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Tags: First Drive: Pontiac G6 GXP Coupe

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First Drive: Pontiac G6 GXP Coupe
Most of America is bounded by farmlands and bisected by highways: flat, fast and straight. Perhaps these are the kinds of driving conditions Pontiac's engineers had in mind when they took the G6 and made it into a GXP.

New for 2008, GXP replaces the GTP sport trim level for the G6 sedan and coupe and offers a host of improvements -- chief among them, a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that makes 252 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. All G6 GXP models also come with GM's Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission, performance-tuned suspension, ABS, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and specific exterior and interior goodies that differentiate it from regular G6 models, including leather seats, modified front and rear fascias, unique rocker panels, body-color mirror caps, and dual chrome exhaust tips. The GXP Coupe we borrowed for a few days also came with a special "Street Edition" package that added dual hood scoops and an exclusive spoiler.

And that's where the problems began. To be perfectly frank, jaws dropped and eyes rolled when the GXP first showed up in the MT garage. No one on staff could believe that Pontiac had resorted to its old styling tricks, particularly with the muscular G8 we had only weeks earlier still fresh in our minds.

"Did you see the wing?" and "look at the schnozz..." were the two common refrains, and indeed much of the GXP package does the handsome G6 coupe no favors. Read Article
First Drive: Pontiac G6 GXP Coupe



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theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 2/8/2008 2:02:57 PM
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The car needs an orthodontist.

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DaHarderDaHarder - 2/8/2008 3:01:57 PM
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The Pontiac G6 really doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Everyone complained about the -over clad- Pontiac's of the recent past, so they (literally) clean up their act, and design a rather pleasant looking vehicle, complete with a highly competent chassis/platform, all at an outstanding price-to-equipment level.

I say, Good Job, and when it comes to the Coupe, especially the GPX, it stands a far smarter (and better looking) choice than either the Toyota Solara, Chevy Monte Carlo or any number of other mid-sized personal coupes...

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 2/9/2008 6:28:41 PMView My AgentSpace
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I don't know. This car seems to be from the "dark ages" of GM; it still has a cheap interior, the handling is only average, the looks are mundane at best and the engine choices aren't terribly sporty. The "performance" model has significantly less power than a Toyota Camry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for GM, but I don't think this car deserves a whole lot of praise. They can do better--NOW, we know that!


Htay7500Htay7500 - 2/8/2008 4:02:05 PM
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the G6 also had a very bad crash test rating in the side impact.

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WhelanWhelan - 2/8/2008 4:34:18 PM
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Very impressed, love the looks. It should sell well. I know the G6 already does pretty well in its market, its clean, modern and has better power than its Solara cousin. Now if Toyota could move its *** and get a Solara TRD version out with a supercharger that would be nice.

But I am very pleased with what has been coming out of the GM stables lately.

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motomoto - 2/8/2008 4:55:09 PM
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Pontiac makes a perfectly competent commuter car. Unfortunately, the General forgot that the 'Excitement' division leaves many auto enthusiasts puzzled by lack of manual transmissions and, in the case of the G6, fwd. And while the new Malibu has a better interior, the G6 is still a good value overall -- worth a look if you're as sick of the latest offerings from Toyota and Honda that, to be honest, don't deliver the value that their earlier products did.

Consider this: the Pontiac G6 GTP coupe offers a 252 hp V6 at $27, 095. To get a V6 in the Accord Coupe, you have to select the EX-L, which bumps the price to $30,510. Is the Honda better? No, not so much that the G6 isn't worth serious consideration.

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2ndbimmer2ndbimmer - 2/9/2008 10:20:31 AM
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I dont like the american cars, but this car does deserve a 2nd look. My roommate got one and it is really nice! For $22,000 he got a lot of options on his G6 sedan. leather, heated seats, premium sound, upgraded wheels, stronger V6 engine, spoiler. it drives better than I thought. It is so much better than the grand am, one of the worst vehicle ver made besides the chevy cavalier.

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mini22mini22 - 2/9/2008 4:50:28 PM
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I'm starting to like American cars.Most notably the Cadillac CTS sedan and soon to be coupe,The new Dodge Charger,Teh Ford Mustang,the Pontiac G8.This car to me is a throw back to previous FWD Pontiacs-full of sound and fury signifying nothing!Not in love with the styling and clearly it does not drive as well as it looks. If Pontiac is to be the more sporting end of GM then RWD or AWD sedans and coupes need to be on the menu.If I want a BLVD cruiser I might as well go for a Buick.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 2/9/2008 6:30:11 PMView My AgentSpace
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HATE the spoiler. It looks profoundly stupid.

I know the next small/midsize Pontiac car will look better, after seeing the CTS, Malibu, G8, Aura, etc...

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2004E462004E46 - 2/10/2008 6:33:57 AM
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The entire car looks stupid, from the oversized front grill to the big fat looking rear spoiler.

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randy33randy33 - 2/12/2008 12:13:40 AM
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OMG! From the company that brought us the AZTEC, now comes this hideous monstrosity. What a joke. This is miserable. I laugh at whoever buys this (women?)


laurentlaurent - 2/10/2008 10:26:07 PM
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this car brings us back to the last grand am generation with all that overly designed plastic.



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