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Comments
Still don't like the 'Bu's front end clip, but the car's been great so far. You can't see the front end if you're behind the wheel. Visibility reminds me of my kids old Camry's. Very direct, likeable car.
My maxx has 12500 miles on it and laready has one bad inner tie rod... I took it to my dealer and they said that it was "within GM specifications." I am not aware of any movement specification on tie rods, but I do know about ball joint movement specs... I was fine with that... not happy, but fine... then they tried to charge me $110 to not align my car. I am a auto technician who uses the same machine that the dealer uses to align cars. The mechanic never put a wrench on my car. Is it still normal for shops to charge $110 for nothing other than a courtesy carwash?
Thanks for all your help,
Regarding tires...don't underestimate the OEM tires on this car. They got me through a Western NY winter easily. Snow, ice, slush...no problem at all.
As for the so-called death of this car, how come I see so many of them lately if it isn't catching on? Just today, within a 2 mile stretch, three of them passed me in the opposite direction! I think the reports of its demise might be a little premature.
Cars seem to be fantasy and reality. In general: The fantasy's an 800+ hp RWD endlessly drifting and flying 200+ mph along the Nurburging or Milford Proving Grounds tracks - the stuff of dreams for most automotive journalists. The reality is we gotta go to work, want to visit different places, buy stuff we have to haul somewhere, ferry people somewhere, all on overcrowded, badly maintained roads.
For the reality, the Maxx, though flawed, does a __very__ nice job.
Although the engine is nicer (245 HP or so, variable valve timing but still the iron block), the trans is only 4 speed (no manual available). The wheels are huge 18" with lo-prof tires, and the ride is supposedly much firmer. Black interior, blackout trim enhancements, hard racing seats with bolsters, dual pipes, chrome trim = a lot of showy stuff.
It would be great to see that engine and less restrictive exhaust system in a __regular__ Maxx.
You may be looking for something entirely different. I think it's because we all like a slightly different ride, that I don't pay much attention to reviews. They are written by people, just like us and they all have a different taste in ride comfort & expectation. It's hard to believe they can't help bring their own preference into it. I do pay attention to the reliability aspect of reviews but not much else. Good luck with your Maxx, so far. mine has been outstanding.
Still, I've yet to see this car bottom out on the bad potholes (including many on freeways) we have around here. By comparison, the Saturn ION and Prism I used to drive crashed their suspensions into their stops over any major bump.
If you want a stiffer ride, go for the SS version, with its lower ride heigth, heavier wheels and firmer suspension. You can have its interior in any color so long as it's black.
Interesting about the Energies - some car mags didn't like them either (didn't handle well enough and had harsh ride).
I was able to silence my sunroof squeek by puting velcro on either side of the front hinge. That stopped the bar from rattling against the closed glass.
I do have a regular squeek which I believe is coming from my replacement steering column. It is quite regular now, and should not pose a problem for those hearing impaired service technicians at the dealer :confuse:
My OEM tires are squeeling a lot more as I make my usual tight turns. I don't think they'll make it much past winter if I allow them to stay on that long. I'm looking forward to a new pair of H rated Daytonas.
My "I can't believe he is doing that" moment with the Maxx came as I tried to bring home some drywall for my bathroom project. I cut the board in half, but did not realize until I got out to my Maxx that neither a 4 x 8 nor two 4 x 4 sheets would fit in the hatch opening. Using my college education, I stuck the sheets in the 5 inches it would go, and had the remainder resting on my bike rack hitch. I flex coorded the hatch down as far as it would go, and wrapped a second flex coord from the hatch to the bottom of the hitch. I shook it a few times to ensure it would not become flying drywall
Im still not experiencing the "howl" in the transmission....that or Im use to the sound now!..havent noticed anything different in the engine performance..most of my increased mileage has been hwy anyway......no problems at all with the steering column either.....still a solid car...
I changed out tires and rims at 18K....went to the 17 inch and wider profile tire....have loved the ride and handling...a bit firmer with the lower and wider profile tire and definite improvement in handling...Im debating putting the OEMs back on for winter....as not to harm the custom rims...but will see....
Havent had the experience of the homeowner you are with the wall board....so...cant comment there.....have had it full of boxes..seats down and luggage headed to the cottage at Ocean City for the 4th of July.....so very impressed with the haul capacity......
now waiting for my Pontiac Solstice roadster to come in!!!!...that is the second car for me and my hottie.....actually its her car..trading in a 96 Eddie Bauer Edition Ford Bronco....(hey anybody want to make me an offer on it!!!!)....so another first year GM model to deal with.....but I think will be as solid or more so than the Maxx.......cheers...and happy Maxxing all!!!
1. the seat cloth looks cheap; what's it made of? It doesn't touch as comfortable as that on Cavilier, Taurus, and Camry;
2. the rear opening and the luggage area is small and won't have much practical use. Does anybody know the dimension of it? Can I put a 45"X45"X45" box into it?
3. it doesn't look as "cute" as a Cobalt or Malibu LS.
I wouldnt rate a seat by touch but rather how it feels when I sit in it and how it adjusts for long driving
2. the rear opening and the luggage area is small and won't have much practical use. Does anybody know the dimension of it? Can I put a 45"X45"X45" box into it?
here is the luggage Cu ft for the Maxx off the checy website.....I would have to measure to see if you could get that size box in it or not.......22.8 or 41.0 with rear seat folded down...the sedan is rated at 15.1 cu ft for the luggage area..remember the rear seats do fold down and the rear deck comes out of the Maxx! I have fit three large rolling suit cases, two small duffels, a computer case. three beach chairs and a large 48 qt ice chest in my Maxx with the seats down!
3.. it doesn't look as "cute" as a Cobalt or Malibu LS.
...depends on whose car it will be hers or yours...GRIN.....I certainly would compare the Cobalt to the Maxx in functionality.....the sedan and maxx are the same car....from the rear pillar forward.....so I guess she doesnt like the hatch back design and rear tail lights on the Maxx...as compared to the sedan uh???
I just measured the back of the maxx with the rear seats tilted back the furthest they will go. the space is approx 38" wide, 28" deep, 20" tall...that is considering the height of the rear deck in place...this height will increase as you take the deck out but you have to be aware of the glass so as it not impact anything...hope these measurements help....again..this is with the seats NOT FOLDED Down...you can add about 4-6" in depth if you fold the rear seats foward...but not folding them flat...so as to allow passengers in the rear seats.
Thank you very much for your responses and the measurement!
I've been reading messages you and other Maxx owners posted for quite a few months now. Learnt a lot from your experiences with this car. I'll keep reading.
Thanks again for your help!
As long as I'm not driving the car hard, the shifts going up hill are quite smooth and the torque converter occasionally unlocks itself to allow for some better engine-trans match without requiring a hard shift. It's Definitely one of the better 4-speed trannys I've owned.
The creaking sound is coming from the plastic trim piece that makes up the vent holes. That trim piece snaps into the shade and is removable. To remove it, tilt the window up, but don't open it. Slide the shade about half way back. From outside the car you can see the 12-16 plastic tabs that hold the trim piece in place. From inside the car, reach up with one hand and gently bend each tabs inward (towards vent hole) just enough to allow the trim piece to be pulled down a little bit away from the shade to the inside of the car. Once all the tabs are released, continue wiggling the trim piece down and out of the opening. At the center vent hole, you have to pull the back edge of the trim piece down first before the front edge will release. Do not bend the tabs back too far or they will break off.
Once trim piece is out, I smeared a little of the clear dialectic silicone grease (the stuff you use on the door gaskets) on the outside of each of the tabs where it contacts the shade opening. I then reinstalled the trim piece. Start at the center of the front edge and work towards the ends. Push the trim piece up a little bit at a time until all the tabs click into place. It's been about 3 wks now and the noise is still gone.
If anyone tries this fix, please do so at your own risk.
Yes, this information helps me. thank you!
As to the Cobalt and 'Bu sedan. I've only sat in a Cobalt but it seemed much less roomy than my Elantra, probably near the bottom of the compact range as far as useful room. Haven't checked Edmunds, this is purely a subjective read on a quick climb in the car.
I personally find the flexibility of the Maxx one of its stengths. I also like the looks of it better than the sedan, even though it's been compared to a Chevette (by me) and Citation in styling clues. The d-pillar is a bit thick but no one's rammed me yet--cross fingers.
I personally find the c-pillar and rear end of the 'Bu sedan a bit clumsy. They tried a bit hard to hold on to the previous models look. Someone had a photochopped new Sonata wagon posted--gorgeous, much nicer than the sedan-- I wish such things existed in all mid-sized car lines. As it stands now there's only the Mazda 6 and the Maxx in that size range. Too bad. Ten or twelve years ago, both Camry and Accord had nice wagons.
Given the fact that the sedan greatly outsells the Maxx, I'm ready to believe that more people side with your wife than with me. On the otherhand, Chevy has done absolutely nothing since its introduction to market the car. Sort of like the slow selling Ford Freestar in that regard.
I was afraid of this when I found out that the 'bu and maxx antenna's were screw-ons, but my antenna was stolen. So now there is a little threaded stub on my gate. So from here, I got a couple questions: 1) anyone else had this happen? 2) are replacements cheap? 3) if it happens again, any ideas on how to prevent it from being removed? And just fyi, the radio still gets the strong stations just fine, but the weak ones have no chance. and even the strong ones fade behind/under tall buildings.
I drive over a particular mountain pass every night. When new, the trans shifted rather abruptly and had trouble picking the right gear range for the hill. As the car aged, the trans smoothed out and responds much better to throttle changes while on the hill.
By comparison, the Saturn ION trans, supposedly adaptive, never did smooth out on that hill.