P5 vs. G6

R

rjmhotrod

Member
:
'02 P5 White
Last week I was working in the mountains of NC and decided to upgrade my rental car (the client paid for an intermediate) to a Pontiac G6 with sunroof (they didn't have any convertibles (pissed) ). So anyway I drove the whole week in the G6 and while I do like the overall look of the car, I was surprised how much it sucked compared to my P5. Granted the G6 had it beat in the power department, but my stock P5 is SO much more responsive, both throttle and steering. Braking feels more confident in the P5, the G6's were very touchy. It took me nearly all week to get used to the brakes. The tires stuck pretty well, but still alot of body roll.

This was not a G6 GT, just the normal V6 version. The GT would have held it's ground a little more.

Not sure why I'm comparing a P5 with a G6 (apples vs. oranges) other than the obvious - I love my P5 and everything I get a chance to drive is compared to it. This trip to NC is getting to be an annual trip with this client. Each year I try to drive something different or upgrade to something a little more exciting. The most fun was a couple of years ago when I upgraded to an Eclipse convertible. Taking that thing on the Blue Ridge Parkway sure was a blast.
 
I haven't driven much else since I got my P5, excluding my girlfriend's Millenia. The P5 feels roomier, better ergonomics, better seats. Only real gripe is lack of variable intermittent wipers (soon to be rectified) and the cheesy looking tail pipe. Even the shifter is good enough that I don't feel the need to immediately get a short throw. Now if I could just find a curvy road to point it at. Soon...
 
well since my gf bought a G6 GT a few weeks ago, I've had the privilidge of evaluating it compared to my p5. Here's my thoughts.

Wayy bigger. I'm afraid to turn anywhere for fear of curbing! This'll go away in time of course.

Little body roll. I was surprised by how relatively little body roll the GT had going into a 90 degree turn at 30 mph. Not as confident going through it as my p5, but sitll did pretty well.

Obviously much more power than the p5, which can come in handy.

Interior is decent. Nicole got the light taupe interior, which I think makes it look much classier inside. That said, there are issues with some panels not being properly secured. And this is a NEW car.

Tires are fine, but cost about 160 each!

Comes with remote start as a factory option. It's nice to have a remote start from the factory and fall under the vehicle warranty...

Decent gas mileage, I think it's 22/27 or something like that for the automatic.

Large wheel flares. I'd be very concerned about parking it anywhere until I get guards on these things. Great target for door dings.

Steering is very loose. It's electric power steering, as opposed to the traditional pump-driven power steering. It also takes some getting used to.

All in all, is it a decent car? Yes. Would I buy one myself? Maybe. Her car as tested:

GT package
Premium Value Package - 17" chrome wheels, sunroof (not the panoramic), monsoon 8-speaker sound system.
Side-impact air bags as well as side-curtain air bags
Remote start

I think 22-23k is a reasonable price for it.
 
I thought that the G6 is a little boring to drive, so is the Grand Prix. It is a fine car, very comfortable, just not really comparable with a P5.
 
you know, it's kinda fun actually. I like the interior (much better than the grand am), and I think it has a good amount of power to it. Not "OMG!" power, but pretty good power.
 
the G6 does not look that bad and probably is a much better car than the Grand-Am was.......will have to check one out in person sometime.

The one good thing about it is that it has more power than the P5.....
 
Protege52003 said:
the G6 does not look that bad and probably is a much better car than the Grand-Am was.......will have to check one out in person sometime.

The one good thing about it is that it has more power than the P5.....
Click to expand...

I don't keep up with Pontiacs too much, but I thought the G6 was the Grand Prix replacement. It is bigger, more refined, more responsive, pretty much better in just about every way compared to the Grand Am (at least the one I rented several years ago). Trunk space was a little shallow. It doesn't feel like it's in the same class as the Grand Am.
 
rjmhotrod said:
I don't keep up with Pontiacs too much, but I thought the G6 was the Grand Prix replacement. It is bigger, more refined, more responsive, pretty much better in just about every way compared to the Grand Am (at least the one I rented several years ago). Trunk space was a little shallow. It doesn't feel like it's in the same class as the Grand Am.
Click to expand...
The g6 is the grand am replacement. They still make the Grand Prix and they are gonna drop the Bonnevile i heard.

As far as which to get, lets see... ones a GM and the others a Mazda (ya, ya I know ford owns them)

The fact thats it's a GM should scare the hell out of you.
 
you know the G6 isn't that bad of a car. I think most of the newer GM's are FINALLY starting to show their better quality... though it'll take a while before the GM stereotype is defeated...
 
Lord_Zath said:
you know the G6 isn't that bad of a car. I think most of the newer GM's are FINALLY starting to show their better quality... though it'll take a while before the GM stereotype is defeated...
Click to expand...

Nothing will change my opinion of GM after owning a 2000 GMC Sonoma. 17 times to the dealer for the same problem, the seats slid into the dash when I stopped. 25+ total times in a year and a half of owing this "Certified Used" POS. All the problem I had were also reported with NHTSA by others, so I know I am not along with broken seat handles, and other defective stuff. They are too big to turn around the quality factor in 5 years. If they could, then they would not be laying off 25,000 people and closing factories.
 
I got it resolved 1 more time after the warranty went out. They put "shims" in the track again. The next day, I traded that hunk of s*** in, so it can be someone else's problem. receipts were hidden in the tire hitch holder, so the next owner can use them agains GM.
 
Lord_Zath said:
nice
Click to expand...

Yup, Little pieces of thin metal. They shimmed it a few times, new frame, tracks, "adjustments", repeated as they felt necessary. It all ended up with the same result within a day or so. When I went back for one of the first few times, the shop foreman did not believe me. He sat in the car, and the seat did not move. So I made him go for a drive, wearing the seat belt too. I got up to 50, slowed to a stop light, and he went into the dash like a crash dummy. So every time it failed and I went back, he just agreed with me, no need to drive it. The problem eventually got so bad, the seat lost total grip on the track, and was like it was in a state of adjustment. I was told from Mr. Raulserson (crook who owns the local GMC and Honda stealershits) that is "was within" specs. Unfortunately, after asking for the specs sheet, he left. He did not get to see the whole seats sliding into the dash fun, as that was "shimmed up" when he saw the floppy seat.

In 2003, the seat frame and track style was discontinued, and replaced with heavier duty parts, or at least I was told. When asked to replace the entire seat, I was denied. The thing was so flimsy, the passenger side of the bench seat would shake so much, it was like it someone with parkinsons having a seizure in my rear view mirror when driving.

That was the day before I got 2 Mazdas. My wife's B3000 has a bench seat. It does not slide into the dash, nor does the passenger seat flop around, even though it is a Ford Ranger. My P5 has the same performance.

I sure hope the guys who engineered the seat frames for the G6 are not the same people. Oh, I finally saw my first one today on the road. I thought it was a late 90's Grand Am at first, but then I saw the new sunroof. Other than that, not much changed in the styling.

Lord Zath, I hope your girlfriend got the extended warranty on it. With The GM tag on it, she will probably need it.
 
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