• Hint: Use a descriptive title for your new message
    If you're looking for help and want to draw people in who can assist you, use a descriptive subject title when posting your message. In other words, "1995 Trans Am" isn't going to indicate to anybody that you need help. However, "Need help with my 1995 Trans Am" will. Be as descriptive as you can. Please use common sense... This message can be closed by clicking the X in the top right corner.
  • Car enthusiast? Join us on Cars Connected! iOS | Android | Desktop

"Consumer Reports" - the verdict on Pontiac

  • Thread starter Thread starter grandbonnevillecreature
  • Start date Start date
G

grandbonnevillecreature

Okay, Pontiac lovers, I have the brand new Consumer Reports here in my hand. Below I am going to list their information. This is ratings of FAMILY SEDANS from the March 2006 issue. To make this easy to figure out, I am going to list the vehicles under their two catagories (over $25000 and under $25000 and their overall road-test score. Road test scores are based on agility, handling, road noise, feel, fit and finish, and a bunch of other crap.

UNDER $25,000
Name of car/Score from 1-100
Acura TL / 90
VW passat 3.6 / 89
Toyota Avalon XLS / 89
Honda Accord Hybrid V6 / 87
VW Passat 2.0T / 86
Toyota Camry XLE V6 / 85
Honda Accord EX v6 / 84
Ford Fusion v6 / 77
Mercury Milan v6 / 77
Acura TSX / 77
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT / 75
Nissan Maxima 3.5 se / 74
Nissan Altima 3.5 se / 74
Ford 500 SEL fwd / 70
Mazda 6 s v6 / 69
Chrysler 300C / 64
Mitsu. Galant GTS / 64
Chevy Impala 3LT / 63
Chrysler 300 Tour. / 60
Dodge Charger RT V8 / 59
Dodge Charger SXT V6 / 58
Buick Lacross CXL / 55
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT / 38

CARS UNDER $25,000
Accord EX 4 cyl / 78
Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 / 76
Camry LE 4 cyl / 76
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4 cyl / 74
VW Jetta 2.5 / 72
Ford Fusion SE 4 cyl / 69
Mercury Milan 4 cyl / 69
Mazda 6 i 4 cyl / 69
Toyota Prius / 68
Chevy Malibu 4 cyl / 66
Chevy Malibu LS V6 / 66
Mitsu. Galant ES 4 cyl / 58
PONTIAC G6 Base V6 / 51

Sorry if I'm alittle lazy typing this out, but I type terribly and slowly, so I cut some corners. So basically, Pontiac BOMBED on both lists. Consumer Reports is supported by donations and accepts ZERO advertising dollars, so their opinions are reasonably unbiased. I think it's funny that foreign cars and Ford Family cars did the best. All of GM's results were pretty bad except the new Impala, which got CR's Recommendation. Pontiac did terribly. No wonder they might get put out to pasture soon. Pontiac is going to have to get it together quick or they aren't going to stand a chance in the future.
 
As "unbiased" as Consumer reports is suppose to be, they are always shifting the attention towards Japan. I bought a Buick Lacrosse last year and it is one of the smoothest running, well engineered cars I've driven in years, and my '05 Bonneville ditto, It's really blends style, performance, and engineering. The 4.6L LD8 Northstar is THE most sophistacated engine made to date with 16 new patents in it's design. It does more than any jap motor could dream of and pushes 300 Lb's of torque out of it's 279 cu.in.'s. without a sweat. I also had the pleasure to drive a G6 retratable hardtop for an afternoon and it was FAST, comfortable, and impressed me enough to consider trading. Maybe Consumer Reports isnt directly supported by advertising but they rely on mag sales and others issues to make their cash and I dont think of them as the Lord of opinions. I think their editors are on a "lets bash domestic cars" binge I see alot of lately. Style and appointments are a matter of preference and they seem to prefer sending our balance of trade to Asia. Emunds.com has been much more gracious towards Pontiacs and American cars and gives a big thumps up to the Northstar and 3800 seriesIII engines. For me I have never owned anything but AMERICAN and revel at the thought of draggin a 290Hp Avalon behing my Dodge3500RamDually untill it's a mass of junk steel, (which is just what it is)...Manufacted from junk iron imported from the good 'ol USA!
 
I would take 90% of the cars that are listed over the GP and the G6 in their respective catergories....Pontiac and GM overall has really fallen behind the times in the areas of performance and looks. You could take the entire Pontiac lineup and put them next to each other and the look almost identical except for the size.

I find it pathetic that GM has to use a supercharger to come close to HP numbers that the imports are making N/A.
 
Your attitude puzzles me Jeremy, Especially towards USA made cars and Pontiac cars in general??? I am new to the site and dont want to step on toes but I find your anti American car thinking strange.... Pontiac enthusists are all the same in one respect. WE love our cars and dont like to be compared to imports. As for performance my 4.6L N* pushes 300 Lbs of torque and keeps up with or dusts every import I've come up against. and weighs almost 4000Lbs and that includes a 290 Hp Avalon that couldnt shake me. Why dont you like supercharging either, It's been a mainstay of Pontiacs for many years and they build the most reliable ones on the market ever. With a exhaust mod, a $99 PCM W/Reflash and a pulley wheel you can take the 3800 well over 300Hp. And lose anything Japan has to offer hands down. I just spent $40,000 on a BonnevilleGXP and am proud of it and every one made from 56-05
______________________________
 
Last edited:
I can see why you are a little puzzled....but trust me I do LOVE my car and I have owned 6 pontacs....I do get frustrated with Pontiac and their recent lineups....ironically enough you own the one current Pontiac that I am truly a fan of, the Bonnie GXP....

I grew up a GM guy and my father actually worked for Pontiac at one point in time and I think that is why I get so disappointed. GM in general used to take a few more risks and be more cutting edge. Over the last decade GM's "fit and finish" have also really started to suffer. The interiors of the 2G w-body Grand Prixs ARE very cheap and plastic when compared to other cars in their class.

Supercharging is a decent option for adding HP, but if you compare bang for the buck to that of a turbo charger there really isn't a comparison. But of course the supercharger fan's will speak high praises about them. Each person has their preferences and I can respect that.

I am not really an american car basher either, but I just won't buy american simply because it is american. I do get irked when people bash foreign cars simply because they are foreign. Most of these people have had very little or no experience with them to form a valid opinon. And what is equally is amusing is when they say that foreign car makers are cost American jobs. My "foreign" car was built in Indiana, the last "domestic" that I bought new was my '00 Camaro Z28...which was built on "foreign" soil.

I do sincerely wish that GM would get back to their roots, similar to what Dodge/Chrysler has been trying to do the past few years and what Ford just did with the Mustang....I am afraid that GM is too subborned to try it though.

I apologize for the length of the response, I just wanted to try to explain that I am not a domestic hater.....I give ALL vehicles chance regardless of where they came from.
 
Jeremy, I appreciate your taking the time to explain and happy to hear you like the car thats made me a performance freak again after an
absence from it for almost 30 years. I apoligize for taking such a stern view,... I get carried away with Made in Detroit pride.

I think GM wants to keep the line open and have sent alot of developement guys on loan to the Buick division for retooling the Lucerne (z body) for the G8 in '07. And it will have an even more advanded LD8 then mine with variable valve timing.

GM is listening some and the SeriesIII 3800 260Hp(that would be worthy of turbo or supercharging ) and the beefier N* are coming to Pontiac. This year I've driven a retractable hardtop G6 and a 5.7L GTO and were impressed with each.
 
Back
Top