2013 Malibu looks good (so far)

[Jesda]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okg8W3ybb58[/youtube]



We get to see more on April 18th.

http://jesda.com/2011/03/31/teaser-2013-chevy-malibu/

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20048887-48.html

[MinisterofDOOM]

My unexpected fondness for the current Malibu is no secret. I think it's a genuinely beautiful car (with the exception of the odd tail lights) and mechanically excellent as far as FWD cars go. I like what I see in the teaser so far. The new tail lights are definitely an improvement. It looks to somewhat retain the signature C-pillar, which is my very favorite part of the current Malibu's aesthetics, so that pleases me.

[dre1507]

wow...now that's a Malibu i'd buy.

[Encryptshun]

Is it just me or do I sense a little bit of Camaro and a little bit of Pontiac G8?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

In contrast to the commercials... the current gen Malibu is, in fact, a car that I CAN ignore.

[LEMHEAD16]

Headlights are too bright.

[MinisterofDOOM]

In contrast to the commercials... the current gen Malibu is, in fact, a car that I CAN ignore.

Really? Malibu's got almost all the competition beat on just about every level. Powertrain is FAR superior to anything else out there. ANYTHING else. Not almost anything, not most anything. No one else can match it.

LY7 > VQ35 > MZI > 2GR > J35 > 3 gerbils > Theta GDi
No CVT bullcrap in the Malibu like you get with Ford or Nissan either.

Malibu's also far better looking that anyone else, though Fusion and 6 are close behind.

If you ignore it, it's out of ignorance. It's a genuinely EXCELLENT car and stands up just fine against anything else in the segment. It absolutely should not be ignored. I'm not in the market for a FWD midsizer, but if I was, Malibu would be at the top of my list.

The last two Malibus were worse than horrible: they were pointless. The new one is nothing of the sort. I'm actually kind of surprised Chevy didn't pull a Cobalt and change the name to help sever ties with the rental fodder that came before it.

[Jesda]

Its a good car, but the Saturn Aura (also large Epsilon) was more fun to drive and had sharper Opel styling. The Malibu has a noticeably nicer interior and feels better built. The G6 was chintzy. It took GM three tries to get the mainstream to accept it, and it finally stuck.

Of all the FWD family cars on the road from the last ten years, the 2003-2008 Mazda 6 is still my favorite. Its smaller, lighter, and even though the engine is nothing special, the look and sporty feel are outstanding.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE8HA5WX9bU[/youtube]

[MinisterofDOOM]

I love the first-gen 6, and I'm still really fond of the 2nd gen. I still wish Mazda had done the MS6 right and given it a big 6 rather than the fun-but-not-particularly-powerful turbo 2.3.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Malibu's also far better looking that anyone else, though Fusion and 6 are close behind.

I guess I just don't like the looks of it. The tail lights and C-pillar really don't do it for me. Come to think of it, the whole car really doesn't do it for me (looks wise). I dunno... it just sort of looks like the sedan version of the Uplander.




Maybe not...

[MinisterofDOOM]

That c-pillar is the sexiest thing to happen to the family sedan since wheels.

It looked good on the Phaeton first, but people actually buy Malibus.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Image no worky for me

[MinisterofDOOM]

How about this one instead?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Barely... took 2 tries and forever to load (and won't zoom in for me?).

But yeah... I dunno, I think it looks better on the Vdubb.
BTW, did you ever drive/sit in a Phaeton? They actually were quite nice, even if they were plagued with mechanical/electrical problems (but seriously, what VW isn't?)

[Rev_D21]

The Mazda Millenia had the sexiest C-pillar.

[Bubba1]

The Mazda Millenia had the sexiest C-pillar.

Isn't that kinda like saying Rosie O'Donnell has a sexy rack? (just kidding)

I don't mind the new Malibu. It's not exceptional looking but it ain't bad. The 2009 and 2010 models are reliable enough for me to make them the first non-corvette GM late model/new vehicle I would consider. Though I am concerned about GM's notoriety for poor quality the first year of an updated or new model.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Barely... took 2 tries and forever to load (and won't zoom in for me?).

But yeah... I dunno, I think it looks better on the Vdubb.
BTW, did you ever drive/sit in a Phaeton? They actually were quite nice, even if they were plagued with mechanical/electrical problems (but seriously, what VW isn't?)

Oh, they're really nice. They share their platform with modern Bentleys. The real problem is $80k for a VW is hard to swallow, especially when you can get a better Audi for the same money.

[Bubba1]

Barely... took 2 tries and forever to load (and won't zoom in for me?).

But yeah... I dunno, I think it looks better on the Vdubb.
BTW, did you ever drive/sit in a Phaeton? They actually were quite nice, even if they were plagued with mechanical/electrical problems (but seriously, what VW isn't?)

Oh, they're really nice. They share their platform with modern Bentleys. The real problem is $80k for a VW is hard to swallow, especially when you can get a better Audi for the same money.

I was in one, and it was a very nice car. but VW screwed up the Phaeton royally from a marketing perspective, it's seems like a crime.