Thank you guys for your opinion. I appreciate that!
Well the newly redesigned Sonata Limited (2009) has better interior quality than the new gen. Malibu LTZ. Sonata and optima are not the same but Optima has same chassis than Sonata (pre 2009) but roughly that's it. Everything else is different. I would say Optima is the downgraded older Sonata in terms of everything. Kia and Hyundai does not share too many parts like Chrysler and Dodge (that I think is the reason of why Chrysler's quality is not that good in general. They should have the better parts). Sonata has the advanced Lambda engine 3.3L that Kia does not use. Kia has 2.7L V6 with less than 200 hp.
I will testdrive the Sonata when we got better weather and of course the V6 Limited version. I like the Malibu's exterior (LTZ) but the back of the car is simply lame. It should be as stylish as the frond or the side. Also I drove the V6 and I felt something was missing that would have made the LTZ Malibu awesome car. I felt it was average V6 car. Furthermore the rear visibility is horrible. I drove the Sebring too and however it was the very basic model with the weak 4 cyc engine and it was good feeling to drive but I know I am biased to Chrysler (but not Dodge). By the way all engines under 200hp is sluggish for me not matter which car has that engine.
I am still undecided what to buy... I want to have a car that has the same fun to drive feeling than my current Chrysler has with little luxurious feeling and ample power. I need a car for many years not for 9 months. My current Chrysler Concorde is from 1999 and it still goes (look at my avatar) ! So I need a car for long time!
By the way what about that manual shifter behind the steering wheel? Can I use that as if my Malibu would be manual? Also does it let me rev the engine to red or it shifts gear no matter what?
Well the newly redesigned Sonata Limited (2009) has better interior quality than the new gen. Malibu LTZ. Sonata and optima are not the same but Optima has same chassis than Sonata (pre 2009) but roughly that's it. Everything else is different. I would say Optima is the downgraded older Sonata in terms of everything. Kia and Hyundai does not share too many parts like Chrysler and Dodge (that I think is the reason of why Chrysler's quality is not that good in general. They should have the better parts). Sonata has the advanced Lambda engine 3.3L that Kia does not use. Kia has 2.7L V6 with less than 200 hp.
I will testdrive the Sonata when we got better weather and of course the V6 Limited version. I like the Malibu's exterior (LTZ) but the back of the car is simply lame. It should be as stylish as the frond or the side. Also I drove the V6 and I felt something was missing that would have made the LTZ Malibu awesome car. I felt it was average V6 car. Furthermore the rear visibility is horrible. I drove the Sebring too and however it was the very basic model with the weak 4 cyc engine and it was good feeling to drive but I know I am biased to Chrysler (but not Dodge). By the way all engines under 200hp is sluggish for me not matter which car has that engine.
I am still undecided what to buy... I want to have a car that has the same fun to drive feeling than my current Chrysler has with little luxurious feeling and ample power. I need a car for many years not for 9 months. My current Chrysler Concorde is from 1999 and it still goes (look at my avatar) ! So I need a car for long time!
By the way what about that manual shifter behind the steering wheel? Can I use that as if my Malibu would be manual? Also does it let me rev the engine to red or it shifts gear no matter what?
