2011 Malibu

[Corollaman]

I was looking at a 2011 Chevy Malibu LTZ with the 4 cyl. It has 37,000 miles, one owner. It has leather heated seats, remote start, etc. Anyone had experience with these? Dealer listed for $13,000. The trade in 2005 Grand Caravan 130,000 miles. We only have one child so it seems overkill and it's had it's issues over the years.

Thanks

 

[zach1900]

My father bought a 2010 Malibu LT base, it had to be lemon lawed' , electrical and steering problems plagued it from 2 weeks off the lot, It looked nice, though the car always seemed way to narrow inside , especially going up against the 6th gen Camry, on the other hand a co-worker of mine has a 2009? Malibu that's been near perfect she says. I have grown leery of GM's passenger cars , especially after the Cobalt ignition fiasco. My father ended up with a 2010 Altima that has been nearly perfect, maybe his Malibu skipped quality control.

 

[gregk24]

$13K sounds like a screaming deal to me, I dont think these would be anywhere near that price here in FL. Overall these seem to be decent cars, but many do have steering, electrical and suspension issues.

 

[901Memphis]

Check out the 2012-2013 Impalas they get the LFX 3.6 V6.

 

[daves87rs]

Friend at work has a blue 2012 LS. Nearly 60k now, no issues at all......

 

[zach1900]

$13,000? that's a good price, I am guessing you live in an import heavy city where a comparable Camry of the same year/mileage/trim would fetch maybe $4,000 more. Like anything GM of that vintage, the quality control seemed to be allover the map.

 

[zach1900]

The interior of those Impalas are a crime, I couldn't live with one.

 

[NHGUY]

Very low miles for a 4 year old car.Makes one wonder why.Maybe someone didn't like how it rode or something.

 

[artificialist]

Does it have a clean title, or was the car salvaged or flood damaged?

 

[sciphi]

That's one of the last years of that generation, when the Malibu finally matured into a competent mid-size car. I'd take a good look at it. There's nothing in it that would be a deal-breaker.

 

[dishdude]

I had a 2008 Aura (same car) it was a great car, I really liked it. Comfortable, quiet and had a nice ride. I had the 2.4, it didn't have gobs of power but it was adequate. I didn't have any problems with it.

 

[slowdime]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Very low miles for a 4 year old car.Makes one wonder why.Maybe someone didn't like how it rode or something.


Could have been a lease or the owner just wanted something new. I've known a few people who bought new cars every 4 years or so, never struck me as a smart thing to do financially but whatever.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

My stepfather has same year, but LT version with less miles on the car. So far just oil changes and one set of wiper blades after going to Arizona for a while.

It has blind spots or poor visibility, but that seems to be the way things are going. Other than that, not a bad car. Just not my type of car. I like cars from the 90's that had better visibility. Oil Filter is on top in front which is a plus.

 

[901Memphis]

Originally Posted By: zach1900
The interior of those Impalas are a crime, I couldn't live with one.


The engine makes up for it imho.

 

[caravanmike]

have two in extended family. 09 and a 10. both have had nothing but oil changes, and brake pads.

 

[IveBeenRued]

I had a friend get rid of his 2009 Malibu and bought a 2012 Camry. He was unhappy with his Malibu because of the need to remove the front bumper to change a simple bulb and the rate at which it went through pads and rotors. He has been much happier with his Camry.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: IveBeenRued
I had a friend get rid of his 2009 Malibu and bought a 2012 Camry. He was unhappy with his Malibu because of the need to remove the front bumper to change a simple bulb and the rate at which it went through pads and rotors. He has been much happier with his Camry.
He might just be hard on brakes. My stepmom has a 2010 Pontiac G6 2.4L (Mechanically the same as a Malibu) and she has a good amount of city driving over the 67,000 miles on her car with original brakes, still has tons of pad left. The car has been flawless except for 1 brake light bulb, 1 battery, and the computer reprogrammed for the transmission shift points. All been oil changes. Even has the original wipers and its non-garaged in AZ.

 

[zach1900]

Smart move.

 

[jk_636]

It would be a smart move to avoid it. My father in law has a Malibu that I maintain. I know firsthand how much those cars are money pits. There are a lot of reasonably priced sedans out there in the same price range that are much more reliable and easier to work on. Look for a good used Honda Accord or something comparable.

 

[oilpsi2high]

Originally Posted By: Corollaman
I was looking at a 2011 Chevy Malibu LTZ with the 4 cyl. It has 37,000 miles, one owner. It has leather heated seats, remote start, etc. Anyone had experience with these? Dealer listed for $13,000. The trade in 2005 Grand Caravan 130,000 miles. We only have one child so it seems overkill and it's had it's issues over the years.

Thanks


Do it. Anything but a Grand Caravan with 130k.