[CheeseHead91182]

I was not impressed.

I was at the auto show this weekend so I had to get in the Malibu to see if it actually lived up to the hype. The materials feel cheap, hard hollow plastics and cheap fabric on the seats. Also the back seat seems to have less room than the Camry. On the plus side, all the chrome trim looks real good and there weren't any gaps or misaligned pieces. This car cannot touch the Camry. I also got in the Accord and it was really nice, and is made just as good if not better than the Camry, the only downside is that they don't have push button start and the radio controls look extremely complicated to use.

I also got in the CTS and if Cadillac thinks this car is competitive with the ES350 they must be smoking crack. That car in no way shape or form is built as well as the ES350.

On a completely different subject, I to drive a Tundra in this 4x4 off-road thing toyota had and that was a trip. I was driving on the side of hills and up steep inclines, that truck is no joke.

 

[Tideland Prius]

I would say the CTS is more in line with the IS than the ES.

 

[dsmnick]

I was not impressed.

I was at the auto show this weekend so I had to get in the Malibu to see if it actually lived up to the hype. The materials feel cheap, hard hollow plastics and cheap fabric on the seats. Also the back seat seems to have less room than the Camry. On the plus side, all the chrome trim looks real good and there weren't any gaps or misaligned pieces. This car cannot touch the Camry. I also got in the Accord and it was really nice, and is made just as good if not better than the Camry, the only downside is that they don't have push button start and the radio controls look extremely complicated to use.

I also got in the CTS and if Cadillac thinks this car is competitive with the ES350 they must be smoking crack. That car in no way shape or form is built as well as the ES350.

On a completely different subject, I to drive a Tundra in this 4x4 off-road thing toyota had and that was a trip. I was driving on the side of hills and up steep inclines, that truck is no joke.

Considering your posting history here and your jaded view of GM in general, I'm taking your opinion of both with a massive grain of salt. I have not been in either the CTS or new Malibu yet, but my co-worker's Avalon has a distinct rattle coming from the dash and I have read plenty 'o complaints of new Camrys and Avalons rattling and poor fit-and-finish. One person's opinion does not quantify reality.

I doubt people even cross-shop the CTS and ES. They aren't even in the same class (RWD vs. FWD). And even if the ES is built better, it doesn't seem to be hurting CTS sales at all...

February sales
CTS: 5,118 +68.2%
ES: 4,795 -12.9%

 

[falnfenix]

my friend's new Avalon squeaks. my neighbor's slightly used (2 yrs old) CTS doesn't, AND it's more comfortable. guess which one i'd buy if i had the money?

 

[eurohazard]

Funny stuff, and I am with all the others. "Cadillac" would probably never mention the Lexus ES350 in the same breath as the CTS. They know the ES350 is not for the enthusiast (as good as a car as it is).....it's just a fancy well equipped Camry, FWD and all. The CTS and IS250/IS350 are more class competitive.

 

[ryannel2003]

Funny stuff, and I am with all the others. "Cadillac" would probably never mention the Lexus ES350 in the same breath as the CTS. They know the ES350 is not for the enthusiast (as good as a car as it is).....it's just a fancy well equipped Camry, FWD and all. The CTS and IS250/IS350 are more class competitive.

Agreed, and the CTS is the nicest car to come out of the GM stable in the last 3 decades. The interior is class leading, the exterior is drop dead gorgeous, and the price is right in line with the 3-series and beats the hell out of the 5. The ES350 isn't even competition for the CTS, since it's competing with the IS250 and IS350.

 

[engineer]

Are the CTS and ES350 even comparable?

vs.

One is sporty, and attractive, the other is bulbous and has a q-tip for a center stack. . . Like has been mentioned, the IS350 is a much better comparison. . . .

 

[falnfenix]

you should learn to avoid being a rapehost.

 

[Sulu]

I was not impressed.

I was at the auto show this weekend so I had to get in the Malibu to see if it actually lived up to the hype. The materials feel cheap, hard hollow plastics and cheap fabric on the seats. Also the back seat seems to have less room than the Camry. On the plus side, all the chrome trim looks real good and there weren't any gaps or misaligned pieces. This car cannot touch the Camry. I also got in the Accord and it was really nice, and is made just as good if not better than the Camry, the only downside is that they don't have push button start and the radio controls look extremely complicated to use.

I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion. CheeseHead91182 has voiced his, and others may agree or disagree.

I happen to agree with the opinion about the Malibu. I sat in one at the recent autoshow, and I suppose my expectations were really very high because of all the hype; I was not impressed. The material quality, in my opinion, did not match the hype. The back seat is very, very tight. The rear seat room is aggravated by a very high beltline, a wide C-pillar, and small rear window. These features may make it a very fashionable car, but it makes the rear seat room seem much smaller and less comfortable than it already is. The car is also only 1-inch wider than the Gen10 Corolla. The Malibu (and Aura) is a very long mid-size car with a long wheelbase, but it is not much wider than a compact car. If one is used to the backseat of the Camry or Accord, the Malibu is definitely no competition at all.

I also, personally, think the new CTS is one of the ugliest cars to run the roads of North America, matched perhaps, only by the Sebring.

 

[toyotafanfan]

Are the CTS and ES350 even comparable?



vs.





One is sporty, and attractive, the other is bulbous and has a q-tip for a center stack. . . Like has been mentioned, the IS350 is a much better comparison. . . .

While I agree the Corvette is nothing like the ES, i'm not sure you had to post its picture 6 times

Fan

PS. Pwned by hotlinking!

 

[PhatRoyale]

PS. Pwned by hotlinking!

:lol:

 

[engineer]

you should learn to avoid being a rapehost.

Rapehost?

Not sure I follow?

While I agree the Corvette is nothing like the ES, i'm not sure you had to post its picture 6 times

Fan

PS. Pwned by hotlinking!

:lol:

PWNED indeed.:thumbsup:

 

[ryannel2003]

God damn the CTS is beautiful... but I do like the ES350. Very elegant car.

 

[eurohazard]

One is sporty, and attractive, the other is bulbous and has a q-tip for a center stack. . . Like has been mentioned, the IS350 is a much better comparison. . . .

I like to think of it as a robot's vagina. A Q-tip is gross! :lol:

And I agree fully with sulu....cheesehead is totally entitled to his opinion. It just seemed a bit predictable. I think a test drive is in order...sitting in a car is one thing....but to feel, hear, and be in control of a vehicle is another thing entirely.

I almost think the ES350 looks better than the CTS (both are awesome IMHO though). Notice how the rear passenger door windows look like they are chopped off, as if the designer couldn't figure out a way to make it look good? Other than that quibble, it looks great.....maybe Cadillac's designers could let more of the rear door go into the rear c pillar. You know, because "eurohazard" thinks it's a good idea! lol

 

[falnfenix]

Rapehost?

Not sure I follow?

...stop hotlinking. next thing you know, you'll hotlink from someone's site and instead of the picture you THOUGHT you were linking, it'll end up being a giant penis.

i've seen it done. often. don't be a rapehost.

 

[ECHOKnight2000]

That CTS is looking yummy. But yeah the ES and CTS are quite different class, price, size, power and demographic. Although I'm confused about the CTS. It seems it competes with the IS, 3series, C-class Merc? But what about the CTS-V cause I keep reading conflicting reports that it competes with the 5 series class not the IS-F. I guess indirectly but I don't know.

I sat in the Malibu last December or so and I thought it was nice. Although I didn't care for the choice of color tone. It was the top of the line model. ITs a good start for GM and hopefully they can build upon that. I'll get more seat time at the auto show coming up.

 

[Sulu]

And I agree fully with sulu....cheesehead is totally entitled to his opinion. It just seemed a bit predictable. I think a test drive is in order...sitting in a car is one thing....but to feel, hear, and be in control of a vehicle is another thing entirely.

Thank you. So what if CheeseHead91182's opinions are predictable? I find that there are others whose opinions and posts here and in other threads are absolutely, completely and totally predictable.

I must disagree with you about the test drive though. The Malibu, like the Camry and Accord, are mid-size family cars, and some of us will look at it as a family car, and if we do not think that the complete car -- including the back seat -- meets our requirements for a family car, we will not go to the time and effort of a test drive.

I think the back seat of the Malibu is too narrow to be able to fit a baby seat AND two adults. I do have that need, and I would like to avoid looking at bulky SUVs or CUVs, or even a minivan, which I find too big. Even if I left out the baby seat, I believe that the seat would be too claustrophobic because of the high beltline and wide C-pillar. I have young nieces and nephews who do not like the back seat of my Gen6 Camry because they find the beltline so high that they cannot see out of the car; young children like to look out the car windows. If they do not like my Camry, I believe that they would refuse to get in the Malibu.

Because of the small, claustrophobic back seat, I believe that the Malibu may be good for a single driver, with no back seat passengers. But, if I were to look for a single-driver commuter car, I would be looking for something smaller, like a Corolla or Astra (which are almost as wide as the Malibu, so may have a back seat that is of similar size), not a car that is longer than my Gen6 Camry, which I already find a bit too large.

The Malibu may be a good looking, fashionable car, but because of the reasons I discussed, I find that the Malibu just would not meet my needs, so I would not go to the time nor effort of a test drive.

 

[eurohazard]

Kids shmids. lol I pay for it, not the "kids". The kids can walk to enjoy the view of nature!

Yes, so you're very sensible. Your statements make sense, the Malibu doesn't fit your needs. OK.

The OP said things like "hard hollow plastics".................that, I have an issue with. Who raps their knuckles on their dashboard and gets a warm-fuzzy feeling knowing they bought the "right" car?

 

[EchoHoLiK]

you should learn to avoid being a rapehost.

Should've said "you should quit rapehosting" :lol:

Forgive the guy, he's posting here while constantly looking behind his back at the same time, trying not to be caught surfing TN during work hours by his boss :lol:

...stop hotlinking. next thing you know, you'll hotlink from someone's site and instead of the picture you THOUGHT you were linking, it'll end up being a giant penis.

Wouldn't a pic like that be more fitting for the CTS? :thumbup::lol:

 

[Sulu]

you should learn to avoid being a rapehost.

It seems someone is is trying terrifically hard to impress you with his knowledge and research abilities.

Should've said "you should quit rapehosting" :lol:

Forgive the guy, he's posting here while constantly looking behind his back at the same time, trying not to be caught surfing TN during work hours by his boss

Defending my arch nemesis now, are you? Are you sure that you are feeling well, perhaps got a touch of the flu that is going around? :lol: