Urban's Performance Car Reviews - 2006 Pontiac G6 GTP Coupe

[urbanmonkeygod04]

Well, here are the photos. I'm honestly not sure how this review should go . . . I've got a lot of other shit on my mind right now, so I don't think I'm going to mince words too much, because putting too much thought into this is going to be difficult.

My drive in the G6 GTP coupe was honestly not the most satisfying experience in my life; I'm going to be honest. It worked just fine; the acceleration was moderate. It moved forward with vigor, and didn't hesitate to spin the front tires even with the traction control on, but never really seemed to eager to accelerate.

The 3.9 liter V6 had plenty of pull all through the rev range but never really managed to press me back in the seat; it may have been that the 240-hp engine was lugging around too much weight to feel as sporty as I expected.

The four-speed automatic transmission may have been at fault. Even in manual shift mode, it didn't shift with authority, and instead seemed to want to pamper the occupants, not to upset anybody's latte. Perhaps the optional 6-speed manual transmission would have done a little to dispel the grand tourer image the car conjured, and add a little more sportiness with the ability to row your own gears.

On the outside, the car is attractive from most angles, but some look a little too dramatic. The car's shape is stylish and aerodynamic, and the proportions are good. The 18-inch wheels and meaty 225-50-18 all-season Eagle tires filled out the wheel wells.

On the inside, the fit & finish were quite impressive. Everything felt very solid to the touch, and the plastics didn't seem cheap as in Pontiacs of yore. The heated leather seats were comfortable and wide, but didn't offer as much bolstering as you'd expect in a car wearing the GTP badge. The gauges were clear and easy to read, and the center console with the radio and climate controls were well-laid out.

The car is not without fault though; in addition to the slightly anemic-feeling engine/transmission combination, the cab-forward design and artistic proportions made rearward visibility a little daunting. As well, the factory window tinting on the rear windows was not as dark as I would've liked, and looking out the rearview mirror induced a bit of a headache as there was a lot of brightness and glare.

Of the things I was most impressed with on the car, the suspension was it. It offered a very commendable compromise of handling and softness. Turn in was crisp, and body roll was minimal. The tires made for a very smooth ride, even over extremely bumpy paved roads, and it never felt daunting over gravel. On the expressway it devoured pavement comfortably and confidently and never felt like it was getting squirrely, even as speeds approached 100 mph.

The verdict? The G6 GTP is the car to pick if you want a decent performance car that feels upscale and comfortable. It wouldn't be my first choice, but it is a very mature car, and a good show for Pontiac. I'm looking forward to a drive of the upcoming GXP version, as it should address at least a few of the issues I had.

[geokots]

Thank you for a solid review.
I've always been a fan of the G6 but never driven one. I like the look of the coupe and was excited when I heard about the GTP version.

Couple questions for you.
- What would you compare it to? To me it's a slightly smaller competitor of the Nissan Altima. But I'm not sure on where it's price point puts it.
- I personally and not impressed overall by the manual mode of most automatics. Manual or not it still feels like an automatic tranny. Of the GP Comp, Volvo V70 and Saab 9-5 that I have driven I liked the manual mode of the Saab the best. Typically it's better than true auto because you can control the shift points but it still changes too soft for a true performance feel.
- did it have the 3 piece sunroof? I've always been curious if it's a good thing or not.
- what about some other details like, interior noise... exhaust sound... etc.

Once again thanks for the review.

[Sp00ner]

Guy at the Starbucks near work just picked up the same car. I do love the way they look though. Get a real engine in there, or something, and I'd buy one.

[CarNut]

Saw one on the lot today. It had the optional 6 spd and summer only tires so at least they knew how to order a perfomance car. I have to say I didn't like the styling. It looks abnormally stretched to fit on the 4 door wheelbase. The RL is a much better looking coupe on a sedan chassis IMO. I also have to say it had the WORST paint I have seen on any recent GM product. Where are they assembled? It was black, and despite being very thin (I could tell from the numerous scratches), it was horribly orange peeled. And $28K list?? Give me the GTO for $5K more or the GP GXP V8.

[jpapa]

Originally Posted by CarNut

I also have to say it had the WORST paint I have seen on any recent GM product. Where are they assembled? It was black, and despite being very thin (I could tell from the numerous scratches), it was horribly orange peeled.

That orange peel shows up on purpose. All GM cars have it, even Cadillacs. The purpose os the orange peel is to hide any metal finish defects that are likely to show up on a perfectly smooth looking surface. The orange peel is more noticeable on some colors, mainly metallic colors. I am not a fan of this purposeful orange peel look, but many car companies do this...

[CarNut]

Originally Posted by jpapa

That orange peel shows up on purpose. All GM cars have it, even Cadillacs. The purpose os the orange peel is to hide any metal finish defects that are likely to show up on a perfectly smooth looking surface. The orange peel is more noticeable on some colors, mainly metallic colors. I am not a fan of this purposeful orange peel look, but many car companies do this...

No, this was really bad. I'm not comparing it against a BMW or Mercedes standards. I own 4 GM, parents own 3, uncles & aunts own at least a dozen more late model GMs. Two of my uncles have black trucks and are fanatics about keeping them sharp. That G6 was pathetic compared to their trucks. If I ordered that car, and it came in like that, I'd refuse to take delivery.
But I have to agree that GM has slipped in finish quality. My 92 Riviera still has better paint than any new GMs.

[XeroState]

Well that is a very unbiased and honest review of car (showing good and bad sides of the car). Not like some magizenes (hmmm......and wow, bad spelling on that). The pontiac dealership in my city is moving literally 200yrds away from my work place (<5 minute walk..if that) with a buddy as a dealer (yay for driving the GTO, G6 and other fun cars ). But in all honesty....GIVE ME MORE REVIEWS!!!!...lol. I'd much rather read yours than stupid people's biased opinions.

[urbanmonkeygod04]

Originally Posted by geokots

Thank you for a solid review.
I've always been a fan of the G6 but never driven one. I like the look of the coupe and was excited when I heard about the GTP version.

Couple questions for you.
- What would you compare it to? To me it's a slightly smaller competitor of the Nissan Altima. But I'm not sure on where it's price point puts it.
- I personally and not impressed overall by the manual mode of most automatics. Manual or not it still feels like an automatic tranny. Of the GP Comp, Volvo V70 and Saab 9-5 that I have driven I liked the manual mode of the Saab the best. Typically it's better than true auto because you can control the shift points but it still changes too soft for a true performance feel.
- did it have the 3 piece sunroof? I've always been curious if it's a good thing or not.
- what about some other details like, interior noise... exhaust sound... etc.

Once again thanks for the review.

To answer your questions:
-I think the G6 line is positioned around the Honda Accord/Toyota Camry-Solara/Nissan Altima line, as far as the imports, and it's hard to say on the domestic side, because it certainly isn't in the Taurus category. That's the class GM has been gunning to get headway in though. Maybe it fits in with the Dodge Stratus?
-As far as the manual shift mode, it was ok, but no matter what anybody says, it just isn't as much fun as the whole lift-clutch-gas experience, and the shifts are really soft in this car. I think it would've been a lot better with a manual, personally.
-I'm checking right now if they offer the panorama sunroof or whatever on the coupe; I think it's a sedan-only thing, as the roof is a whole lot different on the coupe. Yup. Only the sedan. The G6 coupe has a sunroof option, but do bear in mind that a convertible version will be available soon; if I had to guess when, I'd say spring 2006.
-As far as interior noise, exhaust sound, and other stuff of the sort, it's very quiet. Like I stated, it felt rock-solid on the interstate, and very quiet; the radio was at the lowest volume and I could still hear it clearly at 80. The exhaust is muted, but in this car I think it was tuned to be fairly quiet. This thing isn't the boy racer type, it's a little more grown up.

All in all, it is certainly a grand-tourer more than a true "sports car". Perhaps a midsize sedan chassis is what makes it like that; maybe that's how the engineers wanted it. The GXP version will certainly offer a more visceral experience. I just hope they get the complete package with it; body work, good noises, a willing engine for your right foot, etcetera.

It's all about what you want when you buy the car. If you told me you wanted a competent, fairly fun car but still can be taken seriously, I'd tell you, absolutely buy this car. If you wanted something with a little hair on the chest, I'd say go somewhere else in the model line.

However, this is just another example of GM going in the right direction; the products they're showing us today are much more well-engineered, well put together, and a lot more upscale. The quality of the materials inside as compared to my Firebird that I had 4 years ago is a radical change.

Thanks for all the comments, I'll check again after class tomorrow to answer any other questions!

[matt]

That's gay, no supercharger? That's a disgrace to the GTP name. The car looks nice, but it needs the S/C.