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Yeah, I can't imagine there are many consumers today in the US or CA that would actually WANT a car without all the mod cons. A stripped down basic vehicle w/ a despair gray interior says one of two things about it's owner--that's it's all they can afford, or they are a cheapskate. Not a good image and not what people aspire to. In today's market, $25k is a decent used car, not much of anything decent under $30k for new and your average midsize CUV is $40k and up...

Saw this Crosley Hotshot that belonged to Frank Lloyd Wright at the Hagen Museum in Erie, PA today. So tiny it makes a Miata look Corvette sized.

There was dialogue about the Malibu rental and then some dialogue about a Malibu in general and then some whining about car prices. The same type of whining that I responded to in this thread. So I had to react to both... In this thread @trinacriabob has blessed us with yet story with another car rental from his famous trips. This is what he said. In bold. I laughed at that. Why? Because it reminded of Greece. His story resides in Portugal but he has ALSO seen this in Italy. Because in these places, especially in little villages or towns, they buy a car, a cheap car, well, cars are hella expensive to begin with, but they usually buy a no frills model and drive the hell out of it. These cars have all kinds of dents on them. Dusty... parked on the side of mountainous cliff sides carrying all knds of stuff in them. The windows are ALWAYS dusty. The tires. the interiors. Its a thing you have to experience. BTW...in the bigger cities, you will continue to see that as well.. Way different than what our North American rednecks do. Almost the same. But different. Point being: We Canadians and Americans have become spoiled brats. We whine and whine and cry and stomp our feet especially when we cant have nice things anymore without making ANY compromises. Its like we are OWED something... Yet...as we know...NOBODY owes us NOTHIN'!!! But we do NOTHIN' to change our ways. We CONTINUE to buy on credit...yada yada yada... Like I said...in other parts of the world...THEY MAKE DO with what they got.

When I bought my ranger I considered getting a Miata. Back 3 years ago, Mazda told me there was 1 car available in the Columbus market in the next three months, and I would take whatever color or options they sent. How times change! I think the era of sporty compacts is passed forever actually. Another thing that has passed...big land yachts. I still love them though. Crappy video, amazing cars. More Moar... Amazing... Still on a drag racing binge...

I just wanted to let you know that @Anthony Fongaro has joined the team and will be starting to contribute news to the site starting this week. Anthony and I have known each other for a number of years, and like me, he is a member of several automotive media press guilds such as Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), Automotive Press Association (APA), and International Motor Press Association (IMPA). Anthony hails from the Greater Chicagoland area and also writes for The Gentleman Racer and his own social media Anthony on Autos. If you recognize him, it is because he has written a few articles for us back in late 2019. I've posted some of his prior articles below. Please welcome Anthony and be nice.

I’ve rented the Chevrolet Malibu before and I was treated to a normal weekly rate that didn’t have a drop charge in the Florida Panhandle, most likely because their tourist season is beginning and that area could use the cars. It didn’t really drive in from Malibu, but from elsewhere within Florida! It’s last call because the Malibu is bowing out this year. Chevy and its General Motors stablemates are overhauling their product lines in a big way. Nonetheless, whether as daily drivers or company cars and fleet cars, there are quite a few of these on the road, first arriving in 2017. With newer powertrains, first a smaller turbocharged 4 cylinder engine and then the arrival of the CVT (continuously variable transmission), the Malibu appears to have been reliable enough. I don’t know what Consumer Reports has to say, but most of the automotive press seems to give the nod to Toyota and Honda products. The only issue I’ve had with rented Malibus having over 30,000 miles was a road drone in the rear that could have been a failing hub bearing. (This last rental vehicle had less than 10,000 miles.) However, if a person wants an American “Camcord,” this is it. Basically, the car saw few changes during this last generation. One would distinguish model years through changes in the front grille and colors. Mostly, I like the Malibu and it would make a good daily driver. There are a few things about it I don’t like and have never liked. The Malibu doesn’t look good from every vantage point. Its “best side” is its rear fascia, which was refined with new patterns in the taillamps in the last few years. The front end is a little clunky, and the layered latticed grille didn’t help all that much. Inside, I’ve come to appreciate its very sensible dashboard and seating, especially after being in other mid-size and full-size rental cars where the dashboard and cockpit are a “fail.” The Malibu is economical in its use of fuel. What is worth nothing is that, at highway speeds, an extra 5 to 10 mph can have quite an impact on fuel economy. With cruise set at 70 mph, the legal speed limit on some treks, the mileage was coming in at under 35 mpg. When I went to 65 mph on cruise, the engine was laboring less, at about 2,000 rpms or slightly lower, and fuel consumption (with minimal city driving thrown in) came up to about 37 mpg. Considering that early Malibus with V8s couldn’t even get 20 mpg on the highway, that’s quite a leap! Driving on a road with a 55 or 60 mph speed limit would make for less consumption - at or even slightly exceeding the 40 mpg mark at constant speed. The ride is pleasant, but not refined. The handling is easy, as it seems to be with so many electric power steering units, but not agile. The controls and instruments are easy to use or, at least, quickly become acclimated to. The seating is comfortable and supportive enough. The Malibu does what it needs to do without much fuss, but without impressing. Power from the 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and its turbocharger is enough for most situations, such as smartly moving away from stop lights and picking up speed on an on-ramp to merge. I don’t know how I’d feel about a high speed pass with its less than 200 horses. As with other cars, the CVT seems to be getting more predictable … or not as erratic. The important thing is that its service life is long. CVTs also need periodic servicing. The engine bay is very neatly organized. However, it uses a prop rod. When Malibus were ‘80s RWD GM mid-sizes, struts automatically keep the hood up. The trunk is roomy. Fuel tank capacity is generous and makes for respectable range with the car’s highway mileage numbers, but it won’t get you from one side of Texas to the other on I-10! Maybe close, though. In my mind, the Malibu could have been more, especially after the Impala was discontinued. It looks like GM does not want to keep a single sedan in their stable, so they didn’t invest in it and let it wither. First, a 1.8 or 2.0 L 4 cylinder engine without a turbocharger could have been tuned to get the same fuel mileage. While an 8 speed automatic would have been preferable, I’d take the CVT if paired with a larger non-turbo engine. The CVT is mechanically simpler (and also sits inside one casing) while an engine with a turbocharger is a more complicated set up. Once it made its initial splash, the Malibu wore on and may have become ho hum to consumers. The greenhouse looks elongated and has some strange quirks, making the rear deck lid look too short. A more upright domed shape to make the greenhouse look more proportionate would have been preferable. This is all about fractions of an inch, or centimeters, but they make a big difference when it comes to styling. (One example of a vehicle that accomplished this is the Mazda 6 sedan from about the same time this last Malibu was introduced.) In short, it’s wishful thinking that General Motors - via Chevrolet – would be keeping a bread and butter sedan they’d work a little magic on to make it more refined, more compelling, and more reputable such that a buyer’s choice between a domestic and a foreign sedan would be moot: the Malibu would be just as good as a “Camcord.” However, it won’t be happening. The curtain is falling and the Malibu’s chapter is closing. - - - - - Photos forthcoming