Paolino

It was Medium Garnet Red Metallic.

Well, maybe it's begging you to get something with Honda's SH-AWD Sorry about the disco lighting in the car...

Uh... the GXP G8 only comes with a 6-speed Manual, the GT G8 comes with a 6-spd automatic. They never made a V8 G8 with a 4-speed. Yup. There was no 4-speed on ANY trim of the G8. I was thinking he might have meant G6 GXP... but I don't think that ever had a 4-speed, either. Oh well, so much for credibility... ;-) Don't buy a Pontiac from his lot... its got a busted transmission. Probably meant GP GXP...the Grand Prix was offered w/ the same V8/ 4spd setup as the Impala SS.. Well, there was no V8 in the G6. But you're right, he probably meant the GP. So, lemme ask... the 4-speed held back the 5.3L V8. What about the FWD Northstars? I assume the same deal.

Well, length of the wheelbase doesn't have to be the differentiating factor. Areas which an "XTS" like Park Avenue could be different from the LaCrosse is as follows:- Different Powertrain -- Exclusive 360hp LF3 Biturbo V6 with AWD (eAssist optional) Additional Technology -- Magnetic Ride Control, Electrochromic windows/moonroof, 4-zone climate control, Active Parking Assist, Infrared Backup Camera, active cruise control, blind spot cameras (triggers with turn signal), aluminum hood, and fenders, automatically leveling/steering HID headlights, powered trunk lid operation, etc. Superior Luxury -- "Handmade in USA" interior (w/emblem), Napa Leather upholstery, heated and cooled seats with memory foam cushions, lumbar and thigh support adjustable rear seats, real leather wrapped dash and instrument pod, heated steering wheel, real burled walnut trim, Tri-coat paint, 1/2" thick premium carpeting, premium stereo system, headphone jacks for front & rear passengers, solid state refrigerated storage bin, etc. Enhanced Quiet Tuning -- Additional sound deadening, Acoustic Sandwich Glass all round (vs just front windows), Active Noise Cancellation, Helmholtz resonators in intake & exhaust, viscoelastic sandwich "Quiet Steel" in door and floorpan in addition to firewall, triple layer headliner, etc. These stuff would have raised the price of the LaCrosse to $50K. Instead of not offering them or spreading the LaCrosse price spectrum over $27~50K, you put it in a different car with a different styling and make it your flagship. Memory foam seats leave a bad taste in my mouth. I (and many friends) have bought memory foam pillows in the past and they've become hard/lumpy entities that did not work after a year. When they advertise memory foam beds I get wary and wonder if they actually work past a year.

Yeah but the V8 gave the car some actual character. well, until the tranny blew up. we have a GXP G8 on our lot right now....took it for a spin recently.....that 4 speed holds it back. the GXP is nice to drive (nothing special) but the Impala SS v8 did not have a driving experience to go with the engine. The Impala SS was just a motor to an otherwise boring and sedate car. Uh... the GXP G8 only comes with a 6-speed Manual, the GT G8 comes with a 6-spd automatic. They never made a V8 G8 with a 4-speed. Yup. There was no 4-speed on ANY trim of the G8.

money

I'd also like to know what: "New rear end appearance with dual exhaust outlets standard on all trims" means. I mean, is it simply saying new rear end appearance because there are dual exhausts and a spoiler is standard on LT/LTZ trims or are we actually going to see tweaked taillights?

That would be a very good option to add, too bad they did not do that. Course who is to say someone does not update this again. It could show up if GM is watching our chat. They are. They won't. You're right. If they haven't put auto-climate control in the car in this or the last gen (no clue about the gen before), why start now? I just don't understand why the lower Malibu has had it and gets dual zone in the 2013, but the car above it doesn't get it. Anyone know if remote start will defrost the car if it doesn't have auto-climate control? Cause I LOVE that on the Lucerne--heats the mirrors, defrosts the front/rear windows, heats the leather... get in and you're good to go.

Yeah, heard it on tv and then they mentioned, "This coming after a steering wheel actually fell off while someone was driving... Yikes."

I've seen 4.

When my friend went to get a manual transmission on his 2005 Corolla LE (at the time it was the top trim designation, now the low end trim), they said absolutely no LE's are made with the manual and he couldn't order one like that. I would imagine GM would offer a similar response.

I really would have liked to have seen two very small (and simple in my opinion), additions to the change list: The radio from the Malibu that has the USB support input and throw the auto-climate control from the Lucerne into it for the LT/LTZ.

I've actually heard the term "sand volcano" and also used as a precursor to seismic activity. I saw it on a special on the Science Channel and they were talking about quakes inside the US where they usually don't get them. Apparently even low-rated quakes are more severe than much higher ones out in California; something to do with the type of shaking and plate. Well, good luck.

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.