A Better 1997’s Model: The 1998 Chevrolet Malibu Base
Posted: October 19, 2009 in 1998, Chevrolet, Malibu | Tags: 4-Door, Base, Canada market, Chevrolet Malibu, Sedan
The 1998 Malibu is an important vehicle to Chevrolet for the sedan market segment. The Base is a member of a series of two trim levels for the Malibu which include LS and Base. The four-door car with its front-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for Chevrolet. There is strong competition from vehicles from Nissan.
Performance
The Malibu Base is equipped with a General Motors 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that utilizes 16 valves. The Chevrolet engine is mated to a General Motors 4-speed Transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Chevrolet.
The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The Malibu uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. Load balancing is provided by coil front springs and coil in the rear.
The fuel system for the 1998 Malibu is a SFI system, running on gasoline . The fuel is regulated by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design.
Statistics
The Malibu is 190.40 inches long, 69.40 inches wide, and 56.40 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 107.00 inches. It is able to seat 5 comfortably.
A powertrain guarantee is provided (50,000* miles/36* months), and a 50,000* mile, 60* month guarantee also comes with the Chevrolet Malibu. This is average compared to the rest of the car market.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $15,670 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $14,338. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sedan.
MPG Ratings
The 1998 Malibu gets 29 - 32 miles/gallon on the highway and only 20 - 23 in the city. This is below average for a sedan car.
In 1997 and 1998 the Malibu Base was availble in the exterior colors of Black, Bright White, Dark Carmine Red Metallic, Dark Cherry Metallic, Dark Jade Green Metallic, Medium Malachite Metallic, Medium Opal Blue Metallic, Sandrift Metallic, and Silvermist Metallic. Additional options were available as special orders from the factory.
Parting Shots
There are several reasons why the Chevrolet Malibu Base sold well in 1998. Mainly the increase in availability and a marked improvement in quality meant the buying public was more apt to choose a Chevrolet, specifically a Malibu.
