Yikes. Malibu finishes last in MT midsize comparison

[mzodarg]

Also if you do get a Trifecta tune for the Malibu Eco please post some info, I might be interested although my wife would probably kill me if I messed with her car
I've used a power commander to tune my Harley but never used anything to tune a modern car, what do you need to get a Trifecta Tune? Hardware then a software "map"?

I will be sure to post results. Trifecta tunes are PC Based no addition hardware other than the communication cable.

I tune my 2011 FLHX 103 ci 120tq/ 117 hp Harley with a Power vision, this is much simpler. Vince will provide a MAP and you will do a few data runs. He does all the tweaking.

Sounds like you should have done your homework before you ran out and got a car you didn't like. Maybe next time it would be to your advantage not to assume so much about a car and actually sit in the back seat and drive it before you buy it

As far as the above comment, this isn't my first rodeo in new car purchase. I'm almost 50, buy what I want when I want and if I don't like it I'm sure to tell others. Same holds true if it's something I do like. BLUF: I and many others are not pleased with this car, my issue is with performance. I realize it's not a sports car, but damn.....

Tre'

[nutcrunch]

Almost 50 here myself (not sure what age has to do with anything, people can make buying mistakes at any age) and I guess I just don't understand how someone bought an Eco version of a car, that performs as well as their last turbo powered car that they loved, and then complain about it's performance.
I think it performs pretty good for an ECO. I expected it to be a dog.
Could it be possible something is wrong with your car making it perform bad?

[Richard]

Originally Posted by nutcrunch

Almost 50 here myself (not sure what age has to do with anything, people can make buying mistakes at any age) and I guess I just don't understand how someone bought an Eco version of a car, that performs as well as their last turbo powered car that they loved, and then complain about it's performance.
I think it performs pretty good for an ECO. I expected it to be a dog.
Could it be possible something is wrong with your car making it perform bad?

I'm almost 50 also. When I got the 2010 Malibu, there was a decision whether I was going to get the 4 cylinder, or the 6. Believe me, I am used to higher HP Cars - My last 4 cars prior to the Malibu were all 6 or 8 cylinders that got anywhere from 255 - 300 HP. But times have changed - gas prices have soared and I wanted a more economical car that looked beautiful. I test drove the 4 cylinder and I felt it was more than adequate, especially the pickup. If I was fine with the previous generation 4 cylinder, I'm sure I'd be very happy with the 4 cylinder on the 2013. But the key is I test drove the car before I purchased it, so I knew what to expect. And I'll tell you what, I appreciated getting anywhere from 22-24 MPG (mixed city and highway) with the Malibu as compared to 15 - 18 MPG with the higher HP cars that I owned.

[mzodarg]

Not that this matters but like Richard, my last four cars have been a 2010 2ss Camaro, 2011 LTZ Avalanche, 2012 LTZ Cruze and now my Malibu ECO. The last two were because of the rising gas prices.

Too set the record straight I did test drive it, and this car in no way performs like my Cruze!

Tre'

[nutcrunch]

Well it shouldn't perform like your Cruze after you put the tune on it and hopped it up but stock the Eco should be on par with it.
Hmm you may want to get your car checked out if it is performing that badly. Mine seems to run fine and I haven't seen any others with the ECO complain about engine performance. Or you may be just expecting too much from it.
It's cool you had more powerful cars but this isn't one of those types of cars. Richard seems to understand that and even said the older Malibu 2.4 (which has less power than even the 2013 Malibu Eco) seemed fine to him.
You probably should have waited and got the turbo Malibu but at least you got what you wanted when you wanted it so that's a good thing.
We wanted the 2013 Malibu too and got it when we wanted it and we are happy with ours, I hope you can be happy with yours too.

[GolfTango]

Originally Posted by Richard

I agree. The 2010 that I had was very quiet. And I felt the acceleration was very good for a lower HP 4 cylinder. It was pretty quick off the line. I would always burn rubber if I hit the gas hard from a dead stop. The power was weak at mid speeds - if you accelerated from 30-60, I felt the lag in power at those speeds. But I understand that being a heavy car with not enough HP.

I was dissapointed with the HP though. My brother had the same year Altima and that engine got 180-185 hp and that's a smaller and lighter car.

For what it's worth, the '13 Malibu is rated @ 66.9db @ 70mph. Same as Camry. Accord was 62db @ 70mph.

And the outgoing Malibu/Aura was rated @ 65.6db @ 70mph (2.4L).

[Dilatory]

The biggest GM Dealership in Ontario was liquidating 2012 Malibus by the hundreds and I picked one up for 12k, $110 every 2 weeks... I have absolutely no regrets. I might consider getting the transmission tuned to get rid of the huge RPM drop (They did it with a lot of the trucks as well which I'm working on getting tuned out (06 Sierra)) on acceleration.

Otherwise.. Love my car. 10.4L/100KM and I drive fairly aggressively and usually have extra weight in the car on a regular basis. I don't know what kind of powertrain you guys need to zip around the city or cruise on the highway but the 2.6? 4 Cyl is plenty powerful IMO.

[budman65]

Wow, I haven't been on the site for a while. Everyone with the newer Bu's seem to be really defensive of their purchases?

[BeauTie]

I have a 2009 Bu, and I have driven a 2013 Bu, as well as a 2012 Camry and 2013 Accord. The 2013 Bu is better than all of those cars in my experience.

[cp-the-nerd]

Originally Posted by budman65

Wow, I haven't been on the site for a while. Everyone with the newer Bu's seem to be really defensive of their purchases?

They don't see the difference between a good car on it's own merits, and a good car in competition with great cars (like the 2013 Accord). There is a pretty narrow niche in which someone would find the new Malibu the best car to own among the latest crop of midsize cars.