Pontiac G6 Convertible Made Top-Down Driving Affordable and Fun

Suppose you are in the market right now for a new car, and you have set your mind on getting yourself a convertible. After all, who doesn’t want to lower the roof with the press of a button and let warm sunshine or a cool breeze inside while you drive? At first glance, it would appear that you are spoiled for choice. All but a handful of luxury brands have at least one convertible in their lineups. But, unfortunately, you’re on a tight budget. You need a convertible that costs no more than $40,000. That lowers your options considerably. Your choices are between two pony cars (Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang), the Mazda Miata and Fiat 124 Spider siblings, and the Mini Cooper.

There was a time when mainstream convertibles were much easier to come by. Remember the Toyota Solara, Chrysler Sebring, or the Volkswagen Eos? In the mid-2000s, General Motors didn’t have an affordable convertible in its portfolio anymore. The fourth gen Camaro went out of production in 2002 with no plans for an immediate replacement. To prevent shoppers from going elsewhere for their open-air driving experience, GM tasked Pontiac to fill the void with a hard-top convertible version of its midsize G6.

The 2005 Pontiac G6 sedan was introduced in 2004 as a replacement for the Grand Am. The new name is derived from the fact that the G6 is ostensibly the sixth generation of the Grand Am line. It also served as the starting point for a new lineup organized by an alphanumeric hierarchy. The larger G8 soon replaced the Grand Prix, and the G5 took over from the Sunfire in the compact car segment.

A coupe and convertible G6 joined the sedan for 2006. Upon its introduction, the G6 convertible was the only folding hardtop on the market for less than $30,000. Two trim levels were available. GT versions were powered by 3.5-liter pushrod V-6 making 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. GTPs received a 3.9-liter V-6 with 227 horsepower and 235 pound-feet. Both trim levels utilized a four-speed automatic gearbox. Opting for the GTP added ABS, GM’s StabiliTrak stability control system, auto climate control, a power driver’s seat, premium audio, and adjustable steering.

Differentiating the convertible from the coupe was an increase in curb weight by 350 pounds due to necessary additional structural reinforcement. The suspension was also softened a little to reduce shock loads on the car’s body. Raising and lowering the convertible roof took approximately 30 seconds. With the roof lowered, trunk space was reduced to a near unusable 2.2 cubic feet. However, rear seat passengers were treated to an impressive 34 inches of legroom thanks to what Pontiac claimed was the longest wheelbase in the midsize convertible class.

Pontiac added variable valve timing to the GT’s 3.5-liter engine in 2007, boosting horsepower to 217. The 3.9-liter engine also became an option on GT spec cars as part of a sport package. GTP convertibles were discontinued for 2008.

A mid-2009 refresh brought resculpted front and rear bumpers, new headlamps, and larger exhaust tips. Interior updates included new gauges and center stack controls. All G6 coupe and convertibles ceased production at the end of the 2009 model year, making examples with the exterior and interior updates fairly rare.

The G6 was Pontiac’s best-selling model since its debut all the way up to the brand’s demise in 2010. It is unknown what would have become of the car had Pontiac survived GM’s restructuring. Some rumors suggest that the next G6 could have transitioned to a rear wheel drive architecture. A RWD G6 might have provided some interesting competition to the BMW 3-Series/4-Series and the Audi A4/A5. As it is, the end of Pontiac left an affordable performance hole in General Motors’ lineup that to this day has yet to be refilled.