We are considering a Chevy Malibu. Actually it is one of many vehicles on our list that we want to look at. This is the list we have so far:
08 or 09 Malibu
08 or 09 Impala
08 Toyota Avalaon
07-09 VW Passat Wagon
05-06 Audi A6
05 Tahoe/Yukon
This vehicle is going to be replacing my Wife's 1999 Audi A4. She loves that car but after the birth of our second child it is just too small. So in reverse order:
I have a 2003 Avalanche that I like a lot. However in the Spring/Summer/Fall I pretty much ride my Honda ST1100 all the time. So over the summer she began to like driving my Avalanche. Now that we have snow I have since taken it back as the motorcylce season is over. This is how the Tahoe/Yukon made the list. She would like the 3rd row on occasion. The problem is that the other day she drive my truck in the snow and didn't like it. We bought the Audi A4 after she rolled her Dodge Dakota 1.5 times after hitting black ice. So she is hesitant about another truck in the winter. Because of that I think the Tahoe/Yukon is most likely off the list.
She would like the Audi A6 but they are very expensive too work on and while I have done a lot of work on the A4 they are pretty difficult to work on as they require so many special tools. She loves the AWD in the Audi line
The same will likely be true about the Passat but we are considering it. It is also available with the same AWD system as the Audi. After all VW and Audi are the same company
I kind of like the Toyota Avalon. My Mom has had one for years and loves it. She has never had any issues. Also in looking at a used 08 we are going to be in the price range of a used Impala or a new Malibu but it is going to have more features, HID lights, heated and cooled seats, a real navigation system, and a little larger car are all the main points. The only big drawback to this car is the fact that the rear seats do not fold down to gain access to the trunk. Now that isn't that big of a deal as I still will have the truck and we can swap vehicles if needed. Besides she really can't fold the seats anyhow with the child seats in the rear anyhow. But it is a drawback that is worth mentioning.
Now on to the GM options. I have some cash on my GM card to take off the cost of a new car and I can get the GM Supplier Discount. However I think that is about the same discount as the current Red Tag Event that is going on this month.
The Impala is going to get a little worse mileage than the Malibu however the engine is a flex fuel engine. Now I don't know that we will use E85 but if for no other reason I like the idea of a flex fuel engine for the simple fact that in the next couple years some time Minnesota is pushignto switch from a 10% ethanol blend in gas to a 20%. The problem with Ethanol is that it is corrosive and if an engine isn't certified to use it there can be problems. If the vehicle was Flex Fuel certified then this will be a non issue. The Impala has the fold flat seats and I think is a little bigger in the cabin as well as the trunk. We will have to check this out though.
The Malibu is available in a price range where we will likely buy a new 09 rather than a left over 08 or used 08. Although I found a really nice certified 08 LTZ that I might consider. I have read a lot about all the awards that the Malibu has won. I also have chatted with a few people that own the new Malibu (08 or 09) and they love them. The one deciding factor for us will be how well the car seats fit in this car. I am 6'4" which means that the seat is going to have to go all the way back in order for me to get in. Is there going to be enough room for the kids still? I like the newer interior of the Malibu over the Impala.
Currently when we do road trips we take my Avalanche. However if the gas prices shoot back up the $4 range we would likely take the new car over the Avalanche if it had enough room for everyone and our stuff. So space is a key issue here. My wife is getting frustrated as I keep mentioning cars and she doesn't want to pick one. It is her car so I am going to make her choose. I will help her narrow down the list of vehicles. Other vehicles that people have mentioned to me is the Pontiac G8, I have never looked at one, and Chrysler 300, I personally know a couple people that have had major issues with this car so I don't know that I want to go with one of them. The issues were bad enough that Chrysler bought the cars back from the owners.
08 or 09 Malibu
08 or 09 Impala
08 Toyota Avalaon
07-09 VW Passat Wagon
05-06 Audi A6
05 Tahoe/Yukon
This vehicle is going to be replacing my Wife's 1999 Audi A4. She loves that car but after the birth of our second child it is just too small. So in reverse order:
I have a 2003 Avalanche that I like a lot. However in the Spring/Summer/Fall I pretty much ride my Honda ST1100 all the time. So over the summer she began to like driving my Avalanche. Now that we have snow I have since taken it back as the motorcylce season is over. This is how the Tahoe/Yukon made the list. She would like the 3rd row on occasion. The problem is that the other day she drive my truck in the snow and didn't like it. We bought the Audi A4 after she rolled her Dodge Dakota 1.5 times after hitting black ice. So she is hesitant about another truck in the winter. Because of that I think the Tahoe/Yukon is most likely off the list.
She would like the Audi A6 but they are very expensive too work on and while I have done a lot of work on the A4 they are pretty difficult to work on as they require so many special tools. She loves the AWD in the Audi line
The same will likely be true about the Passat but we are considering it. It is also available with the same AWD system as the Audi. After all VW and Audi are the same company
I kind of like the Toyota Avalon. My Mom has had one for years and loves it. She has never had any issues. Also in looking at a used 08 we are going to be in the price range of a used Impala or a new Malibu but it is going to have more features, HID lights, heated and cooled seats, a real navigation system, and a little larger car are all the main points. The only big drawback to this car is the fact that the rear seats do not fold down to gain access to the trunk. Now that isn't that big of a deal as I still will have the truck and we can swap vehicles if needed. Besides she really can't fold the seats anyhow with the child seats in the rear anyhow. But it is a drawback that is worth mentioning.
Now on to the GM options. I have some cash on my GM card to take off the cost of a new car and I can get the GM Supplier Discount. However I think that is about the same discount as the current Red Tag Event that is going on this month.
The Impala is going to get a little worse mileage than the Malibu however the engine is a flex fuel engine. Now I don't know that we will use E85 but if for no other reason I like the idea of a flex fuel engine for the simple fact that in the next couple years some time Minnesota is pushignto switch from a 10% ethanol blend in gas to a 20%. The problem with Ethanol is that it is corrosive and if an engine isn't certified to use it there can be problems. If the vehicle was Flex Fuel certified then this will be a non issue. The Impala has the fold flat seats and I think is a little bigger in the cabin as well as the trunk. We will have to check this out though.
The Malibu is available in a price range where we will likely buy a new 09 rather than a left over 08 or used 08. Although I found a really nice certified 08 LTZ that I might consider. I have read a lot about all the awards that the Malibu has won. I also have chatted with a few people that own the new Malibu (08 or 09) and they love them. The one deciding factor for us will be how well the car seats fit in this car. I am 6'4" which means that the seat is going to have to go all the way back in order for me to get in. Is there going to be enough room for the kids still? I like the newer interior of the Malibu over the Impala.
Currently when we do road trips we take my Avalanche. However if the gas prices shoot back up the $4 range we would likely take the new car over the Avalanche if it had enough room for everyone and our stuff. So space is a key issue here. My wife is getting frustrated as I keep mentioning cars and she doesn't want to pick one. It is her car so I am going to make her choose. I will help her narrow down the list of vehicles. Other vehicles that people have mentioned to me is the Pontiac G8, I have never looked at one, and Chrysler 300, I personally know a couple people that have had major issues with this car so I don't know that I want to go with one of them. The issues were bad enough that Chrysler bought the cars back from the owners.