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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Malibu / January 2005Considering 2005 Malibu
I have a 2001 Malibu LS with 69,000 miles and I'm considering an upgrade to a 2005. But I'm a little leary after all the repair items that the old malibu had, the stuff i've seen posted over the years that say my problems aren't alone, and now the 2004 problems I see. Even the sales guy made a passing comment about power steering problems in 2004 that I didn't really pick up on until I started doing some research. Anyone want to share their experiences and/or opinions with me? Thanks, Chris >I have a 2001 Malibu LS with 69,000 miles and I'm considering an upgrade to >a 2005. But I'm a little leary after all the repair items that the old [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Thanks, > Chris I have a 2004 Classic and have had zero problems, it has 30???k miles atm. It is the 2.2 ECOTEC though my neighbor has a 2001 3.1L and has had nothing but trouble with it, he is out there working on it even as I type this. Run like hell! Would not in a million years. I have a 01 with 75K miles. I'm thinking of ditching it (16 month left of payment, what a sucker I am), buy my wife a new car and drive her 98 (98!) Chrysler Cirrus (dodge stratus) that so far had ... 0 problems. Malibu: warped rotor (more than once), dash switches that flip off whan you don't ask, failed water pump (out of warranty), bad fuel economy, coolant consumption, pesky blinker crap (I know it was recalled for that) Cirus: change the oil and you're good to go. 0 problems. None. nothing. works fine. Smaller engine, better gear box, so much more zippy. I would not buy a chevy if I were you, at least not a passenger car. > Would not in a million years. I have a 01 with 75K miles. I'm thinking > of ditching it (16 month left of payment, what a sucker I am), buy my [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > works fine. Smaller engine, better gear box, so much more zippy. > I would not buy a chevy if I were you, at least not a passenger car. Same with me...only I ditched the brand new 2003 Malibu I had after only 9 months and 5K miles! The wife has a Stratus with no problems. So, I bought a Sebring about ~16-months ago to replace the Malibu and so far the Sebring has been perfect too. No more Chevy's (or any GM) for me for a while!! Funny how we have similar story. You're the wiser though, because you ditched it before all the problems cropped up. What pisses me off is that the car hit 75K and went to auto-destruction mode. My wife predicted it (she's been working for GM long enough, too bad she did not warn me way before) I dropped my car at the shop this morning. Intake manifold gasket is busted. It slowly leaked coolant outside the engine (not too bad) but inside the oil compartment (Oh My!) the shop did not call me to tell me there was serious dammage to the engine, so I'm assuming it's ok (and consider myself lucky here). I estimate that about 2 quarts leaked in about 3 weeks. How much went to evaporate on the hot engine (there was never anything dripping under) vs how much went into the oil, I can't tell. Besides the happy manifold gasket fixing, workmanship associated, I also need a new coolant pump (it's leaking too!) even though it got alledgedly replaced about 1.5 years ago by another dealership. mmm... even replacement parts have to fail. Wait. I need a new colland temp sensor too. All in all I'm gonna be out $1300 bucks. Can't really affort to ditch the car. Especially after I pay for the stupid repairs. What's that expressions again? Yes, GM, NEVER AGAIN. While my car is in the shop, I get to drive my wife's Cirrus that's mroe reliable, more fuel efficient and feels much more nimble and quicker to drive. Buy American, just don't buy GM. Don't get me wrong.... I'm not saying that all of the problems you're experiencing are *your* fault... but if you are expecting to just be able to change the oil on a vehicle every 3-5k miles.. and be done with it.. and expect the rest to maintain itself..... you are in for a very rude awakening. This goes for any car, not just a Malibu. -Mike -- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch 255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant > Would not in a million years. I have a 01 with 75K miles. I'm thinking > of ditching it (16 month left of payment, what a sucker I am), buy my [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > works fine. Smaller engine, better gear box, so much more zippy. > I would not buy a chevy if I were you, at least not a passenger car. You're right. But I'll shy away from GM for a while anyway. 2 new water pump in 4 years, that's too many in my opinion. Plus the last hicup for $900+ labor. I don't happen to sh.t money. Otherwise I would not be driving a malibu in the first place. My car gets maintaned on the GM schedule (3000 miles oil change!) so it get lots of TLC every 2 or 3 month. At which point someone should have pointed at: "dude, you have a cooland leak there. Don't look good. Should have that checked" Instead, I happened to check coolant level myself. Was low. got concerned. Had it fixed. I'm not crazy or warped rotors either. Well, I don't drive a GM vehicle... my ex-girlfriend still has her 98 Malibu LS & it's a dream for her. She loves it to death. As do I. But if I had the problems you had.. I'd probably avoid GM vehicles like a plague too. -Mike -- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch 255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant > You're right. But I'll shy away from GM for a while anyway. 2 new water > pump in 4 years, that's too many in my opinion. Plus the last hicup for [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > concerned. Had it fixed. > I'm not crazy or warped rotors either. read a bunch of the threads in this post and feel the same about my malibu..(1998). Have had it in for two ABS brake sensors and the light is still on..had trouble with the horn and steering column. I want to trade it in for a Sebring but can't afford the payments on one income. still paying the loan off on the malibu for another 2 1/2 yrs. another $6900 to go... and wishing we had gone with something else in the beginnning. I will never purchase another malibu or a Neon in my life. Would like a monte Carlo or a Grand Prix next time I get a car. Karen >I have a 2001 Malibu LS with 69,000 miles and I'm considering an upgrade to >a 2005. But I'm a little leary after all the repair items that the old [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Thanks, > Chris I'd like a 2004 SVT Cobra for my next car. Will it happen? It might. Can I afford the payments right now? Yes. Do I have enough credit? No. =). -Mike -- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch 255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant > read a bunch of the threads in this post and feel the same about my > malibu..(1998). Have had it in for two ABS brake sensors and the light is [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Thanks, > > Chris heh, I'd be happy with an SVT Focus ;p > I'd like a 2004 SVT Cobra for my next car. Will it happen? It might. Can I > afford the payments right now? Yes. Do I have enough credit? No. =). [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >> > Thanks, >> > Chris They have more room than you'd think viewing from the outside... they are pretty comfortable I think.. they handle decently for such a car.. the power isn't there, but it's just a Focus.. but damn the looks ruin it for me =). -Mike -- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch 255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant > heh, I'd be happy with an SVT Focus ;p > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > >> > Thanks, > >> > Chris |
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