Chevy Malibu Maxx

dindak

If the insurance isn't ridiculous, we are leaning VUE, CR-V or maybe even the new Chevy Equinox. Otherwise it will be a van. I really like the idea of the MAXX but I fear as you say that the cargo area with seats up will not be sufficient. I will have to wait till the new year.

Element and xB are just too far out there in design for my tastes. though for SUVs they do have good room. xB is not sold in Canada thankfully, this will save my eyes from more uglyness on the roads.

ateixeira

Equinox will basically be a stretched Vue. I wasn't impressed with the Saturn, mostly the interior, but Chevy might improve on it.

-juice

dindak

The 04 V6 models are much improved. The Equinox looks to have a good interior also, better than even the new VUE. We shall see, not buying till next year.

ateixeira

True, I drove an '03, plus the V6 engine is the new Honda-sourced 3.5l V6. I may try the new Vue Redline. I hope the seats are better, too.

Hopefully the Equinox can incorporate some of the cool new features that the Maxx offers (sky light, DVD, remote start, etc.).

-juice

dindak

All V6 VUEs have the 3.5L and an upgraded interior.

ateixeira

That cargo cover was neat, by the way.

It's reversible, so you have a rubber coated, water proof side, or a nice carpeted side (which looks much better).

Plus, you can set it back, basically outside of the car, to have a shelf for tail gate parties. I thought that was really cool. It would keep the food out of the rain, for instance.

-juice

theo2709

Am I doing somethine wrong here? Whenever I go the Saturn website, I can never find any interior pics. All they have are lame exterior "action" shots, but not anything that matters. Are they embarrassed to show off their interiors?

ateixeira

Maybe until this model year, they were! ;-)

-juice

jchan2

the Honda Accord LX V6 is $23K. A Malibu LS starts at $22K. Add some features and the cars are equal.
Saturn VUE- Can't find any interior pics. I'll keep lookin until I find some 04 interior pics. eBay might have them.

rctennis3811

if they DO add those things u mentioned that would be great..but when would they be added?? and how do you kno??

dindak

Accord LX is no hatch so Im not sure how it compares to the Maxx.

logic1

I think you would make a great TH monitor if there is ever a vacancy.

On point. Dindak and some others are seriously cross shopping the Max with some of the smaller Utes such as the VUE, Escape and the Equinox.

What is the feeling here? Will the Maxx compete mainly with midsize sedans? Or is it going to be mainly considered by people who otherwise buy a small ute?

ateixeira

Most of the Malibus they had at the events were in fact LTs. The leather/faux suede seats are nice, and I think they wanted to emphasize those.

There was one LS, and one 4-cylinder model. Maybe half a dozen or so LTs.

I would compare the Maxx to small utes, sure. A lot of customers want a lift gate.

-juice

dindak

Big problem with the MAXX is if you have child seats and you have to take them out every time you want a decent size of carrying room, it could be a bit of a pain. A small SUV or van would have more room with the back seats up and that may be the route we have to take. I really have to see the Maxx before I will know for sure.

logic1

The kind of thing a parent notices immediately and we childless people completely overlook.

I hope GM's engineers include parents as well as childless people.

ateixeira

I'd be the same way, we have a child seat fixed there full-time. It's a pain to remove and reinstall them.

So to me a bigger cargo area is actually more important than a roomy back seat. Kids will fit either way, but my cargo might not. We do *not* pack light.

Once your kids are in boosters (and you use the car's built-in seat belts), it's much, much easier. So at least it's temporary.

-juice

dindak

We only have one now, but we have another on the way which means both sides of the rear will have car seats. Small SUVs don't likely have a lot more room though, a van makes the most sense. I am trying my best to avoid a van though, the LW300 or Forester may be other options.

jchan2

test drive the LW300. No Pushrods!!!

dindak

I have tested an L300, I liked it. I like good pushrods just fine also.

jchan2

glad to hear you liked the L300. Sounds like the LW300 would have the most space for you, both in cargo room and in rear seat room. And I don't work for Saturn. Or drive one. (I drive a Honda)

dindak

I know, you have mentioned you drive Honda before.

My wife doesn't like wagons so it will be a hard sell. She would prefer a van if we figure an SUV is too much $$.

jchan2

Tell her financially that the LW300 would be even less $$$$$.

wheelz4

You may want to look at the MPV. At least it's size is more managable than all the "maxi" vans out there. (Price is a little more managable too, as long as you don't pile on the options).You can even slide the middle seats apart to put some separation between your kids. And with the rear seat folded, you'll have more cargo room than you'll ever need. Plus it's probably the sportiest and best handling of all the vans out there (& one of the best looking too, especially with the 17" wheels 'n tires)

skuuter

I was one of the original new Malibu owners (mine was a 99 LS) who suggested GM make a station wagon version of the sedan. I personally like it, but have already purchased an SUV versus SW this fall. My wife, like yours, is anti-SW for some reason. If it hadn't been for her slant, I'd have at least checked the Maxx out.

I hope you will check out the Maxx for yourself, vs. the LW300. I am no Saturn fan, but like the Maxx for some of the features that are better implemented on it vs. say...the VUE. I.e., the fold down front passenger seat AND driver seat have reinforced backs and the seat material is much better IMO.

As for what I did to assuage the wife, we shopped all the "cute UTEs" and settled on a Hyundai Santa Fe. If budget is a concern and you want lots of cargo room and a V6, do yourself a favor and check it and the Escape/Tribute options out.

wheelz4

Just read in the Detroit News that GM is dropping the Saturn L series in 2005......replacing the sedan & wagon with the Saturn "Sportsback" (sounds pretty close to the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback if you ask me) which will basically be a Malibu Maxx clone.

regfootball

maybe that car will be the opel vectra clone. I can't see saturn burning the resources to do another redesign.

ateixeira

I agree that the 'bu and Maxx interiors are nicer than the 2003 Vues. Supposedly the 2004 Vues are improved, though.

The L series never really caught on.

-juice

regfootball

on the vue they changed the steering wheel and gauge faces and likely put in some shiny trim and a few nicer plastic pieces but time will tell if the overall effect is enough to make it feel less plasticky.

the shape and layout of everything remains the same.

ateixeira

What about the seats? That was my biggest complaint. Spongy front and rear, with not enough side or thigh support.

-juice

regfootball

i'd bet they left em alone.

ateixeira

Even the Vue Redline? It's totally worthy of some sport seats. I felt like I'd fall out of them if I took a corner hard.

The 'bu is much better, FWIW.

-juice

logic1

has Recaro seats up front.

tomcat630

"maybe that car will be the opel vectra clone."

As as been reported before, the Saturn L replacement is based on the Epsilon platform (Malibu/Saab93/Vectra). And it can't get here sooner.

ateixeira

Recaros, now you're talking. That should be a *huge* improvement. I ought to go test drive one.

Check this out, from a press release for the LA Auto Show:

General Motors is aggressively leading the way with the World debuts of four 2005 production models, the Saab 9-2, Buick Terazza, Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Relay, plus the Hummer Concept

So the Cobalt will debut. Relay? Is that the L series replacement? Is it related to the Malibu?

-juice

breetai52

I believe that's the Saturn minivan

logic1

Relay is the mini-van.

ateixeira

Is that just a Olds Silhouette by another name? Does it even have plastic side panels?

-juice

theo2709

The Terraza is the Silhouette replacement. I don't think Buick needs it, though. The Rendezvous was supposed to have the ride of a luxury car, utility of an SUV, and the room of a minivan. Now Buick has all of those, so what is the point of the Rendezvous?

ateixeira

RDV is getting that nice new engine, plus AWD, though. The vans will probably keep the same engine.

-juice

tomcat630

Saturn is moving away from plastic body panels on all their cars.

dindak

ateixeira : Relay and Terazza are all new mini vans, the old Venture and Montana are in their last year. Terazza is a good idea as GM needs a luxury van.

skuuter : No Santa Fe for us, can't stand the looks (sorry). I do like the Escape a lot though and the VUE has a decent interior upgrade and the best engine now so it easily stays on the list. Maxx will definitely be checked out, don't worry. Also like the CR-V but it can get a bit pricey.

tomcat : Not sure if Saturn is dumping polymer all together but you will definitely see less in the the future.

jchan2

You'll be seeing less and less of the Polymer on the doors and less and less of the people at the auto shows banging on IONs and proving that they're dent proof.

rctennis3811

yes i heard that Saturn will no longer have the dent-resistant doors, does anyone know why?? it seems to me that GM is ruining the identity of Saturn

logic1

The polymer doors are great for durability and maintaining their lustre over the years.

At the price of a Saturn, GM could not affordably get the polymer consistency stable at heat to avoid somewhat larger than normal panel gaps.

People who do not appreciate the benefits of polymer, or simply have an axe to grind against GM use the wide gaps as a basis for deriding GM technology. IMO, the other divisions have decided the bad PR hurts them more than the value of keeping Saturn true to its original philosophy than it is worth.

regfootball

no, its a looks thing. I for one can live with the panel gaps in trade for plastic, but the average dumb consumer sees it as slip-shod manufacturing. its no different than all the jabs they take at interior panel gaps.

I've always wondered though why the gaps are so much more pronounced on the new Ion and Vue in comparison to the old Lseries. Its like they got BIGGER. Even the old Fiero didn't have that big a gaps.

dindak

I can see them keeping the polymer on the small cars like ION but I know it's hard on bigger ones. Wouldn't be surprised to see it dropped from the VUE.

jchan2

but I'm fine living with the bigger gaps- Saturn was different in the sense that they were the only ones doing the polymer thing. (except the Corvette)

ateixeira

I bet they'll phase out the plastic panels with each new model introduced from now on.

-juice

tomcat630

"but the average dumb consumer sees it as slip-shod manufacturing"

Well, the average customer is brain washed by the "anything imported, including Yugo, is better" mentality.

motownusa

The average consumer is smarter than you think. Camry, Accord, Altima, Mazda6 aren't exactly Yugos. If Yugos sold well in this country they would still be around. It is fault of the big three, big two actually since Chrysler is owned by Daimler Benz. What is the alternative to the Camcords? Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Intrepid? All of these cars have been rated average to below average in long term reliability. Where as the imports have been consistently rated better to much better than average in long term reliability. Recently, the domestics are trying to improve their quality and to some extent they have succeeded. But they still have a long way to go to catch with the Japanese in over all quality. That is just a fact and not a myth. If you like forking over your money to your auto mechanic that is fine. But don't tell people what they ought to buy. This is a free country, Thank God, and people have choices.