(Updated 2/23/2026) I’ve shown you lots of driveways down near my neighborhood, but this one is up in the hills, where we often walk. And it’s decidedly different, given the two late model Chevy SS’s in the driveway. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a Malibu SS of this vintage. Turns out there isn’t; it’s titled as a 2016 Malibu Limited LT. I’m guessing the stripes and badging were either added later or by the dealer.
I’m utterly clueless with things of this sort.
I do sort of remember the Monte Carlo SS of this generation, with some effort, as these are cars that have largely not made much of a lasting impression on my memory banks, except maybe one that isn’t nice to share.
I see this is not just a 2004 Monte Carlo SS, but an Intimidator SS.
To what degree of steepness are car engines designed to not be impacted by possible oil starvation from the oil in the pan being so far displaced to one end or another? Or am I just trying to think of something to say here, as I’m otherwise speechless, for a change?
The Monte (oops, Intimidator) needs a pair of big fat white racing stripes to really make this pairing work.
Nah… this needs a lower perimeter silver color like the 2002 Dale Earnhardt edition car. This is the iconic color scheme that is associated with Dale’s GM Goodwrench car.
Those are not Chev SS’ – they’re just SS trims of the Malibu/Monte Carlo. There have only been two Chev SS *models*, the VF Commodore-based one sold in the USA from 2014-17 and the HG Monaro-based one built from CKD kits and sold in South Africa from 1971-73.
Well now, that turns out to be relevant to my nonsense below. Yes, this is the only other manly-chested Chev SS than your type, but it’s a bit off in this guise.
By which I mean, the 1968 Holden Monaro source for this (sans somewhat awkwardly-crowded-in 4 lamps and wrap-around turn signals) is for me right up amongst the very best lookers that GM ever produced, especially if seen in the metal.
Oh, I see! Now I understand why the Chev SS V8 was dissed so much for its dull appearance.
We got this Malibu, and at least 11, rumoured 12, people bought one. (The question, “Why wouldn’t you?”, of this not-excellent competitor visibly less quality-built than the Camcord competition was answered in a predictable way).
It’s understandable, but wrong.
The inherent RWD proportions of the Aus SS, the Commodore, are proper handsome. This front-bunched yawner is not, add what decals you will (or, as it appears, they did).
I’ll admit that on this slope, the north-south engine real jobbie would gasp for oil much sooner than this east-west weak imitator, but there’s no other reason for these hill-dwellers to have bought this in preference.
Enough words yet, Mr N?
I actually think that build quality between Ford/GM and Honda/Toyota’s midsize sedans was never closer than it was between about 2008 and 2017.
The domestic brands made vast strides, while the Japanese sort of rested on their laurels and allowed Ford and GM to catch up.
As for the 2013-2016 Malibu, it was objectively better than its predecessor in every way, and was actually very well-put-together. I wouldn’t have called it notably worse-built than its competitors at all. What killed it were a number of things:
– The size: GM decided to try and make Chevrolet a big thing in the UK and the rest of Europe. So they shrank the wheelbase to make it a very international-sized car (the same size as the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and Buick Regal with which it shared a platform). But that meant that, here, it was really cramped
– The proportions: Because of that size, it also had very stubby-looking proportions, especially with that big rear end that extended so high into the air.
– The reputation: GM may have been building better cars, but by then, sedan sales were shrinking and people were going to the brands that had done the best over the years. GM was not among them
– The competition’s designs: The Fusion looked far more expensive than it was, and the Koreans also had eye-catching designs in the Optima and Sonata. By contrast, the Malibu looked like an appliance. And, like I said, if you’re going to go for an appliance…Honda and Toyota have a better reputation.
I imagine a lot of people would have been rather impressed with the Malibu if they had given it a chance and could’ve gotten over the small backseat. But apparent build quality wasn’t the Malibu’s downfall. What did the Malibu in was that it zigged when the market zagged.
Agree completely Kyree. These ’13-’16 cars are generally derided, they came after the ’08-’12s which were ground breaking in how much they didn’t suck after all the other FWD Malibus, but you’re right, the ’13-’16 do feel very solid and well put together. Frankly more solid feeling than Camries of the same years. My coworker bought a ’14ish LT and aside from a slightly cozy interior and roofline that made you duck excessively, they are really nice to drive/ride in. VERY well insulated from road noise, very heavy riding (they are indeed quite portly cars). It was just sort of a plain but well executed sedan, like a Camry, but lacked the Camry’s reputation to sell on that alone
gtemnykh: I mostly agree with Kyree’s comments, too. A couple of things, I’d like to add. The car was extremely well built and quiet. I had one as a daily for about 18 months and while I liked the cars initially, I really fell in love with the car after the first several weeks of driving it. There was little it did wrong, other than the stupid CAFE inspired automatic transmission behavior (i.e. upshift as quickly as possible). I was sorry to give it back; but the lease was up and I couldn’t convince my wife that we should go into debt for a car.
I still keep an eye out for used versions of this car, in the event that something catastrophic happens to my elderly Pontiac and I need an immediate replacement…
To be fair, the ones for RHD in Aus were made in the oldest Daewoo factory in Korea, not known for quality (and since gone, I believe).
Still, they lacked any flair of any sort as a machine. A sporty and Jaguar-esque Mazda 6 and this weren’t remotely close, and the interior feel likewise, whatever the long-term qualities.
The open market here is ultra-cutthroat, and at that, for small numbers on any international scale, so a non-styled plonker of no mechanical distinction – and in our case, of lesser build – was a non-starter. Even with an available turbo-diesel (oh yes, that’d be a Chevrolet Malibu diesel, folks).
I think about 4,000 moved over a few years, in a market of 1 million , despite the marketing power of the Holden badge. As it then was.
All up. I think I’ve seen a total of ONE. I never even knew it was sold here. Did they even advertise them? Or did you have to go into a Holden showroom and stumble over it, like the Epica?
Six years later, and I’ve never seen another one. I suspect so many people had been put off by Holden’s continual chop-and-change sourcing of all the sub-Commodore models that they just didn’t bother looking at a Holden dealer.
That driveway isnt steep its quite mild my English VW nutter friend has what I call a steep driveway my car freaks out on it the suspension computer tries desperately to level the car and fails the seat belts lock so you can t put it on when leaving and doors weigh a tonne or two to open and close yet we managed to get an engineless Beetle and a very tired Kombi van up it and into his garage neither have moved since.
Gotta say, never understood the SS as branding but I come from refugee German Jews from Hitler who never ever ever ever ever ever never never bought German cars even Opels – even in 2020 my mother declined to test-drive the Buick wagon because it was an Opel and thus German..
So SS on a Chevy? Hrrn.
That association was enough to make another manufacturer called S.S. Cars change its name,,, to Jaguar.
…while this is the Italian way of working around it.
I’m more freaked out by the horned skull on the garage than intrigued by the cars.
Wasn’t the Intimidator SS a special Dale Earnhardt edition?
Yep, and is one of a couple NASCAR-themed editions of that generation Monte Carlo. Which makes them the closest thing to a desirable Monte Carlo at that time. My wife would kill for one.
Tony Stewart has a Tony Stewart Signature Edition Monte Carlo in his personal collection.
Hmmn. Somehow I am not intimidated by this car. Amused maybe
Exactly!
The Malibu looks like a tape-and-decals custom job, whether done by the owner or a dealer. GM indeed either didn’t make a Malibu SS of this generation or it came with a much subtler appearance package.
There were no factory SS versions of this generation of Malibu. This car appears to be a lower mid level LT version with the normally aspirated 192HP 2.5L 4 cylinder engine. The eco badge on the lower left of the trunk lid is a giveaway. The 260 HP 2.0L turbo motor will not have that badge.
I don’t recall seeing that style of wing spoiler on cars from the factory. I’ve seen a real subtle lip spoiler on the top of the line LTZ (usually with turbo) that came from the factory, however.
I’m guessing this was some sort of dealer special concoction. It definitely didn’t come from Fairfax.
A few months ago Car Craft had an article about a guy in Western Mass. (not far from me actually) who was really in to the FWD monte’s and had built up both supercharged v6 and v8 version to pull really impressive quarter mile times. The Transmission was the biggest issue but they said he had figured it out using some FWD Cadillac parts.
Found the guy but not the exact article.
https://www.dragzine.com/features/the-full-monte-furches-boosted-front-wheel-drive-monte-carlo/
Chevy Runs Deep in that household, boy howdy.
Can’t see the tailpipes so I can’t tell if that Malibu is the turbo or the 2.5. Neither warrants the SS badge, but at least the turbo wouldn’t be wasted by some kid in a Jetta.
Was the short box SS454 C10 offered only in Canada or was it available south of the 49th as well? We had a couple of them in our area. The engines were anemic to say the least but the badging was loud.
Yes, the SS454 C10 was available in the States.
Funny you mention this. In the recent CHiPs movie, the main car is a black Chevrolet SS (the recent rebadged-Holden one). However, when the car gets blown up, they quietly substitute it with a contemporary (2013-2015) Malibu in the same color. That they took the time to graft an SS-style fender vent onto the Malibu means they knew what they were doing.
It also illustrates why the SS wasn’t a serious product in the US. Even dumb movie people saw it could be mistaken for a Malibu.
SS (née VF Commodore) owners joke about all the times people ask if it’s the “new Malibu/Impala (Impalabu) SS”.
Do you think a proper name would have helped the SS? Chevrolet Commodore has a nice ring to it. Or even just Malibu SS/Impala SS as a ‘range’ extension of those cars, above the LTZ. Different vehicles, but stylistically similar enough?
A distinctive name (distinct from a commonly-used trim level name) might have helped some, but the over-similar design language is really what causes the confusion. At least until you hit the Start button.
Theres a whole range of stripe kit pickups on the market here that may or may not be around anywhere else, they seem to be a dealer add on to make Your Holden Colorado different to the one its parked next to at the supermarket or your Ranger or Triton or Foton or whatever it was you bought the array is bewildering and thats on to of the factory versions, should you crash your example and have to get it fixed some sign writer/wrap artist is going to have fun duplicating it.
The home owner missed an opportunity. There was even a Silverado SS for a few minutes, about the same vintage as his GMC.
He could have been the envy of the neighborhood.
I didn’t realize the “Intimidator” SS had the supercharged 3.8. There’s one for sale nearby for $3500 with 115k miles on it.
https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/d/greeley-2004-chevy-monte-carlo-ss/7081135502.html
Not my cuppa but if you’re carrying a thing for the #3 car then maybe…although any tribute to Dale Earnhardt really should have a V8, shouldn’t it?
This one has SS all over it and is legit
Back end
and the fender vent
When I see “SS”, I think “Sedans for Seniors”.
I think something equally bad when I see TRD.
I have trouble keeping a straight face at “Gazoo Racing” – my mind reads it as Kazoo.
I like how the black one looks, with a NA 4 banger it can’t be any real Super Sport but maybe that’s the deal, remember : in the 1960’s Chevy sold scads of SS Chevy II’s……
-Nate