Built for drivers, named by bingo players?

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

Another car whose parents couldn't think of a name and decided to use a number instead. What's happening these days? I wonder why I've seen so many cars lately which use a code or digit as a name. Some companies have always done it, but now we have the 3, the 6, the G6, three hundreds, five hundreds and don't forget the SRT lineup! Are all the cool car names really used up? Nissan had dibs on "Maxima" a long time ago, Chrysler had the "Talon", and more recently the "Magnum", and even Hyundai have called their coolest car the "Tiburon", which is Korean for shark. There have to be some cool names left, somewhere. Check out the auto123 forum for my post on "cool car names" and enter your pick! The people at Pontiac have simply called this replacement Grand Am the G6.

GM have had their share of ups and downs lately, and have increased their commitment to quality to counter stiff competition from foreign carmakers and change a negative perception about their vehicles- hoping to buy over those who favor imported machines. Having two of their Ontario assembly plants awarded top marks in initial quality should get the ball rolling in this department. The G6 is a sedan and starts under $25,000. A new car in this highly import-driven segment is a brave move indeed. This car will have to be light years ahead of the Grand Am to hold up in the current market, and Pontiac think this G6 will do the trick. I wanted to see if I agreed.

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

My G6 GT tester was loaded with steering wheel mounted audio controls, telescopic tilt steering, traction control, remote start (no second remote needed!) and power-adjustable pedals, allowing even the very short to maintain an optimal driving position. Leather wrapped surfaces and chrome wheels add flare as well. The GT's "Monsoon" stereo is a fantastic unit and sounds wonderful at any volume. Even at the loudest I can stand (quite a bit), the sound was still strong The Monsoon lets drivers decimate their eardrums, and those of anyone nearby, with ease.

The $2,200 panoramic sunroof is worth a paragraph as well. Individual glass panels tilt and stack against one another, and when fully opened about 80 percent of the roof is peeled away. We've all seen the

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

commercial, right? You could catch a tan while out for an afternoon drive. Opening the roof at a stoplight, you'll be sure to attract stares-it's really very impressive to watch. Less impressive, however, is the rear headroom. Adding a sunroof generally takes its toll, as the ceiling must house the extra hardware. The backseat accommodations offer great legroom thanks to the G6's long wheelbase, and they're comfortable too, but your taller friends will complain about smacking their heads on the rear window when you hit a bump. Turn up the Monsoon to fix this problem.

You'll also need the stereo to drown out the wind noise at highway speeds if you leave the roof open. Partially closing it helps a little, but on the highway, I found myself leaving it shut. You can have a "normal" sunroof and save about $1,200, but having not tried it, I'll let you decide if it's quieter.