@ 66stang !!!
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'09 Malibu 2LT, 4-cyl, 6-spd w/ TapShift, ebony leather/suede interior, some sort of red jewel metallic, aluminum rims, nicely equipped. Pick-up is Friday- will have some pics by the weekend. Options really aren't in question; the whole 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, etc thing pretty much nails it.
MSRP : 25,5xx
'Supplier price' : -500
rebate : -2,000
GM card : -1,900
'Clunker' : -4,500
So, we're looking at $2500 off sticker, decent, right? plus $1900 from my GM card- $4400 off. No other GMs match the MSRP range and get the same MPG (22/30). Aura is roughly $1.5K more. Equinox is 2.5K more and 3MPG less. If I'm over @ the Ford dealer (Fusion did look tight)- kiss the $1900 goodbye. Wife didn't care for anything @ Chrysler/Dodge.
We did check into the Challenger/Camaro situation, but their combined MPGs are around 20- a decent way off of 26 and down 3 from the GP. Challenger starts @ $27K, too. Same basic price level for the G8.
Back to the figuring: add the $4500 on top and we're @ $16,600 for a brand new Malibu. On top of that, I'm hoping to get $2K privately on the $2600 KBB price for the '03 GP, which makes the 'bu $14,600 (before taxes/fees).
Looked at everything in the class online and placing budget & MPG as priorities, there was little other direction to go in.... NOT that I feel that we 'settled' in the least- the car is a eye-catcher in & out, I'm reassured by the reviews & feedback, but the total deal was something we'll never likely see again.
As much as I think the C4C bill is misguided & ineffectual... like I stated in the 'what if it doesn't get better' thread; I am out for #1 in these times, and I figure that $4500 is money that has already (or soon will be) been taken from me.