caddycruiser

Okay...not so fast... The GM "paperwork" still has a long time coming. I called GM just now and since they now finally have the 'Bu invoice, it's now going to the repurchase department who will then contact us in 7-10 days. I heard that and was baffled...so it seems like Mr. Pontiac will be around for a bit longer.

Drum roll please...it's in, I took pictures pre-prep, and went for a test drive again and all seems A-ok. Even tried playing with the Bluetooth already but was shot down as I did it while in motion:rolleyes: Me like. Me like a LOT. Now, if we could just get paperwork from GM so we can do more than just look at it sitting down there...

While Malibu shopping this past week and weekend, of course saw the first Traverse arrival on 3 of the 5 lots. Before that, saw a white Traverse LTZ strolling down the highway as I left work, with an out of state dealer plate...I think a dealer on a beach weekend. Cool look, and that great Lambda presence & quality aura. I like them.

Nope. Our Dark Gray Malibu is sure a looker, and people still comment on it, but I'm still glad I picked this color. In my weeks of casual shopping, this car matched my specs but was at the bottom of the list due to the white. Funny how the tides change when you actually start looking at things in real life. Oh...and we're now at 13/13 2LT/LTZ. That's a pretty good showing, and I definitely understand points from both sides.

Oh, and still no news on the car. It was supposed to be in today, but I just ran by the dealer again while out and the HHR being traded is still sitting there. No rush, I guess, we still have paperwork to receive and figure out.

Thanks Roger, I hope so too! You know...it's not THAT much of a leap. When buying my G6, I drove both a GT with the 3.5L VVT and then a GXP with the 3.6L back to back. I loved the scream and silky pull of the 3.6L BUT off the line and at low speeds, I swore and still do that the 3.5L with the sport gearing of the GT G6 feels stronger. It runs a little out of steam where the 3.6L still wants to start roaring higher up, but in typical driving, wow, does the current setup impress me. I never expected it for "only" 219 horses and the old growly pushrod engine. But yes, good advice;) I still haven't driven a 3.6L long enough to know the setup, but combined with the extra smoothness and quiet of the Malibu...warp speed cruising can sometimes just happen. You know.

Oh, how the tides have changed. After the LTZ was clearly pulling away, it's now 11 to 12, 2LT to LTZ. I was kind of solemn all day, even after finding out about the car coming, maybe because now the shopping process is over again--too much fun for me. But now I'm excited and can't wait to drive my new refrigerator! That's my name for it, jokingly, after it took me a week to decide on basic white. At least it's classy and never gets old. On a side note...I just checked my G6 Average MPG tonight, after about a week and a half of since last resetting it. Throw in the weekend's high speed jaunts, speed racer acceleration, and more blasting around today just for the heck of it...25.1 mpg. Awesome. See why I'm happy to continue with a powerful V6 :AH-HA_wink:

Thanks guys! I actually loved the 2-tone seats of the LTZ BUT think I'll be more comfortable on the 2LT UltraLux compared to my cloth preference now--as my mother has enjoyed hers for 9 months, never hot or cold and always soft. And as for the engine. I'm still a big Ecotec fan, for sure. I loved the 2.2L in my rental '07 and have been pleased with our '08 2.4L, although it did start to feel like a slug after I was used to my 3.5L G6--not unexpected. It still moves well and once up to speed, sips gas. But as I've found with my G6, I love the V6 grunt without it having to work hard and I really like the firmer hydraulic steering in comparison to the still very nice, but lighter electric. In comparison, an Ecotec 'Bu feels a bit featherweight'ish, even though it's still decently quick--some dead spots, even with the 6-speed. Plus, uh, the 3.6L in an Epsilon is a bit of a beast...even more so than my 3.5L VVT that already is mean. I typically drive like Grandma Betty (yes, really) and should be again able to eek out nice mpg numbers with the 3.6L, as well as being able to drop the hammer and just go screeching away should the need arise The dealer is trading a base HHR for it, and it should be up here tomorrow. I hope we can do delivery ASAP because now that I've finally decided and a car is coming, I want it NOW, and my bad G6 memories to be history. Just depends on the GM paperwork, which I hope is quick and painless for my salesperson and I. Good sign...I already ordered an accessory for it, WeatherTech Floor Liners. As much as I loved my G6, I never bought a single thing for it, as with the issues, it just never seemed like "mine". The 'Bu already does, and I hope it's perfect. Hopefully prep & paperwork aside, I can just borrow a dealer tag tomorrow and take the car for a short stroll, maybe back to work to show off. Otherwise, delivery sometime this week...

I'm not worried about mileage because reading owner reviews of both Malibu's and Aura's with the 3.6L, it seems quite good and at least a match to my 3.5L in most cases. Just, of course, also with "holy hell!" power when tromped on. On the 3 forums I posted this, the LTZ 4-cylinder won out for various reasons. So, to that end, going against the vote sounds like my kind of response, hah;)

WELL, the ruling is in! I hadn't heard from my salesperson yet so I stopped in at lunch and she told me she had arranged to get the 2LT V6 "your #1", tomorrow. Of everything, they're trading a base '09 HHR for it, which after being at the other dealer, I could see as they seemed short of HHR's. This is good, because driving my G6 more out and around today, I really do love the V6 grunt and firmer steering and, the more I thought about it, the comfort of the Ultralux vs. the gorgeous but hot/cold prone LTZ leather. I still think the LTZ is gorgeous but also, again, looking at more of them today on the lot, the extra chrome and wheels are a little much in comparison to my typical trend towards the cleaner "touring" style with less decor--such as on my current molding, chrome, and excess trim free G6. Now it's just the waiting. The car isn't far away and I already test drove it at the other dealer, it's just getting all the paperwork through GM for the repurchase in hand and submitted properly. My salesperson has basic information, but nothing detailed yet--hopefully very soon, so we can do delivery and turn-in ASAP. Bye-bye pretty but troubled G6...hello 'Bu!

LTZ vs. 2LT...11 vs 6 This has been a great poll, guys, on the different forums I have it on. I even learned a few more details about the cars, from the posts, to think about. No word from my dealer on anything yet, but I'll have to check in soon.

Funny you mention that. A base G8 V6 was what I was thinking for a while there when I knew we were getting close to a decision, and I took one out Thursday. Really liked it and it had a LOT of room, comfortable cloth seats, felt like a tank, and of course the RWD factor, but at the same time I just wasn't "sure". Compared to a 3.6L Epsilon, it felt more sluggish--of course, due to the RWD and weight--and the interior was solid and "cool" but drab in comparison to what I had been looking at. Still, an awesome car, and I almost signed the dotted line for a white one last week;)

Oh, SLIGHTLY...enough for it to go back to it's maker, following repeated apologies as well. I'll talk about that in depth soon. The LTZ seems to be winning most...not a shock, I guess.

Awesome! Shame almost every '09 Cobalt I've seen also has those new, ugh, wheelcovers...but that's a quick change. Sounds like the perfect car otherwise, and that chrome package really makes a difference as I saw this weekend while Chevy dealer shopping. Everyone seems to like that new green, too! Congrats, and welcome back to Chevy.

REALLY? Wow, you need to take some test drives :AH-HA_wink: Great comments and votes guys. I'm still leaning one way and I told my salesperson on Saturday afternoon to try and trade for "that one", which she's supposed to do first thing tomorrow morning. Hope it works out, but if it doesn't, I'll just go to the other. Odd, again, but I think I liked both equally in their own ways. The comments certainly help...and I can't wait to see how the voting eventually turns out Oh, yeah, and that story...ugh...

Hah! True... Well, at the beginning of last week it was black, only for me to shop every day and end up...back at white. Years of only white cars in the driveway and me crabbing about them, only to know be a fan myself. Oh well. Clean, crisp, bright works for me.

Yep, I get that. The 2LT seats are the same shade as the one half of most of the interior, and in person I liked it. It's a bit loud, in the Cocoa-Cashmere with almost a gold/orangey hue, but I wanted something that wasn't black or gray, and it lives up the white outside. The LTZ in the same coloring is VERY nice and I love the Cocoa trimmed seats, but, you know. And then this thread... The powertrain and model has been making me go crazy this past week, on top of just color. Hah, all the thinking, and then I settle on Amana white;)

Well, we're neck in neck after about 15 minutes...with the LTZ leading. So, any of the 2LT V6 voters care to expound on their selection?

Good question, and yes. A bit out of the "range" being stuck to.

Poll attached now...sorry.

Eventually, I have quite a story to tell, but in the meantime...I have an opinion question for you guys. A lot of you may put 2 and 2 together, from the question and choices , but I digress. If you were buying a new '09 Malibu right now, and had already picked colors (White/Cashmere...don't need help there, so don't bother), but were between 2 models, which would you prefer and why? If it makes any difference, say if you were coming from a current Epsilon 3.5L/4-speed car and enjoy the combo of power & economy it has, and could take more of either, and have narrowed your choice to the following 2 cars. #1: 2009 Malibu 2LT with V6 package, premium mats, power package (rear shade & 110-volt plug), sunroof as below: #2: 2009 Malibu LTZ 4-cyl with sunroof as below: Here has been my take, so far: 2LT V6 - Clean, cool, SS-like look. 2LT V6 "rarer" than most, not that most would notice the difference between every other Malibu now, but I would. Great 3.6L power, sound, and I think economy given my driving; very quiet, smooth, and effortless, then a beast when you drop the hammer. Firmer steering, which I'm used to and enjoy. Suede is closer to my cloth and I like the feel, generally, just not as hot on the vinyl bolsters and solid color. LTZ 4-cyl - LOVE the look, from the extra chrome to the wheels. 2.4L is spunky the first bit off the line and nice once up to speed, but often can seem dead in between and at other times. From experience, generally strong economy once cruising. Steering is lighter, but still nice. LOVE the look and feel of the 2-tone leather, except for that leather-->back "sweat" when it's hot (last car). Pick your choice and then "do tell" :AH-HA_wink:

LOVE it. Wheels, color, manual, everything. I'm a coupe fanatic now...and that's one I lust for. Awesome choice;)

Wow, some biggies...from Delaware

So true. It's hard to find any owner reviews on Edmunds, for example, that DON'T complain about the build quality and problems of new ones compared to previous models. That gen wasn't exciting, but was a terrific car throughout. Congrats on the reliable and refined as nails freebie!

Wow, same here. I was heading down the highway in Rehoboth and passing through a green light, saw a filthy new gray '09 Mazda 6 4-cyl in a turning lane to the left crooked, trying to get back on the highway. Jersey driver, of course, lost in outer space without their circles and backwards turn around lanes. Looked good, but nothing shockingly standout...smooth, flowing lines and proper proportions, basically.