how are these cars my wifes bravada burnt up yes it caught on fire after she started it in the grocery store parking lot anyway we were thinking of getting a malibu they seem a fairly good car to me Any other thoughts on them?

As long as you don't mind spending a couple thousand dollars a year to keep it on the road they are good cars.

Most hated car in the rental car business. When I would tell a customer they were getting a Malibu, they would usually curse at me. The newer ones are decent, I especially like the "Maxx", but the Classics, pretty plain.

I have a 2003 malibu, with about 100,000 miles on it. My friend is a mechanic, so I get parts and repair at a discounted rate. (Thankfully). Some problem spots with these cars are intake manifold gaskets (3.1 liter), about every 60-70 thousand miles. I guess they have come out with a better gasket recently, but I had mine changed at 66,000 miles. A few years back. Also, my mechanic said that the older ones had issues with the theft deterrent system locking the car from starting. I have not had this problem with mine. Also, buy stock in wheel bearings, you will be replacing them frequently. Not expensive, and even easy to do, but still an issue.
As for the car itself, it is suppose to compete with the camary, yeah right, there is no comparison. I also owned a Camary Solara. The malibu is loud, creaks and groans from the front end. (Yeah, they use aluminum in the brake calipers) and reeks of cheap. They are also very cheap to buy. If you are looking to get a cheap beater car, they are not that bad, but I would keep a spare vehicle around as a backup.
Now the brand new Malibu is a sweet looking car, I would love to drive one and see if GM finally stepped up its game to compete with other manufactures in this class.

BTW- GM engineers and placement of cup holders- sometimes I really wonder what they are thinking.

I have a 96 Bonneville and the front seat cupholders are on the doors. Open pop can+door being shut= a mess.

On those year Malibus, the driver has a cupholder directly in front of the blinker on the dash, which makes using the blinker a pain.

really wow i have always heard nothing but good things about them hm so what would a guy get for 2000 to 3000 dollars? for a car

Look for an older Buick Lesabre or Oldsmobile 88 or Bonneville with a 3800 engine. A lot of Buicks and Oldsmobiles in particular spent their first years in the hands of an older driver who usually took very good care of them. They get decent mileage and if cared for are hard to wear out.

Yes, my 96 Bonneville, I bought it in May with 122,000 miles and it has the 3800 in it. Rides great, and I get right at 30 MPG hwy. Alot more room than a Malibu, and it rides smooth and is very quiet

Buddy of mine has 220,000 miles and still going strong. Nothing done to it except maintanance like oil and tune up and timing belt. Still rides crip and sharp.

This is a malibu or?

A 2000 Malibu, I was staying on topic.

Not a Malibu!! they don't make one with a timing belt!!

Your thinking of the 2 liter motor the was gear set?
My bud had the 3.1 liter witch I meant to say timing chain.
Chains or belts semantics, the point is for him the car is reliable car that has never let him down.

It must have a lot of freeway miles?

There's no way one of those could go that long without a couple of intake gaskets, Broken coils, Lower control arm bushings, intermediate shaft, at least one wheel bearing, multi-function switch, at least one window regulator, at least one fuel pressure regulator, leaking struts/shocks, broken sway bar, etc.

Maybe he just needs the right guy to take a peek at it!

Just because he has never done anything to it doesn't mean there is nothing wrong with it.

I think the car was stamped as manufactured on a tuesday and not on friday or monday could explain the good fortune.