# Malibu: Era's end for the only affordable American gas-powered sedan **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [May 21, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949 "2024-05-21T00:25:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/21 "2024-05-23T19:33:38Z")
By that logic everyone should drive a minivan. I’ve got my sedan and Mrs JT has her Odyssey. The vehicles compliment each other. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/22 "2024-05-23T20:08:03Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > By that logic everyone should drive a minivan. Yes, but logic doesn’t always dictate vehicle choices. IMHO, stying is just as important as carrying capacity. So far, I haven’t seen a minivan that is attractive to my eye. YMMV 😉 ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/23 "2024-05-23T20:22:44Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > YMMV 😉 OK, I can normally figure out this stuff and or google it one, but what does YMMV other than Your Mileage May/Might Very??? 🤷‍♂️ If it could get you flagged, you can PM it to me… 😁 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/24 "2024-05-23T20:39:25Z")
That’s exactly what _YMMV_ is supposed to mean. Or, in other words, you might have different taste than I do. Nobody is right, nobody is wrong, and it just comes down to the way that people’s taste and priorities might differ. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/25 "2024-05-23T20:45:12Z")
As a follow-up to my earlier comment… > [@VDCdriver](#): > > I’m always fascinated by the sight of people trying to fit a large TV (or other large object) into the trunk of a sedan, and failing miserably. Just a minute or so of measuring–prior to purchase–could have prevented that situation. … I will add this example: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/e/6ef3112395e40d313cd857b3180b1e0726637aaf.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/26 "2024-05-23T21:29:51Z")
For hauling stuff for an extended vacation I would prefer a late 60s Station Wagon. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/27 "2024-05-23T21:43:55Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > I will add this example: One word: Roof. I hauled a home replacement furnace on the roof-top of my Corolla one time. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/28 "2024-05-23T23:29:47Z")
How fast did you drive? You had to drive slowly so that the furnace that did not fly off when the wind took it away. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/29 "2024-05-23T23:35:30Z")
I can’t believe the furnace was to big to fit in the bed of the old F100. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/30 "2024-05-23T23:44:00Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > How fast did you drive? You had to drive slowly so that the furnace that did not fly off when the wind took it away. Seemed to be pretty stable up to 35 mph, but still thought it prudent to go slowly over big bumps and when starting/stopping at stoplights. Furnace wasn’t just perching on the roof, it in a carboard box w/thick blanket on the roof & everything was secured to the Corolla with a variety of ropes and straps. Boy Scout knot-learning proved to be very helpful. > [@davesmopar](#): > > I can’t believe the furnace was to big to fit in the bed of the old F100. lol … yeah, it would have fit in the truck no problem. I don’t recall why I didn’t use the truck at the time, maybe the truck was under repair. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/31 "2024-05-24T02:27:03Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > For hauling stuff for an extended vacation I would prefer a late 60s Station Wagon. Nah, for any of those uses, a regular cab 2WD pickup with a large toolbox at the back of the bed works even better (assuming you have a small enough family). With a family of two adults and a 9-year old boy, we have traveled in our truck, and put our luggage in the tool box. The truck also works great for hauling stuff such as used appliances or used furniture, etc. I have saved a lot of money buying this stuff used, and letting someone else pay the depreciation. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/32 "2024-05-24T16:44:51Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > I hauled a home replacement furnace on the roof-top of my Corolla one time. These people out-did you, I think. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/3/e3ff4b5df6ecefd7166d22be3d539095ca34d603.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/33 "2024-05-24T20:06:10Z")
The photo above reminds me of the incident Ray & Tom told on the _Car Talk_ radio program about a friend of theirs who piled a dozen or more sheets of plywood on top of their car’s roof, held to the roof only by gravity. As I recall it didn’t end well … lol … ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/34 "2024-05-24T20:29:51Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > As I recall it didn’t end well … lol … I’m sure that I’m not the only forum member who occasionally sees mattresses on the side of the interstate during the summer months. Those probably came from sedans whose driver/passenger thought that they could simply hold onto the mattress through an open window. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/35 "2024-05-24T20:34:28Z")
Another car colliding with a mattress that fell off onto the road like that, a freeway speed collision , could well be deadly. The lady in the photo is also in a very dangerous position. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/36 "2024-05-24T23:32:24Z")
They definitely deserve an award 💀 ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 5:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/37 "2024-05-26T05:15:25Z")
It was 18 Sheets of plywood on top of the car, when the driver taps the brakes they all fell forwards, [Car Talk - Plywood Aerodynamics (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnj6eu_LiuY) ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 11:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/38 "2024-05-26T11:47:32Z")
> [@wolyrobb](#): > > It was 18 Sheets of plywood on top of the car, when the driver taps the brakes they all fell forwards, It could be worse, I think… ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/3/63aaf95c1db38589652a4831e8ffce02b548f197.jpeg) 😵 ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/39 "2024-05-26T19:45:26Z")
Before delivery services were more common a worker at the local animal hospital up the road would buy out our stores supply of kitty litter and other supplies, her Chevy Prizm from the 90’s would be almost that low on the bump stops every time. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949/40 "2024-05-26T21:36:55Z")
hmmm … maybe a misunderstanding about the weight of the car vs the weight of the load … lol … Getting back to the original topic, I wonder how many sheets of plywood a Malibu could carry on its roof? And in states w/liberal cannabis laws, would it be called “plyweed” … lol. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/malibu-eras-end-for-the-only-affordable-american-gas-powered-sedan/194949.md?page=3)