CD Article: 2006 Pontiac G6 GTP Convertible

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:

The 2006 G6 Convertible's folding hardtop is the first available "on anything even close to its sub-$40,000 price point," reports Laurance Yap. "On smooth roads..the top does an excellent job of insulating the cabin from wind and road noise," but "it would rattle over every set of bumps I drove over," he reports. "As with all folding hardtops, you pay a price in cargo space," he notes.       More...

[Bullet Blue]

"Competitors
2006 Toyota Solara SE convertible
2006 Ford Mustang V6 convertible
2006 Volkswagen Eos
2006 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2006 Ford Mustang convertible
2006 Toyota Solara convertible
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible"

Thank you for pointing this out, Yap. This is the Eos' true price point competators. Not in the same league as the C70 

I am impressed with the G6 hardtop. It looks quite sleek from side and rear profiles. I saw a black on in the flesh the other week and it was getting a lot of looks from others. A good effort by GM. Let's just hope long term reliability is where it should be.

[Snowman]

  For $38k I can get Mustang GT convertible.

[Bullet Blue]

  For $38k I can get Mustang GT convertible.

Exactly.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Thank you for pointing this out, Yap. This is the Eos' true price point competators. Not in the same league as the C70 

And yet he mentions the C70 in the article and not the Eos except for there.

The Eos straddles the ground between both - it has NEARLY the quality/interior size/trunk/usability/execution (3 piece folding roof vs 2 piece)/fit and finish of the C70/9-3/etc, but priced below them alongside the G6 largely because of the VW badge and VW's determination to have some hits in North America and go about it by pricing much better than in recent past. I maintain it's the best deal going and MORE comparable to C70 than G6.

The G6 does look slick and flowing to me 

[mdxtasy]

The G6 has a very good overall profile.  Sleek shape and very pleasing flow to it...with one exception.  When I look at the side profile of the car, I can't help but think the wheelbase is too long, or the wheels to small, or the body is too tall.....

The interior looks much improved.

[y2chuck]

I agree with this review for the most part.  I didn't notice any rattles with the top up tho, it seemed pretty air-tight.  I took it on the highway and drove a bit through the city with the top up and down.

I does feel like a heavy car and it's definitly not a sporty driver, but it does have a nice ride.    The hardtop is a huge plus and out of that segment, I'd look at that or the EOS and that's it. 

[Bullet Blue]

And yet he mentions the C70 in the article and not the Eos except for there.

He also mentioned Audi BMW and Lexus in the article. The mention of the C70 in the article was about how unique the car is in this price range because in order to get a hardtop convert you would have to go into the premium segment like the C70 or the Lexus SC.

In terms of the best deal going, it's gotta be the Ford Mustang GT for $38 G's. I would sacrifice the lack of a hardtop for RWD and much more power.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

In terms of the best deal going, it's gotta be the Ford Mustang GT for $38 G's. I would sacrifice the lack of a hardtop for RWD and much more power.

Oh for sure the Mustang's a rip-roaring deal and car, it's just I was talking exclusively folding hardtop convertibles. I personally wouldn't buy a Mustang, but do respect them and think they're tonnes of car and engine / performance for the buckaroo.

[Demosthenes X]

But still a Ford...  I would look elsewhere for a car in this range...  neither the G6 or the Mustang does it for me.  $40k buys a beuatiful Miata, with some dollars left over for mods... 

[84im]

And wait until Mazda bring out the folding hard top in the MX5.   Having said that, I doubt you'd see much cross shopping between a G6 (4 seater) and an MX5 (2 seater).

[airbalancer]

You will have cross shopping.
We start look at Sky but that was coming for a year,  Miata I could not close the top without hit my head
S2000 to near on the shoulders, so it was down to BMW Z-3,4 and 3 series.
Decide I just did want a a third car for a couple of drves a year.
That why we got the 3 series, single car to use all year round that also carry the grandkids

[JSCC]

Don't forget there is something called Peugot 306 hardtop convertable in Europe.

What you don't see on North American roads doesn't mean it doesn't exsit.
Don't forget the major market for VW is Euro not NA.

[Bullet Blue]

Don't forget there is something called Peugot 306 hardtop convertable in Europe.

What you don't see on North American roads doesn't mean it doesn't exsit.

What I don't see on North American roads is what I won't consider 
No point in cross shopping something I can't have.

[JSCC]

What I don't see on North American roads is what I won't consider 
No point in cross shopping something I can't have.

True.
But my point is the intentions of VW making the EOS was for the European market, not North America.
I don't think they planned to use the EOS to fight the G6, but against the Peugot 306 and C70.