- #11 of 1301
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Re: 2008 malibu [rvoth]
by carguytx
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Nov 22, 2006 (7:25 am)
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Replying to: rvoth (Nov 15, 2006 8:01 pm)
It depends on which 4 cylinder as to whether it will be a dog. If its the 2.4 Ecotec at around 170hp, that should make for a better experience. GM must offer a credible 4 cylinder engine package to appease budget conscious shoppers that will often turn to the Japanese offerings. Toyota and Honda 4 cylinders dont make you feel that you stepped down. Their engines are smooth and refined. There is no reason that GM can't deliver a great 4 cylinder experience. They have the know-how, just need to do it. 
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- #12 of 1301
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Re: 2008 malibu [carguytx]
by jaxs1
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Nov 22, 2006 (6:12 pm)
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Replying to: carguytx (Nov 22, 2006 7:25 am)
The 170HP 4 cylinder needs premium gas to run properly. The lower 4 cylinder is too underpowered and crude for this size and class of car and the 3.6 liter engine gets worse fuel economy than a base Impala.
If there isn't a more economical V6 than the 3.6 available, it will be pretty bad.
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- #13 of 1301
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Re: The Interior [groovypippin]
by kurtamaxxxguy
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Nov 24, 2006 (5:33 pm)
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Replying to: groovypippin (Nov 21, 2006 10:10 am)
It actually looks better than the Saturn Auras, and doesn't have the Aura's chrome trim (which fits badly and looks cheap in the Auras I've seen).
Yet a lot of the interior (and exterior windows, etc.) feel like a clone of the Aura - badge engineering lives again!
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- #14 of 1301
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engine
by 1487
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Nov 27, 2006 (2:44 pm)
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"M must offer a credible 4 cylinder engine package to appease budget conscious shoppers that will often turn to the Japanese offerings. Toyota and Honda 4 cylinders dont make you feel that you stepped down. Their engines are smooth and refined."
Neither of GM's ecotecs is unrefined. The ecotec was revised when the Cobalt came out in 2004 to run more quietly and by all reports the measures were effective. The Malibu will have the 2.4L that is currently in the G6 making 169hp. The real question is whether or not it will be offered with a 6 speed auto. I would guess it wont be. I am also doubting that the 3.6L will be the uplevel engine due to production contraints. I would think the 3.9L will be coupled with a 6 speed auto.
I like that interior picture a lot. It looks very good.
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- #15 of 1301
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Re: engine [1487]
by jaxs1
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Nov 27, 2006 (5:20 pm)
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Replying to: 1487 (Nov 27, 2006 2:44 pm)
Well, if the 4 cylinder was really smooth, ran on regular, they put in loads of sound insulation and it had a 6-speed automatic, it would be something to consider and would be extremely competitive with decent performance, great gas mileage and a quiet highway ride.
I'm sure it won't happen. They don't have a 5-speed automatic available and they won't use a 6-speed, so that leaves little choice.
Expect a buzzy 4 cylinder with a cheap 4-speed automatic since they will try to make it a price-leader that most people will find unacceptable and want to upgrade from.
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- #16 of 1301
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Re: engine [jaxs1]
by 1487
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Nov 28, 2006 (8:27 am)
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Replying to: jaxs1 (Nov 27, 2006 5:20 pm)
Its obvious you are clueless in terms of the ecotec. It is not loud or thrashy or anything else like that. It is refined and the press acknowldges it's one of the better four cylinders on the market. Why would the engine get unrefined for the Malibu if it's refined in the Cobalt and G6? That makes no sense. As for mileage, the G6 gest 23/23 with a 4 speed auto so that is likely what you can expect from the 2008 Malibu. Every epsilon based car has a quiet ride and this one will be no exception. Have you bothered to read any reviews of the Aura? The Malibu will be very similar except for styling and powertrain.
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- #17 of 1301
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08 Bu
by mr_bots
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Nov 28, 2006 (8:50 am)
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Replying to: 1487 (Nov 28, 2006 8:27 am)
From spy shots it looks like an Aura with a different front clip, rear clip, and interior. For engines copying the Aura's lineup doesn't sound unbelievable, 2.4 Ecotec base (not a bad engine, but wants premium fuel in it's other applications), 3.5 VVT that's currently in the 07 Malibu as the mid-level engine, and the 3.6 as the top option (if only they could get it up to the 275hp it has in the Lambdas to beat the Camry's V6). Also it doesn't seem to unlikely that the 6-speed will replace the current 4-speed, for example the 08 Vue will have the 6-speed mated to all of it's engines, including the 2.4 Ecotec.
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- #18 of 1301
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Re: engine [1487]
by rockylee
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Nov 28, 2006 (9:35 am)
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Replying to: 1487 (Nov 28, 2006 8:27 am)
The ecotec 4 is a Wards top 10, I guess he missed that also.
Rocky
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- #19 of 1301
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Re: 08 Bu [mr_bots]
by 1487
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Nov 28, 2006 (3:39 pm)
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Replying to: mr_bots (Nov 28, 2006 8:50 am)
Time will tell, but I suspect that the top Malibu will have a 6 speed and the 3.9L engine due to production constraints. If that happens, expect a 275hp 3.6 to power the SS. I just really doubt the Malibu is going to have the 3.6 in non-SS form partially because there arent many application for the 3.9 Engine and its a new engine. Right now it's only used in the Impala, Malibu SS, minivans and a small percentage of G6 models.
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- #20 of 1301
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Re: 08 Bu [1487]
by rockylee
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Nov 29, 2006 (4:22 am)
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Replying to: 1487 (Nov 28, 2006 3:39 pm)
The 3.9 as large as it is should be putting out at least 265 hp. IMHO. I honestly am not much of a fan of the 3.9 or 3.5 and honestly don't understand why GM, even built them ?
The ecotec 4 and 3.6 fit the bills just fine. The ecotec can be supercharged, turbocharged, or even as I read Twin-turbocharged, and is a great engine. IMHO, GM needs to make less engines and concentrate on making the ones they like class leading powertrains.
Rocky
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