As some of the regulars on this board know, I've been babbling about buying a MC SS or a G6 GTP for a few months now. However, with the GM Employee Discount thing, and the fact that I'm a broke recent MBA graduate, it doesn't seem to make any sense. Until you consider the prices on some of these cars, and the fact that the dealership will let me buy a new car AND give me cash back (basically finance more than I pay for the car) to pay off ALL my credit card debt I've wracked up re-doing this stupid house over the past year. NOW we're talking

So here are 2 options I have on the lot that I can slide into once I sell the GP...

1) '05 G6 GT Sedan: Granite metallic, black cloth, value package with chrome wheels, 6 CD and moonroof, side impact air bags (woo hoo...) and remote start. MSRP = $26,115, GMS = $22,700 roughly, my price = $19,900 That includes my GM card points, and the dealer will give me the kickback we get from GM for selling the car at the GMS price.

2) '05 GTP Comp G: Silver with black leather, moonroof, Monsoon 6 CD, digital climate control, and the sport package that adds the silver grills, bigger spoiler and nicer exhaust tips. MSRP = $31,695, GMS = $26,100, my price = $23,000

So basically, I finance one at full bore, pull out equity to pay off my credit cards, and the G6 costs me $460 a month while the GTP = $520, both for 5 years. Not a cheap payment either way, but remember I'm taking out $4,000 in CASH....plus I have $2,000 equity in my GP if I sell it for retail. As you can see, this makes some fiscal sense, actually

OR...

3) '06 Monte SS with sunroof = $28,900, with an estimated invoice of $26,900. I won't get holdback or the employee discount on this, so take my GM points and a conservative $500 rebate, and we're down to $24,800. Add tax and we're at $25,500. At this point I can finance back up to window, so I take out $3,900 cash, and now I pay $545 per month...

But, over the Comp G I lose Stabili-Trak, On-Star (whoopity doo...), heated leather, digital climate, a 6 disc and some other doo dads...AND I pay more, AND I can't re-use my nice chrome 17s from my current GP as the SS uses 18s. That's another thing...I'll have brand new 17s on the GTP and 3k mile 17s on my existing rims...so I won't need tires for this car for over 100k That's when you consider I have 4 16" snows in the basement that all I need is steel rims for, and those will fit the GTP too!!!!

Any questions??? HELP!!!!!!!!!!! Or do I do nothing and keep my beloved GP with its $334/mo payment, pay the CCs down over time and have no payment in 2 years and 9 months?? Thanks for listening

 

Why wouldn't you consider a GP GXP? With GMS its a about 25.5K, with options most people want like leather, premium audio and sunroof it comes in about 27.8K, plus since you work for a dealer I assume you get some additional discounts. After driving one at the Autoshow in Motion I walked away very impressed. If I needed a 4-door car, this would be it. While it lags in term of interior, the GXP looks much nicer then the MC SS outside (IMO) and is much more practical.

 

I don't know, I'm partial to the MC SS myself. The G6 seems to lack that "soul" that most Pontiacs have (and I know since my sister is about ready to get a Grand Am GT). The Comp G is nice, but personally, that new MC SS looks sleek in black.
And last but not least, 2 doors!

 

I had a deposit on a White fully loaded G6 GT with panoramic roof and neutral leather . In that deal , all I had to do was go back with a check and sign the papers . I drove a Cobalt SS on the way to the bank and the rest is history . I completely forgot about the G6 . Point being , Id forget that car . While IMO , its one of the nicest practical cars on the market , the enthusist side of you will grow to HATE its boringness . The only G6 to buy if ya want that route is a 2 door GTP coupe with a 6-speed . As for the Grand prix , I looked at those to ( GTP's and compG's ) . I also looked at used ones to see how the interior aged , mainly because the materials used in the GP are still mostly old GM . I wasnt to happy with what I saw , mainly the leather seats looked horrible in the low mile cars I saw . Shiny , bolster wear and stretched out . The leather in my Cobalt and the G6 I looked too looked and felt MUCH better , it does in most all the newest GM cars . In the end , as much as you seem to like the Monte SS , you are really gonna hate anything you buy , I think , because its not a V8 Monte SS .

 

What abaout V8 2005 GP GXP with the employee discount?

 

Well, the GXP votes bring up some good points. We have a sport red '05 GXP I ordered for stock back in March, and is optioned the way I'd get one (leather/suede seats, 6 CD, remote start, moonroof). One problem with the GXP is that I can't use my wheels on it. The wider/narrower 18" combo is cool, but I have brand new 17s with 225/55/17s that will be worthless for this model. With the flared out front fenders, these narrower tires would look downright stupid, and I just spent good $$$ on this combo. Secondly, the 18s on it are truly summer-only tires. When winter comes, I can't imagine how expensive 18" snow tires are, and I don't want to know. Whereas, I have 4 virtually brand new Firestone 16" snows in my basement that all I would need is wheels for (they're currently mounted on my '01's factory wheels). You can't put 16s on a GXP because of the larger brakes. Add to this the fact that its more expensive (which admittedly isn't that big of a deal) and that with the GTP both sets of tires and my nice wheels will fit AND I have a choice of black or silver, and the GTP seems to maybe be a better fit...but maybe I need to re-think my thought process here???

Because I already have Redfire, I didn't really want Sport Red...black or silver would be nice. I'm limited to my dealer's inventory on this because I'll get their GMS kickback...something I won't likely get on a dealer swap. Hence the dilemna...

Thanks for everyone's responses so far!! I keep thinking about the '06 MC because I really like the V8 and 2 doors, but the GTP gives me a lot more content for less, plus there's the whole "wheels and tires that work" thing with the GTP. I tend to agree with the above comment about the G6 being a little too appliance-like in GT form. I drove it yesterday, and its VERY nice, and the interior is very attractive. But it drove like my GP...peppy, smooth, ok in corners, and no significant passion in the drive despite being very competent. The GTP? That car has attitude I forgot how fun they are to drive!!

 

I'd keep the GT coupe myself if I were just starting out after college. Focus on building up some savings 1st. As you make more money, and you have more savings. On a "relative" basis your ability to purchase will rise alot quicker than any price increases on cars.


But then again I'm a cheap bastard, so it's really up to you.

 

With any luck, in two or three years, GM'll have something with the power going to the proper wheels.

 

What he said. Besides, you may find something you like better at next years NAIAS.

 

I've thought about that idea too But realistically, I only really need one toy. I have that toy, and its not going anywhere I need something bigger/more practical than a Camaro for a daily driver, as I'm still doing stuff to the house. A 4 door sedan with FWD and a folding back seat works...assuming a 5th gen isn't a hatch, there went the utility And I refuse to use the 30th as a truck anyway!

guion,
I did just finish my MBA, but I've been out of school for 3 years...I did the MBA part time at night. I bought a house a year ago, hence the credit card crap this car loan can clean up I completely agree with you with the logic...somehow, logic doesn't seem to be coming through right now With no credit card debt, I can easily afford the car plus I lock in a 4.8% interest rate, versus the 11% my GM Card charges (I don't feel like getting into the 0% balance transfer every 6 months crap other cards offers...too many cards and hits will yank my credit score down). Because all the severe work is done to the house, I can limit my spending going forward and keep from wracking that good ol' GM card back up

With that being said, I'm shopping the MBA as we speak and should have a significantly better job soon anyway. And BTW, I brought my dad down to the dealer tonight, and he votes for the GXP...so I have the sport red one on hold after all We'll see how fast I can sell the GP...I just brought it down to the lot I'm really going to miss that car, but that GXP is a helluva ride, I have to say. Now I just have to figure out if I can fit smaller wheels on it for snows for the winter!! I don't think anyone makes a 255/45/18 snow tire, nor would I want to pay for it if someone did, nor do I want those nice high-polished wheels getting chewed up in the salt in the winter!!!!!

 

AZTEC



















HA,HA...if it were me i would get a MC SS but thats just because i like how they look and the 5.3 and i like chevys styling better but thats me.

 

You could always sell those new 17" wheels you have. Then buy some new snow tires and cheapo wheels. Are you sure those 16" snow tires won't work?

 

Well, that's what I'm in the process of finding out. GXP owners at clubgp.com don't think 16s will fit on a GXP because of the big PBR brakes...but there's a GM Engineer who was on the GXP program who frequents the board, so I PM'd him. We'll see what he says.

Now that I'm onto the GXP, I'm selling the car for $1,200 over NADA average retail with the $1,600 17" tire/wheel package that has less than 3k miles on it. The car looks downright evil with the combo, so my sales manager really thinks the wheels will help sell it despite asking more for the car. If the customer decides he doesn't care for the wheels, I'll sell the car with the OEM wheels for less and then list the 17s on clubgp.com or something.

The more I think about it, the more I love this GXP idea. Lets hope it works out...the biggest hurdle is selling mine. My car is mint and clean coupes are rare, so it should sell in a few weeks I hope. I'm stuck daily driving the Z until it sells I found 235/50/18 snows that should fit the GXP fine front and rear (stock is 255 front and 225 rear) on Tire Rack for $150 each, but then I'm stuck using the nice polished wheels in the salt and crap. I guess they'd be ok...who knows...

 

I hope you get the GXP. I got one for my wife took delivery friday night. Dark Cherry metalic everything except for navi. We were close to getting a Charger R/T, but the difference in price was the clincher. Also gotta love those GM credit cards I got an extra $750 bonus to top it off .

 

I saw a set of GXP wheels and tires on ebay a couple of weeks ago. You might get lucky and pick up a set for a good price and sell the tires. If I get some time I'll see if the 17's from my Impala fit (gotta get those brakes on my car) a set of those wheels are going for about $600 shipped on ebay.