Well, they didn't lower the price of the GT, or keep it the same...it raised by $800. Here's a rundown of '06 GP pricing...

Base model:
MSRP = $23,095.
-$965 adds one package with a power seat, on-board computer, chrome interior accents, remote start, leather wheel and ****, lumbar support, steering wheel audio controls and a lighting package (ooooh...pretty lights )
-$940 premium package adds dual zone A/C and leather
-$995 adds ABS, T/C, side airbags.
-$1,590 adds moonroof, 6 CD and Monsoon package.
-$680 sport package adds polished wheels, fog lights and dual exhaust tips.

So loaded up, you're talking $27,500 without the sport package...more equipment than last years GT for less money. Still 200hp, so I wouldn't buy it, but not bad at all. For conversation's sake, we'd typically make a base car like this a $25,600 car with the ABS, side airbags, Monsoon and moonroof.

GT (the one I like ) MSRP = $26,745
-Sport package equipment is standard (except for polished wheels), the $965 package from above is standard, as is ABS. New for '06 = 17" wheels and the s/c 3800
-$1,015 is the leather and dual zone A/C package (not sure why its higher than the base car????)
-$1,590 is the same moonroof, 6 CD and Monsoon package
-$395 is side airbags (part of an option package on the base model)
-$495 = poloshed wheels.

Again, loaded up you're talking $30k, but again, realistically you're still getting more for less than last year. $29,300 = the leather and the moonroof packages. We have an '05 GT for $28,500 with the same packages on it!!!!! Consider how much more car you get for that $800 more this year...

GXP prices are $600 behind last year...and remain a great deal IMO. I hope this can charge up GP sales!

 

Stability control is standard on the base $22,995 Dodge Charger.

You don't even get ABS on the base Grand Prix - despite GM's "groundbreaking" promise to make stability control standard on every GM product sometime around 2008. Daimler-Chrysler has already made better progress with active safety in this particular market segment than GM - and without the meaningless public announcements. So has Hyundai! Yes, Hyundai. Every new Sonata has stability control as standard equipment, but not the Grand Prix.

The Grand Prix is tired old car that should have been off the market by now. It isn't a great deal or even a halfway decent car, relatively speaking.

I wouldn't advise anyone to buy a "new" Grand Prix. If you really must have one, buy used. Or better yet, buy just about anything else instead. Seriously, I'm running out of cars that I can actually say are "worse than" the Grand Prix.

 

How can they do the base car with no fog lights? I thought they were integrated into the DRL's? Unless they are using the GXP front across the whole line?

 

http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/ModelSelector.jsp

 

I also think that it is ridiculus that the Grand Prix doesn't come standard with ABS. My dad's $12,000 Tacoma stripper pickup(A/C was the only option) came with ABS standard. If I remeber correctly, ABS was standard on all 4th gen fbodys.

 

So basically the GT is the GTP in everything but name. I think it is a good change because it clarifies the lineup.

 

Thankfully, most everyone ignores your advice anyway. BTW, which cars in your beloved Nissan lineup for $23k offer standard stability control? Standard ABS?

That's what I thought...oh and by the way, the "tired" Grand Prix GXP annihilates a Maxima SE for less $$, and looks better doing. Just thought I'd share And if you even attempt to tell me the Nissan looks better on the inside with that frog-eyed dash, why I oughta...

 

Yup. He can't think of any car worse than the GP, but neglects the Maxima, which happens to be its ONLY direct competitor (powerful, large fwd sport sedan in the mid-20's - name one car besides the GP and Max that does these things). And yes, the Maxima gets its a*s handed to it. Not only in GXP form either. For the price of next years GT, what does Nissan give you?

In any case, I really wish someone at GM would wake up and realize that this car would be very successful if only they invested enough cash to redo the front end. I honestly think that consumers would even forgive the fugly dash if the front end looked as good as the rest of the car (look at the CTS's dash, then look at its monthly sales).

 

Spoken, as almost always, as a person who knows nothing of what he speaks. I thought your fire was put out in this thread when we proved you wrong on numerous accounts:

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380729

 

I think the biggest offender in the dash is center stack and the stereo. The center stack bows out when it is hot leaving a gap where it meets the stereo. Also, the stereo looks like it belongs in a truck (because that is where it came from), not a sports sedan. It needs the new stereo in the Impala...or even the one in the Malibu/G6.

Engineers here...how hard is it to change something like a stereo?

 

Am I the only one that gives a crap less about stability control. We are creating people that can't actually *gasp* drive a car. It sickens me.

 

Interestingly enough, my most recent GP customer b!tched about the center stack being "ugly and confusing," and wouldn't even test drive it because of the center stack. That's a new one...but shows how fickle buyers are these days. Then again, I'm not a big fan of the center stack, either...