I don't get the hate...

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 08/13/2015 at 12:54 • Filed to: pontiack-ack-ack-ack-ack

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for later-model Pontiacs. The pictured 2006 Grand Prix GTP Competition Group is far from being the world’s most jalop car, but it’s a damn good daily driver. Reliable, leather, enough toys to impress people (heads up display, decent speakers), Series III Supercharged 3800, StabiliTrak, paddle shifters which work counter-intuitively to every other paddle shift system EVER, and confident handling for how heavy the car is. I actually love it, but I wish it had a physical boost gauge like an ‘04 Bonneville SSEi, which also feels far faster. Meh. Quite like the looks, though. It’s aged well.

Textured Soy Protein > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 12:58

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This dashboard is atrocious .

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:00

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My only gripe is front wheel drive. With looks like that, an engine like that, and sporting pretensions, this car would’ve been awesome in rwd...or at least an optional awd.

Either way, I don’t get the hate either> :/

GhostZ > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:03

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The problem is that for every decent supercharged example, there are 10 clapped out base-model rust-bubble-specials being driven by a 17 year old blondie whose father demands they all “buy american” so he won’t get her a more reasonable, faster, and better Jetta or a Camry.

It also doesn’t help that they look similar to the sunfire, grand am, fifth generation grand prix, and bonneville. All of which were, in various configurations, pretty bad with a worse reputation.

People pretty much wrote off all pontiac models Pre-2004 when the GTO rehabilitated their image.

Jcarr > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:04

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If it’s anything like my 2004 Envoy, the chassis and drivetrain will be solid and reliable, all else will be plastic-fantastic crap that looks like garbage and falls apart.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:04

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I own one. No supercharger though.

In the end it’s just a W-body, nothing that interesting.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:06

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I love the Grand Prix. My dad has had 3 Bonnevilles, so there’s a precedent for it in my house. I judge a car’s interior very heavily on the steering wheel, and Pontiac had the best, by far, of any American make in the 90s and 00s.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Mercedes Streeter 08/13/2015 at 13:08

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This is exactly how I feel about pre-revival-attempt Pontiacs. They all (even the Sunfire) look quite good, but knowing that there is a wrong-wheel-drive rebadge job underneath really spoils it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:10

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I like ‘em quite a bit. A GT or GTP was on my short list when looking for cars. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't question why I didn't just get a Grand Prix a few times while the M3 was having issues.

DrJohannVegas > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:15

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If that’s “most jalop”, I’m switching auto blogs.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > DrJohannVegas 08/13/2015 at 13:22

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“Far from being the most jalop”

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 08/13/2015 at 13:23

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I mean, if you aren’t tracking it or doing donuts the FWD makes exactly zero difference (3800 cars have equal length halfshafts so no torque steer), and I honestly think the interior is better than many older BMWs.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jcarr 08/13/2015 at 13:25

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Eh, it’s better than past Pontiac interiors and FAR better than most other GM of the time (looking at you HHR/Saturn Sky/Impala)

holytaco904 > Textured Soy Protein 08/13/2015 at 13:25

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Nailed it. Looks like a Van Gogh painting.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:25

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Dat bracing doe... Was that in all of them, or just the GTPs?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter 08/13/2015 at 13:27

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I agree the proportions scream RWD, but when would it ever matter? Unless you’re doing donuts or seriously tracking there are only a handful of times in the entire life of the car where the FWD-ness would make a difference. Equal-length half shafts equal no torque steer, so that’s not a complaint either.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:28

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I can almost guarantee you its better. Build quality wise the BMW is great, but my girlfriends Taurus has it beat in materials and the amount of soft surfaces.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Textured Soy Protein 08/13/2015 at 13:28

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Eeh. Better than previous-gen Pontiac and far, far better than most of its contemporaries. The Chevy HHR, Saturn Sky, and Impala are three examples of cars that make this look like a Rolls Royce in comparison.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/13/2015 at 13:29

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Those are actually in most W-bodies of the time. Not sure if they’re deleted in lower trim levels, but I’ve seen those braces in Impalas and other rental-mobiles.

Milky > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/13/2015 at 13:29

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All of them. Friends ‘01 Impala had those too.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 08/13/2015 at 13:30

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I’ve only sat in one BMW, an ‘03 or ‘04 3-series, and it was really disappointing. For being such hyped luxury sport sedans, I gotta say my Buick easily has it beat for interior comfort/luxury and style. Even by early-2000s standards it just looked appallingly dated. Drove great, though. Was a hell of a fun car.

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:32

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Yep! And that’s why it’s my only gripe. It’s a gripe, but not an incredibly huge one. :)

Actually, I think I’d enjoy torque steer in a car that large. :D

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:32

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Yup, drives like a dream so it's a good thing I'm not an interior snob. Seats are comfy and the wheel feels good in your hand and that's about all I care about.

DrJohannVegas > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:36

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Serves me right for trying to read on mobile on a bus. Busses are not jalop, btw.

FWIW: I think a lot of the hate is that for most late Pontiacs, the styling didn’t match the badge-engineered performance. There are a few good ones, but they are tiny vessels in a sea of body cladding and bad interior plastics. 3800 is indestructible, though.

HONDAD > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:45

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So, the driver gets one air vent, the backseat passengers also get one air vent, but the front passenger gets FOUR? What gives?

DoYouEvenShift > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:56

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I think people jump on the antiAmerican/GM hate bandwagon to be cool. I like those cars personally. Reliable, nice looking, good power and fuel economy.

Interior enthusiasts can maybe add a throw pillow or two, makes a world of difference.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > HONDAD 08/13/2015 at 13:57

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Yeah, Pontiac air vents are like a schizophreniac with a shotgun went ham on a design sheet and wherever he punched a hole they stick a vent. It makes no sense on any of their cars.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 08/13/2015 at 13:57

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I’m a huge seat snob, though.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter 08/13/2015 at 13:58

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May I introduce you to my friend Cadillac Seville STS? Torque steer for DAYS

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 13:59

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Wait...the Seville isn’t rwd? Woah Cadillac. :D

Textured Soy Protein > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 14:18

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That’s like saying “this nicely-formed shit I took today thanks to eating lots of veggies and fiber yesterday is way better than the explosive fiery diarrhea I had after eating too much kung pao chicken.” They’re both pieces of shit.

acarr260 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 15:58

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I recently traded in my ‘05 Bonneville GXP because the car was using oil at a rate of 1 quart every 110 miles. That’s 3 quarts per gas tank. I’ll never own another Northstar again.

These, on the other hand, sport the bulletproof 3800. I wonder how much maintenance the blower requires. I’m looking to sell our Tahoe and get another car (I traded Bonnie in on a car for my wife). I’ve been considering a Bonnie SSEi or a Grand Prix GTP lately as they seem to be a very good value right now, assuming you can find one that has been cared for appropriately.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > acarr260 08/13/2015 at 16:01

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Keep the air cleaner clean and you’re good as far as the supercharger is concerned. They’re fairly durable units.

No Prius Needed > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 16:29

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lolnope. The interior in this is not even close to the E46.

wiffleballtony > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/13/2015 at 17:16

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I wanted one back in 2004.