It actually has a quite a lot of brute force. Low end is quite nice, very accessible.


I think he might have been talking about how it compares to the 3.0L in the Accord you traded in.

that's LTZ only leather interior...didn't want to spend money on that, ebony is nice enough :)

I like the interior that you got better. :)

So overall the car is nice.

It does have an american feel. The susension is absorbent, I can plow though the same bad roads at significantly higher speeds and comfort level than in accord.

Steering/suspension might not be as refined as Accords, it's a little ... bulkier.
However, with that suspension and steering (which is not bad in practice, just feels more American) there's not much body lean, just a tad more than accord. Overall, requires a little used to, but the ride is both comfortable and controllable.

Interior is quite well done. Some very minor misalignments in a couple of spots, but you really have to be looking for it. All storage bin doors work effortlessly, nothing sticks (like finicky center storage covers and glovebox that in Accord that require right angle and pressure), nothing is finicky. knobs and switches are almost as good as Accord's. The ratio buttons and knobs have slight play in them, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The power window switches are actually better than in Accord. Feel more precise and natural.

Radio display looks old because they use outdated microwave style display. However that is combined with pretty impressive usability of the radio. It's intuitive and easy to use, even when playing MP3 disks. ID tags are displayed, you can view Song name, artist and whatever easily. Nested folders are flattened into a structure with one level of folders, so if you create a directory for artist and albums in it, albums will appear sequentially. XM seems easy to use too, but I haven't played with it much.

I guess that is not that big a deal nowdays, but it is easy to use. That applies to pretty much all controls in the car....Everything seems to be in the right place.

Ok, I will continue later....

If the reliability goes well, there will be a lot of buyers for the car. The interior in the Malibu looks nicer than the Sonata.

Radio display looks old because they use outdated microwave style display.

That was one of the minor issues I had with the Mailbus interior, that and the plastic used on the back of the front seats with the netting used for the seat back pocket. Otherwise I liked the interior.

If the reliability goes well, there will be a lot of buyers for the car. The interior in the Malibu looks nicer than the Sonata.

I hope it goes well. They started that platform in 07 with Aura. According to TrueDelta 07s had a fair number of issues, but results for 08 are much much better.

That was one of the minor issues I had with the Mailbus interior, that and the plastic used on the back of the front seats with the netting used for the seat back pocket. Otherwise I liked the interior.

yeah, they have to address the radio, although it wasn't even close to a deal breaker for me. The plastic and netting I have no problems with whatsoever. I even think I prefer it that way.

BTW, the stereo sounds very nice. The car is relatively quiet and I can leave the volume low so I can talk to people in the car and still hear the music crisply. It was quite unexpected along with functionality of it.

Couple of ther unexpected things:
- in M mode you can start moving the car in gears 1-3 (fixed gear). That's good, 2nd in Accord was often inadequate in the snow.
- key fob range is very long...the manual says it's longer if the car has a remote start which it has.

As far as negatives go I have the following:

- Trunk is shallow and long and has small opening. I guess it fell victim to styling :)
- Rear visibility is quite limited. A parking sensor may be in order.
- There's some suspension noise. That can be amplified by the fact that I generally drive faster over rough pavement, it is not transmitted to the body that much but the suspension actually works pretty hard under the car :)

I think he might have been talking about how it compares to the 3.0L in the Accord you traded in.

oh...yes, right. I am slow today :)

I expect a slight decrease in mpg...

Good luck with your new car. I know a lady that has a 08 V6 Malibu and loves it.

I went and drove a V6 and I4 MZ6 this past monday. No reason to even go to a Honda dealer. Both cars were very impressive. And neither looked like they had been beaten with a ugly stick.

As far as negatives go I have the following:

- Trunk is shallow and long and has small opening. I guess it fell victim to styling :)

I noticed that too when I looked at the Malibu at the last auto show. Actually, I noticed this on several GM sedans.

I noticed that too when I looked at the Malibu at the last auto show. Actually, I noticed this on several GM sedans.

Cobalt is the same way....even worse cause the car is smaller overall.

It doesn't bother me. I find most sedans (small and mid size) quite impractical after owing a 05 Vibe. The biggest thing I regularly carry is 2 pair of skis, they don't fit in any car I know without folding the seats.

Good luck with your new car.....

thanks :)

I just traded my Accord for the same reason, although I went over to a VW GTI (totally different direction). My car had more problems than just squeeks and rattles - I figured if I'm going to drive something unreliable, it might as well be fun and unreliable. Good luck with the Malibu, if I need to jump back into a sedan that's where I'm going to go as well!


LOL, went from a honda to a VW to rid squeaks and rattles! All of my previous VWs were rattle traps! Good luck on the Malibu. I've had a few as rentals and came avay very impressed.

LOL, went from a honda to a VW to rid squeaks and rattles! All of my previous VWs were rattle traps! Good luck on the Malibu. I've had a few as rentals and came avay very impressed.

thanks.

I think he meant reliability problems. Rattles alone is my reason :)

oh...yes, right. I am slow today :)

I expect a slight decrease in mpg...

I cannot believe anyone would be willing to go BELOW the medoza line of the 20 mpg the Accord V6 has on the sticker. I personally beat consistently by +3 to +6 mpg but that is why I bought the Honda to be amazed and surprised as well as expect more of the same can of consistency. I just read a review of Malibu V6 and it gets 17 mpg. Not good neough for me Malibu, try again. 20 mpg EPA was bad enough but 17 is too low for a passenger sedan. Enjoy it though.

BTW, the Saturn Aura is another version of the same platform. I've always thought it pretty good looking. But, I note it doesn't come up in conversations about the Malibu.

When I was back in Misery, we rented a V6 Aurora. It was OK - It was not an Accord nor a Camry.

I have a pet peeve, I require cars I own to have a separate turn signal from the stop light, turn dos not need to be yellow. Bigger is better, when it come to tail lights; Ex - My 1992 Taurus, taillights - perfect. This is why GM and most AM cars are out...
OK, I'm weird, I know...

I cannot believe anyone would be willing to go BELOW the medoza line of the 20 mpg the Accord V6 has on the sticker. I personally beat consistently by +3 to +6 mpg but that is why I bought the Honda to be amazed and surprised as well as expect more of the same can of consistency. I just read a review of Malibu V6 and it gets 17 mpg. Not good neough for me Malibu, try again. 20 mpg EPA was bad enough but 17 is too low for a passenger sedan. Enjoy it though.

Thanks.

Can you believe people driving midsize sedans that requite premium gas? Or performance cars like G35/37? If I wanted to save gas I'd get me a Prius. Driving a V6 car is bad enough, so I am not gonna cry over 3 mpg in the city considering how low it is for any V6 car. if the car works for me otherwise. I can save more gas working from home more often.
And what about gen 8 vs gen 7 mileage difference? I hear, that in real life 08 is worse than 07. How about that?

I cannot believe anyone would be willing to go BELOW the medoza line of the 20 mpg the Accord V6 has on the sticker. I personally beat consistently by +3 to +6 mpg but that is why I bought the Honda to be amazed and surprised as well as expect more of the same can of consistency. I just read a review of Malibu V6 and it gets 17 mpg. Not good neough for me Malibu, try again. 20 mpg EPA was bad enough but 17 is too low for a passenger sedan. Enjoy it though.

Remember that the standards for measuring fuel economy changed for 2008. According to fueleconomy.gov the 20/29 mpg ratting of the 2007 V6 At Accord would be 18/26 mpg under the new system. Which isn't that much different than the 3.6L Malibu's 17/26 mpg.

Remember that the standards for measuring fuel economy changed for 2008. According to fueleconomy.gov the 20/29 mpg ratting of the 2007 V6 At Accord would be 18/26 mpg under the new system. Which isn't that much different than the 3.6L Malibu's 17/26 mpg.

Wow...someone got owned!! I guess that means J30A5 actually went below the mendoza line of 20mpg too! :D Just messin with ya! My 3.0L actually does better than expected from the sticker.

-Wes

I cannot believe anyone would be willing to go BELOW the medoza line of the 20 mpg the Accord V6 has on the sticker. I personally beat consistently by +3 to +6 mpg but that is why I bought the Honda to be amazed and surprised as well as expect more of the same can of consistency. I just read a review of Malibu V6 and it gets 17 mpg. Not good neough for me Malibu, try again. 20 mpg EPA was bad enough but 17 is too low for a passenger sedan. Enjoy it though.

OH person who copied my saying and aborted it...........Do you have ANYTHING nice to say? Is there some reason you cannot be happy for Yury? Your attitude just really ****s. I am happy for Yury and happy for GM that they finally got their heads out of their collective asses. Think you could possibly do the same? Give it a break would you? There are simply NO reasons for your back handed assaults on this person because he was fed up with a rattletrap and bought a Chevy, so stop it please.

I did what Yury did and dumped my 05 Accord. I wanted to like the car so much that I put up with it for 3 years. I went Toyota, and have not been to the dealer in the first 4 months of ownership. The Accord was at the dealer 14 times in 3 years. That would be fine except that only 2 of the trips generated real results. Oddly enough the success was one of the major rattles.

Honda dealers ****, because they have plenty of folks buying right now. But wait a few years and if Honda produces still another generation of rattletraps and continued uncaring dealers, Honda's image will degrade.

The Tacoma gets almost as good of mileage as the Accord did, and IS more FUN to drive, even though it is a truck. Be happy for Yury like RTF said, and like Yury I still hang here because of the nice folks here and still enjoy reading the posts.

Nice to see you hermann!

I agree with RTF as well. Let's be happy that Yury's found a car that I hope better suits him. As well, I agree with Hermann's sentiment. Honda is 100% relying on their "percieved fuel mileage and quality." A couple years of good competitor products and Honda's quality control will change this perception.

You owe us pictures Yury.

You owe us pictures Yury.


Affirmative on that one.

Yeah Yury...no fair waiting to take ultrapics when you have time to set up. How about just a couple of snapshots to get us started?

OH person who copied my saying and aborted it...........Do you have ANYTHING nice to say? Is there some reason you cannot be happy for Yury? Your attitude just really ****s. I am happy for Yury and happy for GM that they finally got their heads out of their collective asses. Think you could possibly do the same? Give it a break would you? There are simply NO reasons for your back handed assualts on this person because he was fed up with a rattletrap and bought a Chevy, so stop it please.

RTF beat me to it and I have to agree. Reading your posts has been akin to the sensation of sandpaper. Are things so bad at your keyboard? Maybe you could go to whopeedinmycheerios.com and vent before making another abrasive post...

Sorry Yury...back to your good news.

111 posts w/o pics, tsk-tsk! I'm sorry, but I'll have to bust-out this...

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7692/picsmq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

On topic, I've had some/limited experience w/ the late-model Chevy Malibu. It's a great car for the dollar, very comfortable, well-built, and solid-feel to it. I really, really liked it overall. I just felt the driving-dynamic was a bit numb/detached, but of-course this a personal preference! I'd personally own a new Malibu over a Camry, Mazda6, Altima/Maxima, Sonata, G6, Passat, S40, and so forth.

Best of luck w/ your new acquisition. . .

OH person who copied my saying and aborted it...........Do you have ANYTHING nice to say? Is there some reason you cannot be happy for Yury? Your attitude just really ****s. I am happy for Yury and happy for GM that they finally got their heads out of their collective asses. Think you could possibly do the same? Give it a break would you? There are simply NO reasons for your back handed assualts on this person because he was fed up with a rattletrap and bought a Chevy, so stop it please.


WTF??? I don't understand who you are referring to :dunno:

Initially your trade might sound like a bad one to most people, but after experiencing the rattles myself I might think you probably made a good decision. For me, with the rattles I mean, it wasn't so much the volume, but the type and number of the rattles. It was like driving in a car made of rice crispies. I mean I like rice crispies, but not that much. It really is amazing how much something as minor as rattles can change the overall driving experience. I like Honda, or rather the idea of Honda, but the overall quality just isn't there these days. Though, they still make some of the best engines and manual trannies out there.

Remember that the standards for measuring fuel economy changed for 2008. According to fueleconomy.gov the 20/29 mpg ratting of the 2007 V6 At Accord would be 18/26 mpg under the new system. Which isn't that much different than the 3.6L Malibu's 17/26 mpg.

my point exactly. Cars are getting bigger and more powerful.

btw, the prev. gen Malibu had a very decent economy, better than Gen 7 Accord. Of course, it was a 3.5 push rod with 201 hp and 220 lb/ft of torque.

Re: pics

Ok, guys. I am going out right now to snap a few. I will only be able to post them tonight though, no CF card reader at work :)

Initially your trade might sound like a bad one to most people, but after experiencing the rattles myself I might think you probably made a good decision. For me, with the rattles I mean, it wasn't so much the volume, but the type and number of the rattles. It was like driving in a car made of rice crispies. I mean I like rice crispies, but not that much. It really is amazing how much something as minor as rattles can change the overall driving experience. I like Honda, or rather the idea of Honda, but the overall quality just isn't there these days. Though, they still make some of the best engines and manual trannies out there.

The ideal Honda would be a winner, however in real life it had a way of getting on my nerves big time.
The image I have in my head is a sophisticated university professor who, for some reason, at his mature age decided that it's ok not to brush his teeth once in awhile on the basis that he is so great it does not matter.
In Malibu's case, Chevy looks like an eager upcoming talent willing to do what it takes.

111 posts w/o pics, tsk-tsk! I'm sorry, but I'll have to bust-out this...

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7692/picsmq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

On topic, I've had some/limited experience w/ the late-model Chevy Malibu. It's a great car for the dollar, very comfortable, well-built, and solid-feel to it. I really, really liked it overall. I just felt the driving-dynamic was a bit numb/detached, but of-course this a personal preference! I'd personally own a new Malibu over a Camry, Mazda6, Altima/Maxima, Sonata, G6, Passat, S40, and so forth.

Best of luck w/ your new acquisition. . .

yes, it is number and more detached. the upside though is that it doesn't shake the crap out of you.

The ideal Honda would be a winner, however in real life it had a way of getting on my nerves big time.
The image I have in my head is a sophisticated university professor who, for some reason, at his mature age decided that it's ok not to brush his teeth once in awhile on the basis that he is so great it does not matter.
In Malibu's case, Chevy looks like an eager upcoming talent willing to do what it takes.

As I have stated all along, I was sad to leave the domestics, but fed up with poor quality.

If Chevy or Pontiac can give me a valid reason to go back, I will. I heard Pontaic is looking to go RWD and AWD in the next couple years and challenge the RWD cars like th BMW 3 series and others. That would be sweet if they can pull that off with good quality.

I am a softie for Pontiac because I was a new car manager for Pontiac back in their heyday. I had numerous Bonneville SSEi sedans as demos, with HUD, supercharger, etc. Those were fun cars. I even had a 5-speed manual 3800 Firebird once, that SOB was pretty quick..........:notworthy

Ok I haven't posted in a lonnnng time... but thought this might be as good of a place to start as any.

Congrats Yury on your trade.. I think the Malibu looks very promising for GM.. but I have to tell you that though I may give up on Honda one day, it probably won't be for a domestic. (that is unless Ford decides to bring some of their Australian performance models to the US)..

Honda has started burning bridges with many of it's loyal fans.. They just have taken a completely different approach to building cars than they had in the late 90s. Look at the 99-00 si, and integra type-r. Two of the most fantastic cars in their day, no longer have a replacement being made. Todays Si, fails in comparison to the ITR... Where is the competition for the Subaru WRX STI, EVO 8, even the new Cobalt SS?? It's not in the S2000 I can tell ya.. Fun to drive, just not practical as a DD..

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Honda is losing it's fanbase as well because of aspects other than just quality.. They just aren't keeping up in performance either..

I love my Accord, never had a problem at all.. or with any of my Hondas. But sad to say that my next car will probably not be one..

Honda has started burning bridges with many of it's loyal fans.. They just have taken a completely different approach to building cars than they had in the late 90s. Look at the 99-00 si, and integra type-r. Two of the most fantastic cars in their day, no longer have a replacement being made. Todays Si, fails in comparison to the ITR... Where is the competition for the Subaru WRX STI, EVO 8, even the new Cobalt SS?? It's not in the S2000 I can tell ya.. Fun to drive, just not practical as a DD..

Honda wanted Acura to be the performance division, IMO it hasn't worked out that way..........maybe the NSX coming back will help revive the performance brand

Ohh I believe that by dropping the integra, then the RSX, that Honda has decided that they are going a total different direction with Acura.. into that of purely a luxury division, with no regards for performance. The new NSX will not do anything to reverse that.. It'll just be another high-end car with a limited owner pool..

The ideal Honda would be a winner, however in real life it had a way of getting on my nerves big time.
The image I have in my head is a sophisticated university professor who, for some reason, at his mature age decided that it's ok not to brush his teeth once in awhile on the basis that he is so great it does not matter.
In Malibu's case, Chevy looks like an eager upcoming talent willing to do what it takes.

I don't hold out much hope for the domestics personally. GM's brands are failing, and chrysler needs no explanation. Ford, however, could do something worthwhile. They are a step above GM and chrysler imo. If they would bring their european designs over here, which I heard they plan on doing in the relatively near future, they would do really well.

I do agree that arrogance is probably the reason that Honda has fallen in quality recently. You would have thought they would have learned from GM's bad example and avoided riding on their brand name so heavily while letting product quality fall. Hopefully they don't continue down the same road they have been following lately and let themselves become a second tier japanese brand like Nissan or Mazda.

Still, I wouldn't trust a GM product to reliably last 200k+ miles. Though, it's more of a quality of life sort of thing with Honda. I mean who wants to have a car that rattles like a can of peanuts for that long? Some people can live with the rattles and cheap build quality, but many cannot, myself included.

Honda just doesn't seem like they are trying to be competitive lately in terms of making a high quality, fun to drive car. Their designs are becoming more and more bland. They just seem bored to me. The S2000 is the only car I'd really consider buying from Honda at this point, if I could afford one right now.

I don't hold out much hope for the domestics personally. GM's brands are failing, and chrysler needs no explanation. Ford, however, could do something worthwhile. They are a step above GM and chrysler imo. If they would bring their european designs over here, which I heard they plan on doing in the relatively near future, they would do really well.

I do agree that arrogance is probably the reason that Honda has fallen in quality recently. You would have thought they would have learned from GM's bad example and avoided riding on their brand name so heavily while letting product quality fall. Hopefully they don't continue down the same road they have been following lately and let themselves become a second tier japanese brand like Nissan or Mazda.

Still, I wouldn't trust a GM product to reliably last 200k+ miles. Though, it's more of a quality of life sort of thing with Honda. I mean who wants to have a car that rattles like a can of peanuts for that long? Some people can live with the rattles and cheap build quality, but many cannot, myself included.

Honda just doesn't seem like they are trying to be competitive lately in terms of making a high quality, fun to drive car. Their designs are becoming more and more bland. They just seem bored to me. The S2000 is the only car I'd really consider buying from Honda at this point, if I could afford one right now.

Yeah, GM is in big trouble overall and I don't put too much hope in the entire brand either...But in Malibu's case there is an effort that is apparent, that's what I liked.

100% on quality vs durability. We're not talking about semis here, probably most buyers, even in compact market want to enjoy the ride (every person in their unique way), not just ride as long as possible for the least amount of money (which probably can be done with 2 used domestics in a row instead of one new japanese :)) . In our neck of the woods there's not that many cars past 10-15 years or age. Where are all those super reliable old Accords I have no idea. Probably exported to 3rd world countries :)

For me, personally, 120k miles is as long as I'd keep any car...Unless I absolutely and irrationally love it. Which is not gonna happen if it rattles :) But it seems that most people don't really assign that much importance to quality of non-core things, so at the end of the day Honda is still in business and it comes down to individual priorities.

Yeah, GM is in big trouble overall and I don't put too much hope in the entire brand either...But in Malibu's case there is an effort that is apparent, that's what I liked.

Now they need to "make an effort" in their small cars and smaller crossovers like they did with the Arcadia and Enclave, nice SUVs........

I don't think Honda will ignore it if their sales slip. I guess having a reliable engine worked for 20 years or so,now you need a quiet cabin AND a reliable engine..........:yes:

Ok. Here go the snaps I did today.

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4735_RT8.jpg

The color is metallic black, but it really is not your straight forward black. It's more like a very very dark grey :) Adds certain something. For once, I am very satisfied with my own color choice :)

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4736_RT8.jpg

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4737_RT8.jpg

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4739_RT8.jpg

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4738_RT8.jpg

18 inch wheels.
Btw, note the functional side turn signal in the pic above. I was VERY surprised they did that and like it a lot. I think it's mandatoty in Russia and probably Europe. It does help in chaotic stop and go trafic. There's a steet in the center of Moscow that is at least 10 lanes wide at certain spot. Now imagine all that filled bumber to bumper with cars whose drivers who are neither very considerate or respecful of the lane markings. You looking at at least 13 vaguely defined lanes :) That's why side markers are a good idea there and to a degree in Canada.
Anyway the markers stroke the right chord with me :) Too bad they go away for 09 model year.

I also find it interesting to find side markers on an american car with red turn signals on the rear and foot operated parking brake :) Quite an unlikely combo :)

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4740_RT8.jpg

"Ebony sheer suede". It's neither leather nor suede but vinyl and some kind of microfiber like mateial. Looks very nice...You don't know it's not leader on the sides until you touch it.
Btw, don't be misled my that space behind the driver's seat. I am 5'6" and like to sit close to the steering wheel, so there's always loooots of room behind me :) The interior is no roomier that in Gen 7..maybe even a tad tighter in the rear legroom department.

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4741_RT8.jpg

Should've take this one with the engine on, looks a little dead without any lights. Funny thing though, I have a picture of working radio, but most of the display is black. Some exposure vs refresh rate issue....Like flming a working CRT tv and seeing those horisontal lines.

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4742_RT8.jpg

Yes, I like them black ! :D

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4744_RT8.jpg

Obverve the metric units :) They are switchable to imperial via DIC (Driver's Information Center...not what you might've thought :D) among other things. Btw, I always liked the way GM is going about it, there's something called customization :) Via reasonably user friendly menu you can disable the remote start for instance or tweak how door lock acts when you shift to D and back (locks/unlock by default, so no reaching the switch frantically standing at a light in a shady neighbourhood :))...and few more things. The Malibu had it al least since 2005.

A gripe: metric units are fine and dandy, but, god, who made you people think canadians measure tire pressure in kilo pascals (or whatever) ??? :rant: We use psi in Canada as the rest of the continent :lmao: TPMS should have a dedicated unit setting.

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4746_RT8.jpg

I really like this shifter. Shurdy, leather covered. It would seem appropriate in a Cadillac. (well..maybe they put them in the caddys too :))

M is the position when paddles are operational. Btw, the car makes an honest effort to keep the gear even if you upshift. how far up you can go is limited depending on speed. So when you're stopped you can select gears 1-3..You get going and at some point the uppermost gear increases.
Whether the downshifting is limiter or rev limiter kicks in I don't know yet. Don't want to stress the car before break-in is complete.

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4748_RT8.jpg
Rear view is ...well ..... kinda limited :) .... very limited :)

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4750_RT8.jpg

XM/(Onstar too?) antenna. Btw note my manager's red convertible Mercedes on the background. It's pretty old but still a sweet car.

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4753_RT8.jpg

Engine bay. Everything is covered including the battery. Never seen that before. Dunno if serves any partucilar practical purpose but it looks pretty :) Maybe that IS the purpose...can see a salesperson casually poping up the hood to a prospective buyer..:)

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4756_RT8.jpg

Love this door seal. It's the real deal, feels like aluminum.

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4762_RT8.jpg

This is a pic I made specifically for Accordlover. Yes, there is a red line. Could be specific to performance package...not sure.

That is how a gauge pod is supposed to look as well as how a car should be customizable. My Tundra is that way as well.

Interior looks good and I like the inserts in the seats.

Good choice in car, but that black is gonna be impossible to maintain in the snowy winters!

It looks awful Yury. J/k :D :wave:

My personal opinion: the Malibu is hands down the best looking mid sizer.

GM refined all of my demerits for the Accord ... well proportioned good looks, road noise, a good r/h tradeoff without being too bouncy, and transmission shift quality. And I love the shift paddles, they don't seem useful until you use them a couple times.

Well you picked the color combo I would have for sure, Yury. I know the exterior black paint you're describing and it has a lot of depth to it...really nice. That's a great looking vehicle. I'm looking forward to hearing how this pans out for you. Again, congrats and enjoy.

And thanks for getting the pics up for us!

One more pic just for fun :)

http://www.ys-ever.com/NewMalibu/CRW_4751_RT8.jpg

Ok. Here go the snaps I did today.

Btw, note the functional side turn signal in the pic above. I was VERY surprised they did that and like it a lot. I think it's mandatoty in Russia and probably Europe. It does help in chaotic stop and go trafic. There's a sterrn in the center of Moscow that is at least 10 lanes wide at certain spot. Now imagine all trat filled bumber to bumper with cars whose drivers who are veither too considerate or respecful of the lane markings. You looking at at least 13 vaguely defined lanes :) That's why side markers are a good idea there and to a degree in Canada.
Anyway the markers stroke the right chord with me :) Too bad they go away for 09 model year.



Nice, really nice. IMO it's a very elegant ride. :thmsup:

Be careful with scratches, though, black cars are very sensitive to them.

I wish Accords had manumatic transmissions, like yours :thmsup:

And regarding the turn signals, Accords sold outside the US also have them. Mine has them: http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8158

Very nice car overall, I think you did exceptionally well.

That is how a gauge pod is supposed to look as well as how a car should be customizable. My Tundra is that way as well.

Interior looks good and I like the inserts in the seats.

Good choice in car, but that black is gonna be impossible to maintain in the snowy winters!

ah, that's ok, winter only lasts 3 months here :) I'd take that over a bland looking car all year round :)

It looks awful Yury. J/k :D :wave:

My personal opinion: the Malibu is hands down the best looking mid sizer.

GM refined all of my demerits for the Accord ... well proportioned good looks, road noise, a good r/h tradeoff without being too bouncy, and transmission shift quality. And I love the shift paddles, they don't seem useful until you use them a couple times.

:)...yeah I liked the look before I bought it, but it grew some more on me after :)

Well you picked the color combo I would have for sure, Yury. I know the exterior black paint you're describing and it has a lot of depth to it...really nice. That's a great looking vehicle. I'm looking forward to hearing how this pans out for you. Again, congrats and enjoy.

And thanks for getting the pics up for us!

shoud've gotten the pics out sooner...:) but you're welcome :)

speaking of pics.....meant to ask - what does the text on your avatar say ? :)

Nice, really nice. IMO it's a very elegant ride. :thmsup:

Be careful with scratches, though, black cars are very sensitive to them.

I wish Accords had manumatic transmissions, like yours :thmsup:

And regarding the turn signals, Accords sold outside the US also have them. Mine has them: http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8158

thanks :)

my Accord was black...Generally I am a careful driver so i think I can be trusted with that color :) Just gotta make sure I park away from the main bee hive on mall parking lots :)

Oh a gen 7 with side markers...interesting :) At first I thought yours is a TSX clone aka Accord in Europe and Japan.

Very nice car overall, I think you did exceptionally well.

Thank you, sir.

I suggest you buy a set of splash guards to help keep it clean a little longer :)

I suggest you buy a set of splash guards to help keep it clean a little longer :)

you know, around here if the weather is ok the car doesn't get all that dirty (especially with an occasional wash :))...but if it snows there's no escaping from white salt deposits on most of the car :) spash guards are not gonna fix that :)
i'll keep in in mind tho

Looks good!

You missed putting the IMG tag on one of the pictures.

Yury,

Is that plastic that is attached to the rearview mirror? (this may have been already addressed) Looks like the dealer may have missed the plastic stuck back there.

Yury,

Is that plastic that is attached to the rearview mirror? (this may have been already addressed) Looks like the dealer may have missed the plastic stuck back there.

no, that's my special goggles/glasses cleaning cloth. it has the trail maps of Mt St Anne skiing resort in Quebec printed on it and cost me at least 15$. Maybe 20$

:D

Looks good!

You missed putting the IMG tag on one of the pictures.

thx :)

the pic should be ok now.

Cool lookin' ride! :D

I particularly like the Euro'style clear side-markers on the front-fenders & the synthetic/MF seat-coverings. The driver's instrument-panel looks quite futuristic & Acura'esque, and I bet the steering-wheel mounted paddle-shifters add a lot of fun to an otherwise sedate automatic-transmission. Nice details and interior-appointments (shift-knob & shift-boot both are stitched, polished door-sills, seemingly intuitive center-console controls/knobs).

Remove the Chevy badge from the interior, it'd pass for a VW-designed interior/layout. Ditto for the exterior, the lines/form/shape is very Jetta-like! I wonder how much influence, if any, Opel may have had on this gen' of Malibu. . .

However, I find the license-plate chrome-bezel a bit chintzy & the mono-block style wheels to be dated for such a modern-styled car (what's Chevy thinkin?!?). Now, w/ that said I should add, I actually like mono-block style wheels where relevant (full-sized, luxury/touring cars... ala' Audi A8/S8, Mercedes Benz S-class, VW Phaeton, Infiniti Q45, Lexus LS400/LS430, 2nd gen' Acura RL, etc'). Also, the GM-tradition of chrome-trim here-there-everywhere is something I never really cared for; again, just a personal preference.

All-in-all, impressive car... w/o a doubt! Thanks for sharing. Be well - be safe! :cool:

Now they need to "make an effort" in their small cars and smaller crossovers like they did with the Arcadia and Enclave, nice SUVs........

I don't think Honda will ignore it if their sales slip. I guess having a reliable engine worked for 20 years or so,now you need a quiet cabin AND a reliable engine..........:yes:

Well, the cabins are about as noisy as they were before, they just rattle a LOT more these days than they did in their cars 8+ years ago. Take the interior apart and it will be immediately apparent why they rattle so much. Things are anchored and framed by flimsy plastic ALL over the place where they were using metals a few years ago. Flimsy plastic mounting points here, double sided tape there, more flimsy plastic here. Keep in mind that I am not talking about the visible panels, but rather what's under them. I have no problem with the visible plastic surfaces.

As for overall cabin noise, Honda has never been very good with road noise, but that's something I don't really care about personally, and it is made worse by their choice of OE tires.

Looks good! :yes:

Good luck with it!

Engine bay. Everything is covered including the battery. Never seen that before. Dunno if serves any partucilar practical purpose but it looks pretty :) Maybe that IS the purpose...can see a salesperson casually poping up the hood to a prospective buyer..:)

My '06 VW Jetta had a fully covered battery. That battery never saw the light of day for the entire 2+ years I owned it! :)

You've got an excellent looking car and hopefully it performs as well as most reviewers say it does. My only complaint is that I wish GM would provide transmission mode indication on the dash. They seem to like to put it next to the shift lever only for some reason (maybe there is dash indication but I didn't see it in the pictures). That's a relatively nitpicky thing though and still wouldn't hesitate a buy a new Malibu as my next car.

-Wes

I like a fair number of things about the Malibu, however, that view out the rear window is terrible........:(

Maybe Chevy has a bcak-up camera you can install??

Overall, I think it is a BIG step forward for GM. It looks better than the 2008 Camry and 2008 Accord, and I a little better than the 2009 Sonata..........

Still like my 7th Gen Accord though (Biased) :)

My only complaint is that I wish GM would provide transmission mode indication on the dash. That's a relatively nitpicky thing though and still wouldn't hesitate a buy a new Malibu as my next car.
-Wes

+1 on this... not too nitpicky IMO. it was one of MY requirements in a vehicle since an indicator on the dash helps to keep your eyes on the road -- where it should be.

+1 on this... not too nitpicky IMO. it was one of MY requirements in a vehicle since an indicator on the dash helps to keep your eyes on the road -- where it should be.

Hey, at least the Accord DOES THAT RIGHT!!! :thmsup:

My '06 VW Jetta had a fully covered battery. That battery never saw the light of day for the entire 2+ years I owned it! :)

You've got an excellent looking car and hopefully it performs as well as most reviewers say it does. My only complaint is that I wish GM would provide transmission mode indication on the dash. They seem to like to put it next to the shift lever only for some reason (maybe there is dash indication but I didn't see it in the pictures). That's a relatively nitpicky thing though and still wouldn't hesitate a buy a new Malibu as my next car.

-Wes

yeah, there's a couple of small gothas. The shift position indicator for one is missing (however I find that I don't look at it anyways). Probably due to limited space in the display on the cluster (DIC is there).
Another thing is that there's no indicator whether the auto lights are on, you have to guess by dash illumination level. Same as on the prev. generation Malibus.
Also I'd like to have DIC display on in M mode. A gear number is displayed and I'd like to see my instantaneous mpg readout too.

Hey, at least the Accord DOES THAT RIGHT!!! :thmsup:

Yeah, I've got the 6-speed but that's one of the things that I've always liked about auto Accords. Their gear indication is simple yet highly effective on the dash.

-Wes

I like a fair number of things about the Malibu, however, that view out the rear window is terrible........:(

Maybe Chevy has a bcak-up camera you can install??

Overall, I think it is a BIG step forward for GM. It looks better than the 2008 Camry and 2008 Accord, and I a little better than the 2009 Sonata..........

Still like my 7th Gen Accord though (Biased) :)

yeah the trunk and the rear view fell victim to styling :) back up camera - it did cross my mind. Or maybe a parking sensor (no need to fit in a 3rd party display, which is a pain).

shoud've gotten the pics out sooner...:) but you're welcome :)

speaking of pics.....meant to ask - what does the text on your avatar say ? :)

Ah...one of my faves:

Ok further report.

Although the cabin is quiet, there's one imperfection. There's a buzzing sound coming from the driver's door on rough roads. I pretty much isolated it to a wire harness inside the door and particularly large paper sticker on it (they seem to either have fogrotten to remove it or it's positioned in a wrong way). Looks pretty straightforward, will DYI it.

Btw, the plastic interior panels are made of this thick flexible plastic, not thin brittle kind. The clips are quite strong too and panel mounting is easy to figure out.

That's fine, small imperfection that'll be squared away soon. It's not one of Accord's rattle that only appears in certain temperature and wind direction making it impossible to track :)

Given the nature of the buzz and the fact that it's a first year of production I am more than willing to give GM a pass on that :)

Ah...one of my faves:

AAAA! :lmao::lmao::lmao: Bowzer, you;re killing me!!!! :lmao::lmao:

Yeah, I've got the 6-speed but that's one of the things that I've always liked about auto Accords. Their gear indication is simple yet highly effective on the dash.

-Wes

Honda does many things right. It's not the things they do right it's the things they neglect :)

Ah...one of my faves:

I've always wanted to know what that said, but never asked. That is hilarious!

Honda does many things right. It's not the things they do right it's the things they neglect :)

Well, Honda and Toyota have been neglecting LESS things than GM, Ford, and Chrysler for a long time..........:yes:

My neighbor owns a couple new Buicks, the Lucerne and the La Crosse. Man, those cars are quiet, and run like a watch. However, the styling is blah...........:thumbsdow

I've always wanted to know what that said, but never asked. That is hilarious!

Same thing my wife always says about me...........:thmsup::thmsup:

I had a Lucerne rental a few years back. The car was an amazing car when it came to how quiet they are on the road, but I couldn't get past the fact that it was envied by the 65-80 year group.....

I know cars are not status symbols in my eye, but that one was hard to stomach.

I do like the new Arcadia and would have no problem driving that if I needed an SUV.

I had a Lucerne rental a few years back. The car was an amazing car when it came to how quiet they are on the road, but I couldn't get past the fact that it was envied by the 65-80 year group.....

I know cars are not status symbols in my eye, but that one was hard to stomach.

I do like the new Arcadia and would have no problem driving that if I needed an SUV.

So, looks like there's hope for GM. That new car they're coming out with in 2010, the Cruze, seems interesting. I am just not sure that a 1.4 liter engine, turbo or not, would not be a loud buzzy motor.......

If Pontiac goes to an all RWD division, and gets their styling and handling mojo back, I am a big fan of that........:yes:

Well, Honda and Toyota have been neglecting LESS things than GM, Ford, and Chrysler for a long time..........:yes:

Quite true. Overall probably still true but their model lineup is inconsistent, some cars are good, some are crap.

My neighbor owns a couple new Buicks, the Lucerne and the La Crosse. Man, those cars are quiet, and run like a watch. However, the styling is blah...........:thumbsdow

WHen I was shopping the Lambda's (Acadia, Vue, & eventually the Enclave) I came across a very devout following of Buick in particular. My Mother had a couple when I was growing up. The 85 Park Avenue she had was a fantastic setup: DOwnright fast and of course smooth to the point of overdone. If I went GM, which I almost did with an Enclave, Buick would get the nod. They have managed to maintain much higher dependability ratings than the rest of GM. One Buick follower told me they have been the only GM Division to maintain their own plants on many of their vehicles and made QC a much higher priority. THe other thing I liked was the extra detail on trim pieces on the outside and the finish pieces like full wheel well shrouds under the fenders, etc. (Of course, historically these were pieces that would fall off, too. :lmao:) It's always back to that execution. Chevy's latest efforts have seemed to be more focused as what seems to be apparent in this Malibu.

And to end this rant: I'd have to become a lower mileage driver to dive in on these. With my history of dragging a car with me to 150,000 miles plus, I don't see the domestics making these cars to do that. But for a 100,000 mile car for 3-5 years, they quickly rank close to many to me.

AAAA! :lmao::lmao::lmao: Bowzer, you;re killing me!!!! :lmao::lmao:

Yeah...Berke Breathed and Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes) have always been the best.

I went to pick up my mom's car from mechanics. A lady at work agreed to give me a ride in her new Civic and actually let me drive.
Liked the futuristic instruments, but the interior is a bit sloppy in terms of quality :) Then, of course she had stuff in the car....
The engine is quite peppy.

I went to pick up my mom's car from mechanics. A lady at work agreed to give me a ride in her new Civic and actually let me drive.
Liked the futuristic instruments, but the interior is a bit sloppy in terms of quality :) Then, of course she had stuff in the car....
The engine is quite peppy.

I don't like the Civic's interior at all, looks weird.

new Civic and actually let me drive.
Liked the futuristic instruments, but the interior is a bit sloppy in terms of quality... The engine is quite peppy.
I don't like the Civic's interior at all, looks weird.
Need to keep in mind the Civic is still a compact, economy-car. Only until recently did it gain some frills, so to speak, in terms of standard-equipment & options/accessories. The platform has always been stark/basic, and it's quite evident in the ergonomics/layout that the Civic's roots are very much economy-car based.

Otherwise, it sticks to it's (3) hallmarks from it's original/humble origin: simple/cost-effective transportation, reliability/dependability, exciting handling/performance & involved driver's experience. I might add, it does all of those quite well.

Give me the interior-dash/center-console of the Toyota Corolla XRS & the exterior/body of the Honda Civic Si, and I'd be forever content! :D

Give me the interior-dash/center-console of the Toyota Corolla XRS & the exterior/body of the Honda Civic Si, and I'd be forever content! :D

Hang on, I'll drive one over in return for the keys to the NSX.

Need to keep in mind the Civic is still a compact, economy-car. Only until recently did it gain some frills, so to speak, in terms of standard-equipment & options/accessories. The platform has always been stark/basic, and it's quite evident in the ergonomics/layout that the Civic's roots are very much economy-car based.

Otherwise, it sticks to it's (3) hallmarks from it's original/humble origin: simple/cost-effective transportation, reliability/dependability, exciting handling/performance & involved driver's experience. I might add, it does all of those quite well.

Give me the interior-dash/center-console of the Toyota Corolla XRS & the exterior/body of the Honda Civic Si, and I'd be forever content! :D

I agree, it's supposed to be sort of bare, but the quality is visibly lower than the competition (corolla and the like). The same complaints that I have for the recent MY accords I also have for the civic. It's not the lack features, or the type of car, but rather it's the fact that honda has drastically cheapened everything that lies immediately under the surface, leading to the creaks, groans and excessive rattles that a lot of us here complain about that are not present in such quantity in other similar cars. I would have no problem driving a civic if it weren't for that. I like the SI, the interior is so so looking imo (too futuristic), but the overall package is a fun one. The quality issues, however, not so fun.

I agree, it's supposed to be sort of bare, but the quality is visibly lower than the competition (corolla and the like). The same complaints that I have for the recent MY accords I also have for the civic. It's not the lack features, or the type of car, but rather it's the fact that honda has drastically cheapened everything that lies immediately under the surface, leading to the creaks, groans and excessive rattles that a lot of us here complain about that are not present in such quantity in other similar cars. I would have no problem driving a civic if it weren't for that. I like the SI, the interior is so so looking imo (too futuristic), but the overall package is a fun one. The quality issues, however, not so fun.

I think you import guys are a little too whiny. I came over from Chrysler and GM, I would have GLADLY accepted a few more rattles and a few LESS broken transmissions and radiators and rack and pinions...........:paranoid::paranoid:

My truck doesn't rattle; nor does it have anything that broke. There are plenty of good choices on the road that don't have the aforementioned quality issues.

Either way. I am curious to see how this new GM sedan holds up. I really want them to do well for Yury's sake and for America's.

My truck doesn't rattle; nor does it have anything that broke. There are plenty of good choices on the road that don't have the aforementioned quality issues.

Either way. I am curious to see how this new GM sedan holds up. I really want them to do well for Yury's sake and for America's.

As far as initial quality goes it's pretty darn good so far. I only have an extremely minor buzzing at one spot that I hear sometimes when my radio volume is way low. I am actually debating if I even have to bother fixing it :) In any case it's pretty laughable :)

Nice, quiet and comfortable. It took me a few days to shake off 'accordiness' and start enjoying 'malibu-ness' :) The comfort level is a whole lot higher than in Accord. The power is very accessible, the tranny is silky smooth (most of the time I don't feel the shifts at all).

BTW.....Yury...you have to be a member of the Chevy forum to see the link you posted in your sig...

Maybe you can link your sig to the exact posts you have here that include your pictures?

I think you import guys are a little too whiny. I came over from Chrysler and GM, I would have GLADLY accepted a few more rattles and a few LESS broken transmissions and radiators and rack and pinions...........:paranoid::paranoid:

Yah, we probably are, but I think it's a balancing act and we're just experiencing different kinds of low quality. Not many people would enjoy a car that rattles like crazy even if it runs forever. Similarly, not many people would really want a car that doesn't rattle at all, but breaks down every other day. It's about enjoying your ownership experience, and rattles/transmission failures make it hard to do that. I would have gladly accepted the possibility of more frequent transmission failure in my accord if it meant that I didn't have to deal with quite so many rattles. Still, it was a better option just to jump ship.

I still have hope for Honda. I expect them to liven up a bit as Toyobaru does in the next few years.

There are just so many good cars out there today to choose from. And less than a nats ass separates one from a other in any or all category.

I hate the FE my Ranger gets. But after not driving it for several weeks left setting out under a pecan tree covered with sap, dirt, tree rat poo, eaten pecan shells and meat all over it. I jump in,, fire it up. Pull it around wash it up, check the oil and Im off. Drove the last little bit of ethanol out of it. Dropped a bottle of heat and injector cleaner in it and filled it up with straight unleaded gasoline. Yeah know,,, no rattles or squeaks. A/C turns on and off with just a slight click of the compressor clutch. I have to haul a couple of pumps in the morning along with tools and such to do a hands on pump maint. class. It will haul the pumps with the heart of a F-150, proud of its working class battle scared bed. With its redneck tool box full of those wonderful things called tools. My co-workers over priced Ridgeline fails horribly as a truck,,,, muchless a work truck.

For me,,, Honda has gotten just a little to metrosexual. Its clear,,, the engineering, design and manufacturing depts. have lost there way. And the idiot marketing dept. is riding the coat tales.

Im still waiting on CR-Z and the next gen Accord. But I fear and from what Ive seen. CR-Z if it makes it to America will be way over priced and under preform. It wont be a cutting edge hybrid or inspiring sport compact.

And if we for some reason end up having to dump our Accord or heaven forbid it gets involved in a wreck. It would be replaced with a Mazda6,,, No questions asked. No 8th gen Accord will ever be in our drive.

I wish Yury many happy motoring miles in his new ride. I like the car a lot! But GM could never make up to me all the junk they built and Ive bought in the past.

I preface this by saying we still have our Accord and appreciate all it's virtues. But in the week or so I have owned our new 2009 Nissan Murano LE AWD, all I can say is Honda is not the only company that builds beautiful cars.

1. Nissan didn't hold back on features in order to not step on it's luxury division's toes. On my Murano alone, these include: Intuitive AWD, adjustable Bi-Xenon HIDs, power liftgate, power operated/heated reclining rear seats, backup camera, 20" wheels, power tilt/telescope wheel, dual panel moonroof, memory seats/wheel/mirrors, rain sense wipers, auto mirror/compass, push button start, intelligent key, rear AC vents, LED moodlights throughout, power sunshades, auto on/and off headlights with delay adjustment, plus a whole lot more. Honda has proven to decontent their models in order to save goodies for Acura ONLY.

2. Even with 20" wheels and AWD, our Murano drives so quietly and smoothly, it makes the Accord feel mighty unrefined. I'm all for accepting a crispy ride, if the tradeoff is stellar handling. The Accord, while decent, doesn't handle well enough to justify such unrefined ride manners and interior noise.

3. Interior finish is ten times better. I grant the Accord is beautifully designed, but the Murano is mighty fine in an Infiniti sort of way. But in soft materials, detailing, and upscale aura, the Accord falls way short.

Before deciding on the Murano, I drove Toyotas, Subaru, Merc, BMW, Infiniti, Honda Pilot, and Hyundai (well... sat in one and looked at the sticker... and then ran!) and while each has their own feel... especially between the German and Asian brands... it became apparent Honda is resting on it's laurels when it comes to interior ambience, design cohesion, and overall refinement. The Pilot was especially disappointing.

I think reliability, fuel economy, and perceived trendiness are Honda's trump cards. But there is no doubt competitors offer some or all of those virtues and some really cool stuff. If you're a minimalist... Honda will keep you in the fold. But if you like something a bit different and can accept a "few problems per 100 cars built" statistic, there are some tantalizing choices out there (as evidenced by numerous defections mentioned on here lately).

Count me as one.:)

In all honesty, it's best to compare the '09 Nissan Murano w/ the '08 Acura RDX. I just went to the 'build-your-Nissan' web-site, the Murano's MSRP is a bit eye-raising. Shame on you for comparing it to any Honda equivalent (namely the CRV)!

Now w/ that said, it's quite a fine lookin' cross-over & rather well-appointed. I'm gonna go check one out at the Nissan dealership sometime soon. The 1st gen' Murano was a turd, w/o a doubt. This one appears to be a winner, though! :cool:

BTW.....Yury...you have to be a member of the Chevy forum to see the link you posted in your sig...

Maybe you can link your sig to the exact posts you have here that include your pictures?

hm..thanks for noticing.
is there a way to link to a specific post, or would I link to a page in the thread?

EDIT: never mind, I figured it out :)

There are just so many good cars out there today to choose from. And less than a nats ass separates one from a other in any or all category.

I hate the FE my Ranger gets. But after not driving it for several weeks left setting out under a pecan tree covered with sap, dirt, tree rat poo, eaten pecan shells and meat all over it. I jump in,, fire it up. Pull it around wash it up, check the oil and Im off. Drove the last little bit of ethanol out of it. Dropped a bottle of heat and injector cleaner in it and filled it up with straight unleaded gasoline. Yeah know,,, no rattles or squeaks. A/C turns on and off with just a slight click of the compressor clutch. I have to haul a couple of pumps in the morning along with tools and such to do a hands on pump maint. class. It will haul the pumps with the heart of a F-150, proud of its working class battle scared bed. With its redneck tool box full of those wonderful things called tools. My co-workers over priced Ridgeline fails horribly as a truck,,,, muchless a work truck.

For me,,, Honda has gotten just a little to metrosexual. Its clear,,, the engineering, design and manufacturing depts. have lost there way. And the idiot marketing dept. is riding the coat tales.

Im still waiting on CR-Z and the next gen Accord. But I fear and from what Ive seen. CR-Z if it makes it to America will be way over priced and under preform. It wont be a cutting edge hybrid or inspiring sport compact.

And if we for some reason end up having to dump our Accord or heaven forbid it gets involved in a wreck. It would be replaced with a Mazda6,,, No questions asked. No 8th gen Accord will ever be in our drive.

I wish Yury many happy motoring miles in his new ride. I like the car a lot! But GM could never make up to me all the junk they built and Ive bought in the past.

thanks :)

btw, I knnow what you're saying about the Ranger. I owned one, it was a simple and solid truck, I liked it a lot. Too bad I ended up having no use for a pickup.

Ackk Murano is just but ugly.

IMHO Murano not that ugly, even the old gen. I test drove a 07 once. Liked the layout of the interior, but the instrument cluster I didn't like at all. Way to cheapy-plasticky for a vehicle like that. The new ones are probably better.
Anyway, although I liked the interior layout, at the end of the day we simply don't need a truck that big.

IMHO Murano not that ugly, even the old gen. I test drove a 07 once. Liked the layout of the interior, but the instrument cluster I didn't like at all. Way to cheapy-plasticky for a vehicle like that. The new ones are probably better.
Anyway, although I liked the interior layout, at the end of the day we simply don't need a truck that big.

yup very cheap looking and I really dont like the lighting of the cluster. But i just think they look ugly but then again I am not a SUV guy.

For me,,, Honda has gotten just a little to metrosexual. Its clear,,, the engineering, design and manufacturing depts. have lost there way. And the idiot marketing dept. is riding the coat tales.

Can't argue there.......:thmsup:

And if we for some reason end up having to dump our Accord or heaven forbid it gets involved in a wreck. It would be replaced with a Mazda6,,, No questions asked. No 8th gen Accord will ever be in our drive.

The 8th Gens look ugly to me, and I need a sedan. If I could put the back end of the coupe on the sedan, I might reconsider.........:thumbsdow

I wish Yury many happy motoring miles in his new ride. I like the car a lot! But GM could never make up to me all the junk they built and Ive bought in the past.

I'm not that far gone. Chrysler screwed me way more than GM. If Chrysler went out of business tomorrow I would not shed one tear.........:thumbsdow

I have a $2000 GM card rebate available for use. I can easily build that up in 3 years to $3500. Who knows??

well, there are GM point allowances for every car..for the malibu for instance it's 1500$ in Canada. I always have couple of grand left there that I will never be able to use.

In all honesty, it's best to compare the '09 Nissan Murano w/ the '08 Acura RDX. I just went to the 'build-your-Nissan' web-site, the Murano's MSRP is a bit eye-raising. Shame on you for comparing it to any Honda equivalent (namely the CRV)!

Now w/ that said, it's quite a fine lookin' cross-over & rather well-appointed. I'm gonna go check one out at the Nissan dealership sometime soon. The 1st gen' Murano was a turd, w/o a doubt. This one appears to be a winner, though! :cool:

You made my point for me.... I will compare it to an Acura RDX (no Honda equivalent). For the same price as a decked out RDX ($40,000 MSRP including Acura accessories that try to bring it closer to what I have standard) I have:

*V6 instead of four banger!
*10 gig hard drive music box instead of 6CD.
*20" wheels instead of 18".
*Dual Panel moonroof with power sunshades.
*Auto ON headlites!
*Push button start with intelligent key (no need to use a key:))
*Rain sensing wipers.
*20+ cubic feet more cargo space.
*Rear AC vents. Rear seat heaters w/recliners.
*Power tilt and telescope wheel w/memory.
*Same gas mileage numbers (Murano is same size as my Accord. RDX is 10 inches smaller with a four, but weighs the same! And some say Honda's growing weight problem means nothing:rolleyes:.
*Power tailgate and rear seatback return.
*Numerous other niceties that I don't have time to mention.

All this from just a Nissan. Maybe Acura isn't quite so upscale after all. Or maybe the Murano is more near-luxury than anyone drinking Honda/Acura-Aid is willing to acknowledge.

Where is Honda's crossover based on the Accord (the Pilot ain't it)? If Honda did one, we all know they would not load it up with all the new features available today. It's been a long discussed topic on here for years. Hell, even Acuras don't have all the features! (see above).

BTW... I never referenced the CR-V.:dunno:

IMHO Murano not that ugly, even the old gen. I test drove a 07 once. Liked the layout of the interior, but the instrument cluster I didn't like at all. Way to cheapy-plasticky for a vehicle like that. The new ones are probably better.
Anyway, although I liked the interior layout, at the end of the day we simply don't need a truck that big.

The difference is the same as what the Malibu has trasformed into (except the Murano is now Infiniti/Lexus grade for sure).

Oh, and the Murano is the same size as my 2003 Accord (189 inches long).

Big truck?? Hardly.

good luck with that malibu...

the top of the line one we test drove (which wasn't even a demo car-even still had the plastic covering everything), had interior pieces popping out of place already and the thing couldn't control itself worth poo whenever you pushed it to stop, among other issues i didn't like..... wouldn't buy one myself if someone paid me to. i wasn't impressed at all after the test drive. oh, wait, i'll admit i WAS impressed that chevy had made the big leaps and bounds improvement over their past malibus. that was definitely impressive. if i was a chevy driver, i'd be all googoo gaga over the new malibu........

BUT and this is important, they aren't up to snuff with numerous other options out there in the long run........ hence my "good luck............." i think you may need it. i hope you don't........





ok, and nissan quality........ hmmm, not as bad as american, not as good as other options out there. but personally have not yet found one that i like driving. there is a dead spot in the gas pedal in every one i've ever driven and they are too "mushy cushy" of a drive in my opinion, though not quite as bad as toyota in that department..... kinda a filler in between being driven (by toyota) and driving (by honda). :lmao:

... a decked out RDX ($40,000 MSRP)
1st rule when doing a comparison, make sure your numbers are spot-on! :naughty:

An '08 Acura RDX comes in (2) specs'...

'08 Acura RDX: $33,695
'08 Acura RDX 'technology': $36,995

No further options/trim-levels/etc'.

The '09 Nissan Murano as you spec'd it is ~$40,000. (I may have even omitted some options/accessories)

Don't get me wrong, I myself feel the '08 Acura RDX is over-priced.

I always thought ~$40,000 would get me into an Infiniti FX35, guess not!
... maybe the Murano is more near-luxury than anyone drinking Honda/Acura-Aid is willing to acknowledge.
I generally drink lotsa 'Honda/Acura-Aid', so I assume you are referencing me. Nice to see how you feel about me, as I obviously see you're aiming at me! :D

And as can be ascertained from my previous post, I do think the Nissan Murano is quite up-scale/premium, much more-so than it's cross-market counterparts (Lexus RX, Acura RDX, etc'). It's leaps & bounds over it's universally panned predecessor!

Where is Honda's crossover based on the Accord (the Pilot ain't it)?
Well then, where is Honda's proper full-sized sedan to compete w/ the likes of the Nissan Maxima & Toyota Avalon? Each auto-maker inserts their own models into a market-segment based on their own desires, not a tit-for-tat copy-cat methodology (so to speak).
BTW... I never referenced the CR-V.:dunno:
You referenced the Honda Pilot, which I feel is more relevant to the current Nissan Pathfinder. Hence, I alluded to the CRV.


Now quit bein' a drama-queen online & go enjoy your new vehicle! You don't have to prove anything or rationalize to us in regards to your acquisition... :cool:

The difference is the same as what the Malibu has trasformed into (except the Murano is now Infiniti/Lexus grade for sure).

Oh, and the Murano is the same size as my 2003 Accord (189 inches long).

Big truck?? Hardly.

Compared to a car that's a pretty hefty machine :) Maybe not in linear size but in height/weight. I just didn't see the need for that all that interior space, and AWD I don't need either.

Ok, time for an update. Just a couple of days I received a letter from the dealer, the first sentence in it was "Do you realize that it has been almost 2 months ..." Gosh, I sure didn't :) I was still in "few weeks" mindset :)

Ok, I will start with a detailed write up, so everyone can form their opinion before I present mine.

- Handing
Definitely more muffled and detached than Accord's. Of course, the upside is comfort, you can flog it in the city and the suspension will absorb most of bad stuff. I generally drive faster over bad roads now.
You would think that this type of setup will have lot's of body lean...Well, it doesn't. It's only a little more than in the Accord. Which is a somewhat odd combo, but hey, why not.

On the bad side:
- there's some crown sensitivity (if I understand the term correctly). On my commute there is a spot with well defined, soft edged tracks in lanes. I merge there and immediately have to cross all lanes to get on the highway ramp. That's the spot where I feel those tracks interfering with my steering. It's controllable, but, after the Accord, feels odd (but less and less so as I get used to the car)

So, if you're a nosed hard Honda guy that will be a problem for you unless you're willing to adapt. The upside, of course is crap not shaken out of you.

- Well, there's torque steer, but, I think, it's rather mild, often I can't tell if that's what I feel. Besides I don't put it to the floor either, in my mind there's not much need for that with all that accessible torque.

- Engine
Lot's of punch and low end torque...Never ever I felt I need or even want more power. It sounds pretty refined too, though a little louder when pushed than Accord's 3 liter.
- Tranny
Very nice at low speeds, but can feel lazy on the highway. However, part of that is not me being entirely used to the type input it requires. Usually it takes me a while to "click" with the auto.
What typically happens is that I either give it too little gas and it doesn't shift or drops 2 gears and takes off (it's 6 speed, so it's not as bad as it sounds - we're talking about 3000 rpm accelerating from 60 mph). But, I think, I figured out the input to make it drop 1 gear on the highway, it's just not the second nature yet.
The tranny is quite smooth, I usually feel the gear change only by the engine sound and rpm.

- Build quality.

Overall, impressive, especially for the first year car. Solid interior (and if you know me, I am EXTREMELY picky when it comes to rattles and sounds...to the unhealthy degree :)).
2 things to mention here:
- I DIY'd a small buzz from the driver's door. Just, some kind of irregularity on the inner edges of trim where 2 pieces met. Fixed with a drop of glue, very simple. Btw, no other owners reported that, so it may be one of a kind thing. It's gone now anyways, wasn't even worth taking to the dealer.
Other owners did report a ceiling rattle on models with a sunroof, so nothing is perfect :)

- Sometimes minor sound comes from behind. I think it's the belt buckle touching the vinyl of the seat, and vinyl is harder than cloth...Anyway, I think it's normal and mild. In fact the radio has to be off 100% to hear it. (Not a big deal, but I HAD to mention because I am so so so picky :))

- Stereo, etc...
I am not audio nut, but I will give you my humble opinion.

Stereo sounds very nice and music is distinguishable at low levels, so you can speak to passengers and still hear music. I like that fact.
Simple single disk MP3 player makes a LOT of difference even compared with a 6 disk changer. I made 5-7 cds when I bought the car and I haven't even gotten to hear all the music I put on them.

There is one quirk that I cannot quite explain yet - sometimes (like once every 3 days) the MP3 playback would stop for an instant and resume with a little increase in volume. Seems random...I don't know what it is, could be very well be my disks....I burned them at a speed the Nero Express selected, maybe I should have lowered it. Anyway...small stuff.


Conclusion

The car is very different from Accord and takes some getting used to. But to me it's shortcomings and the adjustment are well worth it's strengths.

Would I buy again? YES.

Would I go back to Accord? No way in hell. No offense to Honda fans, it is merely a personal choice.

Forgot to mention the gas mileage.
No revelations here - so far it is 2 mpg down from gen 7 Accord (24 to 22 mpg), pretty much what I expected.

Great to hear of how well things are going, Yury. Appreciate the update post.

On that 6 speed: It will be interesting to see how your relationship with that part develops. When we test drove the Saturn Outlook for a weekend, I did not like how it constantly fished for the gears. I particularly noted I could not find a consistent way to give it the right amount of throttle to predict how far it would jump down in gear.

This was a particular weakness for the heavier vehicles. With yours, I would imagine it's at least a bit more predictable.

One rather odd question: I don't know if you've had any extended drives or cummutes but: Do you find the more removed sensation making you get bored? I tend to get bored once the newness of smooth and isolated ride goes away (Like when I have some different rental car for a few days or even when I used my wife's Pilot all of last week).

Good luck as the joy of driving continues.

Good to hear from you Yury.

Glad things are coming around good with the bowtie. :)

Good news regarding the lateset GM effort. I'm a big fan of some of the latest designs and after being side the new Volt, I am sure they are on a winning path in this country.

Great to hear of how well things are going, Yury. Appreciate the update post.

On that 6 speed: It will be interesting to see how your relationship with that part develops. When we test drove the Saturn Outlook for a weekend, I did not like how it constantly fished for the gears. I particularly noted I could not find a consistent way to give it the right amount of throttle to predict how far it would jump down in gear.

Well, I remember it took me some time with Accord too. I will see. But the thing is even if I overdo it and it drops 2 gears, that's easy to recover from, if I ease off it goes one up right away and from there it's easy to hold the 5th for longer if needs be.
Another thing is that the engine torque curve is different....There's loads of it where Accord wouldn't have as much. That can be misleading when the car accelerates in 6th being entirely quiet :) It does not pull hard, but there's a steady increase. So, I might start utilizing that more.



This was a particular weakness for the heavier vehicles. With yours, I would imagine it's at least a bit more predictable.


yes, it's not terrible by any means, just different.


One rather odd question: I don't know if you've had any extended drives or cummutes but: Do you find the more removed sensation making you get bored? I tend to get bored once the newness of smooth and isolated ride goes away (Like when I have some different rental car for a few days or even when I used my wife's Pilot all of last week).


hm....can't say really, never took it on extended drives. The 05 Malibu I drove some time ago got me bored eventually, but that WAS a boring car all around :) And more disconnected at that.


Good luck as the joy of driving continues.

Thanks :)

Good news regarding the lateset GM effort. I'm a big fan of some of the latest designs and after being side the new Volt, I am sure they are on a winning path in this country.

Hopefully.

Btw I liked the latest Volt design a lot....imho, much nicer than the original concept-like artwork they had.

The Car has paddle shifters right? How are those? Are you impressed?

The Car has paddle shifters right? How are those? Are you impressed?

yes, it does :)

Well, what can I say...they shift gears ok. I don't use them much, only about once a day and they do the job. I guess when you have a D you end up using it 99% of the time.

If I had to use them often, that would probably make a difference - the ARE convenient. As a matter of fact that one time a day I use them, on a long curvy off ramp, I put it on M before the ramp, then shift to 5th as I enter it, and, as the curve tightens I drop one more. Try that with a stick at 55-60 mph in a curve :)

Gearing is pretty tall on Malibu..so engine braking sometimes is not worth the bother.

What I do like about the paddle shift is that it's not your average auto range limiter. This thing actually makes an honest effort to keep even higher gears, it shifts only to avoid rpm getting too low.

Overall - satisfied, it is well executed, but Malibu is not a sports car to want to use them often.

Sorry man, don't have the time to read through 14 pages, so i don't know what you think of your new car. But you're a brave sole to trade out an extremely reliable car (7th gen last model year = all bugs worked out) for a first model year car by an American car company. I wouldn't even buy a first year car by a Japanese manufacture, forget about touching the new Malibu until it's proven its worth. Give me two years worth of reliability data and then I would be able to make an informed decision. I guess you're going on blind faith, sure hope it works out for you, otherwise trading out of cars every year is going to get mighty expensive.

I guess I got lucky because there isn't a squeak or rattle in my Accord. Solid as a rock. One minor problem fixed under warranty in the year and a half I've owned it. Many years from now when I'm ready to move on to something new, Hyundai will be my first choice depending on what product they have on the market at that time. However I'm a believer in the Honda reliability myth. The car has proven it's worth to me. I wouldn't care if it was squeaking and rattling, those things don't bother me. Plus the wind and road noise is pretty bad (unfortunately one thing I dislike about my Accord) so the stereo is always cranked, therefore it's doubtful I would hear a squeak or a rattle anyway.

dgs, to spare you all the reading - I am happy with it :)

also just a little bit of info - it's effectively the 2nd year of the platform, the first was Saturn Aura, it had it's share of bugs in 07, but improved in 08.

and I know people with 2000 something Malibus that are doing quite well. The first year of that generation wasn't great, but subsequent years got better. just thought I'd mention that.

The accord just didn't sit well with me. I kept reminding myself of it's virtues, but alas, it wasn't worth it at the end.

dgs, to spare you all the reading - I am happy with it :)

also just a little bit of info - it's effectively the 2nd year of the platform, the first was Saturn Aura, it had it's share of bugs in 07, but improved in 08.

and I know people with 2000 something Malibus that are doing quite well. The first year of that generation wasn't great, but subsequent years got better. just thought I'd mention that.

The accord just didn't sit well with me. I kept reminding myself of it's virtues, but alas, it wasn't worth it at the end.

My neighbor has a Saturn Aura, loves it. Sharp looking car. Like some others, I am waiting for the 3-5 year reliability studies to make up my mind. To me, the initial quality JD Powers studies are somewhat of a joke. It's NOT the first 90 DAYS that matter, it's the first 5 years.........:yes:

the irony is that in 3-5 years you're into a new generation with new problems :)

dgs, to spare you all the reading - I am happy with it :)

also just a little bit of info - it's effectively the 2nd year of the platform, the first was Saturn Aura, it had it's share of bugs in 07, but improved in 08.

and I know people with 2000 something Malibus that are doing quite well. The first year of that generation wasn't great, but subsequent years got better. just thought I'd mention that.

The accord just didn't sit well with me. I kept reminding myself of it's virtues, but alas, it wasn't worth it at the end.

Well good deal. If you have to make a car payment every month best to be happy with your car. I do think the new Malibu is a great looking car and I'm not even a sedan type of person. I hope it proves to be trouble free for you.

A little update on the disconnectedness of the ride.
Something weird happened la couple of weeks ago...The temps went down and and at some point I realized that my tire pressure is too low...somewhere in the 25 psi range...I upped it to 32 (2 over recommended pressure) and.....all of a sudden the disconnected feeling disappeared almost completely. It's weird though, cause the pressure was not that low all the time since I got the car.

Anyway, now I don't think it's that disconnected...nothing like your dad's buick for sure, handles pretty well. The sensitivity to road profile (namely tracks) is still there but it's less pronounced. I actually wonder if Accord behaved similarly at those spots and I just didn't pay attention.

New cars are notorious for that in my experience. Just had to air up all tires on my wife's 5 month old vehicle again recently.

Good to hear the handling tightened a bit.

The funny part is that I remember looking at TPMS and it was at 30...But, it could've been a warm day.
So, as of now, I am pretty happy with the handling.

PS Used the butt warmer this morning...That thing heats up real good, much better than a seat pad I used in Accord...

Temp's are dropping all of a sudden here too, as we speak (from 90's/80's to 60's/50's)... I'm gonna 'up the air-pressure a fair bit, as well. I'm willing to sacrifice handling/grip for fuel-economy & more even treadwear. . .

....darn, whoever's bright idea it was to use kPa for TPMS readout when metric system is selected in Malibu...really makes it hard to deal with, I have to keep reminding myself that 7 kPa difference is really about 1 psi :)

Slight over-inflation seems to actually enhance grip/handling in Malibu's case :)

LOL believe it or not, I am one of the 3 engineers that worked on making the car.
I worked on the IP or dashboard. I don't want to say anything negative about the car, but I hope you like it and hope it will be good to you for sure.

Just a hint: Don't you play around with the swooshes (Nike looking appliques) especially at the tip because if you break them........LOL the dealer will have to do a lot of work to replace them

LOL believe it or not, I am one of the 3 engineers that worked on making the car.
I worked on the IP or dashboard. I don't want to say anything negative about the car, but I hope you like it and hope it will be good to you for sure.

Just a hint: Don't you play around with the swooshes (Nike looking appliques) especially at the tip because if you break them........LOL the dealer will have to do a lot of work to replace them

really? cool :)

where are those swooshes, I can't seem to figure it out.

what did you design - the control positions and such? If you want my detailed (and constructive) feedback I can give it to you.

good job btw :)

I found that my compressor gauge is off and I overinflated by more like 4 psi instead of 2...I am beginning to be able to read the kPa readout :)

Btw, check this http://www.carspace.com/blogs/AlternateRoute/Ask-Dub-Schwartz-58
Someone had their tires up to 150 psi !

Great to hear of how well things are going, Yury. Appreciate the update post.

On that 6 speed: It will be interesting to see how your relationship with that part develops. When we test drove the Saturn Outlook for a weekend, I did not like how it constantly fished for the gears. I particularly noted I could not find a consistent way to give it the right amount of throttle to predict how far it would jump down in gear.

This was a particular weakness for the heavier vehicles. With yours, I would imagine it's at least a bit more predictable.

One rather odd question: I don't know if you've had any extended drives or cummutes but: Do you find the more removed sensation making you get bored? I tend to get bored once the newness of smooth and isolated ride goes away (Like when I have some different rental car for a few days or even when I used my wife's Pilot all of last week).

Good luck as the joy of driving continues.

I thought I'd post a semi update, mostly answering Bowser's questions above.

1. In regards to the removed sensation. It's pretty much gone now. I don't know what is it but the car doesn't feel numb anymore. It this point I am very happy about this balance - decent handling with a ride that doesn't shake the stuff out of you. Definitely not bored :)

2. The shifting. For a while the way it kicks down felt cumbersome, but not anymore. It turns out that I needed time to develop the right input to make it dance. The fact that, most of the time, at highway speeds it kicks down to 4th and then goes on 5th doesn't really bother me anymore. It's even beginning to make sense, because if I need to accelerate mildly the low torque of that engine does it without shifting and when I need more, usually for more aggressive passing 4th gives me that quick initial kick that makes up for most of the acceleration I need to pass.
So, everything is nice :) Btw, when going uphill it kicks down notably sooner.

Btw, there's a lot to be said about the GM style torque curve. It does the job when asked with not much hassle, so once you get used to that it is very nice :)

LOL believe it or not, I am one of the 3 engineers that worked on making the car.
I worked on the IP or dashboard. I don't want to say anything negative about the car, but I hope you like it and hope it will be good to you for sure.

Just a hint: Don't you play around with the swooshes (Nike looking appliques) especially at the tip because if you break them........LOL the dealer will have to do a lot of work to replace them

Why do you own an Accord if you helped design the Malibu??:lmao:

I thought I'd post a semi update, mostly answering Bowser's questions above.

1. In regards to the removed sensation. It's pretty much gone now. I don't know what is it but the car doesn't feel numb anymore. It this point I am very happy about this balance - decent handling with a ride that doesn't shake the stuff out of you. Definitely not bored :)

2. The shifting. For a while the way it kicks down felt cumbersome, but not anymore. It turns out that I needed time to develop the right input to make it dance. The fact that, most of the time, at highway speeds it kicks down to 4th and then goes on 5th doesn't really bother me anymore. It's even beginning to make sense, because if I need to accelerate mildly the low torque of that engine does it without shifting and when I need more, usually for more aggressive passing 4th gives me that quick initial kick that makes up for most of the acceleration I need to pass.
So, everything is nice :) Btw, when going uphill it kicks down notably sooner.

Btw, there's a lot to be said about the GM style torque curve. It does the job when asked with not much hassle, so once you get used to that it is very nice :)


Cool beans, Yury. Sounds like you're well in the middle lane of contentment with this vehicle. Also sounds like you and the Maibu have found more common ground in driving styles...good to hear.

Next, I'm anxious to hear how well it does with the worst winter has to throw at you. I'm betting a bit more comfy than what you're coming out of probably...secretly thinking you may not really miss the Accord until the Spring thaw where it's more inviting to jump on the car a bit.

I've been shopping a bit for the eventual 6th gen replacememnt. As a car nut I have predictably bounced all over the map in my fave of the week. The last couple of weeks have me fascinated with the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Love that thing!

Keep the kind miles rolling along up there.

Cool beans, Yury. Sounds like you're well in the middle lane of contentment with this vehicle. Also sounds like you and the Maibu have found more common ground in driving styles...good to hear.


Yep, we're pretty well matched now :) My driving style is defensive but firm, so the ho hassle GM propulsion works well :)



Next, I'm anxious to hear how well it does with the worst winter has to throw at you. I'm betting a bit more comfy than what you're coming out of probably...secretly thinking you may not really miss the Accord until the Spring thaw where it's more inviting to jump on the car a bit.



Well, we will see. One thing I can tell you is whoever invented heated seats deserves a Nobel Price :lmao: I am using it now and we're still ways to go to the freezing temps. I just really enjoy it :)



I've been shopping a bit for the eventual 6th gen replacememnt. As a car nut I have predictably bounced all over the map in my fave of the week. The last couple of weeks have me fascinated with the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Love that thing!

Keep the kind miles rolling along up there.

I always liked the styling of those. But the gas mileage...Well, you know what you're doing :)

Btw, I am secretly attracted to big vehicles like that, and always wished I had an excuse to have one :paranoid: How cool it'd be to pull into a skiing resort in an FJ...:thmsup:

FJs are awesome at what they are made for. I wouldn't drive one around town as I think there are better SUVs for hauling the kids, but they FJ is a nice offroader vehicle.

I really want that 3.6L 6 AT to be a huge success for GM. They have the right ideas and just think, they were able to do that with the UAW and paying 2-3k per car in union demands. That is much more amazing than anybody else.

Glad to see the car is working out for you! I'm excited to hear more as the time goes on.

The mpg's aren't scaring me away since I'll keep my 6th gen for the majority of commuter duty until it finally just dies...who knows when that day will come...hopefull not for a long time still as it soldiers on. I'm at a point (well, this week anyway) of chucking the sensible thing a bit (we already have the Pilot for main family transport) for a little more character and fun.

Bun warmer already, huh? Married life making you soft already?!

FJs are awesome at what they are made for. I wouldn't drive one around town as I think there are better SUVs for hauling the kids, but they FJ is a nice offroader vehicle.

I really want that 3.6L 6 AT to be a huge success for GM. They have the right ideas and just think, they were able to do that with the UAW and paying 2-3k per car in union demands. That is much more amazing than anybody else.

Glad to see the car is working out for you! I'm excited to hear more as the time goes on.

Without just completely hijacking Yury's thread here: You're right, definitely more "sensible" SUVs or vehicles out there...especially when I don't really need another SUV. But, missing the ability to just dart down a backroad sometimes...or go to a 4x4 meet somewhere to kick back...or hook up a trailer...or mount my old scanner and CB equipment...blah, blah. The FJ forum guys are just nuts over the thing. Only other forum I've seen as welcoming as this one...if not actually more so.

Meh...when the time finally comes, evenmoney still goes on another Accord frankly. But it's fun to think about all the options.

I'm worried Yury is turning into an old married guy now though with this seat heater thing.

I see. You want an Adult Dune Buggy :)

It is exactly the vehicle you need to buy :D!

Oh...the fanny warmers are nice. You should get some in your new FJ! I use mine whenever it is below 50 outside :yes:

I see. You want an Adult Dune Buggy :)

It is exactly the vehicle you need to buy :D!

Oh...the fanny warmers are nice. You should get some in your new FJ! I use mine whenever it is below 50 outside :yes:

Had the warmers in my Trooper...loved them I must admit. My wife always hated them...used to secretly turn hers on to see how long before she started adjusting the AC...usually about 5 minutes).

Bowser, Have you looked at the Nissan Xterra? I've heard good thinks about them.

Bun warmer already, huh? Married life making you soft already?!

Hey, I was soft before marriage ! :lmao::lmao:

I'm worried Yury is turning into an old married guy now though with this seat heater thing.

hmm, I run 20 miles a week ! :wave: (kinda contradicts with the above post...but it is true :))

Btw, I lost several pants sizes over the past year .... and I guess with that my body doesn't take cold temps as well as it used to. So the warmer is appreciated more than ever :)

hmm, I run 20 miles a week ! :wave: (kinda contradicts with the above post...but it is true :))

Btw, I lost several pants sizes over the past year .... and I guess with that my body doesn't take cold temps as well as it used to. So the warmer is appreciated more than ever :)

Just wait...marriage will change that decreasing size thing. At least that's what I blamed it on!

Bowser, Have you looked at the Nissan Xterra? I've heard good thinks about them.

Not really...saw some reports long ago they were okay.

Goes back to that thing about not really "needing" a 4x4 as much as the little FJ just catching my eye and looking like it would be a bunch of fun and serve a few needs both legit and otherwise. I'll go drive one and see if that gets it out of my system or just lights more of a fire.

Just wait...marriage will change that decreasing size thing. At least that's what I blamed it on!

:lmao:

Hope not...We run in the park together sometimes :)

Darn, I take it you have a large driveway...If I had parking space I'd leave a couple of my old cars about. The Ranger that I had at least....That truck was fun in a twisted and masochistic kind of way :)

As to driving the FJ...just make sure you don't walk out with a copy of a sales agreement before you know it :D

I transferred the discussions about the FJ over to the "WE Met Bowzer" thread to stop my wicked hijacking here, Yury...

Nope...not a big driveway but enough I guess. And just reviewed the family economics and compared them to the growing Santa wishlists around the household...no chance of a sales agreement any time soon around here I guarantee!

I saw a black Mailbu with tinted windows this morning near the office...looked really sharp BTW.

I don't mind an occasional hijacking :)

Somehow I never looked it up before, it turns out that the max torque on that engine happens at 3200 rpm....Coincidentally, on the highway, the downshift to 4th brings me to the near vicinity of that rpm.
Can't deny certain logic to that...I got all that torque, might as well use it in a real life scenario :)

See...max torque at 3200 RPM is much more usable than max at 5600 RPM. I never understood why you would make a motor like that in a family sedan or truck/suv. No sense to me. S2k...sure, but not the groccery getter.

in Accord's defense I would say that gen 7 V6 has a pretty flat torque curve, so it's quite usable too. There's just less torque, period, but gen 8 fixed that :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___DONOHOOAUTO-NAVI-SIRIUS-HI-DEF-BODY-KIT-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ380081153188QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20T rucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?h ash=item380081153188&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308

A mini update, this time about a couple little problems.

1. Found that the rear window derfroster grid was not connected. Duh :) The ground wire was not even in the vicinity or the connector. DIYd it, not too hard (it was easier than finding time to go the dealer)

2. Found that the headliner is slightly off on the passenger side. Not sure if it's even a problem. The weatherstripping around the door is supposed to go over the headliner but it was not over. I massaged the headliner into place, looks perferct now...The overlap is still smaller than at other doors, but maybe it's within tolerances, after all it looks pefect now and seems to hold in place ok. Another rough cut of headliner discovered at the back, but i would neve notice if I wasn't working in that area.

Anyway, pretty small stuff.

The car still has no rattles :)

PS Got winter tires on aftermarked alloy rims. Now need snow :)

on the freeway i would assume that them pops are rock chips hitting the car

on the freeway i would assume that them pops are rock chips hitting the car

I am not following?

A bit of an update (perhaps a bit chaotic, I started typing this in the Bowser's thread about hos new Element...)

Winter didn't really bring any surprises (and it's a snowstorm after a snowstorm around here...not very warm either :)).
The car seem to stand cold weather quite well, no new creaks/groans. Just as quiet as it was in summer, except sometimes seatbelt buckles buzzing slightly against cold vinyl of the seats.
There's an odd brief noise on startup at temps below freezing, the consensus seems to be that it's a belt not catching a pulley immediately. Common for Auras and Malibus, doesn't seem like there's a cause for concern for the long term.

There's been a number of interior imperfections I discovered, all either very insignificant or easily fixable (and none of them are rattles :)) I guess nothing too unusual for the first year of a model.

Got the radio replaced last week due to a very occasional cutouts that I probably mentioned before. I didn't really insist on the replacement, my dealer offered that as a corrective action off the bat, so hey, why not :) I am glad they did though, that thing (although almost a non-issue) would've been extremely hard to replicate at the dealer's.

So, overall, some minor stuff, nothing to get worked up about in a first year model. Still a very enjoyable ride.

The car is quite good in the snow...Well, with winter tires that is :) Never ran the stock all seasons in the snow, so no idea. With winters it very nice and stable.

Btw, I have to mention this to anyone who might be considering the Malibu - in some cars there is a vibration issue: http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=906
The GM is in denial currently. Apparently the issue is either there from the start so a careful test drive may be an assurance that a particular car is not affected. Mine is good and smooth.