Six tested 2006 convertibles so you don't have to
Poor Matt Nauman. The Mercury News reporter tested six 2006 convertibles in recent months while the weather, he writes, was "perfect". His impressions of the convertibles include:
2006 Volvo C70 convertible
Nauman found it quite roomy for four while the turbo-charged engine made Sunday driving energetic. A low whir sound, which may have come from the hardtop, prove to be annoying.
2006 Pontiac G6 GTP convertible (pictured)
Nauman felt Pontiac's newest vehicle to be as solid as the C70, which he found surprising. Annoyances he found included the plasticky interior and the 2.2-cubic-feet of truck space when the hardtop was down.
2007 Jaguar XK8 convertible
He found the six-speed and 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 engine to be "decent". The soft-top folded in 18 seconds.
2006 Mini Cooper S convertible
Nauman drove the limited full-tilt S model with John Cooper tuning kit. His enthusiasm over the Mini's style, design, and driving character marked him a fan.
2006 Honda S2000 roadster
Nauman admits he could never find a comfortable position in the S2000 despite being able to fit in the MX-5, Z4, and Solstice. He still found the convertible amazing to drive especially when hitting the corners.
2006 Saab 9-3 2.0T convertible
He found the Saab's design "dignified", while the turbo-charged engine made driving moderately fun.
We're particularly interested in trying out the Pontiac G6 GTP convertible for ourselves, as it appears the car's svelty styling and trick hardtop can't shake its cheap interior and low utility.
[Source: Mercury News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark 5:10PM (7/08/2006)
"We're particularly interested in trying out the Pontiac G6 GTP convertible for ourselves, as it appears the car's svelty styling and trick hardtop can't shake its cheap interior and low utility. "
That is not until there is a Volkswagen Eos to compare it to.
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Joe 5:43PM (7/08/2006)
I'm as much for convertibles as the next guy is, but seriously I think this new love affair for hardtop convertibles will end after three things begin to happen... 1.) A motor breaks causing the entire top to be a huge pain in the butt... 2.) the multiple seals needed begin to leak furiously...3.)The buyers realize that Golf clubs and Hardtops don't go in the trunk at the same time...
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G6 Owner 12:45AM (7/09/2006)
I own a G6 and have a 2005 so i have had it for some time. The "complaint" about plasticy interior seems to be the one stinging criticism only for this vehicle... We'll let me say this: its plastic pattern mirrors the BMW. It is lightweight plastic and fuel efficent. A group testing plastics say that GM's are 4x less toxic than the other thicker type. Perhaps a tupperware torpedo is better for you than a luxo foriegn make. In other words: they cost more, get worse gas mileage, built worse and are more toxic for you and the enviroment and take premium gas. Buy foriegn, be a foriegner..undo the US.. if you keep buying that way you will succeed. Americans have become some competitive against each other they forget that thier fellow Americans have needs: like work. I hope that one day those who choose a German or Japanese or Korean make are forced to work for them: for no money, no union and no pension. Nothing. They offer nothing. My question is this: what do you offer? Solutions in your purchases or more analysis paralysis.. more nothing.
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Max 1:05AM (7/09/2006)
If you google the Eos for images, the interior there doesn't look any better than the GTPs.
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damian 2:47AM (7/09/2006)
"I hope that one day those who choose a German or Japanese or Korean make are forced to work for them: for no money, no union and no pension."
I don't know about Korea but German and Japanese employers look after their employees a damn site better than their American counterparts.
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Proud American 7:33AM (7/09/2006)
4. "I hope that one day those who choose a German or Japanese or Korean make are forced to work for them: for no money, no union and no pension."
I don't know about Korea but German and Japanese employers look after their employees a damn site better than their American counterparts.
Posted at 2:47AM on Jul 9th 2006 by damian
Prove it damian, that is about the most rediculous statement of have ever read. Show the proof that the Japanese manufacturers take better care of their employees. That sir is a damn lie, ignorance breeds ignorance, stop the breeding damian, wake up and smell the coffee, our country is being sold off piece by piece, and nobody seems to give a rat's ass.
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GhostDoggy 8:10AM (7/09/2006)
G6 Owner, the other stingy downside is that dealers are asking $3-5K premiums in the southeastern part of the USA, and also that GM excludes this from any and all encentive programs. So, consumers get a one-two f-u treatment.
I am curious why only six vehicles as more exist in the same price range (without the ankle treatement) in the same price range. For instance, why not the regular Z4? Now, I am not a BMW lover, but I am also not a BMW hater, either.
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Richard 10:50AM (7/09/2006)
I'm trying to get a list of all 0f the '06 hardtop convertibles. My dad really wants one, and the quicker he buys one, the quicker I get his old car. Can anyone help?
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GM Lover 11:32AM (7/09/2006)
I love how people bash GM/Ford dealers for price gouging when they come out with a hot car. Come on, this has nothing to do with the manufacturer (other than the fact that they came up with a desireable product). Unless they have something in the dealer contract about selling for a set price (aka Saturn) they can't control the price the dealer sets...don't get me wrong, I believe markup on popular cars is short sighted on the dealer's part and is not a good business practice (I have a great dealer that sold me his first Solstice --one of the first 1000-- for under sticker, and beacuse they are fair and provide great service my family has bought 14 vehicles from them over the years).
This is not limited to GM/Ford...I remember back in 1989 when my Dad bought a new 1990 300ZX and all the Nissan dealers wanted over sticker; same in 1991 when my Mom bought a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4. When the Honda S2000 came out you couldn't touch one anywhere near sticker! I looked at MazdaSpeed Miatas in 2004...again most dealers wanted over sticker.
What it comes down to is that most car dealers, regardless of brand, are greedy back-stabbing SOBs that will get you for every last dollar they can. But by all means, please let's bash GM for making the G6 Convertible that is popular enough to warrant dealers asking over sticker! What were they thinking? They should've come out with a dud that would require invoice pricing and rebates...oh wait, then everyone would bash them for having a dog on their hands! I guess they just can't win...
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GM Lover 11:37AM (7/09/2006)
Oh, and regarding that VW Eos...I think it is an attractive, well appointed vehicle at a pretty attractive price. Too bad it will be an unreliable POS! My Aunt has a New Beetle and I know 3 friends with late model Jettas and two with late model Passats. They have all been riddled with problems and have cost an arm and a leg to fix. VW can't get a simple high-volume car right (Jetta/Golf/Beetle)...I don't even want to think about adding a complex, first-generation hard top mechanism ON TOP of the rest of a VW car...ouch...hope you have a good dealer with a large supply of loaner vehicles!
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epp_b 12:08PM (7/09/2006)
From all of those convertables, you chose to picture the G6?
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dubious one 12:14AM (7/10/2006)
GM Lover: you are correct that it is simple market forces that permit this dealer-add-on to occur. Also correct that it is probably a terrible strategy for a company on the ropes that is trying to rebuild its consmer base. It may be foregoing short-term gain for reconecting and building future sales.
nice rant g6 owner. Utter bs too. If GM builds cars that people want to buy - like the Solstice - they would not be in their current predicament. What you are advocating is welfare.
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David F 2:16PM (7/10/2006)
2.2 cubic feet of storage with the top down? Pontiac: how did you manage to do that??
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GM Lover 7:16PM (7/10/2006)
#13 - Pontiac must have modeled the car after my Dad's Lexus SC430...fits ONE golf bag in the trunk (barely) with the top down...same as my "lowly" Solstice ;)
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Tom Design 10:47AM (7/11/2006)
With the $9,450 price difference between the Pontiac GTP G6 and the Volvo C70, I would hope the C70 had a nicer interior! Take $3,450 and have a customizing shop put in some classier interior bits in the G6. Then take your $6,000 leftover and invest it.
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James 10:29AM (7/18/2006)
Well, it sounds to me like G6 Owner is convinced it's unpatriotic to like foreign cars... which I think is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
But politics aside, something about the G6 just doesn't sit right with me... I find it to be a quite boring, unpolished little vehicle, and I'm not really impressed with any of GM's recent designs. (The Solstice and Sky roadsters kind of make me want to throw up... just a little.) My mother has a '99 C70 convertible and we've loved it, and I'm in heat over the new model.
Oh and I'd take an Eos over a G6 anyday... It is a far more beautiful car. And just because what's in my garage came from Europe doesn't make me any less American, thank you.
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automobiles 12:53PM (10/06/2006)
I made a walk with Honda S2000 2006 and is wonderfull.
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