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We have a 2000 Malibu with 97K. I dont know if it has a timing belt or not. but where coming up on all the service checks. I dont know how reliable these cars are after 100 K. does anyone have one?
100k-150k seems to be the "sweet spot" for most cars where their expenses are low like liability only insurance but generally lack any sort of major problems. For example I got my car @ 90k but now have 160k and have now noticed an uptick in mx expenditures that will need to happen over the next little while. Although thru the 7 years of ownership I still have only put $1800 into it, which is good IMO for a 15 year old European car.
Depending on the exterior/interior condition of the car I would hesitate to put money into it unless it's stellar. That is just me though, I don't like driving junky looking cars. Old is fine, junky no.
We have a 2000 Malibu with 97K. I dont know if it has a timing belt or not. but where coming up on all the service checks. I dont know how reliable these cars are after 100 K. does anyone have one?
I have a 2003 Malibu with 72,000 miles. So far I've had to have the intake gasket, warped brake rotors, and the Pass Lock theft system sensor replaced. Very expensive. My next expensive thing is more routine, struts. Roads here are horrible and my struts are beginning to go bad. The GM 3.1 engine does not have a timing belt. It's a timing chain. If you can afford it, I'd suggest you trade in the car for another new or nearly new vehicle. What's amazing is I still see 1997 and 1998 models still on the road today. Quality control measures at GM were spotty at best. Some models ran for more than ten years with only routine wear and tear problems while others were nothing but trouble within a year of warranty expiring or sooner. It's not so much the engine, but other equipment that fail on the car. Brake rotors, intake gasket, Pass Lock sensor, and warping brake rotors are common on this model Malibu for some people.
I'm thinking a ten year old Malibu has seen better days, and at some point in the not too distant future it will become a money pit of constant repairs. If you plan on keeping it, get AAA. You're next big repair (transmission, motor, head gasket) will likely cost more than the car is worth. If you're in a position to take on something newer, trade it in for a new Malibu if you like that model. I've heard they are making them much better today, but only time will tell.
The Malibu has never been a "reliable" car in general. The reviews are rarely great and the resale is horrible. Strut replacement at under 100K? That's bad. Glad I own a Honda
The Malibu has never been a "reliable" car in general. The reviews are rarely great and the resale is horrible. Strut replacement at under 100K? That's bad. Glad I own a Honda
and what generation are you speaking of when you make that claim? the Malibu name has been around since the 60s (if I'm not mistaken).
and since judging when a vehicle truly needs struts is such an amibiguous thing, i would hardly use it as criteria for judging the quality of a vehicle. IMO, some struts are practically blown from factory (too soft), yet other drivers will go on the OE stuff until it physically breaks. and given that it is a wear item, a 100K service interval ain't too shabby.
Mike
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That's bad. Glad I own a Honda
