Faults:

I had to replace the 3.8L engine because of the rings wore down creating quite a bit of smoke.

5 days after replacing the engine with another 3.8 that I got from a relative, that engine threw a rod bearing and the replaced transmission started slipping.

I replaced the door hinges since they are bigger doors.

I put an antenna in since the built in the windshield ones don't work very well.

There is some rusting, but in Wisconsin that's to be expected with our winters.

The interior plastics have faded some and the headliner does sag.

But what would we expect after 23 years.

General Comments:

They don't build quality cars like this anymore.

There is more than enough room inside the car, in the trunk and under the hood all within a car that isn't too large.

Although not the most stylish, the bench seats in my

Malibu are incredibly soft.

With only 59,000 miles mine still handles like a sports car.

Faults:

Between 1981 to 2004, Fuse link burnt twice.

My head gasket blew at 165,000km.

Water coming from behind the dash when it rains and onto the front passenger floor discovered around 180,000km.

I wore out the transmission around 180,000km and replaced it with a turbo 300 transmission.

I had to replace the wiper blade motor at around 220,000km.

The gas tank was repaired and rubberized at around 200,000km.

The front left wheel bearings broke and had them replaced around 200,000km.

The rubber on the bumpers have been worn away around 250,000km, so I removed them.

During work on the exhaust system, I discovered that the front passenger floor no longer existed at around 280,000km. The carpet was thick and stiff to hold the passengers feet up. I made up a floor using stainless steel and rivets.

General Comments:

On my travels, I had driven many cars and I was always happy to come back home to my Malibu Classic.

It proved to be rugged and reliable over the years.

I love this car so much that in 1997 I had acquired another Malibu (1983) and had split the diving between the two.

Around 290,000km (both cars) rains inside when it rains outside.

The body and engine on my 1983 Malibu are too extensively worn away that I had to scrap this car. This was a sad day for me (January 2004).

After bringing my Malibu (1981) for a oil change and check up, The mechanic tells me that the car arches on the lift and it's time has come to let go (mid february 2004).

I am still driving my Malibu but her engine struggles when going up small hills (300,000km) and with the fright of her falling apart on me, I'm letting her go this week. I am very saddened. I cannot find another car like her. I am picking up a car this week. It won't be the same.

Faults:

This car was my first car. I got it and had to do lots of work to get it back to a safe car. The person who had the car before me didn't keep up the car. It was a project for me and I enjoyed every minute of it. I had a wreck in this car just a few months ago. Even though I totaled out the car by hitting another car head on I walked away! This make and model made a great first car for myself. It was a safe hot rod!!