- sedan 161,628
- 853 below average
- 1,299 great
- Bridgeport, CT
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- autoshopper.com
- 853 below average sedan 161,628 automatic
1999 chevrolet malibu review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Big-car ride in a mid-size sedan. introductionin the early 1970s, the chevy malibu conjured sunny images of cruising along a windswept coastal highway bound for some beachfront shindig. That means it might get lost in a crowd; but it also means its looks will hold up better over time than some of the trendier designs. at 190. 4 inches, the malibu is a couple of inches longer than its primary japanese competitors-accord and camry-but more than seven inches shorter than its main domestic rival, the taurus. the malibu comes in two trim lines-the base model and the ls. Like, for example, the malibu's ignition switch being situated on the instrument panel, plainly visible and reachable-instead of being hidden at the base of the steering wheel. Or like the rotating air vents, at the base of the a pillars, which can be swiveled outward to defrost the side window, allowing maximum visibility of the outside mirrors. then there's the 6-way power seats, which offer up as many seating positions as we've seen in some high-priced luxury cars. The optional leather seats are as firm, supportive and comfortable as we've seen in some luxury cars. There's commodious front-seat headroom and ample legroom for a 6-foot driver. The fabric covering the headliner and pillars is plush to the touch, and the double-console configuration is spacious enough to house a half-dozen cds and another five or six cassette tapes-each with their own notches. The big t-shaped gearshift is a point of debate-some say it's homely, but chevrolet says it's useful as a hand rest if the forearm is resting on the console. driving impressionchevrolet's goal with the malibu was to provide full-size ride quality and quietness in a mid-size car. On that front, they succeeded-in part by designing separate steel subframes for the front and rear ends. This approach protects the cabin-and its inhabitants-from engine vibration and from harsh bumps absorbed by the front macpherson struts. the independent rear suspension is attached to a rear subframe, which yields a smoother, more uniform ride as each rear wheel responds individually to varying road surfaces. That definitely made a difference when we took the malibu out onto some suburban-detroit dirt roads, which were freshly rutted after a post-blizzard thaw. Ordinarily, this would be a molar-rattling experience, but the malibu fended off the bumps like a bigger sedan. chevrolet engineers also gave the malibu a suspension that's significantly firmer than that of previous mid-size chevy sedans. That means the malibu handles more crisply-and minimizes body roll-in corners and during abrupt lane-changing maneuvers. we had an opportunity to drive a malibu down a gnarly, narrow back road in a back-to-back comparison with a taurus, camry and accord. In the handling department, we rank the malibu higher than the taurus, and at least as good as the camry. The taurus feels big and heavy on a winding road where the malibu feels light and agile. The accord had a slight edge, but not a big advantage. The malibu's steering responded quickly in hard-cornering situations. Overall, the malibu rewards the driver with good feedback and sporty, predictable handling response. the 3. 1-liter v6 that comes standard in the malibu ls puts out 150 horses. On paper, that's the same amount of horsepower as the 2. 4-liter 4-cylinder that comes standard in the base malibu. But the v6-an option in the base model-delivers 35 more foot-pounds of torque than the 4-cylinder engine. That translates into more passing power and more thrust from a dead stop. We were impressed with how well chevrolet has damped wind noise at high speeds with little touches like recessed door handles and a special windshield seal. the smooth-shifting, highly efficient transmission monitors factors like temperature, altitude and throttle position to determine optimum shift points. And in both normal and emergency-stopping situations, the brakes are solid and firm, with no discernable fade or grab. summarythe malibu may not stand out in a crowd, but it delivers excellent handling, plenty of power, lots of headroom and a quiet and comfortable ride. Handling on back roads is superior to that of the taurus and as good or better than the camry. Add to that the malibu's value and it is well worth adding to the mid-size shopping list. assembled inoklahoma city, okla.; wilmington, del. options as testedleather bucket seats, cd player, power glass sunroof, mud flaps. model testedmalibu ls. Power Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Tachometer✔ Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Player✔ Leather Seats
1,299 Bridgeport, CTBridgeport, CT at autoshopper.com