Automotive shoppers considering the Pontiac G6 have a number of options to choose from, as the versatile vehicle is available in a number of trim levels and body styles. While a sedan is an option for some shoppers, others find themselves evaluating the merits of the G6 convertible over the less expensive, but equally attractive G6 coupe. With so many options to consider, shoppers should carefully evaluate critical aspects of both styles before making a decision.
About the G6
When it was introduced in 2005 as a replacement for the aging Grand Am, the G6 was available only in its predecessor's sedan body style. As Pontiac gauged the success of its new entry, though, it quickly expanded the line to include a variety of body styles and powerplants. By the 2006 model year, a wide selection of engine configurations became available, complementing the addition of both a coupe and a hard top convertible. Many of the accessories and luxury options on the coupe and convertible models were the same, though the coupe offered a large panoramic sunroof not available (for readily apparent reasons) on the convertible.
Power and Performance
The Pontiac G6 coupe offers shoppers a number of engine configurations, with three primary powerplant configurations dominating dealership showrooms. Entry level shoppers who are concerned more with the car's appearance than with its performance may consider the 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder engine, an economical choice that lowers the vehicle's initial and overall costs. The more widely selected engine, though, is Pontiac's powerful 3.5-liter V-6 configuration, an engine that adds about 60 horsepower while maintaining roughly the same gas mileage figures. Finally, speed-oriented shoppers may consider the 3.6-liter GXP performance model. In contrast to this wide selection of engines, the G6 convertible offers shoppers only the standard 3.5-liter V6 or a high-performance 3.9-liter V6 configuration (it should be noted that the performance of the 3.9-liter convertible is roughly equivalent to that of the 3.6-liter coupe, as the extra engine displacement is largely consumed by the added weight of the convertible).
Gas Mileage
Overall, the Pontiac G6 is a relatively fuel-efficient vehicle. Most of the engine configurations consume about the same number of gallons per mile, an impressive observation considering the wide range of engines available. According to independent testers, the G6 coupe's GT and GXP models, as well as all G6 convertible models, get around 20 miles per gallon. Budget-conscious shoppers may consider the four-cylinder G6 base model, however, as it uses its smaller engine to produce around 26 miles per gallon (the base model is not available in the convertible body style).
Resale Value
As with many mass-produced vehicles, especially from domestic giants like General Motors, Pontiacs have a general reputation of quickly losing their resale potential. As of August, 2009, a 2006 model G6 GT coupe had a private-party resale value of $9,359, down more than 50 percent from its original sales price of around $20,000. Although convertibles typically maintain a somewhat higher resale value than their fixed-top counterparts, the 2006 G6 GT convertible maintained a private-party resale value of $13,740, down just less than 50 percent from its original suggested retail price.
Price
While the resale values of used G6 models are roughly in the same price range, a much wider gap exists between new models of the same vehicles. As of August 2009, a standard 3.5-liter G6 GT coupe carried a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $24,610; a G6 GT convertible with the same engine carried a price tag of just under $32,000. The larger engine GXP models closed the gap somewhat, though, as a 3.6-liter G6 GXP coupe sold for $28,960 while a 3.9-liter G6 GXP convertible was available for $32,300.
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