[RedBowtie03]

Hi all.

I purchased my new 4-cyl Malibu LTZ a week ago on May 6th. It is my first new car in about 9 years (my wife got the last two new ones... how did that happen? )

I'm a long time Chevy owner and am moving from a very modified 2003 Monte Carlo SS to the 'Bu. The Monte is a lot of fun when its running well, but I have a long commute (40mi one way) to work and a solid reliable ride is very important. So now the Monte is the weekend project and the Malibu is my DD.

So far I really like it, despite the 4cyl. I just couldn't justify a new car payment without at least some payback in gas mileage so there ya go.

 

[chevyguy8893]

Welcome to CMF! I still wish I could have bought a malibu in red jewel, but there was no luck there. You will get used to the 4 cylinder, I came from an 04' impala ss that was pretty much stock. It took a while after getting the malibu, but I got used to the lower power.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Welcome to CMF! As far as highway mileage goes, the V6 ain't no slouch! I get over 30 at 65 or less, and once I mod my muffler like on my '09 I hope that'll get up a little as well. In my '09 (yes, a 3.6 as well) I used to get 32-34 on the freeway. In town both got/get about 20.

When you find some time take some pics and post 'em up. We'll even "let" you post pics of your Monte.

 

[elcompaLalo]

Nice to finally get the new car huh? LOL.

Congrats and welcome to the forum.

 

[RedBowtie03]

It is nice to have a new car. Thanks for the welcome. I haven't had a chance to get a really good pic but its going to be a sunny weekend so I should have some soon. I already have HID kits on the way for low beams and fogs and a color matched OEM-style spoiler on the way. I also have a brother in the auto painting business so I'm going to have him make me a set of color matched emblems for it, I think it will look sharp that way. I will also be installing my single 12" sub this weekend just to fill out the sound. Can't stand the anemic bass all the stock systems have.

I modded the heck out of the Monte... cam, headers, intake, throttle body, supercharger, GMPP handling kit, on and on. It was great fun but I'm vowing to leave the engine alone on this one. I've spent a lot of money on mods in the past and I just want to settle in and enjoy the ride on this one after some basic tweaks to make it my own.

 

[GregF70]

Welcome to CMF! As far as highway mileage goes, the V6 ain't no slouch! I get over 30 at 65 or less, and once I mod my muffler like on my '09 I hope that'll get up a little as well. In my '09 (yes, a 3.6 as well) I used to get 32-34 on the freeway. In town both got/get about 20.

When you find some time take some pics and post 'em up. We'll even "let" you post pics of your Monte.

Hello DrivenDaily! What muffler mod are you referring too? Is this an expensive change or what?

Thanks,

 

[elcompaLalo]

It is nice to have a new car. Thanks for the welcome. I haven't had a chance to get a really good pic but its going to be a sunny weekend so I should have some soon. I already have HID kits on the way for low beams and fogs and a color matched OEM-style spoiler on the way. I also have a brother in the auto painting business so I'm going to have him make me a set of color matched emblems for it, I think it will look sharp that way. I will also be installing my single 12" sub this weekend just to fill out the sound. Can't stand the anemic bass all the stock systems have.

I modded the heck out of the Monte... cam, headers, intake, throttle body, supercharger, GMPP handling kit, on and on. It was great fun but I'm vowing to leave the engine alone on this one. I've spent a lot of money on mods in the past and I just want to settle in and enjoy the ride on this one after some basic tweaks to make it my own.

I wouldn't worry much about the bug to mod this engine as there really isn't anything you can do with it. But you can go all out on looks and audio like some of other members here.

 

[08chevymalibultz]

Welcome to the site!

You won’t be sorry for choosing the I4 since the gas prices are so high right now. Here in CT. the State Average is $4.26 Gal. for regular gas.

Yes I love the extra horsepower and don’t regret buying the V6 but I do pay the extra for it at the pump. Some have got in the mid thirties for Highway and many have averaged 26 MPG combined with the I4. The V6 is rated 26 Highway and 17 city!

I have got as low as 14 mpg in just city alone with the V6 and Average anywhere from 18-21 Combined depending on my driving conditions +/- highway / city driving. IT varies time to time depending on how I drive it.

The highest Highway MPG I have reached was 27+ MPG but briefly, Highway was more like 24-25 Average, as for here in the New England area that includes climbing / driving up hills time to time.

It will really depend on the driving conditions in your area!

The Malibu MPG rating is pretty much right on as posted on the car!

Again welcome to the site and congratulations on your new purchase!

 

[DrivenDaily]

Hello DrivenDaily! What muffler mod are you referring too? Is this an expensive change or what?

Thanks,

Here's the thread:

Dual resonators on 3.6 exhaust

Don't mind the nasty welds. They weren't pretty but they worked. I just wish he had been a little more concerned about making it nice on a new car. I won't take this one to him, that's for sure!

It was $250 parts and labor. Cut stock muffler off, then tips cut off. Welded on Y-pipe, resonators, 45 elbow, stock tips. At least he was concerned about the tips being the same height and same distance exposed. The stock muffler was hung in a way that the left tip was lower than the right one.