Yeah, they look really nice, but there's no way I'd drop 60k on one until(well never) they've been time tested and hold up well. I'll stick with my Audi A8 and my 2014 Malibu - One thing I'd note though, is I never thought I'd buy a Malibu. If you haven't seen the 2014 model, you should check it out. I bought the LTZ turbo charged model and it's an incredible car for the money. The design looks nothing like the old Malibu's, and I picked it over the new Chrysler 300's and 2014 Impala's.
It's funny you mention that, I just got back from holiday the other week and we took a rental car - a 2014 Malibu - around BC. Just the standard 2.5 with 6 speed auto. Really leagues better than the older cars, I totally agree with you. Apart from the shifter, that gay ass switch on the shift lever for manual mode. And the awkward shifting down into 5th from a cruise at 60 KPH for even a tiny bit of acceleration makes it surge annoyingly. And there's no fucking trunk button. You need to use the key. Gay. If it had that, a proper manual and... perhaps RWD (lol), I would strongly consider buying one too.
Though... if you look closely, even Chevy is copying the europeans
I know what you mean, I've never been a big fan of the automatic manuals. Luckily with the turbo, I don't really need to down shift that often to gain enough acceleration. I bought the Malibu for a family car, so I'm usually taking it pretty easy with the kids in the car. When I want some fun, I jump in the audi.
That's strange about the trunk button - You're talking about on the key fob right? Mine has 5 buttons - Lock, Unlock, Trunk, remote start, and Emergency. Along with that, it also has a small button on the trunk itself that you can press that opens the trunk, along with electric closing. Must be a higher end model thing. Did yours have the Nav with the backup camera's and motion censors lights on the side mirrors?
Along the lines of the manual modes/ My brother has an audi R8 with the paddle shifters and I don't mind driving that car at all haha. Although I would prefer an actual manual on a car like that.