Twitter Test Driver: Joseph Fung

Vehicle: 2009 Malibu Hybrid

Twitter account:@josephfung

Joseph Fung was the first person to try the Twitter Test Drive. He drove a 2009 Hybrid Malibu - it was the first time he had driven a hybrid and a domestic car as well. Here are a few comments he shared with us about his drive:

What did you like about the vehicle? 

"It was very smooth to drive - I thought it was a 6 cylinder engine instead of the 4 cyl. It was also incredibly quite at low speeds.

The OnStar service was a lot more useful then I had imagined: the hands free telephone was also pretty cool. The turn by turn directions were smooth, better timing than my Garmin GPS unit. "

"When I first was driving it I found the brakes very sensitive and the way the hybrid sounds when you are idling confused and disconcerted me a bit and these things took a little time to get use to. The car slows down a lot while coasting and this was weird at first, but I grew to like it and actually it made city driving a little easier as I could coast into intersections or stop signs. I felt I could avoid the wear and tear on my brakes."

What didn't you like about the vehicle?

"I'm used to imports - the interior didn't feel like me. I didn't like the finishing - it felt rubberized - I think I'm just not used to a domestic interior design. Also, it was white and apparently this makes me look like an old man, or so I'm told"

What was your overall impression of the vehicle?

My overall impression was that it felt like a good vehicle - definitely gave me cause to reconsider buying domestic for my next vehicle. I'd probably not buy the Malibu for my next car, but I'd at least consider it.

Twitter Transcript

• josephfung: @ person in CRV on Columbia: sorry, horn on the Malibu is a lot more sensitive than my Elantra. I should stop drumming. #twittertestdrive 
• josephfung: Returning the Malibu Hybrid...surprised at how easy it was to get used to the hybrid engine and transmission. #twittertestdrive    
• josephfung: The turn-by-turn directions in the malibu are good, but I do miss the birds-eye display from my Garmin GPS unit. #twittertestdrive   
• josephfung: I know it's a very small detail, but the wipers on this malibu are awesome. #TwitterTestDrive     
• josephfung: Liking the built-in cellphone service in the Malibu. The voice recognition is good. Prompts are smooth, but a little loud. #TwitterTestDrive  
• josephfung: Well, the Hybrid handles well in the rain and I wasn't able to flood the engine ;) I hate this weather. #twittertestdrive  
• josephfung: Can really feel the difference regenerative breaking makes. The hybrid slows down when coasting A LOT faster. #TwitterTestDrive