[mocha steel '10]

My car has a serious lack of power with the A/C running. I have the 4 speed trans. It seems like I almost have to floor it from a stop sometimes just to get it going. Is it just the nature of this engine/trans combo?

I haven't driven a 6 speed 4 cylinder. Is it any better? Anyone here with a LS 4 cylinder/4 speed have this issue?

With the A/C off it runs much better so I'm thinking that if I complain to the dealer, they won't or can't do anything about it.

Any thoughts?

 

[RaineMan]

Unfortunately sluggish is the nature of an underpowered car with such widely spaced gears.

Honestly though, the A/C probably only eats up about 10hp when it is running... it's not that big of a deal.

Also, I didn't know that the 4cyl/4spd was still available in '10.

 

[mocha steel '10]

Unfortunately sluggish is the nature of an underpowered car with such widely spaced gears.

Honestly though, the A/C probably only eats up about 10hp when it is running... it's not that big of a deal.

Also, I didn't know that the 4cyl/4spd was still available in '10.

Only the LS got the 4 speed. 1LT, 2LT, LTZ got the 6 speed.

 

[Silver LTZ]

Only the LS got the 4 speed. 1LT, 2LT, LTZ got the 6 speed.

Hum, I thought all '10s but fleet cars had the A6.


Anyway, the A6 does help a little due to better gearing, but the A4 is IMO a smoother tranny. The I4 is underpowered for such a size car and that is just the nature of 169 HP in a 3700 pound car.

 

[AndyR1]

The only time the I4 feels underpowered is from 0-25mph. After that it's fine.

 

[elcompaLalo]

Depends on how fast you want to go from take off, for me it is fine for everyday driving in city/traffic.

 

[Richard]

The only time the I4 feels underpowered is from 0-25mph. After that it's fine.

Actually, this is the range where I find it the most powerful. It has excellent pickup for a 4 cylinder. I can burn rubber with half throttle. I find it a bit sluggish at intermediate speeds. If I decelerate to 30 on the highway, then need to re-accelerate back up to 60, I find it to be a little sluggish in this range.

 

[Richard]

My car has a serious lack of power with the A/C running. I have the 4 speed trans. It seems like I almost have to floor it from a stop sometimes just to get it going. Is it just the nature of this engine/trans combo?

I haven't driven a 6 speed 4 cylinder. Is it any better? Anyone here with a LS 4 cylinder/4 speed have this issue?

With the A/C off it runs much better so I'm thinking that if I complain to the dealer, they won't or can't do anything about it.

Any thoughts?

I have the 4 cylinder with the 6 speed and the air conditioning has no adverse effect on the power at all. The 6 speed does keep the engine in the optimal power band. Also, the 6 speed improves highway gas mileage by about 3 MPG. But I find the 6 speed to be a little temperamental. My biggest complaint is the delay in downshifting which can take 1 -2 seconds when extra power is needed.

 

[Richard]

Hum, I thought all '10s but fleet cars had the A6.


Anyway, the A6 does help a little due to better gearing, but the A4 is IMO a smoother tranny. The I4 is underpowered for such a size car and that is just the nature of 169 HP in a 3700 pound car.

1. This will change for the 2011 model year. All models will have the A6 for 2011. For 2010, the only model with the A4 is the LS.

2. I agree on all counts. The Malibu is a bigger and heavier car than I originally thought it was. It would have been nice if the Malibu had the same version of the I-4 that the Buick Regal has with Direct Injection and over 180 HP. Also, while the I-4 gets very good gas mileage on the highway, I thought it would do better in stop and go traffic. I get between 13-14 MPG in stop and go driving. I was expecting closer to 17 MPG.

 

[AndyR1]

I have the 4 speed tranny. The power is fine over all, just not much there until the engine spools up. Still love it though.

 

[RaineMan]

It would have been nice if the Malibu had the same version of the I-4 that the Buick Regal has with Direct Injection and over 180 HP.

GM is trying to push Buick as a "premium" brand and giving them all the upgraded engines with things like Direct Injection and turbocharging.

 

[hoahai]

My car has a serious lack of power with the A/C running. ...

Any thoughts?

There must be something wrong. I never felt my car lack of the power when the AC on. As a matter of fact, this summer has been very hot here, in DC. I have the AC on all the times and never felt any thing difference in the power. Also, I am very satisfied with my AC. It is very strong and can cool off the whole car in the matter of minutes when the outside is above one hundred. Or Maybe it is just the driving style difference between you and me. I always feel my 4cyl car is overpower and the gas pedal is too sensitive: every time I touch it, the RPM jumps up to upper 2000 immediately.

 

[jes2]

Hum, I thought all '10s but fleet cars had the A6.


Anyway, the A6 does help a little due to better gearing, but the A4 is IMO a smoother tranny. The I4 is underpowered for such a size car and that is just the nature of 169 HP in a 3700 pound car.

Agreed, Silver. I've driven '09 & '10 Malibus with A4 & A6 trannies, and the A4cars seemed to ease into the shift changes better than the A6. The A6 seems to shift down in the lower gears a bit harder than I like, definitely more noticeable than my A5 in my '98 F150 did. I KNOW Chevy can do better than that.

Much of the shifting quality stems from the programming Chevy has applied for the transmissions. Maybe some can come up with a better tweak.... ?

I don't notice any power draw on my I4 w/A6 with the AC on, but seeing that I use it 10 months a year in Florida... I dunno. Been a while since I ran without AC!

 

[bf1942]

The Ac does load the 4cyl 4 speed,
it is noticable,
but flooring it is not needed to get going, just a little extra .

you may have an issue it's worth checking it out if only flooring the gas gets it going.

 

[RaineMan]

I always feel my 4cyl car is overpower and the gas pedal is too sensitive: every time I touch it, the RPM jumps up to upper 2000 immediately.

That is b/c of the lovely electronic throttle. The gas pedal is just a glorified pressure sensor that sends a signal to the ECU "More gas!". The days of wonderfully controllable throttle cables are over.

 

[mocha steel '10]

The Ac does load the 4cyl 4 speed,
it is noticable,
but flooring it is not needed to get going, just a little extra .

you may have an issue it's worth checking it out if only flooring the gas gets it going.

I dropped by the dealer today and drove a LTZ 4 cylinder 6 speed. With the A/C on there was a SLIGHT increase in take off power compared to mine. It wasn't really enough of a difference that would make me regret not getting a 6 speed.

As far as my car I don't have to FLOOR it from a stop with the A/C on to get it going, just a little extra pedal has to be laid in is all.

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

I like my four speed, and haven't noticed much loss of power with the AC. I'll be going on a road trip with a good bit of net weight and so I'll be reporting on hwo everything performs after that too.

My main gripe overall is pickup between 50 and 70 to pass. It seem like the car sits down before i can get is going. Like Richard and Andy i think its a good amount of power overall, just some deficiencies in odd places that can easily be accounted for by the overall weight versus ratio versus engine output. I am pleased to say the least with the powertrain as a whole.

Adding 4000 miles all at once is going to tell me something, though, i'm sure. keep an eye out guys and hopefully nothing big comes up during the trip.

 

[hoahai]

That is b/c of the lovely electronic throttle. The gas pedal is just a glorified pressure sensor that sends a signal to the ECU "More gas!". The days of wonderfully controllable throttle cables are over.

Does that mean:
1. The sensitive of the gas pedal can be adjusted by the dealer ?
2. The malibu can get the controversial issue like the Toyota gas pedal ?

 

[wjjeepman34]

I feel my 4 cyl A6 isnt necassarily underpowered, but shifts out of 1st way too quick, takes a weekend to downshift, and seems to "hunt" for the right gear if you let off the throttle for a few seconds and slow down, then get back on the throttle (like taking a corner at speed or something). When you hammer on it, it moves decent for a 3700# car, its just the trans programming (or lack there-of) that really hurts this car. Good thing theres a manual mode, right?

 

[Richard]

GM is trying to push Buick as a "premium" brand and giving them all the upgraded engines with things like Direct Injection and turbocharging.

I'm not a fan of turbos, but to squeeze some extra HP out of an engine by adding a more sophisticated fuel injection system is a good idea. The truth of the matter is the Malibu is a fairly big and heavy car. If they're going to offer a 4 cylinder, it needs the extra HP that direct injection will supply. In this case, direct injection is not really a luxury. It's a necessity.