Malibu Hybrid... WHY???

abq sfr · 02-21-2008, 03:22 PM

I just read this Cnet review of the 08 Malibu mild hybrid and wondered why anybody would buy one of these pieces of junk that gets 2 mpg better than the non-hybrid, when they could get a Prius with over twice the mpg, roughly the same size and price? Any idea??
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Sedan reviews - CNET Reviews

blamy · 02-21-2008, 03:50 PM

Stupidity comes to mind! Same goes for the Saturn Hybrids although they do a little better than 2mpg above their standard counterparts. Maybe they just want to buy American. More than likely they just don't know any better and its up to us to teach them and bring them from the darkness they know not!!

Wow got lost there for a moment! LOL

EJFB1029 · 02-21-2008, 03:52 PM

As part of that, if you look at the options for that car, there are almost none, literally almost none, you basically get a stripped down Malibu, get only a couple of MPG better, and pay a lot, for nothing.

Rockville1 · 02-21-2008, 04:22 PM

Perhaps this is GM's really lame attempt to manipulate people into beleiving that hybrids suck (or reinforce the opinions of those that already beleive this).

More likely this is just GM's really lame attempt to play catch up for dropping the ball completely on the hybrid revolution.

IMHO, and based on the reviews I've read, you would have to be a complete ingnoramous to buy a Malibu hybrid (although the non-hybrid version does get really good reviews).

Rae Vynn · 02-21-2008, 04:24 PM

I traded UP from a Malibu to a Prius.

Malibu ain't that great to start with. Seriously. We much prefer the Prius!

JimN · 02-21-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blamy

Stupidity comes to mind! Same goes for the Saturn Hybrids although they do a little better than 2mpg above their standard counterparts. Maybe they just want to buy American. More than likely they just don't know any better and its up to us to teach them and bring them from the darkness they know not!!

Wow got lost there for a moment! LOL

Stupid is as stupid does. GM's problem seems to be that the supply of stupid is diminishing.

hill · 02-21-2008, 06:46 PM

Well ... the article says the folks that tested the car averaged between 19mpg and 23mpg with their real-world driving tests. Kinda ironic. The industry cried "FOUL !! " when the Prius got 50mpg-60mpg so they cut off their noses to spite their faces. Seems they want to have their cake and eat it too.

On the "Positive" side the testers say it has a nice sterio. Our family talks to each other when we're in the car together . The sterio is for solo driving. Seems a great sterio would be most important for a car that was for commuting / solo driving .. like the EV1. Maybe GM DOES want the non-pure gas car to fail. Pretty weird.

Black2006 · 02-21-2008, 06:50 PM

Actually, the better question might be "Malibu... WHY?"

But this aside, I must say that if we are going to bash GM for doing only 2mpg better, someone should start a similar thread regarding some of the Toyota/Lexus offerings, like the $100K + Lexus LS 600h L embarrassment, which manages 1mpg LOWER than its gas-only twin (Environmental and Urban Economics: Does the New Hybrid Lexus drive like a Porsche and sip fuel like a Prius?)

excuseMeButt · 02-21-2008, 07:10 PM

Maybe because some people, such as myself, have $1500 in GM Card money. At one time, I thought I might buy a Pontiac Vibe but the other day I saw a newish one rolling by with rusty wheels. Glad I got over that thought.

I think I'll just wait for the next gen Prius and just let the GM Card money dwindle down to nothing.

~buttster

paprius4030 · 02-21-2008, 07:23 PM

I sat in one at the Harrisburg, Pa. car show. I agree what a piece of junk. Interior is small and cramped. Couldn't get in without hitting my head. Never have that problem with my Prius. I thought maybe GM with a surprisingly roomy car like the Aveo is surprisingly roomy, but nooooooooo. Another dissapointment from GM.

02-21-2008, 03:22 PM	#1
abq sfr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 624 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? I just read this Cnet review of the 08 Malibu mild hybrid and wondered why anybody would buy one of these pieces of junk that gets 2 mpg better than the non-hybrid, when they could get a Prius with over twice the mpg, roughly the same size and price? Any idea?? 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Sedan reviews - CNET Reviews

02-21-2008, 03:50 PM	#2
blamy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 308 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? Stupidity comes to mind! Same goes for the Saturn Hybrids although they do a little better than 2mpg above their standard counterparts. Maybe they just want to buy American. More than likely they just don't know any better and its up to us to teach them and bring them from the darkness they know not!! Wow got lost there for a moment! LOL

02-21-2008, 03:52 PM	#3
EJFB1029 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Corpus Christi, Republic of Texas Posts: 2,102 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? As part of that, if you look at the options for that car, there are almost none, literally almost none, you basically get a stripped down Malibu, get only a couple of MPG better, and pay a lot, for nothing.

02-21-2008, 04:22 PM	#4
Rockville1 Silver Pine Mica Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 107 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? Perhaps this is GM's really lame attempt to manipulate people into beleiving that hybrids suck (or reinforce the opinions of those that already beleive this). More likely this is just GM's really lame attempt to play catch up for dropping the ball completely on the hybrid revolution. IMHO, and based on the reviews I've read, you would have to be a complete ingnoramous to buy a Malibu hybrid (although the non-hybrid version does get really good reviews).

02-21-2008, 04:24 PM	#5
Rae Vynn Resident Witch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Grays Harbor, WA, USA Posts: 2,838 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 52	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? I traded UP from a Malibu to a Prius. Malibu ain't that great to start with. Seriously. We much prefer the Prius!

02-21-2008, 06:46 PM	#7
hill High Fiber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South OC So Cal & the Flathead Valley MT Posts: 2,458 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? Well ... the article says the folks that tested the car averaged between 19mpg and 23mpg with their real-world driving tests. Kinda ironic. The industry cried "FOUL !! " when the Prius got 50mpg-60mpg so they cut off their noses to spite their faces. Seems they want to have their cake and eat it too. On the "Positive" side the testers say it has a nice sterio. Our family talks to each other when we're in the car together . The sterio is for solo driving. Seems a great sterio would be most important for a car that was for commuting / solo driving .. like the EV1. Maybe GM DOES want the non-pure gas car to fail. Pretty weird. __________________ I Heart My Prius Chat Last edited by hill; 02-22-2008 at 10:31 AM.

02-21-2008, 06:50 PM	#8
Black2006 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 170 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? Actually, the better question might be "Malibu... WHY?" But this aside, I must say that if we are going to bash GM for doing only 2mpg better, someone should start a similar thread regarding some of the Toyota/Lexus offerings, like the $100K + Lexus LS 600h L embarrassment, which manages 1mpg LOWER than its gas-only twin (Environmental and Urban Economics: Does the New Hybrid Lexus drive like a Porsche and sip fuel like a Prius?)

02-21-2008, 07:10 PM	#9
excuseMeButt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 101 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? Maybe because some people, such as myself, have $1500 in GM Card money. At one time, I thought I might buy a Pontiac Vibe but the other day I saw a newish one rolling by with rusty wheels. Glad I got over that thought. I think I'll just wait for the next gen Prius and just let the GM Card money dwindle down to nothing. ~buttster

02-21-2008, 07:23 PM	#10
paprius4030 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pocono's, Pa. Posts: 1,048 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: Malibu Hybrid... WHY??? I sat in one at the Harrisburg, Pa. car show. I agree what a piece of junk. Interior is small and cramped. Couldn't get in without hitting my head. Never have that problem with my Prius. I thought maybe GM with a surprisingly roomy car like the Aveo is surprisingly roomy, but nooooooooo. Another dissapointment from GM.