I'm retired and looking at getting one of these cars and I'd like to know
how the reliability of the 4 and 6 cylnder compare. I'm looking for the
lowest maintenace cost. Also I like to know if buying the GM extended
warranty is worthwhile. Will either of these cars go 200,000 miles with
normal maintenance or are there bir problems at some milestone like
transmission or other big cost item?
tnx

--

73
Hank WD5JFR

I do not know if the 03 and 04 are any better than my 2000. I have just
over 50000 miles and have spent almost $2000 in repairs. Now I think I
have at least one front wheel bearing going out!!! Pure GM junk!!!

Ron

Henry Kolesnik wrote:

Sorry to hear that. Consumer Reports gives a black X to all Malibus except
the 03 and it looks like the X for the is a mistke.

--

73
Hank WD5JFR
"Ron" <ronton (AT) southslope (DOT) net> wrote

I agree with Ron.
I have a '97 Malibu, my only GM product in 44 years of driving, and truly
the only one I'd call "junk"
Ray

"Ron" <ronton (AT) southslope (DOT) net> wrote

I know the 3.1L V6 has some problems with gaskets going bad but after you
replace them with good aftermarket gaskets there don't seem to be problems,
with the Orange coolant it sometimes gums up in the hoses for the coolant
system and switching to the regular green coolant seems to fix this. I have
a 2.2L Ecotec which is the four cyl and it is a 2004 Classic and I havn't
had any problems with it and have 36k on it now, also my car was a owned by
a rental company before I bought it so I'm sure it was abused by the rental
ppl and still no problems, all in all I like everything about it, except for
the appearance ;p but a body kit can fix that lol.

"Henry Kolesnik" <kolesnik (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote

We have a 1998, its poorly made and has been trouble prone. If you really
want to buy one get a used one, they have zip residual value. Too many
troubles to bother listing. GM stock is Junk so is their vehicles.
The new Malibu's and GM cars have problems with the electric steering, very
expensive to repair. You want a car to go over 200,000 miles get a Honda or
a Toyota.
My son has a Honda Civic with over 300,000 miles and still running.


"Henry Kolesnik" <kolesnik (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote

I'm retired and looking at getting one of these cars and I'd like to know
how the reliability of the 4 and 6 cylnder compare. I'm looking for the
lowest maintenace cost. Also I like to know if buying the GM extended
warranty is worthwhile. Will either of these cars go 200,000 miles with
normal maintenance or are there bir problems at some milestone like
transmission or other big cost item?
tnx

--

73
Hank WD5JFR

I'm the head wrench for a '01 & '02, both with mileage in the 80k range.
One car is a piston slapping sounds like a diesel in morning car that just
had the ignition cylinder and intake gaskets done. The other car is all OEM
and fine. Go figure.
It depends on the car, every brand, which now is a assembly of global parts
with varying quality.
Toyota, oil sludged motors that blow seals n' gaskets. Been there with a 2.2
Camry
Hondas that pop trannys and various other electrical things.
They all have weak models, etc. .
Myself, no more foreign cars for me, I've had my fill and it's GM or Ford
for now on.
If you can get one cheap and do your own work they are basic modern cars.

"Henri" <henri_latour (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

On Mon, 23 May 2005 02:01:41 GMT, "Henry Kolesnik"
<kolesnik (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote:

On Sun, 22 May 2005 22:33:18 -0400, "Daniel G."
<Danny73 (AT) columbus (DOT) rr.com> wrote:

the engine (no matter if GM says it doesn't).

I have a 2003 Malibu with the V6.

Mine only has 41,000 kms on it, but it is not what I would call a
reliable car.

My base model 98 Cavalier was far more reliable than the Malibu.

"Henry Kolesnik" <kolesnik (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote

Bought a 2003 Malibu LS brand new in September 2002. Dumped it 9-months
later. Replaced it with a Chrysler Sebring...which going on 2-years now
hasn't been in the shop yet for anything but oil changes and tire
rotations...not a single warranty item so far. GM has some good cars. The
Malibu just does not seem to be one of them. Perhaps the Pontiac G6 or the
Buick LaCrosse would be better choices. Of course, one couldn't beat the
old 80-vintage rear-drive Buick LeSabres. Those puppies would routinely go
200K-300K miles easily!