2006 Impala
 

I just returned from OMA where I received a new redesigned 2006 Impala. Keep in mind that these are usually not my favorite cars but since it was brand new (7 miles) and there was really nothing else available I took it. Looking at the key fob I noticed a new button. Trying to figure out what it was I looked at the back where I found instructions on how to start the car remotely. Cool!!!

I didn't know that GM was putting that option on cars. Keep on the lookout for more '06 cars with the remote start. It will be great in the wintertime.

chevy malibu also has that feature,though some locations turn it off for security/safety reasons.

I would take a camel before getting in another Malibu!

Def. not a Full-Size
 

I received a Malibu this past week as a Full-size car from a downtown location. Was ticked to the highest degree but I had to drive someone home and was on a tight schedule, so later that night, I drove to the airport location and switched over to an Impala.

Yes, yes they were short on cars, but the Malibu should never be considered a Full-size car. It's a horrible hellish joke if they do so.

Forget the camel. I'd even walk !!

by definition, the malibu is a full size car. The full size is based upon the number of passsengers and the trunk size. But because of complaints, the malibu was switched from midsize to full size.

If you look at the definition of full size from the website, the malibu qualifies for it, oddly enough.
However you are right, the malibu is not a full size by company designation anymore.

Mrs BamaVol rented a Malibu last week and honestly, we were both impressed. I got a Classic (the old Malibu) this weekend, and that truly is a POS.

agreed. I have no clue why people actually request the dang thing. boggles the mind.

What in the world do you have against the Malibu?

I seriously wonder if you really got a Malibu or if you got a Classic...there is a huge difference and Avis agents call Classic's "Malibu's" all the time.

Otherwise, I agree 100% that it should not be a full size car. But I don't get why in the world somebody would rather 'take a camel' than drive in the redesgined Malibu. Its a nice car with a torquy engine that will blow away 4 cylinders and the Taurus your neighbor got from Hertz, has good interior space, handles nicely, and is made of above average materials. It has some nice extras like a trip computer and remote start, and looks decent.

What's the issue? What midsize car from Avis would you rather have, other than a G6 which is IDENTICAL except for sheetmetal?

the Classic is a POS. Its a "car", dont get me wrong, but it is horrible. In 2005, the Malibu gave up its body style for the "classic" name and got a redesigned, faster, nicer body design with a sportier suspension. The 2005+ malibu is a nice car with a great trunk. The 2004(and older) malibu and the 2005 Classic are horrible, plain, and drab.

any comments on the new body style? I tend to think it will silence a few critics on the "grandpa's impala" mindset.

"The issue" arises when the car rental companies rent the Malibu as a Full-size car (National still does).

I rent cars weekly so this is not something that happened once and I can forget about it. It is a regular occurence fighting for a valid Full-size. There is a big difference in cubic size between an Impala and other Full-size cars and a Malibu.

I rent Full-Size cars to seat 4 adults. When I push the driver's seat all the back, only a child can sit behind the driver's seat comfortably (and I don't drive with children in rental cars).

The manufacturers sell the Malibu as a mid-size entry car and so should the car rental agencies rent it as a Mid-size car.

And yes, a camel with two humps will do fine !

ezmonee,

I reserved a premium at SJU in June and the website indicated it would be a G6 or similar. I believe the Malibu was shown as the Fullsize option. Echoing Americanada, in my opinion, neither qualifies. I wondered at the time if the road system in PR dictated smaller cars.

As it turned out, my car was a Grand Marquis (albeit with 25,000 miles) so I was satisfied with the size of the trunk and passenger compartment which were my primary concerns.

To repeat, I returned my wifes rental last month, a 2005 Malibu with the V6 and I liked the ride, the power, the styling and comfort. If her transmission overhaul had cost any more than it did, we were prepared to replace her van with a Malibu based on that rental experience. Clearly some folks are put off by the Chevy brand (my next door neighbor turned his nose up) and some have driven the Classic and think this is the same car with a new body. Let them pay $2-5K more for a comparable vehicle. It's their money.

Americanada, I agree with you on that point. The Malibu should not be classified as a full size car.

But clearly, some others apparently hated it regardless of that class size, that is who I was addressing.

For the recording, the new Malibu style was introduced as a 2004 model. The Classic was made in 2004 and 2005. Very few 'new' 2004 Malibus were sold to rental car fleets, however. The Maxx was also introduced in 2004.

The car itself is built on the same platform as the Saab 9-3--same architecture and chassis.

I certainly like the new Impala style. Nose is a little blase but the overall car is sleeker and attractive.

In my 180+ odd posts, I dont think I have mentioned this, but ill do it in big font so everyone knows.

outside the US, Full Size are smaller, even if its a territory.

Look at what detroit regards as a full size car. Your looking at cars the size of the lesabre, crown vic, etc etc.

What detroit calls a mid size is really close to what rental car companies (all of them) in the U.S. call "full size." In europe, particularly germany as pointed out by a recent customer, a nissan Altima would be considered "luxury" by size standards and taxes. So it doesnt suprise me that SJU considered a malibu as a full size. But by US/American Standards that car is a Mid Size, though, like i said, the primary designation for full size is "5-6 passengers, holds 2 large and 2 small suitcases."

Time and time again im mistified at the number of bags that gets swallowed up in particularly the new malibu, though the old malibu does hold a group as well.

When you say outside the U.S. are you including the whole world?
 

US/Canada share similar fleets.

In both the US & Canada an Impala is standard full-size fare at both Avis/Budget & National/Alamo and the Ford Taurus is standard at Hertz.

Comparing the Impala, the Malibu, & the Taurus, the Impala is the largest of the three, in length, width, height, wheelbase, head room, leg room, shoulder room and hip room.

I have yet to drive the 2006 Impala. I've seen pictures though were the design is very different including the departure of the rounded rear lights.