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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / March 2006

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Grand AM vs Century vs Malibu

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OttawaTrade - 15 Mar 2006 07:20 GMT
I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
use, so they are good deals in used car market.

Anyone drove them willing to share share your feelings about them? Like
quality, ride, gas milage?

What I feel so far is that GrandAM's body design wasted a lot of space, so
it is big outside and small inside. Century looks like only old people drive
it. That leaves Malibu the one without any drawback.
Dave - 15 Mar 2006 14:26 GMT
> I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
> use, so they are good deals in used car market.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> it is big outside and small inside. Century looks like only old people drive
> it. That leaves Malibu the one without any drawback.

Actually I have driven all three. The Malibu was a nice driver but on
hearing problems with them from owners I would steer clear. I would
agree with you about the Grand AM. The Century is actually pretty nice,
a Buick Camry in my opinion. Get over what others think (it doesn't
matter. The Century is one of the most reliable cars on the road.
N8N - 15 Mar 2006 14:35 GMT
> I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
> use, so they are good deals in used car market.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> it is big outside and small inside. Century looks like only old people drive
> it. That leaves Malibu the one without any drawback.

I would buy whichever model has the 3800 engine.  the smaller GM V6
engines are complete shite IMHO while the 3800 is quite good.

The Century is a much older design than any of the other cars you
mentioned, which is good and bad.  Refinement is not up there, but
they've had quite a few years to get the bugs worked out meaning that a
late Century is probably a good buy in terms of reliable transportation
for your dollar (again, assuming a 3800 engine.)

nate
Shep - 15 Mar 2006 15:19 GMT
No 3800 in the century.

>> I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
>> use, so they are good deals in used car market.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> nate
HLS@nospam.nix - 15 Mar 2006 15:20 GMT
> I would buy whichever model has the 3800 engine.  the smaller GM V6
> engines are complete shite IMHO while the 3800 is quite good.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> nate

That is probably a good point, Nate.. The 3800 is likely more dependable
than
the other GM V6's even though the generation II will likely give you the
plenum
failure.
Masospaghetti - 16 Mar 2006 00:52 GMT
>>I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
>>use, so they are good deals in used car market.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> nate

The Century is only available with the 3400 V6 but still scores
extremely high in reliability.
Comboverfish - 17 Mar 2006 19:12 GMT
> The Century is only available with the 3400 V6 but still scores
> extremely high in reliability.

Apparently *despite* the 3.4 boat anchor.  Well, at least it's got good
power when it's running.

Toyota MDT in MO
OttawaTrade - 15 Mar 2006 22:37 GMT
> I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
> use, so they are good deals in used car market.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> it is big outside and small inside. Century looks like only old people drive
> it. That leaves Malibu the one without any drawback.

I did test drives on all 3 models today. Here is the comparison.

Century, too little power from v6 for its big body. It has no way to pass
any car on street.
Malibu, ride too hard. v6 is powerful. dash board is too abnormal.
Grand AM, engine not as strong as Malibu, but enough. All controls are
facing driver, so very easy to control them without moving your body. drives
are good. seats are soft and relaxed.

Finally I will go with Grand AM. Rental returns with 1 year old will cost
$12.5K canadian or $11.5K US. A discount of 1/2 or 2/3 of its original
price. Very good deal!
J Oat - 16 Mar 2006 04:11 GMT
how come you do not look into the impala ?

> > I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
> > use, so they are good deals in used car market.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> $12.5K canadian or $11.5K US. A discount of 1/2 or 2/3 of its original
> price. Very good deal!
jcr - 17 Mar 2006 02:41 GMT
> On  3/15/2006 10:11 PM ...  J Oat  wrote:
> how come you do not look into the impala ?
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>> $12.5K canadian or $11.5K US. A discount of 1/2 or 2/3 of its original
>> price. Very good deal!

Bigger car, more power (with the 3800), better EPA mileage (for some
reason, even with the 3800).  Good question.  The neighbor has one and
likes it.
jcr - 17 Mar 2006 02:38 GMT
> On  3/15/2006 1:20 AM ...  OttawaTrade  wrote:
> I look for a used car. All 3 have extreme bad resale values after 1 year
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> it is big outside and small inside. Century looks like only old people drive
> it. That leaves Malibu the one without any drawback.

Buick gets the higher quality ratings of the three.  I once owned a 2003
Malibu LS (bought it new).  It was a real POS car, dumped in after
9-months.  Personally I wouldn't touch the Malibu even if it were free
(except maybe to make a couple of bucks selling it).
 
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