uninhabitable by humans, and it costs 400
bucks.
Speaking of price, the under-$30,000
hosannas apply to both trim levels. The basic GT, which isn’t quite as well equipped
as the GTP, starts at $28,490. The GTP,
which includes ABS, StabiliTrak, auto climate control, power driver’s seat, premium audio, steering adjustable for rake and
reach, to skim the list, starts at $29,990.
Our test car had the $1265 Leather
package (recommended), the $400 wind
blocker (your call on that one), remote
starting ($190), and front-seat side-impact
airbags ($295). It was a $32,140 package—
a bit north of that 30K frontier, but for the
time being, it’s an attractive price for an
attractive boulevard cruiser with four-season usefulness.
■
Pontiac G6 GTP (3.9-liter, 227 hp, 4-sp auto)
Ford Mustang GT (4.6-liter, 300 hp, 5-sp man)
Toyota Camry Solara SLE (3.3-liter, 225 hp, 5-sp auto)
14
21
28
*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler tax.
ACCELERATION seconds
35
0–60 mph ¼-mile
Ford Mustang GT
Toyota Camry Solara SLE
Pontiac G6 GTP
Chrysler Sebring Limited
0
4
8
12
16
20
BRAKING 70–0 mph, feet
Pontiac G6 GTP
Ford Mustang GT
Toyota Camry Solara SLE
Chrysler Sebring Limited
160
170
180
190
200
210
ROADHOLDING 300-foot skidpad, g
Ford Mustang GT
Pontiac G6 GTP
Toyota Camry Solara SLE
Chrysler Sebring Limited
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
EPA CITY FUEL ECONOMY mpg
Chrysler Sebring Limited
Toyota Camry Solara SLE
Pontiac G6 GTP
Ford Mustang GT
0
90
G6v8 5
5
10
www.CARandDRIVER.com
15
Price as tested: $32,140
Major standard accessories: power windows, driver seat,
and locks; remote locking; A/C; cruise control; tilting and telescoping steering wheel; rear defroster
Chrysler Sebring Limited (2.7-liter, 200 hp, 4-sp auto)
7
CONVERTIBLE
Vehicle type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger,
2-door convertible
Price and option breakdown: base Pontiac G6 GTP convertible (includes $625 freight), $29,990; Leather package (includes
GTP-logo leather seats, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, steering-wheel radio controls), $1265; wind
blocker, $400; front side airbags, $295; remote vehicle starter,
$190
CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000
0
PONTIAC
20
25
Sound system: Monsoon AM-FM-XM satellite radio/CD player,
8 speakers
ENGINE
Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-6, iron block and aluminum heads
Bore x stroke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.90 x 3.31 in, 99.0 x 84.0mm
Displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237 cu in, 3880cc
Compression ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.8:1
Fuel-delivery system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . port injection
Valve gear . . . . . . . pushrods, 2 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters,
variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing
Power (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
Redline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6200 rpm
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission . . . . . . .4-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
Final-drive ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.69:1
Gear
Ratio
Mph/1000 rpm
Max test speed
I
2.92
7.2
44 mph (6200 rpm)
II
1.57
13.3
83 mph (6200 rpm)
III
1.00
20.9
115 mph (5500 rpm)
IV
0.71
29.5
115 mph (3900 rpm)
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112.3 in
Track, front/rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59.8/60.4 in
Length/width/height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189.1/68.9/57.1 in
Ground clearance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.9 in
Drag area, Cd (0.33) x frontal area (23.6 sq ft). . . . . . . . . . .7.8 sq ft
Curb weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3910 lb
Weight distribution, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59.3/40.7%
Curb weight per horsepower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17.2 lb
Fuel capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.4 gal
CHASSIS/BODY
Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . unit construction with a rubber-isolated
powertrain cradle
Body material. . . . . . . . . . . welded steel and aluminum stampings
INTERIOR
SAE volume, front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 cu ft
rear seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 cu ft
trunk, top up/down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/2 cu ft
Front-seat adjustments . . . . . . . . . . .fore-and-aft, seatback angle,
driver only: front height, rear height,
lumbar support
Restraint systems, front . . . . . . . . manual 3-point belts, driver and
passenger front and side airbags
rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . manual 3-point belts
SUSPENSION
Front . . . . . . . . . . . .ind, strut located by a control arm, coil springs,
anti-roll bar
Rear . . . . . . . . . ind; 1 trailing link, 2 lateral links, and 1 toe-control
link per side; coil springs; anti-roll bar
STEERING
Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rack-and-pinion with hydraulic power assist
Steering ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.2:1
Turns lock-to-lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8
Turning circle curb-to-curb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.3 ft
BRAKES
Type. . . . . . hydraulic with vacuum power assist, anti-lock control,
and electronic panic assist
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.7 x 1.0-in vented disc
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.6 x 0.6-in disc
WHEELS AND TIRES
Wheel size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.0 x 18 in
Wheel type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cast aluminum
Tires. . . . . . . . . . . . . Goodyear Eagle LS-2, P225/50R-18 94T M+S
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32/30 psi
Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .high-pressure compact
C/D TEST RESULTS
ACCELERATION
Seconds
Zero to 30 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.5
40 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.7
50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.4
60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.4
70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.6
80 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.3
90 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.1
100 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20.6
110 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26.3
Street start, 5–60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.7
Top-gear acceleration, 30–50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.6
50–70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.8
Standing ¼-mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.7 sec @ 89 mph
Top speed (governor limited). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 mph
BRAKING
70–0 mph @ impending lockup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 ft
HANDLING
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.81 g
Understeer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . minimal moderate excessive
FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 mpg
EPA highway driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 mpg
C/D-observed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 mpg
INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL
Idle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 dBA
Full-throttle acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 dBA
70-mph cruising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 dBA
AUGUST 2006
6/6/06 5:16:28 PM