Every Car Is A Great Car: 2004 Chevrolet Malibu - Its lack of value IS its value.
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- While the Malibu namesake carries back all the way to 1964, the present day offering is a far cry from the V8 powered rear-wheel drive muscle car that gave dreamy visions of sunny southern California. In its 6th generation the Malibu offered conservative styling, and was mediocre and adequate in just about every department. But mediocre and adequate become exemplary when put into the hands of Jerry, who uses this car as a thruway burner for his job, and in doing so keeps miles, wear and tear, and abuse off of his 2017 Toyota Tacoma. Perhaps instead of conjuring up Malibu itself, the car now simply affords a path to get there by other means.
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Janky do Thanky
#malibu #chevymalibu #6thgenmalibu
This car is so cozy. It’s what you’d expect to see parked outside a single family house in a small, calm suburban neighborhood as orange leaves are flying with a cool gist of wind of 65*F in a relaxing fall evening.
My father bought the exact same car for 300$ 2 years and a half ago . Sadly my father past away a year and a half ago and i needed a car a this moment my cobalt 2005 was good for the junk yard . My mother give it to me i drive it everyday it have 214000km on it . Still runs very wells love the 200 horses power it have . You made such a good description i have all the same issues you were talking about . I drive it like an army tank . I hope ill keep it for at least another four years
God bless ya, my condolences, but in an automotive sense very happy you are keeping the flame alive with the Malibu. So often cars are passed on from family members, and many times from family members who have passed on themselves. Its so easy to attach memories to a car just like you would a song or a picture, so in this way i do think every car is a great car. Janky do thanky for your comment i really appreciate that, and hope the malibu keeps chuggin along for ya!
My grandpa bought this car brand new and only put 30k miles on it before he passed. Old "Spirit" is my first car and has served me faithfully for 6 years, the only real problems I've had with it is all electrical issues. Still going strong! I definitely beat the shit out of it the first 4 years by taking it offroad which it handled surprisingly well (do not recommend)
Wow, fantastic comment Janky do Thanky, its always special when you inherit a vehicle from a loved one who has passed and continue to drive and maintain it, something about cars is very personal. So good on you. I think everyone's first car gets the shit beat out of it one way or another, just a right of passage. My first (and first offroading as well) vehicle was a Chevy Venture Minivan, and that thing definitely took a lickin and kept on tickin. For some reason I can believe this vehicle could have electrical problems, seems like not Chevy's greatest moment for build quality, but hey, just keep on drivin it. "spirit" is a great name too btw
I own a 04 malibu, with about 90k miles, all ive run into so far is electrical issues.
Down a rabbit hole of videos trying to familiarize myself and fix my grandmother's '05 Malibu LS to sell, and your interest and opinion of automotive styling is something I didn't think existed! I have different preferences, but reading the comments and watching through your video is quite refreshing in contrast of what I'm always focused on. Well made and well presented!
Well that's a huge janky do thanky to you, I'm always thrilled when my little corner of the Auto-verse gets lit up like this, so janky do thanky. There is some Bob Dylan quote about seeing the divine in the ordinary, so I guess that resonates with me. This video probably did nothing, however, to help fix your grandmother's car, so I hope you got it resolved! Cheers
I loved this! My 2005 is currently in the shop getting the power steering fixed and I miss it terribly! Like Jerry, my car exists to keep mileage off my 17 Pathfinder. It’s crammed full of my crap that I need to haul around every day. It’s a utility vehicle and I love it for that reason!
Ha wow very similar stories! The fact that Chevy sold these as fleet vehicles and rental cars just adds to the lore, it seems like they really did crack the code of the perfect "extra car" - I'm continually amazed at how many comments I get on this video. Selfishly, it kind of corroborates me thesis, but more importantly I'm just glad so many people are enjoying their Malibu's. Janky do thanky for the comment, wishing you many more miles.
I bought a Pontiac G6 GTP convertible almost a year ago and enjoy it so much that my latest automotive goal is to own one of each GM Epsilon model- the G6, a Malibu (ideally a Maxx), a Saturn Aura, a Saab 9-3, and even once the 25 year rule lapses, an Opel Vectra and Signum.
I absolutely love this. I had a dream to own all the “cloud cars” from chrysler, a stratus, cirrus, and breeze, which would be funny because they all look exactly the same. I happen to love the Saturn Aura, big Saturn fan in general. Imagine if they had made a wagon version of that. And yes Opel! Love the brand, if you are familiar with the opel speedster and its twin the vauxhall vx220, sort of like a mid engine version of the solstice/sky twins. Get those opel’s over here! Janky do thanky
I got a Malibu Maxx Ls 3.5 v6 one month ago from the first owner. The car has 180.000 km and runs and drives smoothly! Also, it's good on gas 10 litres for 100 km.
I`m enjoying that wagon style.
Oh baby yea thats like the golden spec, aside from i guess the malibu maxx SS version with those very slick 5 spoke alloy wheels. Still think those are such a cool looking car, despite chevy being embarrassed by the fact it was offering a station wagon. Hard to argue with the practicality, and if u get good mileage all the better! Janky do thanky. I love the love that this car is getting, really bolsters and affirms my commitment to the “every car is a great car” ethos.
@@JankyAFI've been working on fixing up my wife's old 2004 malibu maxx LS w/3.5L V6. The paint definitely shows it's age but the car just has a really unique character, more cargo room than anything else in it's category, and plenty of pep in it's step! My wife named him "Kitt" as in the car from Knight Rider 🤣
@@sdspeedy1 haha we need a knight rider re-boot with a malibu maxx! "unique character" and "more cargo room than anything else in its category" are two fantastic attributes and well articulated. Good on you, nothing I love more than showing love to an underappreciated and/or forgotten classic. good luck to you, your wife, and Kitt! janky do thanky
my dad had one then gave it to me and after 20 years and 300k miles still runs like it brand new
Amazing, I have received a good amount of similar comments, tho I think 300k is definitely the highest mileage I've seen! at least anecdotally in my comments. I have not read or heard anything praising this particular power-train, but seems to have built up a pretty solid track record. Is yours the V6 as well?
Bought mine 2007 two years ago at 36,000 miles. Now 80,000 miles. Typical maintenance nothing to expensive. Love it, quite and roomy.
The reason why the MPH on the speedometer lights up is because you can change the units between Imperial and Metric on the menu settings on the radio. If you switch it to Metric it will switch the speedometer to KMH and read for Kilometres instead of Miles.
Janky do Thanky! I believe someone else told me this as well, but always appreciate the knowledge and being informed. Prius' have long done this, but I have not seen it done in many other cars, and certainly not as boldly as the Malibu. I wonder how many they sold in Canada....
Mine has been a great car a 2004 3.5 with 300k and still running excellent
Great to hear! Been multiple reports of these going close to and over 300k, seems like a purpose built mileage soaker-upper. Janky do thanky for the comment and hope it makes it to 400k!
You don't want leather and soft looking materials, trims of all kinds, for the interior. They use to have that back in the 1920s -1995. You want plastic and durable cloth because it doesn't age, cracks, gets stained, fades, tares, look worn out, under ten years. We went through this already and learned lessons on how to keep an interior from looking terrible inside after it been used for awhile. There is a reason for all this. David P. ie Boomer.
Janky do Thanky Boomer! Yup, the art of the purpose-built vehicle is an oft-overlooked concept. It always amazes me how Bentleys and Rolls Royce and Range Rovers have generally bad reliability records, and they cost 10's of times what this does, and this works better at what it is supposed to be, which is a superior alternative to walking or riding a horse.
"Its lack of value IS its value." This era of Malibu is probably the poster child for the concept of "transportation appliance." Zero styling, zero excitement, zero pizzazz, zero drama. Sometimes you don't want drama, sometimes you just want to get from A to B and then back to A with as little expenditure of dollars as possible.
janky do thanky! couldn't agree more, and i think "car people" often deride the concept of vehicles as appliances, but i think having a driver's car and an appliance car is a complementary attitude not something that is mutually exclusive. And yes this Malibu does achieve incredible amounts of anonymity, hats off to chevy for such a monumental creation of zero-ness.
Unfortunately Toyota took that belief system to heart and now pretty much everything outside of the Supra and the GT86 is Appliance with a capital A
I picked an up an ‘05 Malibu base 2.2L from my folks for $500, (neighbors were moving, didn’t want their extra 3rd car, sold it to them as an extra car). I drive it daily with 193k miles on it with just a few minor problems some NOS, (new old stock), parts I find on eBay. Good little work car here in Florida. I enjoy this little cruiser.
Janky do thanky and great to hear! Its funny how sometimes the cars we have the least involvement in choosing or least attachment to upon receiving end up being some of the best for us. 193k is certainly impressive, I hope you make it past the magical 200k marker!
It has the power when you need it and the efficency the rest of the time!!
Janky do Thanky Big Whane, I could not believe the pickup this thing had, really impressed me. Always impressed and grateful when these "hum-drum" cars get such a positive response from people out there, just goes a little further in validating my theory that "every car is a great car"
Mine has been a great car, a 2007 2.2 with 303k. Keeps on going
Wow! I dream of getting a vehicle to 300k, real milestone I'd like to hit one day. Congrats to you and your Malibu, I wish you many more miles. Janky do Thanky
I have a 2005 with 216k with alot of problems yet again im the 6th owner but it has been an amazing car even with all the work it had/needed (put around 10k in repairs) but she runs and shes cute
First time I've heard it being called "cute" but I agree! Have all the respect in the world to just keeping the same car for a long time and spending on it as necessary. Much obliged, janky do thanky
I've got an identical malibu for my first car except it's a 2005. Got it at 69k, nearly at 110k and love it. Aside from finicky lock buttons and broken cruise control button (plan on replacing), its been great. No supercar but 200 hp isnt nothing for sure.
Great review!
janky do thanky! Hmm yea I can see this model having a couple of electrical quirks, little loosey goosey in some spots, but yea I was really impressed with the pickup on that V6. Glad u enjoyed, thanks for the comment! Hope it makes it to 200k!
That black Malibu wagon was super cool.
Nice one Colin.
Janky do Thanky Andy! Yea those get a rubberneck from me everytime I see one. Would love to get my hands on an SS version...
my 05 with 250,000 miles v6 is still running good
I'm getting a lot of these such comments, 200k, 250, even 300k! Amazing, so glad to hear, If I can ever track down a Malibu Maxx from this era I'm going to be mighty tempted. janky do thanky
Love my Malibu just bought one at 125k miles
heck yea, janky do thanky, many more happy miles to you
That electric Malibu with box styling cues would be an absolute banger ! I hope the guys at Chevy see this lol
Yes! listen up General Motors! Haha, I think they seem to have charted their own EV path, but I really appreciate the positive feedback, only a matter of time before the box styling comes back around, windtunnels be darned!
Hey, I love your videos are body 07 Chevy Malibu had 50,000 miles on it government car I’m using it to keep the miles off my 22 Mazda three I love the Malibu
Hey Janky do Thanky! I love getting these comments, seems cars of this ilk often ended up as utility mileage soaker-uppers, and it really is an unsung role in the automotive sphere. Wishing you many more miles
This Malibu was literally a baby version of the 9th gen impala. I would love to have an SS model to keep beside my 09 imp SS
Actually my uncle has a 9th gen Impala in this exact color. Oh yea what a pair that would be. Love that the SS models carried on right thru into these later malibu and impala’s, good on chevy for offering them and trusting the market was out there for them. Janky do thanky for your comment
I actually been wanting to try to swap the 6 speed in a malibu maxx ss. Crazy that you're talking about it too lol
Haha welcome to the internet, where there are truly no original ideas. Glad someone else out there is considering this swap! Good luck finding a donor one-year only G6 with the manual, and at a decent price, But anything's possible! Please keep me posted if this ever turns into something...
My god the steering wheel is right out a Chevrolet equinox
Funny enough, I had a buddy that had one of these Malibu's as a first car. We took it and raced past Paddock Chevrolet. (Where the Malibu in the video is from). He had the V6 but it wasn't enough. Overall good starter car for a lot of people. You can build a lot of unique memories with a first car like this. These cheaper cars are ones that us car guy's truly build a deep connection with. Each car has its own personality and it's valued differently by everyone no matter what it is. Also, Go Bills!
Wow, janky do thanky for the great comment and story. Couldnt agree more, these “utilitarian” and “forgetable” cars are anything but that to a lot of people who had formative experiences in them, whether as owners or as passengers. Racing passed the dealership sounds like a teenage right of passage. And yes, Go Bills!
I used to have a 2005 which was basically the same car and loved it until the GM electrical gremlins crept in. Fun fact about the light-up MPH indicator on the speedo, that's because you can switch it to KPH and metric units if you want. The MPH light goes out and a kph comes on.
My buddy had a early 2000's Impala, bought it with just over 100k, was still running like a top at 240k when the entire dashboard lit on fire. Those gremlins sure are mischievous. Arsons, even. Ah of course! The warp-speed mode, as we used to say about our prius because when you hit the button your digital speedo would immediately jump up in pace. I wish I had figured that out for the review, but thanks for solving that one. I'm really impressed with how much love this little Malibu is getting. Janky do Thanky!
Sigh....I miss my 04
Sorry it's gone! I have a feeling they made quite a few of these. What are you driving currently?
Just bought one
Great video
Janky do Thanky! Glad you enjoyed, always happy when the "normal" cars get some love from people that have owned them or just took the time to hear my two cents on them.
I hate this car I miss my Honda accord
It's hard to argue with a Honda or Toyota. I miss my Accord too, had over 200,000 on the clock.
Lost me at electric
Well Chevy lost me at Malibu, so its all moot now. At least Saddam wouldn't be involved this time around...janky do thanky for the comment
@@JankyAF you bet