Well... FINALLY took delivery yesterday evening... The delivery process was fairly smooth, ironically compared to a totally buggered up delivery on my last Honda and Hyundai... Someone backed into my Civic an hour before I got to the dealership, and the salesperson spilt crazy-glue all over the bumper of my wife's Hyundai... Don't ask.
I only test drove the 6/AWD, so I had apprehensions about buying the 2.4, but did based on the rave reviews and fuel economy. Let me say - foot in mouth for ever bad-mouthing the Ecotec 2.4! What a smooth engine, dare I say, smoother than most Honda's I've driven in recent years. I was floored by the amount of low-range torque it has. It felt like it had just as much low-end torque as the 6! I could definitely feel the effects of the ECO mode though; not so much in how quickly it shifts, but how it mellows the peddle a fair amount. I still got used to it quickly, and all was good. The V6 was good, and the 2.4 is simply outstanding, especially considering it's a 4 cylinder in a fairly heavy vehicle.
The iPod controls still seem to be missing a tad bit of polish. Everything works fine, but it displays songs and artists in menus where it shouldn't. No biggy, and it might just be my unfamiliarity with the product.
Impressed by everything, and everyone I've shown it to says 'huh, this is a GM?'.
I'd like to thank everyone again for all their help in making my purchase... Now, I'm going to give it a good claying...