2006 Grand Prix GXP V8 "303 HP"
 

Took delivery last week of the 303 HP V8 Grand Prix GXP....Absolutely smoking car. Traded in my 2000 WS6 Trans Am and could not have imagined how much I'd be loving this car. Test drove the GTO TWICE and couldn't pull the trigger. I had a few issues that I couldn't get past. Took a test drive in the GXP and was sold before I'd left the dealers lot. The V8 has an awesome throaty exhaust note. Has the Tap Shift, heads up display, moon roof, XM radio, OnStar, Auto Start, telephone, real climate Control, heated seats, power everything, smokin 18" chrome wheels, GXP model has different front grilles and spoiler and side fender vents. Has a great stance and accelerates like a bastard. There is a GXP site where they are turning 13.6 secs. in the 1/4 mile at over 100 MPH!! It even has a loose torque converter. Confortable to drive, and the dash is all Muscle Car. I am extremely generous because it was more than I expected. Bought it from Miller Pontiac in Woodbridge NJ. Delt with a Stan Louis who was a pleasure to negotiate with as well as deal with. Good group of professionals that value your business. Joe...As a sidebar it seems Pontiac has gone back to it's 60's roots with this 303 HP like the full size cars from that era.

Bought on in August. This is my 4th GP and by far the best one I've owned. Just wish it had rwd and/or stick. But easy to forget as the car is awesome.

Who the hell puts V8 power through the front wheels ???

Olds did it first with Toronado. In fact 455 power through front wheels.

I think the GXP is an excellent choice. It IS an awesome car and great value. I think that if more people would give Pontiac's current offerings a chance they'd be pleasantly surprised with what they find. They are not Pontiacs of old, but they do compare favorably to most other contemporary offerings. Congrats!

Agreed. Test drove a GXP and an '06 Impala SS. Both cars are actually quite thrilling and that 5.3 is really very muscular in those cars. Both comfortable, loaded with goodies, and nicely styled. Don't be surprised if one of them dusts you in a race....

My boss has a 06 GXP, very nice car and quick.

GXP update......V-8 Power is back...........
 

I'll give you my update after 30 days..... Gas mileage has improved, Gets alot of attention. I also think the car is made well. It's tight and quiet. I find myself creeping up to 85-90 MPH very easily but feels like 55-60????? I might put a shift kit in....possibly. Smokes the tires with T/C off....clouds of white smoke. My R/A LS1 RWD Trans Am never did that. Just big thumbs up at this point....People should consider this car before throwing bigger bucks down on other cars in this class.....

Does anyone wonder why GM choses not to advertise this car? Chevrolet offers the Impala with this engine and I've seen their TV commercial a dozen times--but non for the Grand Prix V-8. Most people, even Pontiac fans, don't even know it exists.

No wonder GM is in trouble.

With the exception of GM pumping out G6 and Torrent commercials to the masses, it's a complete mystery to me why they don't even remotely advertise the GXP or the GTO; two very worthy cars. It really shows that GM still hasn't caught on to the performance side of the market, which has been very successful for Ford & Chrysler....very odd.

Joe,

What kind of gas mileage does it get? Are you seeing anything close to 28mpg on hwy?

Just bought one for the wife (2006):

Just got one for the wife too. Took her to the local strip on a street only night. She's NEVER run before. Gave her a couple of right seat rides, then sent her out solo. After a couple of hot laps, none of the high rev tuner boys wanted anything to do with her. Best headsup racing was a 454 Chey P/U with drag slicks. It was tight, but it prevailed! Goota get use to the torque steer when excellerting around corners. Anything out there for some easly performance upgrades?

Well, ours arrived here in Tampa on Memorial Day and the car is just fantastic. The car has gobs of power is does accelerate like a 'bostage'. I can't believe how fun this car is and how much attention it really grabs. The exhaust none is just wonderful as it revs through the gears and is pure music to my ears. A great bunch of options and features (namely the head-up display with the amazingly cool 'stealth' mode & the Tapshift manual shift paddles), with a true high performance V-8 make this car Pontiac's best offering in years. Don't believe me? Take a short hike to your Pontiac dealer and see what I mean! Pontiac is really offering some neat stuff, and it's only going to get better. It's hard not to wave the Pontiac banner with this car in my garage!

Don't forget the old Eldos-- FIVE HUNDRED cubes thru the wrong wheels!

AND EFI

....that's because it is made in GM's #1 worldwide top quality plant.....Oshawa, Ontario.

Any new updates from owners of the GXP? Any problems? Is the mileage as advertised? Is there a two-driver seat position memory? I can't find it in the specs. How seamless is the 4-8 and 8-4 transition? We are just starting to think about for a replacement for our 12 year-old Bonne. How is the ride with those skinny tires (18" wheels).

I suppose we will test drive next. I liked the feel of the vanilla GP we drove at a GM Autoshow in Motion but did not drive a GXP.
Thanks.

Frankly, my 06 GXP has been fantastic. I like it more each day and I have found it to be a very, very capable car. It's acceleration, handling, and especially braking are first rate. You won't find a better stopping car on the market today. The PBR braking system is far better than anything standard GM.

The driver's seat does NOT have memory, unfortunately. It's something I'd love to have as well, but it's unavailable.

The DOD 4-8 & 8-4 is perfectly seamless. You won't even notice it.

I think the ride is great, but many find it too firm. It has factory Bilsteins. There are times that it could be a little softer, but then you'd sacrifice much of the car's responsiveness. I would best describe the suspension as tolerable, responsive, and NOT luxurious. However, the car is very pleasant on the highway.

Skinny tires? The GXP has a nice set of skins on it and the wheels are beautiful. Take a front one off and check out how deep they really are. they're gorgeous!

My fuel mileage has been a consistent 19 around town (I'm not heavy on the gas, but I do goose it periodically), and I just averaged 26.6 on a trip to Orlando. I was thrilled with that kind of mileage from a very beefy V-8. And the exhaust note is to die for! A simply beautiful sound.

Please do test drive one. Allow for a slightly firm ride. I think the car is a great choice, and now for 07 there are more color choices, and a better powertrain warranty. And I'm sure they're dealing on the 06's right now. The GP GXP is a very exhiliarating package in my opinion!

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Harvey

Thanks Harvey. Good critique. Just what I was looking for.

By skinny tires ,I mean the wheel to road thickness. I know they are wide but I've had this old-fashioned idea that without all the air and rubber to give vertically as you hit bumps, the ride might be bad. I have never driven a car with those new tires/wheels.

We can live without the seat memory but that's disappointing. If my wife forgets to move the seat back on our Bonneville when she gets home, It's annoying to try to get to the controls before squeezing into the seat.

In all, I like what I hear.