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Pontiac 6000: Difference between revisions

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==1982-1991==
==1982-1991==


Bodystyles included a 2-door coupe and a 4-door sedan and they were available in Base and LE trim levels. Gasoline engine choices also mirrored the Phoenix's, starting with a fuel-injected 92 hp 2.5L (151 cid) I4 and the 2.8L (173 cid) V6, but a 4.3L (262 cid) diesel V6 was also optional. A 3-speed automatic transmission was initially the sole transmission choice.
When the 6000 was first introduced in 1982, there were coupe and sedan bodystyles, with two trim levels: base and '''LE'''. Both offered the Phoenix's standard 2.5L Iron-Duke four cylinder engine, using throttle body injection, and produced 90 horsepower and 125 lb/ft of torque. Optional was GM's 2.8L V6 engine, using a 2-barrel carburetor, producing 112 horsepower and 135 lb/ft of torque, as well as an optional 4.3L Diesel V6 supplied by Oldsmobile, producing 83 horsepower. A 3-speed automatic transmission was the sole transmission option.  


1983 6000s continued largely unchanged, but to show that Pontiac was serious about the 6000 being a contender among European sport sedans, a new '''STE''' package, available only on the 4-door sedan, debuted to rave reviews from various car magazines as the closest American alternative to an Audi or BMW sport sedan yet. The STE was initially offered only in silver, had a unique front-end treatment with integrated fog-lights beside the headlights (giving the impression of 6 headlights), but most importantly was equipped with a high-output 130 hp 2.8 V6, an exclusive among A-bodies for the time beingA 3-speed automatic was still the only transmission choice, but a floor-mounted shifter, 60-series Goodyear Eagle GT tires, blacked-out exterior trim, sportier-tuned suspension with thicker anti-roll bars nonetheless gave the STE a decidedly European sports car feel and gave decent performance for the dayUnfortunately, the STE still used the basic 6000 dashboard design, with its old-school strip-style speedometer with no tachometer... very unsporting and definitely more Buick than BMW.  1984 STEs would correct that omission (for the most part), offering a digital dash option with a bar-graph tachometer.  An all-new station wagon bodystyle debuted this year also, in 6- or 8-passenger configurations, and available on all except the STE.  An '''S/E''' package was introduced this year, which was sort of a budget-STE, and was available on all bodystyles, including the wagon.  
For 1983, the base and LE models were accompanied by a new '''STE''' model. The STE was designed to take on European road cars from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, for about half the cost.  Standard was a high-output 2.8L V6 sporting a 2-barrel carburetorThis engine produced 135 horsepower and 165 lb/ft of torque, with a standard floor-mounted 3 speed automatic transmission. The STE set itself apart from other 6000s by offering a unique front fascia with integrated fog lamps for a 6 headlamp look.  At the rear, a full width lightbar enhanced its Euro-sedan look.  Underneath, an upgraded suspension, wider and stickier tires and a mellow exhaust gave the STE the European feel.  Inside, the STE used wider and more supportive bucket seats with available 8-way power adjustment for both driver and front passenger seats, an upgraded stereo and a driver information centerHowever, the STE still used the basic 6000-style dash which, along with the carbureted engine (most US market European sedans featured fuel injection), made the STE seem rather deficient when compared to its intended competitionFor 1984, a wagon was added to all models save the STE, and the STE now featured a digital dashboard featuring full instrumentation.  


The rest of the 6000 line continued mostly unchanged in 1985 save for some new color choices, the Base and LE models could now have the 130 hp 2.8 V6 that had once been exclusively reserved for the STE.  The base 2.5 I4 and 2.8 V6 continuedThe STE now got some new color choices - standard silver, black and maroon.  All models got slightly revised nose - the grilles were now horizontally slatted instead of vertically, and tail treatments included larger taillights. A new gauge cluster was installed, looking much more modern than the previous models.  The transmission choice still remained the 3-speed automatic for all models.  For 1986, all engines were now fuel injected, and the rarely-ordered diesel engine was finally discontinuedThere were no appreciable changes for 1987. In 1988, the STE got an all-wheel-drive option, the only A-body ever to receive this, which ran until 1990. A 4-speed automatic became available for the V6 models excluding the AWD STE, which necessitated the 3-speed due to the size of the transfer case.  
In 1985, the STE's high-output V6 now sported multi-port fuel injection, increasing horsepower to 140 and torque to 170 lb/ft.  The 2.5L engine had an increase in horsepower to 92In 1986, the diesel engine was dropped and all remaining engines were now fuel injected. A 4 speed automatic transmission was available with the 2.8L V6.  The STE model also now featured composite headlamps, a further upgraded stereo with innovative steering wheel controls (a Pontiac innovation that would later make it's way onto almost every car today) and anti-lock brakesIn 1987, all 6000s received new front ends with composite headlamps, the 2.5L engine got an increase in horsepower to 98, an '''S/E''' model was added with much of the STE styling and powertrain, but less standard equipment and the STE gained a memory for the driver's seat.  


In 1989, the 6000 had its first (and only) major restyle, with a more rounded rear window, a revised nose and tail treatmentBase models were dropped (along with the 2-door bodystyle), as there were now LE, SE and STE models. Drivetrain choices for the LE and SEs remained unchanged, but the STE was now available with an all-new 140 hp 3.1L (191 cid) V6 and kept its optional all-wheel-drive platform for one more year. The four cylinder received a power bump due to a new cylinder head design, up to 98 hp/135 ft-lbs.  Transmission choices for the STE remained the 3-speed automatic while other V6 models got the 4-speed unitThe AWD STE turned out to be short-lived, since in 1990 the STE now went to the new 4-door [[Pontiac Grand Prix|Grand Prix]] model.  AWD continued to be an option for the S/E model, however, and still had the 3.1 V6 engine, but again, the AWD option necessitated the 3-speed automatic. 1991 models were unchanged with the exception of AWD no longer being optional, and turned out to be the 6000's last.  The [[Chevrolet Celebrity]] died after 1990 (after only being available as a wagon), but its other A-body corporate mates, the [[Buick Century]] and [[Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera]], would continue on until the end of 1996.
For 1988, all-wheel-drive was added as an option for the STE, with the addition of a new engineWhen all-wheel-drive was ordered, the 2.8L was replaced by a 3.1L (191 cid) V6 producing 140 horsepower and 185 lb/ft of torque.  Although the front-wheel-drive version used a 4 speed automatic, the all-wheel-drive version only used a 3 speed automatic (this was supposedly because the AWD transfer case was too large to properly accomodate the 4-speed auto transmission)In 1989, the STE was only offered with all-wheel-drive, and mid year the 2.5L gained balance shafts and an increase in horsepower to 110.  The rear window of all 6000s was redesigned with a rounder look.  For 1990, the STE trim was dropped and moved to the Grand Prix sedan, and the S/E model inherited the AWD option, and the 2.8L V6 was dropped as the 3.1L expanded to front-wheel-drive 6000 models, with an available 4 speed automatic. For 1991, the SE and AWD models were dropped. The 6000 didn't return for the 1992 model year.


==Main Competitors==
==Main Competitors==
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{{Pontiac}}
{{Pontiac}}
[[Category:Discontinued Models]]

Latest revision as of 13:01, 15 October 2010

6000awdintro.JPG
Pontiac 6000
Pontiac
Production 1982-1991
Class Intermediate
Body Style 2-Door Coupe
4-Door Sedan
5-Door Wagon
Length 188.9"
Width 72"
Height 53.7"
Wheelbase 104.9"
Weight 3100-3400 lbs
Transmission 3-Speed Automatic, FWD/AWD
4-Speed Automatic, FWD
5-Speed Manual
Engine 2.5L (151 cid) I4 (1982-1991)
2.8L (173 cid) V6 (1982-1989)
3.1L (191 cid) V6 (1988-1991)
4.3L (262 cid) Diesel V6 (1982-1985)
Power 90-140 hp
Similar Buick Century
Chevrolet Celebrity
Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
Platform A

Pontiac introduced the A-body 6000 in 1982 as a replacement for the departed rear-drive LeMans, and was built on the same 104.9" front wheel drive X-body Phoenix chassis and drivetrain. The 6000 was offered along with its corporate mates, the Buick Century, Chevrolet Celebrity and Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, and while those cars catered to a more conservative crowd, Pontiac fancied the 6000 as a quasi-alternative to Audi and BMW sport sedans - a lofty goal indeed. It would be offered thru the end of the 1991 model year.

Here's a quick rundown:

1982-1991

When the 6000 was first introduced in 1982, there were coupe and sedan bodystyles, with two trim levels: base and LE. Both offered the Phoenix's standard 2.5L Iron-Duke four cylinder engine, using throttle body injection, and produced 90 horsepower and 125 lb/ft of torque. Optional was GM's 2.8L V6 engine, using a 2-barrel carburetor, producing 112 horsepower and 135 lb/ft of torque, as well as an optional 4.3L Diesel V6 supplied by Oldsmobile, producing 83 horsepower. A 3-speed automatic transmission was the sole transmission option.

For 1983, the base and LE models were accompanied by a new STE model. The STE was designed to take on European road cars from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, for about half the cost. Standard was a high-output 2.8L V6 sporting a 2-barrel carburetor. This engine produced 135 horsepower and 165 lb/ft of torque, with a standard floor-mounted 3 speed automatic transmission. The STE set itself apart from other 6000s by offering a unique front fascia with integrated fog lamps for a 6 headlamp look. At the rear, a full width lightbar enhanced its Euro-sedan look. Underneath, an upgraded suspension, wider and stickier tires and a mellow exhaust gave the STE the European feel. Inside, the STE used wider and more supportive bucket seats with available 8-way power adjustment for both driver and front passenger seats, an upgraded stereo and a driver information center. However, the STE still used the basic 6000-style dash which, along with the carbureted engine (most US market European sedans featured fuel injection), made the STE seem rather deficient when compared to its intended competition. For 1984, a wagon was added to all models save the STE, and the STE now featured a digital dashboard featuring full instrumentation.

In 1985, the STE's high-output V6 now sported multi-port fuel injection, increasing horsepower to 140 and torque to 170 lb/ft. The 2.5L engine had an increase in horsepower to 92. In 1986, the diesel engine was dropped and all remaining engines were now fuel injected. A 4 speed automatic transmission was available with the 2.8L V6. The STE model also now featured composite headlamps, a further upgraded stereo with innovative steering wheel controls (a Pontiac innovation that would later make it's way onto almost every car today) and anti-lock brakes. In 1987, all 6000s received new front ends with composite headlamps, the 2.5L engine got an increase in horsepower to 98, an S/E model was added with much of the STE styling and powertrain, but less standard equipment and the STE gained a memory for the driver's seat.

For 1988, all-wheel-drive was added as an option for the STE, with the addition of a new engine. When all-wheel-drive was ordered, the 2.8L was replaced by a 3.1L (191 cid) V6 producing 140 horsepower and 185 lb/ft of torque. Although the front-wheel-drive version used a 4 speed automatic, the all-wheel-drive version only used a 3 speed automatic (this was supposedly because the AWD transfer case was too large to properly accomodate the 4-speed auto transmission). In 1989, the STE was only offered with all-wheel-drive, and mid year the 2.5L gained balance shafts and an increase in horsepower to 110. The rear window of all 6000s was redesigned with a rounder look. For 1990, the STE trim was dropped and moved to the Grand Prix sedan, and the S/E model inherited the AWD option, and the 2.8L V6 was dropped as the 3.1L expanded to front-wheel-drive 6000 models, with an available 4 speed automatic. For 1991, the SE and AWD models were dropped. The 6000 didn't return for the 1992 model year.

Main Competitors

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