2008 Chevrolet Malibu gets great reviews

Deservingly So - I'd Wager.

It's Great To See U.S. manufacturers getting with the Mid-Sized Program.

Great Looker Too (Inside and Out!)

it looks like a great competitor for the Camry and Accord... i'd give it a lot of credit

It really is. I sat inside one this weekend at the auto show here in Miami Beach and it was very nice. I will say its finally a true competitor to the Accord and Camry

I hope it does well. I always want all american companies to do well. I hope it does live up to the reviews and the accord and camry start to flop. I am an american, that is why I am for it!

They took the Saturn Aura(already a good car), refined it for a little over a year and this is the result. Every new GM car released the past 2 years have been good or really good. Hopefully they keep it up.

As long as they can continue to copy and steal from other companies they may improve. Still GM junk!! Nothing they produce is original.

(singing) Comin' To Save The Blankity Blankin DAY YEA!

Yes...

I think that it's one of the most incoherent jumble of unrelated design ideas to come along in quite some time.

The Accord's rear 3/4 view is simply hideous, and the front end tries to overcompensate for bad design by 'over-blinging' the grill and headlight assemblies.

The MALIBU in contrast works very well, and has a presence and elegance that none of its competitors seem to have.

Your not alone. The taillamps look like they were cutoff at some point cause they are stumpy and just look odd with the car.

I like the Camry SE over an Accord, it looks sportier. But I really think I would give serious look to the LTZ Malibu. I am glad they are doing so well. The Aura won car of the year last year I think. The new Pontiac G8 is coming out soon as well with a roarin V8 option, should be slick.

I would bet that in the next year an SS version will come out with a similar V8 to the Pontiac G8.

The new Malibu is a great looker and I may stroll to a dealer to take a peak at one, not that I'm in the market, but I have to check out that, the new Vibe and Matrix up close to get a better feel for them all, but I will definitely be looking at these cars when they are rolling the streets in a few months. I expect good sales for GM on this vehicle, considering it looks as if the Accord styling missed the mark.

sorry to add on, but I think Ford with their Fusion is in some real deep **** now, as if they weren't already.

LOL, love the "added comment," Ford has an answer for the midsize market, its called the Mondeo.

I also must agree about the styling on the new Accord, it is sub par at best. The camry is old news, and is the biggest cost cutter of the midzixe market.

Already lost to the Camry and Accord, No Manual Transmission Option. Camry and Accord have stick shift option and various aftermarket support to "tighten" up the ride and make it faster, sound better...

As I commented the Last Time you offered this opinion:

The vast majority of U.S. buyers of mid-sized sedans don't want or care about having a manual transmission on their vehicles.

It's nice that you're happy with you manual transmissioned Camry, but you're one of the very few that would opt for it.

Why would you "need" a stick shift to make it faster or sound better. Whenever a stick shift is offered on a conventional car, it's with the base engine a four banger with 160 horse or something like that, not a top line V-6. The only current v-6 sedan (not coupe, so don't mention the accord) in the midsize market available with a stick is the passat I beleive. I could be wrong, but my point is still valid. I'll take an auto v-6 with a manumatic over a wimpy 4 banger with a stick.

actually I was wrong, there is NO v-6 midsize sedan with a stick offered in america. Just checked. Not even V-dub....I thought they would...hmm

Malibu is a rental car, it's already in the rental car lots, Malibu's are known for renting. Drive a Camry 5 speed man. w/ TRD short shifter, it'll really feel like a rental.

Once again most people shopping for these cars do not want stick, and could care less about short shifting. For what it offers and the price point, I would really most likely take the LTZ Malibu vs. the Camry SE and Accord V6 regardless.

A short shifter on a camry?
Why on earth would you ever do that?

There are only two 4-cylinder motors that sound really good, A Subaru 2.5 and a Toyota 2.4. They don't sound like 4 cyl. w/ the proper exhaust set ups. Ever heard a modified exhaust Scion TC manual trans. or a Camry manual trans. The note is deep. Well, I also have a '06 530i SMG and an '07 CX-7. So stupid comments don' have anything on me.

They may sound good, but you're still rollin a four banger in a big car. I bet I can take a camry v-6 and make it sound better than your four

utahnkid is right. I'm sick of hearing cars that sound like a squirrel with diarrhea. Honestly, who thinks it's awesome? When a ricer drives by, who in their right mind says "Oh baby, I gotta get me one of those"? It's pathetic.

I don't really like the Malibu. For some reason, the Chevy logo on a car (instead of truck or SUV)is a turn off, even on the Camaro and Corvette. Plus, I can see Mitsubishi in the rear of the car.

Actually, I agree. There's something inherently bland about any Chevrolet sedan. It's hard to describe, but this looks cheap, much cheaper than the Aura. The Camry and new Accord are simply far superior in terms of design. They look EXPENSIVE.

The Camry does look expensive depending on the model. If you get the SE or Hybrid version, they have enough changes to the body that makes them look like they cost more. And I agree with you S4, the Aura looks much better than this.

"The Camry does look expensive depending on the model"

This has to go down on the record books as the funiest comment ever. The Camry looks like it came out of some cartoon. No way can you say the Camry looks expensive. The Malibu, Aura and new Accord all look a million times better then the Camry.

Well I have a '00 Camry V6 5spd Manual (Very Nice sounding motor, (cuz it growls), nicer sounding than 3.0 530i that i have (530 doesn't growl, it just screams)). If I were to get a new Camry, I'd get the 4 cyl. CE stick and modify it, cuz it's the best value FWD manual trans. car money can buy, and w/ an RMM lip kit/dual exhaust valance looks nice, 2.4 Camry's and 2.5 Subaru's don't sound Rice. And if u read, we also have an '06 530i SMG and an '07 CX-7 (CX-7 sounds life less).

I would say the Mazdapseed3, VW GTI and Audi A3 are more fun, more interesting and similarly priced to the Camry. They are better FWD manuals.

"And if u read, we also have an '06 530i SMG and an '07 CX-7"

Find another forum if you want to try and boost your ego with useless comments like this.

Why would you waste money modifying a Camry.
You see these are the clowns i have to deal with every day.

According to the owner's reviews of the 4 cyl., automatic Camry - they are in a world of hurt.
This model should be pulled off the market. Toyota engineers have better not take the U.S. auto consumer for granted any longer or cars like the Malibu will cut deep into their sales. I expect this to happen next year.
I also hear of major problems with the V-6 Camry automatic. The new Accord is mechanically ideal - but will the controversial styling hurt them?

Whelan how is Ford in deeper *** with the Fusion? I own one and I could say is that its a great looking car and is fun to drive unlike the ugly malibu made in china. All the new GM models are straight from Europe which shows that GM can't put any effort in their American market by trying to build something from scratch besides SUVs and Crossovers. The new cossovers from GM already have been rated as problematic compared to Ford which has brought their reliability up to par with Toyota and Honda.Last time I checked GM is in more *** than ford while ford is on track for a profit in 2009. I know the fusion is not great but than again what car is? The toyota is boring to drive and has boring looks while pricy and the accord has some weird look about it and also not so fun to drive.

"All the new GM models are straight from Europe which shows that GM can't put any effort in their American market by trying to build something from scratch besides SUVs and Crossovers."

And this is exactly what Ford SHOULD be doing, because, sorry to offend you but all of their American cars suck and their European cars are much better. GM understands what to do and makes no excuses--they just get right down to business. It's called improvement. Ford doesn't know how to do it, apparently.

BTW, GM cars in Europe are still GM cars, and thus designed and engineered from scratch, by GM.

3, GTI, and A3 are smaller/A3 more expensive. And for the 3, i have CX-7 also w/ the same 2.3 but w/ Turbo. 2.3 is Not sooo refined and doesn't make a nice exhaust note + horrible DBW lag.

you obviously have no clue about cars, because if you read S4's comment he stated the speed3 which has a turbo, go back to class little boy

Ay, Fastone, whachu drive playa? U kno what I got, '06 530i SMG (Sprint Boosted), '00 V6 5spd Man. Camry, '07 CX-7. Whachu gon race w/? '00 Cam is fast as my 530.

Can someone please tell them that CHROME WHEELS LOOK HIDEOUS.

I really hope this model helps GM. Nevertheless, I've heard there are no sufficient cars to meet demands.

This car will do great but then GM will get pissed on becasue they can not met demand. Its never ending

The new Malibu is nice and a major evolution not just a remake. The new Accord looks to be a rebadged Hyundai Sonata. And I expect the Camry to continue being the sales leader with GM increasing its sales % in the segment.

This is what I love about competition! Japan has done the entire industry a great favor by developing reliable cars and making its competitors step up their game. My only gripe with Japanese autos is in the aftermarket. Make a few changes and it will throw off your SMOG considerably...well that another story...

StickShiftCamry..I have a 06 Porsche 997S with ceramic brakes and EVO Supercharger...bring your car to NorCal. Like to see what a Sprint Booster can do :)