"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
04/18/2016 at 09:56 • Filed to: None
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"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
04/18/2016 at 09:56 • Filed to: None | 0
| 12 |
You know how I often proclaim my love of Clinton-era American full-size sedans?
Yeah.
So Honda is paying for a long-term rental/loaner for me while my ‘08 CRV awaits its new airbags. Being that I loathe the CRV I was generally enthusiastiac about any car they saw fit to give me.
Well, it’s a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu LT1.
And I don’t hate it.
In fact... I sorta like it. The damn thing is comfortable. The interior is understated but definitely not badly executed. It’s more or less handsome, with classic 3-box sedan lines that aren’t overstyled or that overmatch the demeanor of the car itself (I’m looking at you Ford Fusion). The Chevy infotainment system is easy to use, with real buttons in easy to find locations. It handles well. It has a heft that I like, and without being cumbersome in that traditional American sedan way. It feels substantial. And even the base 2.0 Ecotec is fine, with its near enough to 200bbhp to call it a 200bhp engine. I’m not a huge fan ofthe 6-speed autobox, but it’s far smoother and more nimble than the 5-speed in the CRV. My only gripe is really the back seat, which due to the relatively short wheelbase is somewhat compromised for a pair of kids carseats.
Anyway, it’s not a bad car. At all. On the whole I’d still rather have a Mazda6, but compared to the Accord, Camry, Fusion, and Sonata/Optima I can’t see much to separate them. SOmetimes we enthusiast types get too far up our own asses to recognize that for 90% of our seat time all we want is comfort, ease of use, and reliability, especially if we’re urban commuters. I have no problem saying GM is making a pretty decent family sedan that you as a family oriented consumer who is OK with compromising some sportiness for the above attributes should at least not dismiss out of hand. Give it a drive.
And bear in mind this is the 2015 Malibu and not the totatally new 2016 model. Which I personally think is a damn fine looking car that is reportedly a few notches better than the one I’m driving.
Apologies to those who are offended by this opinion.
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 10:00 |
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I’ve been a Chevy sedan man all my adult life. I learnt to drive on a ‘77 Caprice Classic. I would
love
to have an extended test drive of that Malibu LT1.
CalzoneGolem
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 10:01 |
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...all we want is comfort, ease of use, and reliability...
and cheap ... we want it to be cheap also.
jvirgs drives a Subaru
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 10:04 |
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The new Malibu is nice but the front lines just make it look flat.
Milky
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 10:10 |
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The Chevy Malibu: Adequate in every way.
Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 10:12 |
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I’m all about the GM sedans. Though, I’m EXTREMELY partial to the full-size beasts. B-Body’s and G8's are the obvious favorites, but the 70's Caddy’s are a breed all their own.
I get my Park Ave Ultra back tomorrow with a rebuilt transmission, general engine tune-up, and new tires. After not being able to drive it for 2 weeks, I actually kinda miss it... Excited to see what it’s like when it actually runs properly. lol
Dean Beyer
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 10:27 |
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I want a new Impala so bad I can taste it.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 10:44 |
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Sometimes we enthusiast types get too far up our own asses to recognize that for 90% of our seat time all we want is comfort, ease of use, and reliability, especially if we’re urban commuters.
This is why I daily drive a Mercury Milan.
It’s perfectly fine as my daily driver and I have the Montego for something more exciting.
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Chairman Kaga
> CalzoneGolem
04/18/2016 at 11:09 |
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Cheap is fine. Leaves more money for our project cars! And if yours is anything like mine...
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Chairman Kaga
> MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/18/2016 at 11:10 |
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Or a project car. No car payment = open credit line at Centerline Alfa.
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Chairman Kaga
> Milky
04/18/2016 at 11:13 |
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Adequacy is sort of endearing. It’s not trying too hard, which is what I think is wrong with most new cars. Sedans that want you to think they’re sports cars, crossovers that want you to think they’re offroaders, SUVs that want you to think they’re high-end luxury. Sometimes I just want a car to be a car. No pretentious posturing. Your 180 hp sedan doesn’t need a spoiler and front lip. Just be competent at being transportation, then surprise us instead of letting us down.
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CalzoneGolem
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 11:13 |
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My project car is also cheap. It is not comfortable.
Textured Soy Protein
> Chairman Kaga
04/18/2016 at 11:26 |
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These Malibus were my go-to rental car for a while. I kept booking “full size” rentals and telling the counter person to give me anything as long as it’s not a Nissan Altima. I hate the CVT in that car. CVTs don’t necessarily have to be bad (my gf’s Impreza has one that’s pretty good!) but the one in the Altima is horrendous. So I’ve had rental Camrys, Fusions, Malibus and a turbo Regal. The Camry was kinda crappy, the Fusion is fine but the Bluetooth is fiddly and I don’t like the front seats so much. The Malibu and Regal are similar obviously, they drive decently enough, and their Bluetooth link generally works well. The Malibu back seat is a bit too small for actual family car duty, but that’s not really a concern for me. The Regal turbo has better power of course.