Pontiac G6 GTP..Overlooked Car?

I found one of these for sale:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2017&zip=19446&transmissionCode=MAN&maxPrice=17000&transmissionCodes=MAN&showcaseListingId=0&mmt=%5BPONT%5BG6%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=G6&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&startYear=1981&makeCode1=PONT&showcaseOwnerId=0&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=0&listingId=417689977&Log=0

The 6 speed manual/v6/sedan setup seems to be rare. Are these bad handlers? It looks like a cheap sleeper sedan to me.

C&D compared them to a bunch of other cars when they were new and didn't like them too much. The biggest marks against it seem to have been a crappy interior with a bad shifter, wallowy handling and annoying NVH problems. Seeing as most of the other cars in their comparison test can be had for as much or cheaper than the one you posted, it doesn't seem like a great choice.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2006-acura-tsx-vs-honda-accord-mazdaspeed-6-pontiac-g6-vw-jetta-comparison-tests

My girlfriend has a regular G6 with the four banger. I would describe it as competent but completely uninspiring, basically rental fleet grade appliance. Wheezy and underpowered with the four, rides OK but the handling is totally meh, and the interior feels like it should have Rubbermaid logos stamped on everything. Has some of the worst steering feel of any car I've driven, zero feedback at all whatsoever and the assist has a really unnatural feel to it - drives me nuts on long highway trips.

On the plus side, its been utterly reliable for her over about 100k miles and for the few little things I've had to work on its proven SUPER easy to service. Best oil filter placement of any vehicle I've ever worked on.

Hey, look at that, I'm a halfdork now!

If it's at all related to the early 00's Ion SWMBO owned for a few years, numb and wallowy is exactly right...electric steering assist and floppy suspension was an absolute nightmare in snow. By the time you realized what was happening to your steering, you were already berked. Even though I would agree, it was reliable as gravity, I would still pass.

4cylndrfury wrote: If it's at all related to the early 00's Ion SWMBO owned for a few years, numb and wallowy is exactly right...electric steering assist and floppy suspension was an absolute nightmare in snow. By the time you realized what was happening to your steering, you were already berked. Even though I would agree, it was reliable as gravity, I would still pass.

Not at all related to the Ion.

But yeah, the G6 wasn't a sporty car by any means. Solid transportation, sure, but that's it. I recall riding to Ohio in the back seat of one and the cushions seemed to be made of granite and it had weird forward-leaning headrests that tried to force you into a sleeper hold.

I have to admit I think G6's are a decent car for the money. The handful of them I've had were reasonably quiet and easy to drive. I like the size, like a 1st gen Altima. A 3.9 example with a manual transmission makes comparing the car to other automatic or heaven forbid 4 cylinder examples largely irrelevant. For the right price it's a good choice.

If steering feel is clunky and E36 M3ty, put a new intermediate shaft in it. They're about $75, and make all the difference in the world.

the G6 replaced the Grand Am when Pontiac went to their numeric naming system instead of using real names- numbered from smallest to largest, the G3 is an Aveo, G4/G5 is a Cobalt, G6 is the Grand Am, there was no G7 because they still sold the Grand Prix, G8 is the imported rwd Holden- in case you need a frame of reference for what niche it was intended to fill in the marketplace.

i didn't know they made them with a manual transmission..

I drove a G6 once as a rental. Must've been 2008 or so. Not a GTP, but I would not be interested in one at any price. Makes me think of lipstick on a pig.

In reply to iadr:

It's car & driver, they suck for the most part these days....

In reply to iadr:

Are you trying to defend the G6 as a great car? My point was that in its time it wasn't well regarded; from that list I'd happily take any of the alternatives, even the Jetta, though the TSX would likely be my pick.

This G6 engine and manual trans is headed to 2016 Challenge as the APV GTP.!!

A buddy had a regular G6 for awhile and said that it found new ways to disappoint him everyday. That's all I've got. Seems like a Cobalt SS might be the better choice, but I'm admittedly uneducated about the GXPs.

BIL has a base with the 3.5L 60 degree v6. Not bad. It is competent but the interior is trashed. He isn't nice to it though and neither are his kids. I wouldn't buy one for anything other a commuter though.