Review of 4-cyl G6 sedan

[autofan]

My 2005 G6 GT is in for service (oil change, an intermittent long crank starting issue and slight whistle at highway speeds from the panoramic roof when closed), so for the second time the dealer has given me a base 4-cyl G6 to drive. I thought I'd share my thoughts.

Driving...

It's immediately clear this is a 4-cyl at idle. It's a bit buzzy, but not objectionable. I even like the slight raspiness/growl when accelerating. You certainly hear the engine more than the 3.5 V6 in the GT. It feels much lighter on its feet and much more assertive off the line than my car. The 3.5 is very lazy off the line to me and with the panoramic roof and heavier engine, the weight makes the GT feel less tossable than the 4-cylinder model. Grip is clearly limited by the smaller 16" wheels and tires and the tires howl more readily. Power is plentiful around town and sufficient at highway speeds. It never feels overtaxed. Given the modest horsepower ratings (167), I expected it to feel sluggish entering the freeway.

The rest...

It bothers me that you can't get a 4-cyl model with all of the "luxury" features of the V6 models. Honda, Toyota, Ford and Mercury all allow you to trim a 4-cyl model with all of the upmarket features, but on the G6 and Malibu for example, a 4-cylinder model is pretty bare bones. You can't get leather, steering wheel controls, larger wheels/tires or fog lamps. Not to mention that all of the competition is available with a manual transmission, while the G6/Malibu are not. The loaner I have does have a sunroof, remote start and CD changer, but the 16" wheels and the black, coarse fabric make it look incredibly cheap. The 17" wheels and light taupe leather in my car make a world of difference. I just wish those features were available on the less costly and more fuel efficient 4-cylinder model.

[cfch3399]

Thanks for that. I'm looking at getting a G6. I was quite impressed with the 3.5's willingness to go if you floor that throttle.
I've only driven the 4 cylinder around the block and first gear seemed great, but the rest of the gears a little tall. I didn't drive it on freeways so not sure how it responds there.
What kind of mileage are you getting on your GT? Any other problems aside from the starting issue?

[autofan]

Originally Posted by cfch3399

Thanks for that. I'm looking at getting a G6. I was quite impressed with the 3.5's willingness to go if you floor that throttle.
I've only driven the 4 cylinder around the block and first gear seemed great, but the rest of the gears a little tall. I didn't drive it on freeways so not sure how it responds there.
What kind of mileage are you getting on your GT? Any other problems aside from the starting issue?

I do think the 3.5's sluggishness (and any sluggishness in the 4-cyl also) is due to the huge lapse between gear changes in the transmission. If you nail the throttle, the 3.5 is very responsive, though the gear change is so strong that it causes torque steer. The powertrain always feels like it's half asleep to me and only a jolt to the gas pedal will wake it up. The 4-cyl felt more alive by comparison.

I've always averaged 20-23 mpg. I do very little highway driving and very little stop and go city driving. So with "suburban" driving, I suppose the fuel economy is not that bad. But without a big performance advantage, I think the 4-cyl would be preferable to the V6. In hindsight, I should have waited for the GTP with the 3.9. At least then I'd have some performance in exchange for the lousy fuel economy.

As for problems, I've had very few. Mine was an early 2005 and I've only had a couple of minor noise issues (for which there were documented service bulletins) and the starting problem. Unfortunately, even on my second visit to the dealer, neither the panoramic roof whistle, nor the intermittent long start issue could be fixed (sunroof) or duplicated (starting).

[Ming]

Moved to reader's car reviews sub-forum.

It bothers me that you can't get a 4-cyl model with all of the "luxury" features of the V6 models. Honda, Toyota, Ford and Mercury all allow you to trim a 4-cyl model with all of the upmarket features, but on the G6 and Malibu for example, a 4-cylinder model is pretty bare bones. You can't get leather, steering wheel controls, larger wheels/tires or fog lamps.

This seems a common problem with GM option packages. The way option packages work seems very similar to what it was for GM cars in the mid 1990s. Look at Astro trim levels from 1996, and its not significantly different in how it works in today's GM cars with the leather wrapped steering wheel thing, for instance. There doesn't appear to be the flexibility that there should be, especially with Pontiac competing against such brands as Scion.

[autofan]

Originally Posted by Ming

Moved to reader's car reviews sub-forum.



This seems a common problem with GM option packages. The way option packages work seems very similar to what it was for GM cars in the mid 1990s. Look at Astro trim levels from 1996, and its not significantly different in how it works in today's GM cars with the leather wrapped steering wheel thing, for instance. There doesn't appear to be the flexibility that there should be, especially with Pontiac competing against such brands as Scion.

With fuel economy being more of an issue now, GM needs to rethink this. Why should upscale and economy be mutually exclusive? Almost every GM product is configured so that only the models with the uplevel powertrains get the most upscale features. Even simple things like leather wrapped steering wheels and fog lamps are unavailable at any price on base G6s or even Buick LaCrosse & Lucerne models. Customers shouldn't have to sacrifice nice features to get the most efficient models.

[01cavalier]

I would agree that a 4-cylinder should be able to be optioned out like a V6. Not being able to do that makes anyone who wants a 4-cylinder have to settle, not sonething most peolpe want to feel like.

[cfch3399]

The deluxe 4 is an interesting idea. My concern would be weight as the G6 is already rather heavy and pricing of course. It'll be interesting to see what GM does for 07, when the current 3.5 becomes an option on the base 4 cylinder model.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by autofan

With fuel economy being more of an issue now, GM needs to rethink this. Why should upscale and economy be mutually exclusive? Almost every GM product is configured so that only the models with the uplevel powertrains get the most upscale features. Even simple things like leather wrapped steering wheels and fog lamps are unavailable at any price on base G6s or even Buick LaCrosse & Lucerne models. Customers shouldn't have to sacrifice nice features to get the most efficient models.

Its funny because its the exact boat that I'm in, interested in the Impala with the E-85 capable 31mpg V6 engine. I'd get a lot of the optional features if I could that just aren't available with that "base" engine.

[Jonnycat26]

Originally Posted by Ming

Its funny because its the exact boat that I'm in, interested in the Impala with the E-85 capable 31mpg V6 engine. I'd get a lot of the optional features if I could that just aren't available with that "base" engine.

Ditto... sort of. I'd love to get a G6 4 cylinder, but I find the lack of side airbags for the 4 cylinder models unforgivable.

[Neanderthal]

Originally Posted by autofan

Driving...

It's immediately clear this is a 4-cyl at idle. It's a bit buzzy,
Power is plentiful around town and sufficient at highway speeds. It never feels overtaxed. Given the modest horsepower ratings (167), I expected it to feel sluggish entering the freeway.

The rest...

It bothers me that you can't get a 4-cyl model with all of the "luxury" features of the V6 models. Honda, Toyota, Ford and Mercury all allow you to trim a 4-cyl model with all of the upmarket features, but on the G6 and Malibu for example, a 4-cylinder model is pretty bare bones. You can't get leather, steering wheel controls, larger wheels/tires or fog lamps. Not to mention that all of the competition is available with a manual transmission, while the G6/Malibu are not. The loaner I have does have a sunroof, remote start and CD changer, but the 16" wheels and the black, coarse fabric make it look incredibly cheap. The 17" wheels and light taupe leather in my car make a world of difference. I just wish those features were available on the less costly and more fuel efficient 4-cylinder model.

Yet another miss at GM. Honda sells buckets of Accord EXs, which are loaded for bear. Why GM would let this market drive on by is as squirrely as their Dozen V6s Mystery, but it speaks of "managment" in chaos.
I suppose the four has a four speed auto. That is so stupid. The 160 HP Accord four has a 5-speed, and that makes a huge difference in this marginal power range. No stick? There is five or ten percent of the market that wants a stick. Ignore them and they WILL go away.
General Van Winkle: Snoozing his way down the road.

[autofan]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

Yet another miss at GM. Honda sells buckets of Accord EXs, which are loaded for bear. Why GM would let this market drive on by is as squirrely as their Dozen V6s Mystery, but it speaks of "managment" in chaos.
I suppose the four has a four speed auto. That is so stupid. The 160 HP Accord four has a 5-speed, and that makes a huge difference in this marginal power range. No stick? There is five or ten percent of the market that wants a stick. Ignore them and they WILL go away.
General Van Winkle: Snoozing his way down the road.

The lack of a manual w/the 4-cyl completely ignores that the competition exists. The lack of equipment on the 4-cyl model does too. Ford was actually smart by basically copying Honda and Toyota's model lineup with the Fusion and Milan. Both are available fully loaded with either the 4-cyl or the V6. In fact, a completely loaded Milan with a 5 speed manual is about $23,500. That includes heated leather, auto climate control, 17" wheels, sunroof, side/canopy air bags, etc. With fuel economy being more of an issue for buyers, this makes total sense. It would be so easy for GM to reconfigure the options for the G6, but they just can't seem to get such things right.

[Jonnycat26]

Originally Posted by autofan

The lack of a manual w/the 4-cyl completely ignores that the competition exists. The lack of equipment on the 4-cyl model does too. Ford was actually smart by basically copying Honda and Toyota's model lineup with the Fusion and Milan. Both are available fully loaded with either the 4-cyl or the V6. In fact, a completely loaded Milan with a 5 speed manual is about $23,500. That includes heated leather, auto climate control, 17" wheels, sunroof, side/canopy air bags, etc. With fuel economy being more of an issue for buyers, this makes total sense. It would be so easy for GM to reconfigure the options for the G6, but they just can't seem to get such things right.

Ironically tho, the G6 4-cylinder with an auto gets better mileage than the Fusion/Milan with a manual. Of course, the Fusion/Milan have 5 and 6 speed autos available, which may make driving a bit more fun.

And, like you said, you can get the Fusion/Milan with everything in a 4 cylinder version. You can't even get side airbags on a 4cyl G6, let alone auto climate control or the panaromic sunroof.

Come on GM... people want this.