Are all new G6's Rattle Traps or just my POS?

[RoGuE]

I drove a rental 2006 G6 sedan with the 3.5l engine for a week. I had 42,000 miles on it. I was impressed, it was relatively quiet, it had a very smooth ride and nice handling. The only thing wrong with it was the cigarette holes and water damage all over the back seats, lol. The only thing that kept me from buying one myself (I had the rental because my car was totaled and I was ready to buy) was that the seat seemed too low to me even in it's highest position, the armrest on the door is down by your thigh, the middle armrest is nonexistent, and the seat back was murder on my back. Strange considering I drive a Malibu which is essentially the same. The plastics weren't that bad either.

[CanadianGMGuy]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

The Pontiac G6 I had and have disposed of became a rattle trap about 9 months into ownership. There were squeaks in the dash, the standard non-panoramic sunroof, and the doors.

It was terrible.

I don't know about the coupes or convertibles, but the sedans are junk.

Pontiac G6 has got to be the worst thing to come out of Detroit in a long time.
Anyone who claims to like the G6 is a complete fool, IMHO.

So my family are fools for owning a G6 Sedan with 110,000 KM of nothing going wrong, no squeks and rattles, and averaging 28-33mpg. Thanks for that great opinion.

[caddycruiser]

I love my new '08 G6 GT coupe too, though I've still just crossed 780 miles and a few days past 3 weeks.

That said, it has already been in for a couple of items, noises included. From the day it was delivered (dealer trade) I heard something around the sunroof creaking and after picking it up and driving daily, it developed into a louder chorus of creaks & rattles. Took 3 trips including the last for several hours and with a GM engineer on the phone with them, but it's fixed 97%. Quiet save for a random sound every once in a blue moon. Had a light dash rattle too but they had that fixed quickly. Otherwise it's been a wobble while driving it was in for today.

Sounds iffy for 3 weeks old, but all minor minor stuff and teething bugs. Otherwise feels very solid, is VERY quiet, and the 3.5L has terrific grunt yet also is getting better mileage than our 6k mile Malibu 2.4L. 17/26 sticker with the GT gearing? Hardly. Most do significantly better, mine included, with anywhere from 22.5mpg with lots of red light to red light to 29.5mpg with 2 lane 12 mile runs to work and back.

It's an interesting experience having both an '08 G6 and a new '08 Malibu at the same time. There's clearly a lot similar but also a lot different. The 'Bu has a more polished feel throughout that's clear from the first touch, but both feel equally "solid". And from my first test drives, despite the apparent lack of extra quieting, the G6 seems essentially as quiet and smooth on the road, aside from firmer damping and much heavier steering (hydraulic too, vs. the electric) which give it a sportier edge.

From my time in various forums and such, the G6 does seem to have had its fair share of common noises and vibrations annoying owners, but generally most are pleased by the solidity and quiet. In that way, I wasn't totally shocked that I had to deal with a rattle and now also some vibration, but with a top grade service department, it's a weird pleasure taking it in for such minor things.

So, long story short, they're definitely NOT all rattle traps but a few sneak out now and then with some noises. Same for vibrations, as I've seen. I love mine and a co-worker (our intern...hah...) has a new '08 GXP coupe and loves hers to pieces too, and it has had 0 bugs. Tight, solid, smooth, and fast.

[kilcher]

Originally Posted by pontiacjs

Infact, I tell most of my customers that one of the best atributes of the G6 is how quiet they are.

I agree, mine is very quiet. My previous car was an ION with a rattle in the headliner they never could find. That's one of the main reasons I chose the G6 over the Aura, less pieces in the dash to rattle around.

If yours is making noise just keep taking it in. That's what I did with my ION and they never did find it (wouldn't do it most of the time they had it) but they sure tried.

[ScottS]

Just an update... I'm still traveling and when I got in the car last night, I heard another new rattle. This one I tracked down. The flat plastic trim around the arm of the sun visor came loose and is hanging down rattling. Still under 1,000 miles. I have a three hour drive home, can't wait to hear where the next rattle comes from.

[Slack]

I just bought a G6 SV1 last week. It currently has 1007 miles and doesn't make a sound. It certainly isn't' the best car in the world, but it does everything I want it to do.

Calling people a fool for liking a particular car is way out of line, but not unexpected from the source.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by Slack

I just bought a G6 SV1 last week. It currently has 1007 miles and doesn't make a sound. It certainly isn't' the best car in the world, but it does everything I want it to do.

Calling people a fool for liking a particular car is way out of line, but not unexpected from the source.

Fool isn't the right word. People have different standards. From my seat time, its the best of old GM - and thats how we got into this mess. It can't compete with anything made by a Japanese or European marquee in the class. Thats OK for some people.

[smokyn454]

Originally Posted by goblue

Fool isn't the right word. People have different standards. From my seat time, its the best of old GM - and thats how we got into this mess. It can't compete with anything made by a Japanese or European marquee in the class. Thats OK for some people.

Why does every car have to compete with every other car in its class? It is a less expensive alternative to a midsize car.

Let me say this again, my new fully loaded Pontiac G6 = $17,000 , any honda or toyota or nissan for any of there midsize cars = nothing under $22,000 ( and that is for the cheap model )

I really could give a sh** if it competes with an Accord or Camry. It does exactly what I want it to do with ease and a whole lot less money. Standards has nothing to do with it. It does the same thing an accord does 99% of the time, drives me from point A to point B. Why pay $6000 more for a car that does the same exact thing.

Quit making it sound like you are above everyone else and only morons would buy this car. We get it, you are too cool for the room.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by smokyn454

Why does every car have to compete with every other car in its class? It is a less expensive alternative to a midsize car.

Let me say this again, my new fully loaded Pontiac G6 = $17,000 , any honda or toyota or nissan for any of there midsize cars = nothing under $22,000 ( and that is for the cheap model )

I really could give a sh** if it competes with an Accord or Camry. It does exactly what I want it to do with ease and a whole lot less money. Standards has nothing to do with it. It does the same thing an accord does 99% of the time, drives me from point A to point B. Why pay $6000 more for a car that does the same exact thing.

Quit making it sound like you are above everyone else and only morons would buy this car. We get it, you are too cool for the room.

Fine, but thats not what many are defending it for. I can agree with your description of the car. Its just like I said, different standards. Relative to other cars, its crap - but cheaper. Fine. I specifically said no one is a fool/moron for buying it. What's the problem, why the hate?

There is one little issue with the cheaper part though, unless you keep it for a long, long time, you would get most of the difference back in resale.

[Slack]

Originally Posted by goblue

I specifically said no one is a fool/moron for buying it. What's the problem, why the hate?

You didn't say that, mgescuro did. You did agree, though.

[BRMike]

Count me among the fools. My wife and I purchased a 2007 G6 GTP sedan this past January. It is saddled with the antiquated 3.6-liter V6 with variable valve timing and a 6-speed automatic. You know, that old tired combo. We've logged roughly 10,500 miles on the car to this point. So far so good. That's not to say there is an excuse for the OP's rattling interior. I can only report on my personal experience, which to this point has been good. Is it world class? Absolutely not. But for the money, I feel it was a good buy.

For reference, I was also one of those idiots (or whatever the negative is for us) who bought a 2004 GTO.

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by pontiacjs

Thank God that most people do not share your opinion.

Indeed. Generalizing an experience from one vehicle to the entire line, minus supporting outside evidence, is a long leap.

Originally Posted by smokyn454

Why is it garbage? Its not the best car in the world but it is definitely not garbage. I love how if a car has a few things it could improve on it is immediately labeled as garbage.

Old tranny? It is the same tranny they use today in almost every other GM car. Yes they have been using it for a long time but there is nothing wrong with it other than it has 4 gears. The new 6-speeds are out and they don't get any better mileage............so the 6 speeds aren't any better.

As for the cheap engine? Cheap engines usually mean they are cheap to fix as well. By the way, I would rather have the 3.5 than the pig of a 3.6 anyday. There is nothing wrong with the 3.5.

As for the interior? Yeah, it is cheap hard plastic but I kind of like it. Super easy to clean and no other interior looks like it. It is very unique. I am actually sick of every honda, toyota, and nissan interior being almost identical. Besides they cost a lot more anyways.

I bought my loaded G6 new for $17,000 after incentives. That is really hard to beat for a midsize car.

If you want luxury, go buy a luxury car. I am sick of people trashing the car expecting it to be of $30000 quality.

Have fun with all the reliability issues with your VW.

I think I'd rather have the 3.5 vs. the 3.6. For one thing, I don't really need the extra power, and particularly at the expense of MPGs.
I use MPGs more than I go drag racing.

For the poster who disparaged KIA-like interiors...I recently bought a KIA. It was not on my radar screen one month prior to purchase. The car sold itself.
The interior is nice, IMO at least on a par with a Civic I recently drove.

KIA and poppa-san Hyundaiii! have quality as good as any general-interest car. Even the car-guy magazines say so, and Lord knows they laid down much ink speaking of low quality in the past.

[marinerbc]

Originally Posted by CanadianGMGuy

So my family are fools for owning a G6 Sedan with 110,000 KM of nothing going wrong, no squeks and rattles, and averaging 28-33mpg. Thanks for that great opinion.

No one who knows anything about Pontiacs worries about what HE says.

He's sort of like that ornery uncle everybody has that hates everybody. He thinks it makes him suave and debonair to put other people down.

Originally Posted by smokyn454

Quit making it sound like you are above everyone else and only morons would buy this car. We get it, you are too cool for the room.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by goblue

Fool isn't the right word. People have different standards. From my seat time, its the best of old GM - and thats how we got into this mess. It can't compete with anything made by a Japanese or European marquee in the class. Thats OK for some people.

That should NEVER be OK for "some people."
It's NEVER OK for a single GM car to be non-competitive with the competition!!
What kind of **** attitude is THAT!!!

I expected more from the G6.
And problems arose a few months after ownership. I expected better construction, aside from external panel fits. I expected better fuel economy. I expected better driving performance at non-highway speeds. I expected far more because I had believe GM had changed.

So as more and more people figure out that they really won't settle for something less, they move on to different cars. And GM makes the same old crap.

No wonder GM is in this mess.

"Fool" is the right word. And I was foolish to believe GM had changed in 2005. And I was foolish to purchase the G6. I just wanted a cheap, simple car to tool around the City. It was a mistake.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

Indeed. Generalizing an experience from one vehicle to the entire line, minus supporting outside evidence, is a long leap.

Exactly.
Because a few lemons means that the entire line is horrible, right?
At Norwood, it was almost expected that at least one or two Camaros/Firebirds produced in a day would not perform as well or last as long as the others. It's just the way modern manufacturing works. There's no way to completely guarantee that the car will not have some defects. You can try to prevent it to the best of your ability, like they do down in Bowling Green with testing each and every Corvette/XLR, but there will still be one car every day that just doesn't work as well.
I think this is a good case of that. Obviously the vast majority of people have had good experiences with their G6s, or else there wouldn't be so many people driving them.