Has anyone here ever driven a new Malibu?

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
07/29/2014 at 19:35 • Filed to: None

I find it really hard to believe it's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I mean yeah, I'm sure it's no Mazda6 or Fusion, but common, it cannot be that bad.

DISCUSSION (26)

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 19:40

The 2013 Malibu got one of the worst reviews Jalopnik has given a new car. So I'm not surprised.

DoYouEvenShift > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 19:43

The turbo ones are really nice! I liked it when I drove it. Honestly, I think all three of these cars stack up well amongst each other when compared evenly by trim. That orlove guy is well known for knocking on GM products, so that review is irrelevant.

Nibbles > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 19:47

Why did I go to TTAC

Logansteno, why did you link that article, that linked the article that took me to TTAC

My pareital lobe is bleeding, and my temporal lobe is reaching for the Scotch

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Nibbles
07/29/2014 at 19:50

Is TTAC bad or something? I've never actually read anything other than the Malibu article.

Nibbles > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 19:51

I cannot stand their musings, the dearth of correct information, or the self-righteous comments of the readership there

Spasoje > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 19:53

Short answer: Yes I have, and yes it is.

Long answer: Have a gander at my review of it.

mazda616 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:01

The name "Malibu" is forever soiled in my family, because the car my wife owned previously was an '06 Malibu that was the epitome of lemon. My wife has sworn never to own one again, lol. The new ones are at least less ugly, that's for sure.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Spasoje
07/29/2014 at 20:04

I really wonder what all the ECO designation changes, because I've read a couple reviews on non-eco models and they seemed to think it was okay. It's like that badge and the modifications it brings ruin the entire car.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:05

It looks like they took the interesting out of a Camry, and then said "Hertz will totally buy this shit!"

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mazda616
07/29/2014 at 20:06

That generation Malibu is probably the worse ever made. Maybe second worst to the one before it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/29/2014 at 20:06

"Camry" and "Intersting" being used in the same sentence? Hah.

GeorgeyBoy > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:06

Not really bad.. But compared to pretty much all it's competition it's bad. I would say it's a sidestep from the last gen Malibu.

PS9 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:09

Ive driven it, the 6 and the Avalon. Summary of each.

Mazda: like a 4 door fatter miata. Probably the best sounding 4 gerbil in its class stock

Malibu: Poor quality plastic interior, numb steering, and a motor that forgets it has turbo power until the last possible second. A poor showing from chevy.

Avalon: Eat a quaker rice cake raw, and you'll know what its like to drive this. Its so forgettable, I almost typed 'big camry' in place of its name when I wrote this.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > PS9
07/29/2014 at 20:11

So would you consider the Malibu better or worse than the Avalon?

Spasoje > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:11

It wasn't clear when I went back and configured the one I drove, either. The Eco badge seems to be on every 2.5L model (and not just on the eAssist ones). The 2.0T probably solves the power qualms but I'm guessing not much else.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Spasoje
07/29/2014 at 20:15

I swear there used to be a LS "Eco" and an LT "Eco", like their own separate model.

But then I went and configured a 2014 LS, and it didn't have an Eco badge, then I did a 2015 LS and it did. I don't understand that at all...

Firewrx234 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:28

(I work for a Chevy dealer so bear with me)

I honestly think it's a decent car. So much so that I sold my own mother a 2015 Turbo version.

The 2.5L with stop/start May or may not have some bad seeds. I've driven many with amazing results a few others that seem to have weird shuddering problems (I smell a recall brewing). The infotainment system is great, and when equipped well, are actually some decent quality items with the ability to have collision alert and lane departure.

Also with the A/C not being comfy in the 2.5L, that is a preferential setting, you can set comfort as the preference over economy. All it takes is a simple click of the A/C button until it shows a color that is NOT green (I think it's orange). This makes it keep the engine running rather than shutting it off bc you want A/C.

mazda616 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:28

It was awful. Beyond miserable in every aspect. We traded it in at 86,000 miles and it was literally falling apart.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Firewrx234
07/29/2014 at 20:31

Glad to hear from someone who's around them on a daily-ish basis.

Being what I think is Chevy's first attempt at stop start, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a recall to fix the programming on some of them.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mazda616
07/29/2014 at 20:34

Luckily the generation after that was leaps-and-bounds better, apparently.

PS9 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:42

I wouldnt have any of them over the charger I also drove that day, but gun-to-my-head-I-have-to-buy-one-or-the-other? Avalon (did I just type that I would consider an avalon? I did. I did type that. Something must be wrong with me...)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 20:58

That's how interesting the Malibu is. At least the Camry comes with paddle shifters yo.

The Transporter > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/29/2014 at 22:20

Bad? No. Meh? Yes. It's beige as beige can get, but it's even meh when it comes to the beige. It can't even rise to the top in a field of Camrys and Passats that are built to blend into the crowd.

jaxtheax100 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/31/2014 at 00:09

I rented one a while back, turbo ones are awesome! The LTZ is definitely the one to go for. The electronic nannies are annoying, it wont rev past 4k at a stop or 6k while driving, "Engine Overspeed" comes on the dash. :( very comfortable though.

Eric in the PNW > mazda616
08/01/2014 at 01:58

If you think that one was bad, you should try one of those 97-03 (and kept on through 05 as a "classic") models. Those were possibly the worst mid-size cars GM ever made. I'm amazed it didn't have Korean roots, it's that bad.

mazda616 > Eric in the PNW
08/01/2014 at 09:17

My aunt drives an '03 Malibu and it is pretty bad as well. But I trusted it more than I did our '06.