GM / General Motors: Opinions of Malibu?

Without signing papers? like what kinda papers.

As for the motor, apparently its a DOHC 3.5L motor that puts out roughly the
same power as the 3800 series II, this is the first year I've seen it in any
of the cars, so I don't know about any problems with it. The base model gets
the 2.2 ecotec motor. The chassis is the new epsilon thats also used on the
Saab 9-3 (which got the 2.0 turbocharged ecotec, why isnt this in the GT
sunfires pontiac?) and Opel Vectra, which explains why it looks overly
"european". It seems to be an alright sedan overall, but its not my style of
car.

"Vuarra" <net> wrote in message
news:com... 

On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 23:04:50 -0500, Vuarra <net> wrote:
 
I don;t have any experience with the '04 (I have an '03)

Here's a review that seems quite positive about it.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/04malibu_ls.htm

On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 23:43:18 -0700, "Paradox"
<com> wrote:
 

Contract to buy.

I would rather assume that he was protecting his cars from joyriders,
but HTF would I know if I wanted the car w/o driving it? That I
should go by Honda's reputation? Or that I should take his word on
the car and buy it by the way it looked on the parking lot.

*thinks he should have crossposted this to rec.autos.makers.honda to
see what they think of such sales tactics*


Vuarra

Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
(That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)

"Paradox" wrote
 
the 
any 
gets 
the 
of

Actually, the v-6 is not a DOHC engine. It's simply a slightly enlarged
version
of the 3100/3400 motor. We've had a couple of these cars in the shop and
although the engine looks slightly different (new style upper intake plenum)
it's
essentially the same engine. I did notice that the lower intake gasket now
has
an actual "gasket" at the front and rear ends, instead of using RTV. It
will
be interesting once one comes apart so see if they have updated the entire
intake gasket.

These cars also have no hydraulic power steering system. You notice right
away that the ps pump is missing from the front of the engine. They use
an electric motor under the dash to provide assist for the steering. It
felt
quite good when I drove one around the shop.

Ian

Well, think about it, someone coming in to test drive a $30,000 jap crap
status symbol in a '87 Buick Regal?? <LOL>
 

"shiden_kai" <com> wrote in message
news:YoQtb.405650$.. 
style 
plenum) 
now 

Ahh so no DOHC, I heard that from somewhere, not sure where. So is it the
same block as the 3.1 and 3.4? I know the 3.4 is basically a bored out 3.1,
did they bore it out even further or add stroke? With an electric PS pump,
does it still need fluid? The fuel economy numbers look very nice compared
to the 3.1 and 3.4, and the HP/torque numbers look pretty much the same as
the 3.8. I hope GM puts the dynograph and engine specs on gmpowertrain.com
soon cuz I want to take a look.

"Paradox" <com> wrote in message
news:bp8pro$1le560$news.uni-berlin.de... 
roughly 
in 
model 
on 
GT 
and 
entire 
right 
3.1, 

Also GM should trim out some of their extra engines... I'm still not sure
why they still offer the 3.1 when they could put the 3.4 in all of the cars
with the 3.1

They should drop production down to:

Ecotec 2.2 for the cavalier sunfire base grand am's etc. (compacts and base
midsized)
New Malibu's 3.5 for the base model Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Impala, Grand
Am GT, alero, Minivans etc (midsized car)
3800 Series III SC for the Monte Carlo SS, Impala SS, Grand Prix GTP etc
(high end coupes, top end midsized cars etc)
And finish the new 6.0L motor for the C6 Corvettes.

dropping to just producing 4 motors could save GM alot of money.

No, no PS fluid - the system is basically a motor geared into the steering
column below the wheel, it's entirely mounted inside the passenger
compartment. The steering rack is basically just like an old manual-steering
rack.

The Saturn Ion (like I have) was the first GM vehicle to use electric power
steering, its system is made by Koyo (a Japanese company). However, Delphi
has their own EPS system now, which may be what they're using in the
Malibu..

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from ca
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/


"Paradox" <com> wrote in message
news:bp8pro$1le560$news.uni-berlin.de... 
roughly 
in 
model 
on 
GT 
and 
entire 
right 
3.1,