GM press release on 2008 Chevrolet Malibu

[M_TYPE_X]

IRS!!!

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=38931

[NSE70]

This is a great car at a great price.
But that butt makes me want to cry.
How can GM possibly think that butt is pretty?
Any picture that doesn't show its butt, shows a handsome car.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

You have to admit, they've put together quite a package with this car. If nothing else, on paper this car competes with the best in the class. I'm eager to see how it drives and to get hands-on with the materials on the inside.

[CX35]

It looks really good in person. I was surprised it was a Chevy when I saw one.

[Madmaster]

30 mpg with the 169 horse 4 cylinder, and 252hp V6 with 26mpg on the highway? The new Accord with 273 hp gets 29mpg on the highway even with the new 2008 ratings. Seems nicely priced, at least, and the interior is certainly an upgrade for a GM.

[NSE70]

Automatics:
Accord 268 hp, ..19/29/24, $26,595 base EX V-6
Camry 268 hp, .19/28/23, $24,300 base LE V6
Altima 270 hp, ..19/26/22, $25,205 base SE
Fusion 221 hp, ..18/26/21, $22,500 base with ABS, TCS
Malibu 252 hp, ..17/26/20, $23,895 2LT V6
Aura ...252 hp, .17/26/20, $24,995 base
Sebring 235 hp, 16/26/19, $26,120 base

Altima .175 hp, ......23/31/26, $21,205 base 2.5 S
Accord .177-190 hp, 21/31/25, $21,795 base LX
Camry .158 hp, ......21/31/25, $21,790 base LE
Malibu ..169 hp, .....22/30/25, $19,995
Sebring 173 hp, ......21/30/24, $19,120
Fusion ..160 hp, .....20/28/23, $19,600 with ABS

22s and 23s may break my bones, but 24 will own me.

[Jesda]

I find it odd looking. Its odd looking enough to look like a Toyota. I think that was intentional.

[WhereHaveYouBeen]

Did they understand that Honda was releasing a new Accord, and that they should have been competing with that?

Evidently not. I wish the new Malibu best of luck.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

I don't know if they really should have been competing with that to be honest. I think it's safe to say that there is almost no car that GM could have come out with that would zap sales right out from under the Accord, better made and designed or not. They have to repair the perception first. In the meantime, there are plenty of Fusion, 6, Galant, Sebring, Avenger, Sonata et al sales to conquest. Save going after Camry, Accord and (to some extent) the Altima for a couple of years down the road when you've (hopefully) re-established a positive perception.

[miata007]

I absolutely agree with Not_Vin_Diesel this time. GM first need to repair it's image like it has been doing in the past few years by building some reliabiable products that Hyundai has gone through.

007

[SHIFT_6speeds]

GM tried that redemption ad campaign..so now they think the perception is back at a clean slate...

"Thirty years ago, GM quality was the best in the world. Twenty years ago, it wasn't," the ad says. It goes on to say, "The hard part meant breaking out of our own bureaucratic gridlock. Learning some humbling lessons from our competitors."
"We need to communicate to consumers in a new way, in a voice that's very different from what they expect," Gary Cowger, president of GM North America, said in a statement issued Wednesday. "The text of the first ad details the company's long journey on the longest road in the world -- 'The Road to Redemption.'"


LMAO @ GM!...still

[Jesda]

Waiting on Nissan to get on the same road.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

I absolutely agree with Not_Vin_Diesel this time. GM first need to repair it's image like it has been doing in the past few years by building some reliabiable products that Hyundai has gone through.

007
I think they've been building some reliable products, at least according to the J.D. Powers studies. The problem is that the general public not only doesn't know about these studies, they don't know what they mean. I know I read something recently where people were surveyed on their reactions to badge-less cars - if someone thought the car was a domestic, the person automatically dinged it's score (even when they threw a badgeless Camry in the mix.)

They need to do a bare-bones big money campaign. Just do a commercial with a guy in his late 20's or early 30's on a white screen and let him talk about what the reliability scores mean. It'd be expensive but do a mailer with comparitive swatches of GM and either Toyota or Honda plastic and/or leather. Maybe a commercial where they show off the design of "new car X" completely badge free while the voiceover goes through a whole montage of "If we told you ..." facts about the greatness of the car ending in "What if we told you this was an American made Chevy? Would you check us out now?" It takes a little boldness, a little honesty, and a lot of money, but what do they want in the end?

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

bumpity bump for a story to tell...

The other night I was heading home from the store and saw a new 'Bu spinning on the platform in front of my local Chevy dealer. It was 10 so I knew they were closed, which meant unbothered staring and analyzing! Even better, when I walked over to the two Malibu's I found on the lot, one was completely unlocked! Interior analysis! Woo-ha! All 3 vehicles were 4 cylinders, the spinner was an LT and the other 2 were LS's (including the open one.)

From the exterior, the new car has a nice mix of generic and appealing which is a good thing. Rear ends are easily screwed up because it's hard to please everyone and here the car is most generic, and it kind of works. It's kind of reminiscent of a late 90's Maxima with the vertical rear end and somewhat unobtrusive taillights. Strictly business here. As you lead to the front you begin to see where they took a little shot at being creative. I'm sure people can pull up all kinds of pictoral examples of other cars that look like it in the front, but I think it has an eye-catching look, which is what matters. There's a crease that follow the front of the rear fender flare to the front that gives character, as does whatever the crease is that runs from the a-pillar to the front of the headlights. The lights themselves are more involved than they appear from looking at online pics also - I like! Other cool points - the hood opening almost tries to hide itself by not intruding on the grill. Hydraulics are the call for the hood so it pops open and stays open very easily. The trunk hinges don't intrude on the trunk space either, but the trunk is deep verus wide so it kind of splits the difference. I also liked that they even tried to hide the GM badge that adorns all their products by pushing it as low on the door as possible.

Ingress is pretty easy but whoever was in the car was smaller than me (I'm 6'2") so I had some adjusting to do. Up and down was done with a power button and back and forth done manually. It didn't take long for me to find a comfortable position. While the inside is certainly put together tighter than old GM products I've sat in, this thing is full of hard plastic. I'm hoping that either LT models or the V6 models get some softer plastic or leather because otherwise Malibu buyers are basically sitting in hard tupperware. My 03 Alti has some leather that runs along the window sill and that makes a big difference to me. The quality of the knobs seems superior to a $20K car, but not ready to challenge VW, Honda or current Nissan offerings for superiority. I'm also spoiled by the interior room of my Altima. I know that the room in my car is bigger than most in class, but the Malibu just feels smaller and narrower. The gauges are well lit and ergonomically it's very easy to get to everything. Well, except for the cover for the cupholder. The center armrest just out just over where you have to reach for the cupholder cover slider, so you either have to lift the armrest or wriggle your hand underneath it. Who designed that? Sitting in the backseat I realized why they had to do the "inventive" open back thing with the front seats. If you don't know what I'm talking about, the back of the front seats are essentially hollowed out to accomodate the knees of backseat passengers. Leaving my front seat where it was (for a 6'2" driver) I could sit comfortably in the backseat for short trips by fitting my knees in the open area, but the plastic seat back makes it uncomfortable to venture outside of that "knees together" position.

I still need to drive it to be sure of it's quality, but it looks very visually viable, while touch-wise, it seems like it has a little way to go. I don't think there are too many people that will be forced putting 6-footers behind 6-footers, so I wouldn't hold that against them, and hopefully when you go up in model or engine, the soft-touch materials arrive. It's by far the best Malibu ever, though and will definitely win back some buyers. Because Chevy is always willing to deal and offer incentives, the rprice will end up being right.

Still gotta drive it though.

[RetAF]

Good write-up, NVD. Thanks.

[M_TYPE_X]

Good write-up, NVD. Thanks.

It's a midsize domestic car, nothing more, nothing less.
Need more legroom and style? The Impala is also offered.

[RetAF]

It's a midsize domestic car, nothing more, nothing less.
Need more legroom and style? The Impala is also offered.Maybe, but I feel I know a lot more about the midsized domestic car from NVD`s description than from yours. Don`t they have descriptive writing courses there at Podunk U?:D

[M_TYPE_X]

Maybe, but I feel I know a lot more about the midsized domestic car from NVD`s description than from yours. Don`t they have descriptive writing courses there at Podunk U?:D
oooh, a jab, I must respond.

I haven't plopped in a Malibu front seat yet, so all the creatively descriptive writing in the world wouldn't get you closer to that power seat-and-cupholders action. Judging from a 270-degree drive-around last weekend at the dealer around, oh, 1 AM-ish, I can tell you it does have more style than that damn Malibu Maxx rental I had for the (how long was it? two weeks?) time that Honda was emissions-benchmarking my car.

[delerium75]

GM quality is too spotty at this point. My '06 GP started to fall apart this summer and she's gonna get dumped before the warranty is up. With the W-platform being so old, you'd think it wouldn't have suspension issues (front and rear have had parts replaced) but it does. With the various bits and 'architectures' shared (A/C clutch issue and now emerging power steering issue) across different lines, you'd think it would be a safe bet. With '06 being the 3rd year of this design, you'd think the kinks would be worked out. Guess again.

Dig a little and tales of almost 1980's GM proportion can be found among '04 and '05 owners. Those crazy canadians who assembled this thing must be whooping it up during work hours like it's free lap dance night at The Vu. It's a shame because I really do like the engine/tranny combination; it's very willing to give a part-throttle downshift (my Maximas never easily gave up a gear) and the torque that the 3.8L puts out reminds me why it's fun to have so much available down low. I think GM is simply so large that they may be able to concentrate on a specific brand or a few models at a time when it comes to build quality/tactile quality but other models sink like lead balloons in the meantime. If GM is to survive, the cars can't end up like VW where they look good and feel good but go ka-put in that second and third year of ownership.

[Madmaster]

The performance specs of the "car you can't ignore" are dissapointing. Honda's 190 hp I4 makes almost the same fuel economy as the Malibu Hybrid, and has 25 more hp.

The Malibu's V6 for 252hp gets 26 mpg
The Accord's V6 for 268hp gets 29 mpg
The Camry's V6 for 268hp gets 28 mpg.
The Altima's V6 for 270hp gets 27mpg.

etc. At least GM has surely closed the gap with their dohc engines. Interesting that Honda has the most fuel efficient engine and it sticks with SOHC and a 5 speed auto. Yay for cylinder shutdown...

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

The performance specs of the "car you can't ignore" are dissapointing. Honda's 190 hp I4 makes almost the same fuel economy as the Malibu Hybrid, and has 25 more hp.

The Malibu's V6 for 252hp gets 26 mpg
The Accord's V6 for 268hp gets 29 mpg
The Camry's V6 for 268hp gets 28 mpg.
The Altima's V6 for 270hp gets 27mpg.

etc. At least GM has surely closed the gap with their dohc engines. Interesting that Honda has the most fuel efficient engine and it sticks with SOHC and a 5 speed auto. Yay for cylinder shutdown...
Sorry, but I find being within 1 or 2 mpg decent enough to compete.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

It's a midsize domestic car, nothing more, nothing less.
Need more legroom and style? The Impala is also offered.
Yep, it's a midsize domestic car, just like the Accord, the Altima and the Camry, yet I feel like I'll find plenty more interior room from the others mentioned. I thought the Impala was intended to be the Chevy competitor to Maxima and Avalon from a size and accomodation perspective.

By the way, I spotted some of the "Red Tag Sales Event" prices on some of the Impalas - $20K for a well optioned LT and $24K for a well optioned LTZ. On price alone it puts the Impala into the conversation. I still don't think I could deal with the 4 speed all the time, but I had an loaded LT in California last month and it didn't feel all that bad. I can understand why the general public buys them, but as an enthusiast, probably not for me, even at the deals they're giving.

[RetAF]

Just imagine what those deals are going to do to the resale value in a few years. Be a good buy for your teenagers! What`s with GM and those 4 speed trannies? Was it just Ford and Chrysler who got together on the 6-speeds? You know GM has better trannies on their off-shore cars. I guess they are like Ford, thinking, Americans don`t need better equipment. My last GM car was a 58 Vette. I might get a CTS or an STS some day, but that`s it for GM for me.

[Madmaster]

Sorry, but I find being within 1 or 2 mpg decent enough to compete.

Yes, but was just making a point that they're either behind on fuel economy or horsepower to each of those competitors. In Honda's case, it's 3 mpg - somewhat significant, especially when it comes to advertisements. Though yes it is close. Nissan's case, though only 1 mpg, GM is down almost 20 hp. Depending on weight differences, this also could be ignored, but in advertising, it can be important.

[Sorin]

Just imagine what those deals are going to do to the resale value in a few years. Be a good buy for your teenagers! What`s with GM and those 4 speed trannies? Was it just Ford and Chrysler who got together on the 6-speeds? You know GM has better trannies on their off-shore cars. I guess they are like Ford, thinking, Americans don`t need better equipment. My last GM car was a 58 Vette. I might get a CTS or an STS some day, but that`s it for GM for me.

If I remember right, I thought it was GM and Ford that went in together on a 6 speed auto transmission. Don't know what became of that. But yes, they do seem to have an affinity for 4 speeds. It's kind of annoying.

[S15xedS13]

I sat in the new "bu" at the LA auto show. My first reaction was to ask what Japanese auto maker designed the interior. Everything was well placed, the seat was actually comfortable, it didn't feel like it was designed for obese americans. The gauge cluster was well done, with the important info right in your face on clean, but stylish gauge faces. There was still the classic American hard plastic, but it was broken up with soft pieces. In my opinion, the lines of the interior flow better than the interior of the new 3 series.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

I sat in the new "bu" at the LA auto show. My first reaction was to ask what Japanese auto maker designed the interior. Everything was well placed, the seat was actually comfortable, it didn't feel like it was designed for obese americans. The gauge cluster was well done, with the important info right in your face on clean, but stylish gauge faces. There was still the classic American hard plastic, but it was broken up with soft pieces. In my opinion, the lines of the interior flow better than the interior of the new 3 series.
I would agree about the narrower interior. The obese generation will not feel as comfortable in this car as in previous Malibu's. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to label it as having a better interior flow than the 3-series just yet, maybe because I've gotten pretty familiar with the current GM center-stack look lately, but it's very well done.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

Yes, but was just making a point that they're either behind on fuel economy or horsepower to each of those competitors. In Honda's case, it's 3 mpg - somewhat significant, especially when it comes to advertisements. Though yes it is close. Nissan's case, though only 1 mpg, GM is down almost 20 hp. Depending on weight differences, this also could be ignored, but in advertising, it can be important.
True. It seems like GM is taking the old 2 against 1 approach that Nissan used to use with the Altima and Maxima. Remember when Accord and Camry each had 4 and 6 cylinder models and Nissan only had the 4 cylinder Altima and the 6 cylinder Maxima? Maybe GM is doing that from a power standpoint with the Malibu and Impala. Remember, the Impala uses flexfuel so the mileage is a little better, and they offer the 3.9 LTZ with more horses.

[Madmaster]

True. It seems like GM is taking the old 2 against 1 approach that Nissan used to use with the Altima and Maxima. Remember when Accord and Camry each had 4 and 6 cylinder models and Nissan only had the 4 cylinder Altima and the 6 cylinder Maxima? Maybe GM is doing that from a power standpoint with the Malibu and Impala. Remember, the Impala uses flexfuel so the mileage is a little better, and they offer the 3.9 LTZ with more horses.

I don't know bout mileage being a little better with flexfuel. Let's take a look at 2008 Impala ratings.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
3.9 liter V6 A4
Gasoline 18/28mpg
E85 Flex 13/20mpg

That is a significant drop in gas mileage. I'm somewhat surprised that the 3.9 liter gets that kind of gas mileage with that displacement and having 4 gears.

[NSE70]

E85 is not "gas". That's like comparing orange juice and root beer.
That is not "gas" mileage.
That is E85 mileage.

[helldorado]

All the GM vehicles that are flex fuel capable get much worse mileage with E85 than regular. They don't sell it around here so I couldn't tell you if the lower cost is enough to offset the reduced performance or not.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

I don't know bout mileage being a little better with flexfuel. Let's take a look at 2008 Impala ratings.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
3.9 liter V6 A4
Gasoline 18/28mpg
E85 Flex 13/20mpg

That is a significant drop in gas mileage. I'm somewhat surprised that the 3.9 liter gets that kind of gas mileage with that displacement and having 4 gears.
Sorry - I made my post out of assumption that E85 got better mileage - my bad. Didn't even think to look because I figured it would only make sense. What's the use for the technology if it doesn't provide better fuel economy then?

[Misfit]

They need to do a bare-bones big money campaign. Just do a commercial with a guy in his late 20's or early 30's on a white screen and let him talk about what the reliability scores mean. It'd be expensive but do a mailer with comparitive swatches of GM and either Toyota or Honda plastic and/or leather. Maybe a commercial where they show off the design of "new car X" completely badge free while the voiceover goes through a whole montage of "If we told you ..." facts about the greatness of the car ending in "What if we told you this was an American made Chevy? Would you check us out now?" It takes a little boldness, a little honesty, and a lot of money, but what do they want in the end?

Not_Vin - that would be the perfect campaign -

I can see some imagery for it already .....

[RetAF]

Sorry - I made my post out of assumption that E85 got better mileage - my bad. Didn't even think to look because I figured it would only make sense. What's the use for the technology if it doesn't provide better fuel economy then?Congressional payoff for the graft and corruption in the corn-growing states.

[SHIFT_6speeds]

The New Malibu I seen had alot of peices that did not line up too well...I'd still hold off on purchasing GM products. At the same dealer, the New CTS had alot of orange peel in the paint trim pieces that did not line up and still had elcheapo aluminum wheels with the weights on the outside of the wheel! A 40K car with old-school wheels.

GM still has alot of learning to do!

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

The New Malibu I seen had alot of peices that did not line up too well...I'd still hold off on purchasing GM products. At the same dealer, the New CTS had alot of orange peel in the paint trim pieces that did not line up and still had elcheapo aluminum wheels with the weights on the outside of the wheel! A 40K car with old-school wheels.

GM still has alot of learning to do!
I feel exactly the opposite - I think that off the line build quality and fit/finish are where GM is on the money and long term reliability is where I still have my questions. Despite the panel gap issues on older GM products, the bigger issue for me was always how different their vehicles drove once they had 60K, 80K or 100K miles on them versus when they were new. I feel my Altima with almost 130K miles doesn't drive much different than when it had 60K miles on it. That's where my concern is.

[RetAF]

The New Malibu I seen had alot of peices that did not line up too well...I'd still hold off on purchasing GM products. At the same dealer, the New CTS had alot of orange peel in the paint trim pieces that did not line up and still had elcheapo aluminum wheels with the weights on the outside of the wheel! A 40K car with old-school wheels.

GM still has alot of learning to do!I`m of the opinion that the tolerances grow with use of the jigs, machines, etc. As those things wear, the parts they make or assemble would become more sloppy. Make sense? (That`s what happened with my body, LOL).

[NSE70]

Sorry - I made my post out of assumption that E85 got better mileage - my bad. Didn't even think to look because I figured it would only make sense. What's the use for the technology if it doesn't provide better fuel economy then?
1. E85 is relatively free of OPEC control.
2. E85 produces very little emissions, when the production of the ecosystem cycle is summed. Corn eats CO2 to live, corn gets turned to alcohol, cars eat alcohol and turn it to CO2, and corn eats the CO2 to live, and so on...
Here is an explanatory animation:
http://www.saab.com/main/GLOBAL/en/model/93_CONV/biopower.shtml

E85 currently costs more than premium gasoline to run. But it's a safety net, forcing OPEC to never raise the price of gasoline past the price of E85.
Without E85 and other alternate energy sources, there is the threat that some other country can decide the fate of the USA, which our government does not like to be worried about.

[badhobz]

I feel exactly the opposite - I think that off the line build quality and fit/finish are where GM is on the money and long term reliability is where I still have my questions. Despite the panel gap issues on older GM products, the bigger issue for me was always how different their vehicles drove once they had 60K, 80K or 100K miles on them versus when they were new. I feel my Altima with almost 130K miles doesn't drive much different than when it had 60K miles on it. That's where my concern is.

Completely agree.
When i got my CTS it felt like a very solid and tight fitting car. Now some of the plastic trim is starting to losen up a bit and i can hear some jiggling when i hit a big bump or a rough patch of the road. The CTS only has like 20,000kms on it. My sentra with over 140,000kms is finally starting sounds the same if not a little better. Im pretty glad i leased the cts for only 3 years.

I dont know if GM has it in the states, but up here in canada. Cadillacs come with 4 year free maintiance program. Just like BMW. u get something like 12 free oil changes, 1 set of free brakes and rotors, and some other stuff. One thing i really enjoy about having the CTS is that i know i dont have to pay extra for maintiance. Just like the Bmw's.

[da99]

Just read this article...

http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUSN2122055120071121

DETROIT (Reuters) - The new Chevrolet Malibu has topped General Motors Corp's (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) sales expectations in its debut month on the market by a wide margin, a senior GM executive told Reuters. Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman and product development chief, told the Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit that GM appeared on track to sell about 3,000 of the new mid-size sedans in November, far higher than its projection for about 500 in the initial month.

"Dealers do not have the car because they're selling as fast as they get them," Lutz said.

It appears the new Malibu is selling beyond expectations so far for GM. Although I must say, 500 is a rather small number of vehicles to expect to be sold.

[NSE70]

I must say, 500 is a rather small number of vehicles to expect to be sold.

In contrast, in October, GM sold
20,791 Impalas (<-- this is no full size competitor in price or size), and
10,805 G6s,
5,975 2007 Malibus,
4,425 Auras,
3,128 LaCrosses,
for a total of 45,124 family midsized sedans sold.
http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=3&docid=40878

Poor new Malibu. 500 a month. Bob Lutz you sweet talker!
"3,000" far higher than projections? LOLOLOL

[Sorin]

Yeah, that's pretty funny. In the past they'd sell 10,000+ in a month. What's with the low expectation? It's not like it cost twice as much as the previous one did.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

Yeah, but you can't compare a car they just released to vehicles that have been on the market for a while. When I was at the dealership just last week, there were only 3 to be found. I believe Wagoner's statement was "just because you put a lot of cars on the lot, doesn't mean people are going to buy them," or something to that effect.

I hate to be the domestic market apologist (which I feel like I've become on here,) but we're the same people that jab at the dom's when they flood a dealership with their newest offering and then it sits there, driving the market price down, the need for incentives up, and so on. So now, GM brings a couple cars to market (the Enclave and Malibu) and doesn't flood the dealerships. They hold back a little and actually exceed expectations. Despite the fact that Lutz said they expected 500, they delivered 3,500 to dealerships and now it looks like they'll move about 3,000, but now we're going to chastise them for that too.

It just seems like a catch-22 that the homegrowns can't get out of with some people.

[Sorin]

Oh I'm definitely not hating on the homegrowns. I really want them to succeed because A) they used to be great, back in the 60s and earlier, and B) they're the home team. Full lots with no demand is bad. Empty lots with lots of demand is better. Plus they finally, thank god, pulled their head out of their @ss and put a decent V6 into the Malibu (DOHC, forged internals, all aluminum, variable timing, etc). It's just that in light of them selling 10,000-15,000+ in the past, 500 seems like one hell of a lowball figure to be aiming for, even for a brand new model. But if that's where their research led them for a target sales figure, and they ended up having sold 3000, then that's great.

I hope it does good because it seems that with the CTS and the 2008 Malibu, GM really is actually trying to make a decent car. Instead of just making a steaming pile of sh1t and trying to market it as "a fine car, worthy of the import competition," they really are making what they claim.

They can claim they were trying with the 1997-2003 Malibu, and may have gotten a few idiots to believe it. They can claim they were trying with the 2004-2007 Malibu and gotten a few more idiots to believe it. But now, with the 2008, you really can't say that for the first time this isn't a true, valid attempt at taking a stab at the competition. It may not be better than the imports yet, but it sure as hell is light-years better than 95% of the crap they've put out the last 20 years.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

I see it as a progression. You just can't turn the corner overnight and it's very easy to underestimate the time it takes to rebuild a brand in the automobile industry. These aren't gym shoes or jeans we're talking about, it's a high ticket item and if you've got a reputation for building crap, it's going to take a lot of non-crap to turn that around. They're making moves in the right direction, both with quality and design. Time will tell whether the products actually hold up and if they do, maybe their value will increase.

[4U4ME]

http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/11/26/lutz-chevy-malibu-exceeded-expectations-by-2500-units/

It seems like GM has a huge hit on their hands with the new Chevrolet Malibu but the company has exceeded the sales expectations in the first few months of sales by 2,500 cars (http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/11/26/lutz-chevy-malibu-exceeded-expectations-by-2500-units/#). According to Bob Lutz, the modest GM had originally projected to sell about 500 units in the Malibu’s initial month. Lutz now tells Reuters that GM is on track to sell about 3,000 units of the new Toyota Camry and Honda Accord competitor in November.
“Dealers do not have the car (http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/11/26/lutz-chevy-malibu-exceeded-expectations-by-2500-units/#) because they’re selling as fast as they get them,” Lutz told Reuters.
[/URL]
The Malibu seems to be following the steps of the [URL="http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/11/26/lutz-chevy-malibu-exceeded-expectations-by-2500-units/#"]Cadillac CTS (http://forums2.freshalloy.com/) which was recently named Car of the Year by Motor Trend. Lutz said the new 2008 Cadillac CTS is bringing in “a lot of import trades” at dealerships.
Together, Lutz said the two cars seem to give GM (http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/11/26/lutz-chevy-malibu-exceeded-expectations-by-2500-units/#) the reputation it once enjoyed in “the 1950s and 1960s” for making “the best looking cars, the best riding cars and the most desirable cars.”
Lutz also said that sales of Buick (http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/11/26/lutz-chevy-malibu-exceeded-expectations-by-2500-units/#) Enclave and the Saturn Outlook also exceeded GM’s expectations.

[Not_Vin_Diesel]

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Is this any different than comment #40 in this same thread?