I see the new Malibu all the time now, I really wanted to get an up close look at a LTZ but everyone is driving an LT. Looks nice for the base model though. Have you guys seen any LTZ's on the streets?

The LS is actually the base model, which is the Malibu I see the most of. I see very few LTZ on the road.

Oh so the LT must be the mid-range model then. I really want to see the interior of an LTZ but I never get a chance. :(

Almost all I see by me is LTZs.

I see mostly LS models and some LTs. I kind of wish they put a 1 or 2 next to the LT so it was easier to spot the LT1 vs. LT2. I know of two other LTZ's sold in my area but only see one of the occasionally.

I see mostly LS models and some LTs. I kind of wish they put a 1 or 2 next to the LT so it was easier to spot the LT1 vs. LT2. I know of two other LTZ's sold in my area but only see one of the occasionally.

2LT has the alloy wheels (usually either the 5-spoke or the LTZ wheels). 1LT has the wheel covers (even though they look like alloy wheels), usually the "chrome" ones.

That's the easiest way I've found to distinguish them.

LTZ's are harder to spot because they are usually moving faster. I know mine is!

Nah, really, it was meant to be a lower-volume car. That was a reason I chose it so there wouldn't be sooo many out there. I've only come across a couple so far.

LTZ's are harder to spot because they are usually moving faster. I know mine is!

Nah, really, it was meant to be a lower-volume car. That was a reason I chose it so there wouldn't be sooo many out there. I've only come across a couple so far.

I never considered that, thats a good point.

Almost all I see by me is LTZs.

Same here, but we're in Big3/GM country around here

I never considered that, thats a good point.

I thought the XR (similar to the LTZ) would be the same way, but I see XR's ALLLLLL over the place

I thought the XR (similar to the LTZ) would be the same way, but I see XR's ALLLLLL over the place

Where I am we don't see many Saturn AURA's. The nearest dealership is like 30 miles. However, if I drive into New Jersey I seen new AURA's and Vue's all over the place. Though, I most see XE's. I only seen a handful of XR's, one of them had Moroccan Leather, it was beautiful.

And right on cue, I just got passed by an LTZ.

And right on cue, I just got passed by an LTZ.Was it red? I drove through Burlington and Florence on Rt130 this afternoon. ;)

I've only seen 1 LTZ and a couple of LT's around town :D

Where I am we don't see many Saturn AURA's. The nearest dealership is like 30 miles. However, if I drive into New Jersey I seen new AURA's and Vue's all over the place. Though, I most see XE's. I only seen a handful of XR's, one of them had Moroccan Leather, it was beautiful.

Yeah but like I said, I live in Southeast Michigan and not too far from the GM proving grounds

Everyone around here either works for Ford, Chrysler, or GM....and there are a TON of car dealers around here in the "Motor City"

Yeah the Moroccan Leather looks nice, but I didn't dig the brown interior theme though. I just have black leather & the silver accents on the dash (which matches the exterior--Silver Pearl)

Yeah but like I said, I live in Southeast Michigan and not too far from the GM proving grounds

Everyone around here either works for Ford, Chrysler, or GM....and there are a TON of car dealers around here in the "Motor City"

Yeah the Moroccan Leather looks nice, but I didn't dig the brown interior theme though. I just have black leather & the silver accents on the dash (which matches the exterior--Silver Pearl)

Still if Saturn had more dealers they would probably sell more cars, see plenty of Saturn vehicles in area's with many dealerships.

Still if Saturn had more dealers they would probably sell more cars, see plenty of Saturn vehicles in area's with many dealerships.

true...it all goes hand in hand


People don't wanna have to drive 50 miles to the nearest dealer to buy the car and then 50 miles to ever get it serviced.....it's all about convenience

true...it all goes hand in hand


People don't wanna have to drive 50 miles to the nearest dealer to buy the car and then 50 miles to ever get it serviced.....it's all about convenience

Its too bad since some of their vehicles are quite nice.

Yeah they've turned around

I never ever would have thought of owning a Saturn (girlfriend made me look at them--since she had a couple), but I loved the Ion Redline & it was a cheap payment

Then GMAC lease pull ahead came around, and I almost bought a G6 GXP Coupe (no incentives on the Malibu at the time). But then someone mentioned looking at the Saturn Aura XR which was pretty much the same car, but at a cheaper price (and with an extra 2 doors, lol)....so I went with the Aura XR....very upscale feeling to it

LTZs are in limited production. GM's producing more LS, 1LT, and 2LT models than the LTZ from what I've heard. In fact, an LTZ owner on another automotive forum I'm a member at had to pull some strings to get an LTZ in production.
I have seen one up close though...and yes, it does look stunning in person. Much better than the boring, bland camry across the street. :D

Yeah they've turned around

I never ever would have thought of owning a Saturn (girlfriend made me look at them--since she had a couple), but I loved the Ion Redline & it was a cheap payment

Then GMAC lease pull ahead came around, and I almost bought a G6 GXP Coupe (no incentives on the Malibu at the time). But then someone mentioned looking at the Saturn Aura XR which was pretty much the same car, but at a cheaper price (and with an extra 2 doors, lol)....so I went with the Aura XR....very upscale feeling to it

How are you liking the AURA XR? How many miles on it?

LTZs are in limited production. GM's producing more LS, 1LT, and 2LT models than the LTZ from what I've heard. In fact, an LTZ owner on another automotive forum I'm a member at had to pull some strings to get an LTZ in production.
I have seen one up close though...and yes, it does look stunning in person. Much better than the boring, bland camry across the street. :D

Damn, I hope I don't have problems ordering it from the factory.

How are you liking the AURA XR? How many miles on it?

Was built in 3/08 & I picked it up at the end of March (I didn't order it though)

2600 miles on it, and had it's first oil change at 2500 miles

It's a nice car.....probably too big of a car for me (no kids or anything), but there wasn't much else to pick from.
Gas mileage is my only little complaint, but it's performance is what drew me to it anyways. It does alright though on the gas......22-24 MPG average when babying it in the city.

Was built in 3/08 & I picked it up at the end of March (I didn't order it though)

2600 miles on it, and had it's first oil change at 2500 miles

It's a nice car.....probably too big of a car for me (no kids or anything), but there wasn't much else to pick from.
Gas mileage is my only little complaint, but it's performance is what drew me to it anyways. It does alright though on the gas......22-24 MPG average when babying it in the city.

As long as your enjoying your XR, and it meets your needs you made a good decision.

Doesn't sound like bad fuel economy for the V6 in the city either. Of course, that could be anywhere from extremely impressive to so-so depending on your 'city'. The suburban Chicago area kept me well within the original EPA ratings on our 04 Malibu (25-26 mpg, old EPA ratings of 23/32, new ones 20/29). But folks in more congested parts of town might get more like 22-23. And I completely second you on the power thing- this 6 sp 3.6l boogies. On top of that, I recently hit 32.1 mpg for a tank for the first time ever (most so far are around 30-31- 95+ percent highway).

Doesn't sound like bad fuel economy for the V6 in the city either. Of course, that could be anywhere from extremely impressive to so-so depending on your 'city'. The suburban Chicago area kept me well within the original EPA ratings on our 04 Malibu (25-26 mpg, old EPA ratings of 23/32, new ones 20/29). But folks in more congested parts of town might get more like 22-23. And I completely second you on the power thing- this 6 sp 3.6l boogies. On top of that, I recently hit 32.1 mpg for a tank for the first time ever (most so far are around 30-31- 95+ percent highway).

Impressive, thats as good as the 4 cylinder. It's going to be hard for me to decide.

A lot depends on how you like to drive, even on the 'all highway' parts. I tend to be conservative and stay strictly with the speed limits. Still, 29 mpg is easy, even doing 70 - 75 on all-highway runs. I still want to try out a spring package LTZ, so I can see what the 4 cyl / 6 AT is like. With a 32 / 33 mpg EPA highway rating (32 now, 33 next year?), vs. the 26 mpg EPA rating for my 3.6l, I'm thinking the four is probably a good bet for most people, and might even be capable of getting close to 40 mpg on the highway, driven the way I usually do. :)

(uh, no, I'm NOT trading for the four, but if it had been an option when I bought my 3.6, you never know which way I might've gone!)

A lot depends on how you like to drive, even on the 'all highway' parts. I tend to be conservative and stay strictly with the speed limits. Still, 29 mpg is easy, even doing 70 - 75 on all-highway runs. I still want to try out a spring package LTZ, so I can see what the 4 cyl / 6 AT is like. With a 32 / 33 mpg EPA highway rating (32 now, 33 next year?), vs. the 26 mpg EPA rating for my 3.6l, I'm thinking the four is probably a good bet for most people, and might even be capable of getting close to 40 mpg on the highway, driven the way I usually do. :)

(uh, no, I'm NOT trading for the four, but if it had been an option when I bought my 3.6, you never know which way I might've gone!)

Yea I usually drive around 75-76 MPH on the highway. I do between 80-82 when we go down South. Thats why I am trying to decide if the 4 or 6 is for me, I drive fast and that kills fuel economy.

The four would probably do better under those conditions (but I bet the six is a lot more fun at it :D).

The four would probably do better under those conditions (but I bet the six is a lot more fun at it :D).

I just would need to take an extended test drive on the 4, if its anemic I need to know.

A lot depends on how you like to drive, even on the 'all highway' parts. I tend to be conservative and stay strictly with the speed limits. Still, 29 mpg is easy, even doing 70 - 75 on all-highway runs. I still want to try out a spring package LTZ, so I can see what the 4 cyl / 6 AT is like. With a 32 / 33 mpg EPA highway rating (32 now, 33 next year?), vs. the 26 mpg EPA rating for my 3.6l, I'm thinking the four is probably a good bet for most people, and might even be capable of getting close to 40 mpg on the highway, driven the way I usually do. :)

(uh, no, I'm NOT trading for the four, but if it had been an option when I bought my 3.6, you never know which way I might've gone!)

I'm baffled how people are getting such high numbers on the freeway....not saying it's impossible, but I haven't seen it

I mean....how many miles are you going on the freeway to get those numbers???

I haven't taken a long trip, nor have I gone more than 20-30 miles on the freeway though....I dunno

As long as your enjoying your XR, and it meets your needs you made a good decision.

It's a nice car.....just probably too much/too big for me though

I'm not as crazy about it as I was my Ion Redline though

I'm baffled how people are getting such high numbers on the freeway....not saying it's impossible, but I haven't seen it

I mean....how many miles are you going on the freeway to get those numbers???

I haven't taken a long trip, nor have I gone more than 20-30 miles on the freeway though....I dunno

My weekday drive to and from work is roughly 31 miles one way. This involves around 5 miles of 2 lane rural roads with no stoplights, at speeds between 30 and 55 mph. Then there's the approximately 25 miles of interstates 40 and 240 between Old Fort, NC and Asheville NC (including lots of hills, but one steep mountain grade of about 5 miles), with speeds between 55 and 65 mph (most is 65). Finally there is about a mile of in-city (off interstate) driving with 2 stoplights 2 days a week, or 5 miles in-city with more than 10 lights the other 3 days a week (so bringing my drive those days to more like 35 miles one way), at speeds between 30 and 45 mph, not including the stops. Of a morning I'm up before the chickens and out the door between 5 and 6 depending on the day of the week, so I miss the most congested driving times, on or off the interstate. Of an evening, I can't miss it, but I stick to the speed limit and let the (seemingly) natural inclination for the other drivers to speed 10 or more over keep me from having to accelerate and brake a lot.

< shrugs > Part of it is where I'm at, but a larger part is how and when I choose to drive. It's true that a large part of my driving is constant speed highway, but the large amount of hills offsets that. It's mostly my keeping to the speed limit, anticipating slowdowns, and driving at off hours when possible that seem to make the biggest difference. The same thing worked for me in the suburbs of Chicago for 3 years, though the results weren't as impressive as these look (until you compare them to other drivers in the same places).