Paolino

Word for word correct. My parents bought one a few years ago, same thing happened. Find an open spot in a parking lot and start doing donuts after you select "recalibrate".

So, the change in the grille is simply from black horizontal lines to a black diamond pattern? I just feel they could have done SOMETHING a little more dramatic.

Even though it'll be shy by approximately 60lb-ft torque?

I thought they were kinda already testing the waters with the MK... ummm... whatever the Taurus SHO one is.

I saw a black one the other day and it was so refreshing because it didn't look like a typical car. I'd love to see Saab take off but they seem to be plagued by so many problems. Hopefully the quality of the newer ones is better than my friends from 5 or so years ago. That was a disaster.

Getting back to the Malibu ECO... honestly, I love the feeling of a V6, but at $4.21/gallon for regular, I'd easily be convinced into a four-cylinder engine, and at 38mpg highway (which is most of my driving), that is very tempting.

Lighting, gauges and wipers are my thing. Let's ignore the wiper thing cause I come off like a freak, but with me. Proper lighting/accents can really make a car pop and stand out. They did so many great little effects on the inside, I'm surprised that's what they did for the LED version of the Malibu's taillamps. I was hoping with some creative pipe lighting or deflectors they could really make it look cool from behind. The shape of the overall lights is definitely better than what I thought it'd look like.

Yeah, but they couldn't have fit all those people in the Lambo...

Done.

Start/stop. That's a way although (I read) slightly problematic with auto transmissions. There are two things I've never gotten used to while experiencing them... start/stop (feels like you're stalling when you approach a red light), and a CVT (feels like you're going to blow the engine when you give it any gas). I've driven a BMW 120d with start-stop and for the first 4 or 5 traffic lights I swithced it off. But after that I switched bzck on and actually got used to it fairly quick. It's more a matter of getting used to that interruption, I guess, as the instinct is to think "ooops, this thing's gone dead". And it does provide for some real fuel savings around town The problem is, my last Buick had a problem when my brother was out of state and had the fuel pump replaced. Well, they screwed it up, so since then you could only use half a tank of gas before the car would run out. I got used to getting close to a half tank, taking a turn or braking hard and the car stalling. So I'm ultra-sensitive if a car stalls out while I'm approaching a red, and it gives me this insanely uneasy feeling

Start/stop. That's a way although (I read) slightly problematic with auto transmissions. There are two things I've never gotten used to while experiencing them... start/stop (feels like you're stalling when you approach a red light), and a CVT (feels like you're going to blow the engine when you give it any gas).

Camry Hybrid is rated at 31/35 (city/hwy)... Altima Hybrid is rated at 33/33 (city/hwy)... Fusion Hybrid is rated at 36 highway... So the Malibu eAssist tops all those on Highway numbers. If they could figure out how to bring up the city number, they'd really have something major to talk about.

Haha, I figured I was the only nut who obsessed on interior light schemes. I am a HUGE fan of the direction GM is going with illuminating the interior at night. Hey--the Lucerne doesn't even have ambient lighting but I took a friend in one a couple of years ago and the first thing she commented on was how much she loved how everything "glowed a cool blue, and was so neatly and brightly lit up." These little things are eye catchers, and garner "oohs" and "ahhs". Hopefully the illumination will be on all trims, or at least 1LT and above. I can't imagine it costs them much too much to do.

Its hard to describe in a few words... its been around since the Quad4 used it, IIRC... here's a description... Wiki Thanks... I never even thought to check Wiki. You're right.. hard to describe in a few words lol

Uh... this has incandescent taillights? I'm confused. Are the LED ones only for LTZ trim?

What does "lost foam" mean?

Those effects can be duplicated with fiber optics-style plastics and side lit plastics... the source of the light can be centralized and the source of the light LED or incandescent. Brightness is not really an issue, as I feel taillights are already WAY too bright. I'm fine with LEDs... but I agree with Balthy in that blatant LEDs as points of light dropped willy-nilly as a tailight are ugly and overused. Everything seems to have JC Whitney lighting glued on it from the factory. I don't think Balthy would have any problem with those examples... as the LEDs aren't just piles of little dots. Well, maybe the Volvo. Personally, I'll be putting LEDs behind the lenses of anything I restore because they FINALLY have LED's that trump the 1157s, they do last longer and they light faster. Behind the lenses, though, they look like old school incandescents... the best of both worlds, IMHO. I agree entirely. I preferred the last DTS' taillamps... they were LED, but you couldn't see the dots. It was just a solid wall of light.

Yup

For parity with the Camry and Accord, the Malibu needs to lose 250~300 lbs. Help me out understanding this one: Camry 4c/6a - 3307 Accord 4c/6a - 3395 Malibu 4c/6a - 3415 And the mags would easily say, "The portliest one of the bunch," and not think twice

Okay, maybe nitpicking, but can GM do something about Chevy's 5-spoke wheels? It just seems like same in, same out. At least the current gen has nicer (and different), LTZ wheels.

EDIT: Didn't like how I came off and need to keep my mood to myself and talk about the car: Like the car, really do. Love the interior and wood elements. It's a shame that the trim they showed was probably around $30,000. The presentation however I felt the teaser was more exciting... I'm not sure why, maybe all the lights sounds and CG got to me and got me ramped up--maybe it's my mood. Anyway, think it'll do well. Let's hope GM markets this well.

Wow... 287hp (at a LOFTY 6800rpms and 258lb-ft at 4400) 3.6L DI V6 with the 6-speed auto. Wasn't expecting that high of an output. They got rid of the 2LT, leather only on the LTZ. LT gets 17" wheels, LTZ 18", and LS gets new aluminum 16". 2 new colors: Crystal Red Tintcoat, Black Granite Metallic Bluetooth standard on all trims (packaged on Fleet Models) That's all I see marked as "NEW"

Any chance if they snazz it up a bit and throw a nice powertrain in it, I could still get a 1-year old one for like $8-9,000 off?