Reported by a recent issue of a Union Mag, "Solidarity":

"According to consumer surveys by J.D. Power & Associates, the Malibu outranks the Camry on; mechanical quality, feature and accessory quality, and OVERALL Quality. The Camry does outpoint the Malibu on body and interior quality.
The car buyers surveyed by J.D.Power also say the Malibu is better on every quality measure than other comparable non-Union sedans, INCLUDING the Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima.(Rankings posted at www.jdpower.com )
Surprised ? We've been hearing for so long that Japanese and European branded cars are better than ours that just about everyone believes it - even if it ISN'T true.

False Statements:
#1)"I get better Quality out of a Japanese car." = False..."Not any more. Yes, there once was a "quality gap" between foreign branded vehicles and Big Three UAW made cars and trucks.
But why make today's purchasing decisions based on yesterday's news? FACT is the quality of all vehicles has risen dramatically in recent years. Cars and trucks made by UAW members HAVE caught up to the competition, and in some cases surpassed them.
J.D.Power, for example, awarded FIVE, UAW made vehicles its coveted "Best In Class"ranking in 2003, for the fewest defects reported per vehicle.
And industry expert James Harbour, founder of the "Harbour Report", wrote in the Detroit News last December that when the Big Three vehicles were compared to the other brands, "significant gaps in quality and productivity DO NOT EXIST". ( http://www.detnews.com/2003/editoria...13-340272.htm. )

#2) "I can get a better deal on a foreign car."= False...Kelly Blue Book at www.kbb.com , surveys vehicle transactions all over the country to determine current prices. Kelly priced a new 2004 Malibu, equipped with a 3.5L V6 at $20,323.oo.
That's almost $1,800 less than a similar 2004 Toyota Camry, selling for $22, 116.oo. The Malibu is about $2,400 than a similar Nissan Altima, and about $1,400 less than a similar Honda Accord.

#3) "My foreign brand gets better gas milage than your Big Three Gas Guzzler." = False...Actually according to the EPA reports that the UAW made vehicles get the best milage in Six out of Thirteen vehicle catagories. ( www.fueleconomy.gov )
According to the EPA, more tha "63" foreign branded vehicles soak up enough fuel to get tagged with a Federal Gas Guzzler Tax. But there are just "Four" UAW made vehicles in the Gas Guzzler category".........Outside the Media glare, the Big Three are getting ready to to provide Hybrid Engines as an option on high volume SUV's and Pick Up trucs. They're also equipping popular cars like the Pontiac Vibe and the Ford 500 and the Mercury Montego with advanced engines and transmissions that sharply improve fuel economy. Furthermore, the UAW has been a strong advocate for the Big Three to get their Hybrid vehicles to the showroom more quickly. Infact almost every category of vehicle- "Compact", "Mid-Sized" or "Luxury" car; minivan or cargo van, SUV's or Pick Ups- you can buy a UAW made vehicle with a milage rating nearly as good or better than the competition.
The V6 3.5L for example at 23mpg city and 32mpg Highway, gets better milage than a similar Toyota, Honda Accord, and Nisan Altima....According to the EPA, the average driver will save between $68 and $106 on anual fuel costs by driving a Malibu instead of the competition..Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima..

(there's more but I'm tired...later..)

 

Good for GM! I recently checked out a new Malibu and was very impressed - it looked solid. Yea, the styling is still terrible, but it's not exactly like other players in that segment have anything to brag about.

Man, you gotta love the way the numbers are twisted up in that claim

 

That's good to hear. Now we just need these types of articles to keep comming and drive theses stereotypes out of the non-believers. I'm thinking the comparison to the Camry might show up in some advertising.

On a side note, I am seeing a bunch more Malibu's on the street and the more I see them, the more I like them. It is still on the dull side but not on the hideous dull side like the Camry.

 

I just saw a new Maxima on the street yesterday, man that car went to crap. First it got much smaller, at least in appearance. And thos butt-ugly tail lights gotta go!...Looks like the Altima is taking TOP spot for them...

Another tid-bit: Question:
"Ok, you've convinced me. I'm ready to buy a UAW-made vehicle. BUT I'm confused. Some foreign brands are non-Union, but I've heard that UAW members also assemble some Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi models. How do I know which is which?
Answer:
Yes, UAW members DO assemble some of those vehicles. To find out which ones, visit www.uaw.org and select "UAW-Made" from the left pull down menu for a list of 2004 UAW-made cars, trucks and vans.

 

When I can buy a Malibu that requires exactly $100 in corrective repairs over a 10 year period, then I'll go back.

Until such time, I'll stick with my Accord, which has shown me exactly that.

And, don't think for a second that I'm too interested in supporting the UAW.

 

Honestly, I doubt you will.

I don't know you from Adam, and I am not trying to be smart here or anything, but just look at your reply.

You have no intention, no matter how good the Malibu may be, nor how bad the Accord could be in the future, to change back... how can you ever know if you'll pay exactly $100 in repairs over 10 years without buying one to begin with?

Again, I am not trying to be jerky, but you will never switch, and , to be quite honest, if you have only paid $100 in repairs in 10 years on your Accord, why should you?

 

That's gotta be a record, unless ofcourse you don't drive much..BTW, I've owned an Accord Lxi(wife's car), good car, but subject to just as many problems as my Grand Am was...only it was $140 for an alternator instead of $85..etc..

Lifes about change, and nothing ever stays the same...to stay brand loyal b/c of a 20yr old stereotype, not weighing up-to-date information, just isn't using sound judgement..
I never expected you to, why support better job atmospheres, wages and benefits???
Unions are just Power to negociate with an employer for such things that w/o them you would never have a voice in...
Let me give you a little idea:
"Bush chooses to push for an even Freer Trade agreement that he knows will finish labor and manufacturing off in this country. WHY? Because unions are the Base of Power for organized Labor. Destroy the Unions and you effectively destroy the voice of the people. Workers in LOW-WAGE jobs frequently are labeled as "Lacking Skills" and in need of training to move into better-paying positions. But while education is a traditional route to higher pay, Shulman contends, "No job is inherently Low-Wage". "Take Autoworkers, who had "horrible" jobs that became good ones because of unions and their social legislation..."

Untied we bargain, Divided we beg...
It wasn't that long ago to the "Sweat-Shop" days of factories and Mills, and it seems to be heading back that direction, slowed ONLY by the Unions...

 

Rock on Malibu!

 

I've had great results with Honda, and I'll likely stay with what I know.

I'm not staying loyal because of a stereotype, but because of personal results. Outstanding results with my Accord EX, and I now have nearly three years on my Acura TL-S (purchased precisely because of my great experience with the Accord) with no issues. What's the incentive to switch? I'm still "doing my part" for American Labor, as both of these cars were built in Marysville, OH.

Never mind that the Malibu styling and fit/finish just doesn't grab me, at all. I should know- I get one from Avis just about every time I travel on business.

I'm not anti-Big 3, but they don't build much of what I'm looking for these days (at least that I could afford- I'd take a CTS-V ). That's just how it is. I don't have to deal with that- they do.

And they served their purpose well. That was then, this is now, and it's a different world. Freedom is permeating its way into every single aspect of our lives, much to the chagrin of those in power, and in the end, there won't be anything that they can do about it. The unions can adjust to the times, or they can continue to shrink.

Todd

 

Way to go Chevrolet I hope this gets a lot of press when the next JD power report comes out.

 

Way to go Malibu

On the topic of unions...
I have a bad taste in my mouth from working alongside some in the past. IMO, it used to be a good thing and now is not so much. Members (not all) would abuse their "rights" that were given to them by the union and I could routinely find them sleeping on the job or worse.

 

I honestly hope this is true. And if this was announced regarding the newly redesigned model, I would be very likely to believe it, as many magazines have noticed the Malibu has really shaped up over its recent ground-up redesign.

However, considering that JDPower is referring to the previous style Malibu in their survey, instead of gaining faith in Chevrolet, I've lost faith in JD Power.

Go to www.carreview.com or www.eopinions.com or just about any other site that allows real owners to come in and write their own reviews and post them directly to a database. The Malibu, last time I checked, was ranked in dead last place out of over two hundred and fifty compact and mid-sized vehicles listed based on owner ratings.

It's true that many people only go to that site to complain about their car, but you've also got to realize that this is a constant for any model of car... not just the Malibu.

It seems that very sporadic eletrical gremlins as well as serious drivetrain issues plague the Malibu. That's not even getting into the very poorly assembled interior, but I've never really dogged on the Malibu for that since it's not a very expensive car and in that price class I'd honestly be willing to sacrafise a bit of interior fit and material quality for a more reliable drivetrain and accessory system.

Anyhow... I'm not saying the Camry is perfect, and I'm not saying the Malibu is absolute crap. But I am finding it strange that with all of the independent databases on the web, Malibu owners seem to be, on average, very unhappy with the reliability of their car, yet JD Power says that these same consumers are actually more satisfied with the reliability of their Malibu than Accord and Camry owners aree.

 

Well, just so you know, you are driving the previous Malibu. As far as I know, only the '03-style Malibu (now called the "Chevrolet Classic") is being sold to fleets. The newly redesigned, Epsilon-based '04 Chevrolet Malibu is being sold retail only.

I happen to think that the previous one was a decent car, but the new one is simply better.

 

Thats why I have to submit greivances on a weekly basis just to get paid for the hours I worked. Thats why managment routinely trys to get the lowest-wage earners to stay for overtime.

Corporations always have been, and always will be, about the dollar. As long as success for them is measured in profit margins, they will be trying to shrink their workforces, either through headcount-cutting, or wage cuts. Unions will always exist in that environment. If a company can get by paying their employees the same as a union shop across the street, more power to them. But if there were no unions, can you really look me in the eye and tell me my job wouldnt be given to an illegal alien earning a quarter of what I do?

-FM, member, Local 769, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

 

Is your required skill set so low that it could be given to an illegal alien with minimal training and achieve satisfactory performance?
If so, let the free market reign. If not, then what are you worried about?
I'm non-union, and I've never had these problems. If my boss asked me to work for no pay, the answer would be no. It shouldn't take an entire union to ensure that you are properly compensated for work accomplished, assuming actual work was accomplished, and not simply "hours put in on the job." That's not a bust on you or your work ethic, BTW- freeloaders abound. It's sure easier to call them out on the non-union side of the fence, though.

Todd