2009.5 Pontiac G6

[CadiEldo67]

Car :2009.5 Pontiac G6 Sedan

Exterior Color : Midnight Blue Metallic
Interior Color : Light Taupe

Engine : 2.4 Ecotec I-4

Options :
Sun and Wheels Package
Premium Package
Sport Package 1
Preferred Package
MY LINK Package

What I expected :
I thought that I would be getting into a slow uncomfortable car that wasn’t the best car on the planet and while it did look good, I wasn’t sure how my mother (who I brought the car home to test drive for) would like it either. We looked at a G6 previously and she seen that it had a 4 cylinder and basically wrote it off.

What I thought during :
I started the car and immediately noticed a Remote Start function just like my recently purchased Grand Prix has. I then seen how smoothly the Ecotec starts and idles. (I had always thought these engines to be decent at best). The salesman put the plates on and I was on my way home. Immediately I began to play around with the TapShift on the steering wheel and the shifts are a bit slow but when I was testing the acceleration on the car, I never hit the redline limiter - the shifting became very intuitive and I would click the paddle when it seemed like the car would hit the redline and it went to the next gear very smoothly. This is actually the first vehicle I have driven with a six speed automatic and I walked away impressed, and still in awe that four speeds are used so heavily today. At first, I found the engine to be a bit annoying, but after a few minutes of driving, I thought that it was almost enjoyable to hear, being quite a bit different from the 3.8 V6 that I’m so used to. The seats in the car were very comfortable and while both front seats lacked lumbar support, I didn’t feel that I missed it either. I turned on the radio to see how the sound system stacked up and was actually surprised (but should have known) that XM radio was on 2009 GM vehicles.

I got home and drove up. Apparently my mother was joking when she told me to go and bring the car home for her to drive. But she felt that it was worth a drive since I took the trouble to get it. One of the first things that she noticed was how good the exterior of the car looked. Since it had the Sports Package 1, it had the 17 inch Chrome wheels, (with low profile tires) and a rear spoiler amongst other items in the package. She got into the car and also liked the two tone seats in light taupe and ebony. It really makes the car look more upscale. I liked the lack of wood trim, in its place was the new satin-nickel trim.

My mom thought that the acceleration of the car was quite impressive for the size of the engine, as did I. This left me a bit confused though, she currently drives an ’05 Canyon CC with the 3.5 I5 and I drive an ’05 Grand Prix with a 3.8 V6, both of which produce a boatload more torque than the 2.4 Ecotec. My guess would have to be a combination of the six speed automatic and a slightly lower curb weight for the G6.

What I thought afterwards :
While the car may not be up to the Malibu’s level of refinement (which I’m just going by what others say) its not a bad car by any sense of the word. Its got an attractive exterior inspired by the G8 and a good looking, practical interior with supportive seats, an attractive corporate sound unit, and lots of leg room. My mom did notice the lack of a rear seat armrest (which they’ve been looking for in every sedan since her ’01 Bonneville) and commented on the reasonable size of the trunk. After I told her the price of the car at $21,000 with just 2,900 miles on it, she became very interested, especially since the window sticker was available in the glove box and showed the car when new was just under $27,000. Once my mom was done with her drive, she said that she was very interested and wouldn't have considered a 4 cylinder at all (she too thought that it would be unreasonable slow). Needless to say, if my local B-P-G dealership would stock a well equipped G6 like this, then would sell a new car. But since they only carry fleet versions of vehicles (because the only thing worth selling is trucks) my mom has the potential to save thousands and still get the warranty and the new car smell. I give it a thumbs up and if I think of it, will get pictures if I stop at the dealer this week.

Oh, and if the Chevy Malibu is anything like this car - GM's got a hell of a car on their hands.

[johnnyl321]

glad you liked it. it's good to read something positive for a change.

[cyclone]

Two members from GMi just bought 2009.5 G6's, you, and TaHoE.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by CadiEldo67

Oh, and if the Chevy Malibu is anything like this car - GM's got a hell of a car on their hands.

Take that car and ratchet the quietness, smoothness, seating, interior plastics and styling, and other small touches up a few or several notches and you'd know what a Malibu is like. I went from an '08 G6 GT to an '09 Malibu 2LT V6 and while clearly the chassis is shared, they felt, sounded, and basically did almost everything quite differently. The 'Bu feels like a thicker, more polished and refined car, somehow, despite the small differences under the skin. The '09.5 revisions to the G6 in terms of styling and the interior center stack definitely help, and an even wider range of 2.4L/6-speed models is a very good thing--if they also added any of the extra quieting/smoothing touches from the Aura/Bu, that'd be even better. I enjoyed both in different ways, however, so neither is notably good/bad than the other.

So, sounds like a great test drive, especially in how that silky little Ecotec impressed you I only wish our '08 Malibu had been post 6-spd time rather than early with the 4-spd, because it makes a very notable improvement in pep, smoothness, and just using the power.

[CadiEldo67]

Originally Posted by cyclone

Two members from GMi just bought 2009.5 G6's, you, and TaHoE.

We didn't get it yet, might not, but there's a very good chance of finding it in the garage by next week. And I'm glad to hear that TaHoE bought one, I actually wondered what he ended up buying.

Unfortunately I bought into the idea that cars sold to fleets must not be very good vehicles, add that to the regular bashing of most things Pontiac and its amazing that I suggested the G6 to my mom, probably even more amazing that I went out and bought an '05 Grand Prix.

[longislander]

Originally Posted by CadiEldo67

Its got an attractive exterior inspired by the G8

The G6 came out for MY 2005 and the G8 for 2008. Which one inspired the other one's styling ?

[civilzues]

Originally Posted by longislander

The G6 came out for MY 2005 and the G8 for 2008. Which one inspired the other one's styling ?

the 2009.5 was inspired by the G8

[longislander]

Originally Posted by civilzues

the 2009.5 was inspired by the G8

True dat. My bad.

[TaHoE]

If you are looking into a sedan, I would definitely check out the Malibu. Our Malibu is much more refined than the G6, but we wanted the G6 for top down enjoyment, so a less interesting interior wasn't a problem for us.

[ejfx]

Good review...I was wondering about the I4...I purchased a new G6 GT Coupe two weeks ago for my girl...and one for myself last week as my company car...they are getting harder to find these days...I am truely impressed with the coupes...compared to my last vehicles, GM interiors have come a long way.

If it would ever stop raining I could get some pics of them side by side.

Too bad the Mailbu didnt have a coupe...There are not many coupes anymore...The thing that tilted my decision was all the extra rebates Pontiac threw at me.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by ejfx

Good review...I was wondering about the I4...I purchased a new G6 GT Coupe two weeks ago for my girl...and one for myself last week as my company car...they are getting harder to find these days...I am truely impressed with the coupes...compared to my last vehicles, GM interiors have come a long way.

If it would ever stop raining I could get some pics of them side by side.

Too bad the Mailbu didnt have a coupe...There are not many coupes anymore...The thing that tilted my decision was all the extra rebates Pontiac threw at me.

YES I loved my '08 GT coupe, were it not a lemon, and there was always something "special" about it. The Malibu I had after was a lot more refined, had a dramatically better interior, etc. but I always wished it was a coupe too after the G6, for whatever reason.

Then I moved from that to a G8 and just got a huge sedan, in the process. Oh well.