Filed under: Car Buying, Convertibles, Pontiac
Pontiac hangs 'Sold Out' sign on G6 convertible
It's not surprising that the extremely popular Pontiac Solstice roadster is sold out for 2006. But the G6 convertible, which went on sale in April, is also gone for the rest of the (model) year. The convertible completes the G6 lineup that includes the sedan and the coupe and is one of the least expensive hardtops in the market at less than $30,000.
Jim Mateja of the Chicago Tribune found the convertible pleasant to drive and quite roomy for passengers though the trunk shrinks considerably, a common problem among hardtop convertibles. Mateja asked Pontiac if the brand's considering bringing back the Firebird due to the G6's success. Spokesperson Jim Hopson replied, "We have no plans to revive the Firebird name, but have made no secret that if GM decides to build the Chevy Camaro, that rear-wheel-drive architecture would make a great basis for other rear-drive cars and Pontiac is interested."
[Source: Chicago Tribune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Will Wheeler 3:40PM (6/20/2006)
Good. Imagine that, GM builds a car that people like and it sells.....what a revalation. Hopefully GM can get it's act together and make me want to buy their cars again. (At least their trucks anyway)
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Dr. Woo 3:49PM (6/20/2006)
This might be good news for VW and their Eos hardtop vert.
Let's hope this is the start of an upward trend for GM. The last thing I want to see is the General dissolve.
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chewy 3:52PM (6/20/2006)
I am not to sure, I have yet to see a single one. Maybe they sold 1,000 and proclaimed it sold out. Didn't they do this with the Solstice, got 9,000 orders but only made 7,000.
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PJ 3:55PM (6/20/2006)
I'm glad GM had the guts to make a convertible on this platform. It's not a segment I'd ever personally touch with a ten foot pole, but it needed some fresh competition. The Sebring is feeling horrendously outdated these days, and while the Solara is more refined, it still suffers some pretty horrible cowl shake--oh, and it's awfully ugly, too.
Hopefully all of last year's stop-and-start with top engineering paid off, and the mechanism will prove to be reliable. If so, this car could be a real success for GM, and will hopefully encourage them to take more product risks in the future.
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Jason 4:10PM (6/20/2006)
Personally, I own a 2005 G6 coupe, and didn't like the 2-door, but the car is fantastic. Gets great mileage (2005 only had a v6; I average 28mpg and have hit the estimated 32) it handles great, and has excellent pickup. Never tried out the 2006s obviously, but if they're anything like my 2k5 (v6's at least), it's not a surprise it's sold out.
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Michael Karesh 4:12PM (6/20/2006)
The G6 isn't a great driver, but it's styled well (on the outside) and the convertible is striking. Compared to it, the VW Eos and Volvo C30 are fugly.
I don't have the VW and Volvo in my pricing database yet. Both the 2006 and 2007 G6 are there, though. Sadly, the coupe and sedan get the DOHC 3.6 with 6-speed auto for 2007, but the convertible does not. No sport suspension or manual trans available, either. Clearly meant for crusing, not hard driving.
My site's page for the G6:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/G6.php
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mr 4:45PM (6/20/2006)
Huh. I've never seen one.
How many did they build?
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Tom 4:50PM (6/20/2006)
Ah...what's the definition of "sold out"? GM can say the Solstice is sold out, but there are always some on the dealer lots in Rochester that are not already sold. There are more Solstices in stock at a local Honda/Pontiac dealership than there are Fits.
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Jeff Banks 5:00PM (6/20/2006)
Hey, interesting! If you make an interesting nice-looking product that people want, they buy it!
Nobody better bitch about GM thinking about killing Pontiac, especially when they keep cut-rate garbage like the Sunfire/Cavalier for so long.
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digitalzombie 5:09PM (6/20/2006)
Ok, I'll admit I don't like GM and hope it die. But this is suprising that they sold out the G6. I can understand the soltice and sky but the G6 is ugly to me. Is it just me? I like the Volvo more than the G6. Actually I take that back I hate all of those 4 seats convertables the only ones I like are the old muscle cars (esp. Chevelle hehe).
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Steven 5:16PM (6/20/2006)
I stopped by the Pontiac dealer in Boulder, CO in May and asked about the G6 convertible. They said there would only be about 4 weeks of production for the '06, then would convert to the '07. Their dealership was expecting to get all of 2 '06 convertibles! Not much of a production run at all.
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Fabulo 7:15PM (6/20/2006)
Well, if you RTFA, you learn this:
"In fairness, there should be an asterisk after the G6, since the 2006 went on sale in April, and Pontiac switched to 2007 models in June.
But consumers have handed over checks for all 5,380 cars assembled before the conversion, so Pontiac has reason to gloat."
Means that you can't get your hands on a 2006 model anymore, there'll be plenty of 2007 on the lots for you.
This segment is not my cup of tea either, but at least the coupe and convertible look much better than any car GM had spit out in a long long time (especially Pontiac, which has the #1 spot of ugly fugly cars)
Now if they would update the powertrain just a smidgen, that would be even better. The yucky 3.5 with the crappy 4-slush. Yuck.
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gto 9:37PM (6/20/2006)
I've heard that the gtp model is total garbage. The engine sets a class setting low for gas mileage because of its primitive design and weight. And whats with the mediocre 4 speed automatic. I think wannabe solstice buyers are responsible for these high sales. I think the solstice is a great car and I quite like the looks of the G6 coupe. GM supporter as I am, it bothers me when GM keeps making mistakes like this.
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Asher 12:20AM (6/21/2006)
Sold out...ma va! There's one in town for 23,535...blue. Which is surprising, because most of the dealers were marking them up to 27,000 last time I checked...which was a while ago.
I was excited when I first saw the car and the Pontiac rep at the Autoshow assured me that dealers wouldn't be marking them up...oh well. Maybe they will give dealers more than 5 cars next year.
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gbh 12:43AM (6/21/2006)
Anything that sell on a GM lot without 30% off sticker is a good thing.
For a GM car, especially Pontiac - it looks pretty good. It'll be interesting to see if they keep selling beyond the initial (itsy bitsy teenie weenie) little sales burst.
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Tom Design 2:10AM (6/21/2006)
This is a great bargain and awesome platform, strong V6, and great reliability and crash rating. What is wrong with you people? You sound like divorced women talking about your "ex's" when you describe GM products. The car is a smashing success, and just get over your pain of the 80's.
I saw the Pontiac G6 convertible driving near Fenway Park in Kenmore Square, guy alone top down on a sunny day, and i was impressed by the classy, sporty design.
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MikeW 7:56PM (6/21/2006)
Got cowl shake? Why didn't GM shorten the wheelbase 112.3"? it is longer than the Grand Prix 110.5, especially considering that the Grand Prix has to accomodate 90 degree Vee engines, and the G6 only 60 degree.
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PJ 10:00PM (6/21/2006)
MikeW - point taken about the cowl shake, for sure--it's the bane of this class, and no entry does well enough in my opinion. But the vintage-'90s W-body Grand Prix has some pretty massive overhangs, so I don't know that it's a fair comparison...
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