Company Car Change: Malibu or Impala?

[freshprince1]

So they dropped a bomb on us this week and will be changing our Company Car Allowance to a Company Car. This means I'll stop receiving a monthly allowance for my car, and simply get a company car. The bad news it that it'll be a Malibu or an Impala - super lame on both accounts.

Which one would you guys choose? My initial response was to obviously go with the Malibu, but since it will be 2013 models, it would be limited the 4cyl engine. Whereas the Impala (while terribly ugly) has the 3.6L V6 with 300hp. So I'm stuck trying to decide between to crappy cars.

Anyone want to by a Subaru? :cry:

[CanmoreOrLess]

Impala, more of everything to take the dullness away compared to a Barbie Malibu, as well, the Impala is nice and new, not many to be seen other than in your company lot and every rental car lot.

Whichever is the newest body style, I would go with.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[guessboi]

That fricken sucks...going from a Legacy to an Impala or Malibu. :nut: Either one I think you will be driving a boat. :D

[colsankey]

Make sure it's 2013 impala if thats the way you go, since I think thats the first model of the new refresh.

I'm currently in a 2012 Impala rental with my Ralliart in the shop and it's big, slow, doesnt corner and the interier looks like ass (and thats comming from someone with a crappy mitsu interier).

[BokCh0y]

Isn't 2013 a new body style/redesign for teh Impala? If tht's the case..i'd totally go with the Impala.

[corsvette]

Malibu is all new for 2013, all the review i've read have been very positive. Impala is all new for 2014, it was just unveiled at the NYAS last week and is suprisingly good looking. But you get a 2013 so go with the malibu.

[freshprince1]

Thanks for the input guys. It will be the 2013 LS trim of either vehicle. I just don't think I can stomach the ugly ass Impala. I've heard good things about the 2013 Malipoo...but it will still be a serius downgrade from the legacy, at least I'll have no out of pocket expenses at all with the new car.

the new 4cyl Malipoo engine in the 2013 is supposed to do pretty well. Here's hoping.

[narou]

I would say Malibu. I have test driven both and found the Impala to be very uncomfortable to drive.

I Felt blind driving it and was more difficult to maneuver.

[SCHIDER23]

I would take the Malibu if is the 2013, they finally got rid of that ugly back end, the new one is much more easy to look at lol..

http://www.houstoncars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2013-Chevrolet-Malibu-4.jpg

http://www.houstoncars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2013-Chevrolet-Malibu.jpg

[Xtrema]

Malibu is actually quite hot looking this time around.

2013 Malibu > 2013 Impala.

Especially

http://www.autocarzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2013_chevrolet_malibu_08.jpg

vs

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-10J9ggvwXyw/T3XVpRU1qwI/AAAAAAAAD9s/OUQg1_-m2Ok/s1600/2012-Chevrolet-Impala.jpg

[Graham_A_M]

^ That last one just screams taxi cab in a few years. :nut:

[jonnycat]

If the new Impala isn't out by the time you need to get the car, get the Malibu.

The current impala is the most depressing car in existence or primarily built for non car people.

[jonnycat]

Originally posted by Xtrema


That picture is at its very best. Like a chick whos is normally a 2, but looks like a 6 on her wedding day.

Day before the wedding

http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/42205894.jpg

[corsvette]

The 2014 impala is worlds better than the old one. They are moving it upmarket and let Hyundai and Toyota have the bigger slice of the fleet car pie. Too bad they wont let you wait for a 2014, it looks great so far.
http://i42.tinypic.com/15h0pc3.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/amfrmb.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2vv1a4o.jpg

[Stealth22]

What are you going to do with the Legacy?

And I'd fight for the 2014 Impala, to be honest. That is a real shitty deal...just explain that the car you drive is important, and that if you're going to be forced to go with a Chev, you want to wait for the new model.

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by Xtrema
Malibu is actually quite hot looking this time around.

2013 Malibu > 2013 Impala.

Especially

http://www.autocarzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2013_chevrolet_malibu_08.jpg

vs

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-10J9ggvwXyw/T3XVpRU1qwI/AAAAAAAAD9s/OUQg1_-m2Ok/s1600/2012-Chevrolet-Impala.jpg

There's no way those are LS trims. LTZ on the Malibu for sure, don't know about the Impala but I suspect the same.

Either way the OP is going to get stuck with something near a rental car. I guess if I had to pick it would be the Malibu.

[K3RMiTdot]

Originally posted by jonnycat
If the new Impala isn't out by the time you need to get the car, get the Malibu.

The current impala is the most depressing car in existence or primarily built for non car people.
+1

I get depressed when I have to drive impalas at work... god damn they suck loads of ass

[guessboi]

If you are on the road a lot. You life will suck bro! :(

[bourge73]

Ahh poor baby you get a free car and you are complaining? Thats why you need two cars :bigpimp:

[Proboscis]

for a company car, ford edge

[jonnycat]

+1 for two cars

[speedog]

Originally posted by Proboscis
for a company car, ford edge
Did you not even bother to read the OP's opening post in this thread?

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by freshprince1


Anyone want to by a Subaru? :cry:

Info? How much?

[Stealth22]

Looked over the thread again.

If I HAD to, I'd pick the Malibu at this point, and make them replace it with a 2014 Impala when its out. Or hell, fight to let you keep the Legacy until the 2014 Impala is out.

Or hell, just keep two cars. I know you'd have to pay out of pocket, but if it were me, I'd just pay for it. :dunno:

I drove a rental Malibu in the US...it was a 2011 model. The car was almost brand new, it had like 5000 miles on it. But good god, I felt like I was driving a boat. I was NOT impressed with that car at all. Maybe my standards are just too high being used to Toyota and Subaru, but the plastic in that car just felt so cheap, and it had the turning radius of a Boeing 737.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Malibu for sure, the Impala is terrible.

[Hallowed_point]

Originally posted by Stealth22
Maybe my standards are just too high being used to Toyota and Subaru

:rofl: :rofl: get serious!!

[freshprince1]

I know it's not a bad situation to be in, I'm just a bit depressed about having to drive a crappy LS trim Chevy sedan. But, at least it'll be free, and I can drive it for personal use, so I'll take advantage of that.


Originally posted by Stealth22
What are you going to do with the Legacy?

And I'd fight for the 2014 Impala, to be honest. That is a real shitty deal...just explain that the car you drive is important, and that if you're going to be forced to go with a Chev, you want to wait for the new model.

I'll probably sell the Legacy. They will allow me to use the company are for personal use too...so I'm going to take serious advantage of that. I sent a tactful email to corporate HR and the Global Fleet Driector expressing my concerns...and of course got entirely shut down. Execs down in Houston making car choices for us up in Calgary. It sucks, but at least I still have a company car and now I won't have to care about mileage, maintenance bills, or anything really.



Originally posted by Masked Bandit


There's no way those are LS trims. LTZ on the Malibu for sure, don't know about the Impala but I suspect the same.

Either way the OP is going to get stuck with something near a rental car. I guess if I had to pick it would be the Malibu.

Agreed, since I will be limited to the LS trim, I'm trying not to go by any of those random internet images of swanky interiors. It looks like I'll have until September, so it will likely be a 2013 Malibu. I'll get the new styling and new 4cy engine...but still in an LS package.



Originally posted by jonnycat
+1 for two cars

I've thought it over and since my Legacy is a 2005, I'll probably just sell it. That way I won't have the depreciation eating away at me. And I still owe a bit, since I was just letting my car allowance eat away at it. So I think I'll bite the bullet and drive for free since I can use the Malipoo for personal usage as well. I'm thinking of throwing the difference between sell price and balance owing into a gIC or something to await the day when I buy another car. That or we might upgrade my wife's SUV.



Originally posted by TomcoPDR


Info? How much?

2005 Legacy GT Sedan, ACT Stage 1 Clutch & Lighented flywheel (both brand new, done at Tunerworks), Cartboy Short Shifter, Borla Hush Exhasut, STI downpipe, Cobb up pipe, Open Turbo tune, JDM rear sway bar, HAWK brakes, 75K kms (approx), pearl white, manual, mint condition, full 3M rock guard. Not sure about price...$17K ish?

[Stealth22]

Originally posted by freshprince1
I'll probably sell the Legacy. They will allow me to use the company are for personal use too...so I'm going to take serious advantage of that. I sent a tactful email to corporate HR and the Global Fleet Driector expressing my concerns...and of course got entirely shut down. Execs down in Houston making car choices for us up in Calgary. It sucks, but at least I still have a company car and now I won't have to care about mileage, maintenance bills, or anything really.
Yeesh...I feel sorry for you, haha.

Just bite the bullet and take the Malibu, I guess. You could always cry about what a POS it is in a year and get an upgrade. :bigpimp:

[clem24]

Hahaha definitely a first world problem.

In any case wasn't your car allowance a taxable benefit? While a company car won't be?

[psycoticclown]

Originally posted by freshprince1

2005 Legacy GT Sedan, ACT Stage 1 Clutch & Lighented flywheel (both brand new, done at Tunerworks), Cartboy Short Shifter, Borla Hush Exhasut, STI downpipe, Cobb up pipe, Open Turbo tune, JDM rear sway bar, HAWK brakes, 75K kms (approx), pearl white, manual, mint condition, full 3M rock guard. Not sure about price...$17K ish?

Part out? :D

[freshprince1]

Originally posted by clem24
Hahaha definitely a first world problem.

In any case wasn't your car allowance a taxable benefit? While a company car won't be?

Personal use on the company car would be a taxable benefit with the company car.



Originally posted by psycoticclown


Part out? :D

Will not be parting anything out, sorry.