Cute blonde needs help new car shopping!!

[Kyle.Gilmour]

Hey yall,

Now that I have your attention. My sister (the cute blonde) is starting to shop around for a new car. She has had a '99 Grand Am since high school and it is now offically a money pit. She's a 23 year old cardiac rehab therapist in Green Bay, WI. So she's not rolling in cash, maybe 35/yr. She is frustrated with the whole process from getting new insurance, a loan and dealing with salesman. Think part of it stems from the pains her current car is giving her this week.

I asked her if I could help her decide on a car and it lightened her mood a bit. I asked her what she was looking at and to my surprise she said the new Malibu. My vote is currently for this one. She also mentioned the Chevy Traverse, which I have no issue with, we're from Northern Michigan and she has drove SUV/Trucks before, but for her I am still thinking Malibu. Also possibly the Chrysler 300/Charger, I told her to "forget Mopar and Ford, We're a GM family". Plus we get a GM Employee discount (that will also be applied to my 2SS!)

My questions to yall:

1) Do any of you have experiance with the new Malibu?
2) Any other DOMESTIC cars that may suit my sister that I am forgetting?
3) For those in Green Bay, do you have a particular reliable salesman I could send her to?
4) Any other insight?


I am excited for her to make this purchase, she is even gonna be more excited when I tell her I am putting a downpayment down for her!!


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[AirGoya]

Those cars that you listed are all very different. But cars like malibu include the Saturn Aura and Pontiac G6. Yeah! Forget mopar, tell her about the G8!

[CamaroScotty]

pm'd :-)

[kdbolt70]

Malibu is an absolute joy to drive. My grandfather sold his '95 Caprice for one last year. The traverse is a great ride, though I've never driven one. A V6 G8 might fit the bill if she wants a bigger car, or perhaps a G6. You can usually find pretty good deals on impalas too.

[CamaroScotty]

NOT to mention the V6 Impala goes GREAT in the snow, and gets BETTER MPG than the V6 Malibu. I like them both though!

[theholycow]

It's tough to suggest from the GM lineup, because I'm sure you're familiar with it and have already considered what's available. I've heard lots of good (and no bad) reports about the Malibu.

When I was shopping for an economy car a year ago, I was forced (by financial and other needs) to think outside of GM. If you were willing to consider coming to the dark side, the Jeep Patriot was (and probably still is) the best value on the market in practical, decent, comfortable, inexpensive, fuel-efficient basic transportion. Besides the low purchase price, high MPG, and practicality, it's got their lifetime powertrain warranty.

I ended up in a VW mainly because the interior layout fit my knees and elbows just like my truck does (I'm very specific about that and probably won't end up with a Camaro for that reason)...but otherwise I would have gotten a Patriot.

Also on the dark side, the Charger does have RWD.

My 2008 VW is treating me well so far, 16,000 miles on it, but it's got some annoying overengineering -- DBW throttle that tries to guess what you want rather than doing what your foot requests (shouldn't be a bother with an automatic), power locks that treat you like an idiot, etc.

[Kyle.Gilmour]

Originally Posted by AirGoya

Those cars that you listed are all very different. But cars like malibu include the Saturn Aura and Pontiac G6. Yeah! Forget mopar, tell her about the G8!

Yea, she seems to have two spectrums... she has always had a car, but is driving a dodge ram now and likes having the height and being able to see over the snowbanks.

I have drove the Aura as a rental car a few times, not too bad. She is definetly not getting a G6, kind of sore to Pontiac right now. I would love to see her in a G8, but I dont want her in a rear wheel drive car in WI, also she would want to race me when I get the SS.

[Kyle.Gilmour]

Originally Posted by CamaroScotty

NOT to mention the V6 Impala goes GREAT in the snow, and gets BETTER MPG than the V6 Malibu. I like them both though!

Thanks for the PMs

I wasn't aware that the V6 Impala got better mpg than the Malibu, Good to know. I love the Impala, I drive one every other week as a rental car it seems.

[FenwickHockey65]

Malibus are absolutely amazing, one of the best cars to come out of GM in years. She won't be disappointed with one. The other two Epsilon cars (G6/Aura) are pretty good as well.

As for other domestic choices, there's always the 2010 Fusion, Ford did a great job with that one.

[2010 SS]

Originally Posted by Kyle.Gilmour

My sister (the cute blonde)

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[Kyle.Gilmour]

Thanks for your insight HolyCow...

I am not sure she would go for a Jeep, but thanks for the info, I did not know it was such a great value.

As for the Charger, same deal as the G8, She shouldn't have RWD in WI.

But I would love to see her in a big V8 G8. She likes to drive, that would be a sweet Mustang killer.

[Kyle.Gilmour]

Originally Posted by 2010 SS

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haha

I was wondering how many posts it was gonna take to get that.

I was gonna reply with a pic... till I seen those flailing boobies!!


Then I remembered that all us camaro guys are sick as shit and I should prolly leave my sister off the boards. Next thing you know Greg Norris would have her in his Sig. haha

[HeatherR]

I personally would say go with the Malibu! It is a terrific car and the interior is such an upgrade (especially coming from a 99 Grand Am). The Aura is also a great car, and there may be better deals on that right now? I too would rule out the G6 in comparison to the other two. The Impala is a solid car, but for a young girl I would skip that and go with the Malibu or Aura. If she is leaning more towards a truck/SUV there are great options out there. I would tell her to go test drive a few... BTW I have driven all of the above over the last 12-18 months, and am a bit biased towards the Malibu (one of my husbands' prior assignments!) Good Luck! Car shopping can be very stressful...but rewarding in the end!

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Kyle.Gilmour

haha

I was wondering how many posts it was gonna take to get that.

I was gonna reply with a pic... till I seen those flailing boobies!!


Then I remembered that all us camaro guys are sick as shit and I should prolly leave my sister off the boards. Next thing you know Greg Norris would have her in his Sig. haha