Faults:
The "one touch down" function on the drivers side power window no longer works reliably. Sometimes it goes all the way down, most of the time just a few inches. Too lazy/cheap to fix it.
Drivers seat is starting to show some wear. Light colored upholstery though, so that's a given.
CD player doesn't like to eject CDs from time to time.
Several lights have burned out - clock backlight, cruise control switch lights (both of them), and the light in the hazard switch. Only a minor gripe, and I can fix those in under 30 minutes once I get new bulbs.
General Comments:
Reliability has been nothing short of awesome. I've never taken it to the shop for anything except a set of tires and oil changes.
Power is surprisingly good, though this is a manual - I'm sure the automatic is a dog. Quicker than my old 1995 Civic EX with a manual.
Handles like a much smaller car.
Mileage is awesome on the highway - I've hit 33 MPG driving between Dallas and Austin with the a/c on. City mileage is so-so, I usually get 23-24 city. Managed nearly 430 miles out of a single tank once.
Stereo is okay - 6 speaker stereo with a CD player and sounds decent for a factory system, but the CD player is starting to show its age (occasionally won't eject a CD).
This is both good and bad - it blends in really well with other cars. Bad if you want a flashy car, good in that it doesn't attract attention.
Interior is very bland, but everything is exactly where you expect it to be, all controls easy to operate by feel alone.
The only rattle/squeak is from the clutch pedal (starting to squeak). Still on the original clutch.
Very, very easy to work on yourself - the engine bay is much larger than I expected. Only thing hard to get to is the a/c compressor.
5th Mar 2008, 20:40
"anyone would be stupid to by a Malibu cause it is the worst car I have ever drove."
Consider that sentence, then redefine your concept of intelligence.