Returned the one I've been renting since Tuesday while the Bird gets it's coolant fan mortor replaced.

It was a "Classic" model (the new Malibus aren't really available to rental agencies), and like the Impala I rented a couple of years ago, the thing was really surprizing. In a great way, completely opposite of the Bonneville's "surprize" I had from a few weeks ago.

Interior assembly was virturally flawless!
I'm not saying interior material was top drawer, but everything fit well, I didn't notice any unseemly gaps, nothing was loose or seemed about to fall apart.

Handling was actually fun!
The car had great feel & balence. No it wasn't Z28, T-bird SC, or Corvette level. But for a grocery getting rent-a-car, it was a great toss-about.

The car was almost....Fast!
No, you won't run it against Mustang GTs at the stoplight, but that doesn't mean the Malibu isn't quick. Perhaps it's 0-60 times aren't dramatic, but it has really good punch once the computer & transmission realize you just mashed your foot to the floor. Seat of the pants performance (from a roll) was extremely good.

The upright seating position and the not that great width of the car, and the relatively low beltline reminded me of my old 5.0 fox Mustangs. Unlike the fuel guage in my Camaro, the Malibu's guage actually works (1/8 of a tank on the guage doesn't mean your fuel ran out 15 minutes ago like the 4th gen's guage). The seats feel good, and have good support. If the exterior styling wasn't such a yawn, I'd HIGHLY reccomend it to someone who needed a 4 door car on the cheap. Yes, over a Honda or Toyota. They don't have 100,000 mile maintence schedules.

It's not a "gee whiz look at me" or a "tire melter" type of car. But it is a car that's game when you want to go mess around on a curvy road or darting through freeway traffic.

If the new Malibu is better than the Classic, then I think I can say that I see why it's doing well, despite it's horrible exterior styling. If GM had put an attractive body on the thing, they wouldn't need rebates.

It's sort of like the good hearted, really smart kid that's so ugly he needs a steak tied around his neck to get the dog to play with him.

 

I drove a Bonneville GXP a few weeks ago at GM's Auto Show in Motion. I absolutely loved it, good power, excellent handling for a large car, very nimble, excellent brakes, nice looking wheels and exhaust tips + a good sounding exhaust too. The dash was a bit dated, but I could live with it, the white gauges and carbon fiber trim and satin nickel accents help alot. Seats were a excellent fit with leather and suede inserts and could be adjusted 12 ways. This car has every bell and whistle on it.....I loved it.

To bad its gone.... or shortly will be.

 

I don't know Guy.

Two or three years ago, I had a Malibu Classic as a loaner for a couple of days. It was a competent transportation appliance, but it was so agonizingly boring, that after I turned it in.....I required months of electroshock therapy, to keep from spontaneously falling asleep.

 

If you think the Classics are good, drive a new one!
Guy, if you are ever on the east coast, you can drive my Maxx.

 

Compared to that SVT Contour you drive, I bet it is!

Not saying the Classic is the best sedan on the road. But if I must have a new sedan for an under $20K price tag, this Malibu would be what I'd buy. It had a tach and alumunum wheels, so I'm not sure if it's the same base model that was Malibu a couple of years ago. I suspect Chevy upgraded things with the ole Malibu since you drove one.

I'm now driving an '05 V6 Mustang till Tuesday. I'd almost swear that thing is as quick as the old GT 5.0 automatics.

Not quite months of electroshock therapy, but still probally helpful.

 

I'll say right now that before the summer hits Guy will own an '05 Mustang GT.

 

Hmmm.... A 2005 Mustang rental car? Hmmm....

I'm inclined to say that the base V6 is now the pick of the litter when it comes to 2005 Mustangs. After all, GTs are currently impossible to find and the base Mustang nicely undercuts plenty of cars that are not much quicker but far lower on the food chain when it comes to image.

For the summer of 2005, entry level gearheads should steer clear of overpriced and overhyped econocars like the SRT-4, Cobalt SS and Ion Redline. The 2005 Mustang - and not just the GT - is the performance car to buy, hands down.

 

still can't see a cross-shop between the econocars and a stang
maybe very rarely, but certianly the exception, not the standard
besides, those econocars can almost keep up with a gt anyways (well, about a half a second)
and with those cars fully loaded, you can get them cheaper than a base gt with no real options

just my take, and i would probably still rather have the gt to buy anyways

 

Just watched one of those dealer shows that are on Sunday nights after the news. They had a '04 Classic with like 12K miles on it for $9980.00. Good chance its a used rental car, but not a bad price for a nearly new second car.

 

i can buy a pretty loaded optra for 10,998 new.

 

There is no such thing as a 'good price' on a rental...unless you're talking about how much you're renting it for.

Rental cars are the uber-playthings.