Is The Impala Stealing The Malibu's Thunder?

No.

— holmstar (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 5:09:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

whats with the old malibu pictures???

— t_sotello (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 5:09:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

The solution to this problem is to make a dedicated fleet-only model out of the Impala. The name was a poor one to begin with because it brings back memories of an old 70s boat-like model. Removing the Impala from the showrooms takes the temptation away from prospective Malibu buyers. Sounds draconian but it would work.

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 7:40:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Hey Bud the pics you show are NOT the 2009 Chevy Malibu.

— richard112360 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 7:55:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

I would have to say that there is not much Thunder to steal. Impala has certainly been put out to pasture. Malibu great vehicle but does not get the fanfare needed to unseat Camry or Accord as segment leaders.

— THESCOOTER (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 7:59:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

This looks more bland than the Toyota Camry.

— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 8:30:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Wow no one knows what the current generation Malibu looks like?


http://www.autoforecast.com/images/2008_chevy_malibu_small_image.jpg

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 9:51:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

People do not take the time to research American cars they have a preconcieved notion that foreign is better. If the author of this article had done his research he would have found that the Impala offers a v8 with cylinder deactivation to save fuel, and the Malibu is V6 0r four cylinder only also the Impala does not offer a Hybrid power train as in the cars of the Malibu. Not to mention that the Impala as a larger car than the Malibu so the answer is no

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 10:00:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

How is the Impala stealing the Malibu's thunder? It has been on the same platform since 2000. It is a far less attractive vehicle, inside and out, with lackluster engine choices to boot. I don't understand the point of this article? There is no new Impala, nor any hype around it, anywhere...

Not to mention it's much larger than the Malibu if I'm not wrong. They don't really compete. It's more of a Crown Vic competitor, but FWD.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 11:09:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This thread is just more proof that 009 doesn't have a friggin' clue...

— Nostradamus (View Profile)

Posted on 2/16/2009 11:30:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

wtf. in my whole life i've seen like two current gen malibus. accord ftw ;]

— Jordanski (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 1:40:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Not selling the Impala is like asking a cop not to eat Donuts
It's cheap, easy, and sweet in a dark, dark day
You can't charge $30k+ for an Impala
It's no Avalon
GM would lose a nice chunk of market share from it's Fleet Champion
That's the reason it stays around
GM wants market share
If you want potato chips for dinner........knock yourselves out
DrFill

— TheRealDrFill (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 5:15:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Umm, I'm pretty sure the M5 would be faster, so you may wish to delineate which BMW you're talking about. Also, it may be faster in a straight line, but roads do eventually turn sometimes. Also, who ever heard of a front wheel drive, V8 powered performance car? Word of the day: Understeer

— Foreigner (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 9:24:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

There are places in America where we have white cold stuff called snow. Snow makes rwd just down right suicide in many slippery slushy and icy conditions.Front wheel drive on the other hand gives you sure footed traction and will not get you stuck as easy with the weight of the engine on top of the driving wheels. I know people in Cali love RWD but it is just not useful in the entire US.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 10:20:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I live in downtown Chicago, where we get plenty of the white stuff. A RWD BMW with 50/50 weight distribution and a set of all-seasons has never left me stuck, plus as soon as you begin to accelerate, the weight shifts toward the rear, eroding the front wheel drive advantage. The rest of the year, it handles like a proper car should. Plus, if American car engines weren't made out of recycled boat anchors and made of magnesium like BMW uses, they wouldn't weigh so damned much in the first place, further negating the supposed front wheel drive "advantage". Case in point: Cadillac DTS. Biggest POS I've ever driven.

— Foreigner (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 10:38:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

The Impala SS would barely be able to keep up with a 128i. Nice try, though.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 5:48:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Youre lying man.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 2/18/2009 11:23:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It's not lying. It's called "physics". When you have your master's degree in it, too, let me know and we'll talk.

— Foreigner (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 11:44:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Foreigner, you live in a major metropolitan city that has a pretty dedicated road crew right? How many days per year do the city schools miss? 3-5 I would guess (BTW I live outside St. Louis so I know that Chi-town gets major snows but you can handle it). Things become totally different when you are dealing with heavier snowfalls and when the roads don't get cleared quite as well (I am from KY so I know about things not getting cleared).

If you have a master's degree in physics then figure out which will power a car better in slippery conditions: one with 50% of its weight over the propulsion wheels and 50% of its weight over the steering wheels OR one with 70-80% of its weight load placed over both the propulsion wheels AND the steering wheels.

Take some time if you need to, also remember this is Johnny Q Public we are talking about here who has an average literacy at the 6th grade level who we are talking about.

Also consider that a BMW uses wide, narrow sidewall tires that create a larger footprint for each tire (something that will be more likely to skid) rather than a narrower, taller sidewall tire found on an Impala.

While your individual experience may tell you one thing anecdotally it doesn't mean it holds true for the majority of individuals.

— 91z4me (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 11:00:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Your observations, I think, serve as a strong notice that GM should be planning to replace the Impala, Lucerne, & DTS soon. Maybe the larger issue with their next gen models is whether to make the next Impala/Lucerne FWD & AWD option or RWD standard & AWD as option. The next DTS/STS will be RWD standard most-likely.<br/>
The current Impala is old, but still looks descent. But does GM need a true large car now that the Malibu has done so well thus far?

— dumpsty (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 12:27:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

"Is The Malibu Stealing The Aura's Thunder?" (Even though they both suck.)

— Jordanski (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 7:51:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

LMAO a the Impala stealing sales, maybe in the rental aera

— Denali (View Profile)

Posted on 2/17/2009 11:15:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2