Take The Challenge: Is The New Malibu a Camry Killer?

No...the real question is does Toyota have the balls to go along with a simlar marketing strategy

— Need4Speed (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 11:31:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

No one said it has to be a new camry. Besides 10,000 new camry's isn't going to hurt GM. Another convinced 20,000-30,000 buyers will put them on the map against the altima. Gotta start somewhere.

— JAYQ0401 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 3:24:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Actually they are renting them to avoid paying Toyota.

But I have to admit this is a bold move, really putting their money where their mouth is.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 10:20:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

That's not the new Malibu, 009.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 10:36:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

This sounds like a killer plan so long as there is a difference. The Malibu doesn't have to be better just different, in a way that most consumers might appreciate.

— d1sinfo (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 10:39:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

It's really a moot point because GM can't get anybody to come into their showrooms in the first place.

For the few that do come in, having the Camry there will probably only hurt the situation.

Anybody shopping for a Camry might want to check their local Chevy dealer in a few months after they abandon the plan and have to sell their Camry at a loss.

— sold2early (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 10:50:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

When was the last time you were in a newly designed GM product?

— jasaero (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 11:26:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

You may want to drop by a GM dealership and look at the new models. They have changed since 1980.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 11:35:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

GM has made great strides since 1980, but they sure aren't the market leader in build quality or materials use yet.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 12:15:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Again, have you been in it yet? You seem like a prime candidate to go and compare it to the Camry.

— jasaero (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 12:11:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

How old are you houstoncutie2000, 24, at the most? I'm guessing you graduated in 2000. You've had how many new cars since you've been a walking talking adult who can actually judge things for themselves? Probably none. Just because your parent drink the Toyota kool-aid doesn't mean you have to.

— komododave (View Profile)

Posted on 5/25/2007 1:22:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This is a bold move. Yet if it back fires it will look really bad. The Camry is a good sedan and to beat it GM really has to come out with a quality product. The engines in the Camry are the best and so is the interior design. To beat it GM needs to put out a near luxury product (with identical features, build quality, etc) with a lower price. I see a problem here, is GM going to make profit on such a vehicle, considering that it will offer huge discounts to attract customers while undercutting Camry prices to begin with?

One more thing to consider, when magazine reviews are added to the scenario then it can be seen that in many reviews and comparisons the Camry has not been the best sedan. Based on these reviews people can say that the Camry is not the best sedan in the market, yet it still sells the most. This is what GM has to steal from the Camry, buyers who just like it for the boring aspect that the Camry provides. It can be called a special thing, so in the end GM cannot really build the best sedan, (those have not taken away Toyota sales) but it has to build the right sedan.

— kart1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 12:09:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

The new Malibu is far better than what that picture above shows:

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/prelaunch/

Might not beat Camry, but at least it might be a worthy competitor.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 12:17:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

The Malibu is no Camry/Accord or even Sonata competitor in terms of quality, value, style and especially interior quality.

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 1:33:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

It will be hard trying to steal Japanese car owner, because once you're hook, you're hook. The only they can steal Japanese customer's they have to offer something far better for a much cheaper price. Even if they do that, and sales many cars, but will have less profit for the company.

This new Malibu, is no where near the new Toyota Camry V6 XLE/SE. Go ahead and look at the V6 Camry XLE/SE, it just luxury. And to add to finishing touch, it has one of the best quality and reliability in the business.

And if you want to play the recalling games, GM is the king of recall for 2006. Don't belief me do a search on this website for "The King of 2006 Recall list". You will see GM recall almost all of the vechicles they have sales in 2006.

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 1:38:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

This is a brilliant marketing move on the part of GM. Currently their cars are on par with reliability with Toyota given increased reliability from GM and problems with Toyota. The problem is Toyota marketing is awesome and sells the vehicles. If GM can show people the difference and show that their cars can stand up to Toyota, they could win some customers back and make life really hard for Toyota. We will see how long Toyota is able to stay number one given that they have recently let slip the very foundation that made them what they are.

Finally, recall does not equal reliability. It is a good indicator in many respects, but a lot of recalls does not mean that the car is defective or would stop running/break down, but only that the company is fixing potential problems before they affect too many customers. I'm not defending recalls, simply pointing out that they do not equate with reliability necessarily.

— LJ745 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 2:02:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

If I were running Toyota, I can play that game too. When GM starting to put the old Camry in their Chevy showrooms, Toyota can start advertising the new refresh Camry with more standard equipment and priced them all $2,000 less than last year models. Toyota can afford to lose some profits, just to embarrass GM.

— jon21 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 2:12:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

LOL :).................

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 3:25:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

If the Malibu is competing with the Camry then what is the Impala competing with?

— mkk21 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 3:31:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

LMAO. That'd be so funny if you walked into a GMC dealership, test drove a Malibu and a Camry and left to buy a Camry. I think this is kind of gutsy because - no offense to GMC - Toyota is not as easily defeated (when in competition to GMC) as they might think. I like the redesign of the Malibu, but "most market experience" with American products typically come up with such words as "unreliable, gas guzzling (even smaller vehicles), etc." and I think it'll be probably the 2nd or 3rd year of Malibu before they see the kind of sales they want. But, for the first year all they might do is sell Camry's.

— WickedRabbit (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 3:55:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

After renting renting a Camry and having it break down in 100 degree heat last summer on I85 in Georgia, I think I will take my chances in the Malibu. I can honestly say that I have never had a GM vehicle quit on me like the Camry did! You guys can have the Camry.

— keyzi747 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 4:06:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Wow. The photo is certainly a nice looking interior! Well done, GM. Very nicely done.

Personally, I'd love it if GM started making world-class cars, and gave the likes of Toyota a hard time. Go GM. Make this a reality!

— Steve (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 4:16:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Where's the Nav in that Malibu?....does it pop up?

Anyway, the new Malibu will be a smash hit!

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 4:25:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

GM, you AT LAST did something smart AND resonable

The Malibu is SEXY!

— pacotacolol (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 4:52:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

GM only loses buyer to Camry. Japanese car buyers won't go into a GM dealership.

— ctsang (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 5:08:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

The new Malibu looks streets better than the Camry.

Don't believe me? Check out this photo:

http://www.rpmdaily.com/images/malibu_gray.jpg

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 5:50:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

The funny thing about this post...is same was said about the Saturn Aura when it 1st came out, great car and all, but plagued with quality issues. And people are not really buying into them. Saturn claims they have greatly improved their sales, well if you think about it anything better than last year, then of coarse, but compare to other brands...no where close. Will the Mailibu be any different? This New Malibu is well thought inside & out, but continuing to use the same generic components of the Saturn Aura and other GM brands, at the end of the day interior(somewhat) and exterior styling is what really separates the two(Saturn & Malibu). So for what they have said about why Saturn Aura is better than a Camary, well so far the targets goals of sales of the Saturn Aura have been somewhat "so-so"...that is why GM has drastically dropped their leasing and finance rates big time. B/c they are now finding that more Auras are starting to sit much longer in dealerships. A car that cliams to be N/A car of the year with slow sales. And Toyota Camary selling hot with interest rates offered at almost triple!!!!....GM here is your 2nd chance in this segment, quit talking and let the numbers speak for themselves, b/c so far Saturn has not made the big impact they claim against the Camary. And it would be interesting to see how the consumer reacts to the New Malibu, since they share pretty much everything except styling...GM should really worry about companies such as Hyundai, they should try to surpass their quality/ sales figures first, because after all the turn around will not happend overnight and it will not be an easy one either. I may sound harsh about all this, realize boys that GM has been in the game for over 100 years, as there is really no excuse for their actions as to why they are in the a more worse position today compared to before. To start the New Mailibu will hurt the Saturn Aura sales, a section they obviously did not take into account....GM is a CANNIBAL in its' own game.

— BigShow50 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 7:09:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Only if its reliability is on par with Camry. Otherwise, you'll see many of them as rental cars.

— TruenoAE86 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 7:22:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

The new Malibu looks way better than the camry inside & out. If GM gets the reliability right, this would be the hands down better chioce IMO.

— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 7:52:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This reminds me of my first new car purchase on my own. In 1988, Hyundai was trying to get buyers. The Hyundai dealer in Hartford had no Hyundais in his showroom, only competitors. They made such a circus out of it, including a completely negative pitch: Look at what crap these other cars are, instead of look at how great our car is. I walked out, disgusted, went to the Lincoln-Mercury-VW-Toyota-BMW dealer in the small town where I lived and never again considered Hyundai. In the long run, I don't think negativity in marketing ever works to anyone's advantage. If built properly, this Malibu will serve its mission well.

— mp2dtw (View Profile)

Posted on 5/24/2007 8:10:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

This is a point I've heard a lot and make myself. I have a 96 Mercury Cougar that I bought new. I drive it every day, and its my only car. The only problems I've had in 12 years are a shorted radiator fan and blown radiator, and the servos went out in my windows. And this was only in the last 3 years.
As for 06GS300, I wouldn't trust anyone who thinks a GS is an ultimate vehicle of any kind. Couldn't you at least have popped for the V-8?? Then I might have respect for your choice. Instead you've got what all automotive journalsts describe as a dull lifeless soul-less vehicle that impedes on it's driver with too much computer control. And you don't even have a powerfull engine! ;-)

— komododave (View Profile)

Posted on 5/25/2007 1:17:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

This is the kind of car GM should have been producing 3-4 years ago...but I still think it is an excellent competitor to the camry since the camry has lost some of its appeal.

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 5/25/2007 8:49:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

GM needs to stick to making Silverados,Tahoes,Suburbans, and the iconic Vette. Please give up the car segment...Malibus, Impalas, Monte Carlos, and Aveos (what the hell is that?)
The new Malibu is as good as compared to the 5 gen Camry. All the domestics (Ford cars, Dodge cars, etc.) are about 2 gen behind the Camrys, Accords, and even Altimas.
The best GM can do is hopefully win back those disenchanted Malibu buyers who went to buy the Camrys.

— GMsticktotrucks (View Profile)

Posted on 5/25/2007 10:59:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Heh....rooight!

— delan (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2007 11:50:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hey komododave, have you ever been to a Saturn Aura and Chevy Malibu product seminar? So far I have been invited to 4 seminars by the GM head office themselves, 2 in the U.S. and 2 in Canada, and let me tell you they have promised so many things for the Aura that you will never hear, and did they talk big!!! Ohhh for sure!!! Here is an example, one Gm rep stated "From Nov. 2006 to April 2007, we will sell 75,000 to 85,000 Saturn Auras for all of U.S. and Canada combine!!!" Well they barely sold 18,000 units. So for you to say they are a small company, well of coarse they are, so like you said maybe GM should have put better thought into what they have said in those product seminars, especially about the Camary and Accord. End result they were no where close based on what they mentioned in the product seminars. And did not have a successful execution based on their game plan. That is why they had to drop the Finance and Leasing rates drastically. Due to the fact that too many Auras are sitting on dealership lots everywhere. Believe me, they are pissed!!!! And when I mean pissed!!! I mean Pissed-Off!!! So for sure I did put thought for what I said previously, based on simple facts being said, on what I learned, by actually being there by seeing and touching the products and hearing about the products all from GM top reps. The funny thing is all these seminars I have attended actually had a Honda Accord, and Toyota Camary in the conference hall for comparison(in a base equip of coarse) and there were whispers in the air, with others who were invited to these seminars saying either... "I still like the Honda Accord" or "The Camary is still a better car"...and one more thing to add the Ledgendary Auto guru known as BoB Lutz(VP of GM), a man known to have a very open mouth on anything, said this..."We have invested 3 Billion into the Saturn division, if this does not fly and don't reach our target goals...then we have run out of ideas for this subsidary"...3 Billion just to rebadge Opel vehicles?!?!? Quite the quick fix with no heart....

— BigShow50 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2007 11:40:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Just becuase I drive a car that has treated me well for 12 years and spend my money on things that are more important than trying to one up the Joneses next door with some fake sports sedan with no guts is nothing to be ashamed of. I'd like to see where your GS is in 12 years.

— komododave (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2007 9:31:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Komododave- you needn't bother replying to the many showmen on this site. If more drivers took care of their cars the way you clearly do, we wouldn't have junk heaps a mile high in every 100 square-mile patch of the USA. If anything, a person who cares for his cars- keeps them in top running condition is the TRUE ENTHUSIAST- not the ones who go out running to buy the newest sedan on the block and then send their kids to the worst school district in the area.

— Lyall (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2007 10:10:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1