Grandmothers new car

Nick R · May 21, 2011

So a few weeks ago I'd posted a thread asking about what car I should help my grandmother to get once I came out to ohio to see them. Came down to either a Cobalt, Cruze, or Focus. She originally wanted a focus. So this morning we went out after breakfast, and checked out the Chevy dealer right by the house.

Test drove a Cruze, and a Malibu. she instantly liked the malibu. she liked the size, it's quite a bit larger than her old 03 cavalier (which she managed to get $2k for), the ride really irons out the bumps and it handles well. It also gets 33mpg with the 4 cylinder, which imo has plenty of get up and go. She liked the interior quite a lot. Originally I had considered a malibu out of her price range (from what she had told me) which would have been true, if there hadn't been $3-4k off all the 2011 malibus at this dealership. Long story short, she now has a beautiful Mocha 2011 Malibu 1LT with the 2.4L Ecotec, 6sp Auto, and all the stuff she wants.

SLCraig · May 21, 2011

Looks like a great car, just getting sick of seeing that same steering wheel in every GM car.

Exterior wise, its probably one of the best from the Big 3.

mechanicx · May 21, 2011

I think the Malibu was the best choice. Good pics

barlowc · May 21, 2011

Did the dealer give her a discount for putting their name all over the car? I see it on the front license plate, the rear license plate frame, and a badge on the trunk.

crazyoildude · May 21, 2011

tell her good luck with her new car...

crazyoildude · May 21, 2011

im not getting sick of the same steering wheel on all the gm cars as long as they stop falling off ...lol

daves87rs · May 21, 2011

I like!

I could consider one of these if the discounts are good before the new model....

Quattro Pete · May 21, 2011

That's awesome! Great choice!

Hallmark · May 21, 2011

She'll love her new car.

I recently test drove the same vehicle...very pleasant. However, when I compared it to a 3.0 V6 Fusion SEL providing 30-31 mpg highway (I average 30.7), I couldn't resist the Ford product with a $5,000 discount, e.g. under $25,000.

wallyuwl · May 21, 2011

I'm the nerd who talked about Newton's second law in your post about your granny buying a car, and suggested you get the biggest one she is comfortable driving out of those vehicles she is interested in. This car is more massive, and thus safer, than any of the others you mentioned she was considering (Cruze, Fusion, Focus). Good choice. We test drove a Malibu about two years ago. Very nice car. My only complaint was the lack of head room. But that isn't a problem for most grandmas.

HTSS_TR · May 21, 2011

I don't like most GM instruments, and this one is no exception. The front and side are okay but the rear is nothing to be proud of. If this Malibu is park next to Sonata !!!

IndyIan · May 21, 2011

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Looks like a great car, just getting sick of seeing that same steering wheel in every GM car.

Exterior wise, its probably one of the best from the Big 3.

+1 I momentarily mistook one in my work parking lot for an Audi A6. Hopefully Nick's Grandma can see out of it, the belt line on some of these cars is getting high for shorter people.

asiancivicmaniac · May 21, 2011

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
I don't like most GM instruments, and this one is no exception. The front and side are okay but the rear is nothing to be proud of. If this Malibu is park next to Sonata !!!

+1

The front could look better though if the grill was less happy. Could look Jaguar XF-ish.

JHZR2 · May 21, 2011

nice looking car

tig1 · May 21, 2011

Nice looking car. I have a friend that has one of these, but you must know it will only get 23-25 MPG around town mileage.

asiancivicmaniac · May 21, 2011

Originally Posted By: tig1
Nice looking car. I have a friend that has one of these, but you must know it will only get 23-25 MPG around town mileage.

That sounds about right for the size of the car and engine though

Hallmark · May 22, 2011

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Hopefully Nick's Grandma can see out of it, the belt line on some of these cars is getting high for shorter people.

That was a deal killer for my 5'2" wife when test driving the Malibu...major blind spot for her in the rear quarter panel area and trying to view over the rear seat headrests. Even for me (6'1"), the rear view was obstructed by the tall headrests.

Colt45ws · May 22, 2011

Nice!

PF52 · May 22, 2011

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Hopefully Nick's Grandma can see out of it, the belt line on some of these cars is getting high for shorter people.

Interestingly, I felt the opposite about the Malibu. Driving the Malibu and the Dodge/Chrysler/Fiat counterpart (Avenger or whatever they call it now) extensively, I felt it was the Dodge that was claustrophobic and difficult to see out of. The Malibu was spacious with great visibility, in my opinion.

simple_gifts · May 22, 2011

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Looks like a great car, just getting sick of seeing that same steering wheel in every GM car.

Exterior wise, its probably one of the best from the Big 3.

OT:I like the looks of the Malibu, but stylistically not the best GM has to offer. I would give the nod to Buick in that area.

Grandmothers new car

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