Pontiac 6000
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Manufacturer | General Motors |
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| Production | 1982–1991 |
| Assembly | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Tarrytown, New York |
| Predecessor | Pontiac LeMans |
| Successor | Pontiac Grand Prix |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | A-body |
| Engine(s) | 2.5 L Iron Duke I4 2.8 L LE2 V6 3.1 L LH0 V6 |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 104.5 in (2654 mm) (1982-1988) 104.9 in (2664 mm) (1989-1991) |
| Length | 188.9 in (4798 mm) 193.2 in (4907 mm) (wagon) |
| Width | 72 in (1829 mm) |
| Height | 53.7 in (1364 mm) 54.1 in (1374 mm) (wagon) |
| Related | Buick Century Chevrolet Celebrity Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera |
The Pontiac 6000 was a mid-size car introduced by the Pontiac division of General Motors in 1981 for the 1982 model year, slotting between the Bonneville and above the Phoenix. It shared its platform with the Buick Century, Chevrolet Celebrity, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, and the Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser station wagon.
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[edit] Overview
The 6000 was built at the Oshawa Car Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada from 1981 to 1988 and in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma until production ceased in 1991. They were also made in Tarrytown, New York for a few years. By 1984 the 6000 was Pontiac's best seller, with over 122,000 units sold. Since the demise of the T1000 after the 1987 model year, the 6000 was the last remaining Pontiac to bear the "000" in its name (the 2000 Sunbird was the first Pontiac to drop it).
In 1982, two trim levels were offered: 6000 and 6000 LE. Both came standard with the new-for-1982 2.5 L (151 cu in) Tech IV four-cylinder with throttle body injection. It made 90 horsepower (67 kW). Optional engines were GM's 2.8 L (173 cu in) V6 with a 2-barrel carburetor which made 112 horsepower (84 kW), or a 4.3 L (263 cu in) Oldsmobile diesel V6 which made 85 horsepower (63 kW). The diesel engine was unpopular and only offered until 1985. The 2.8 was updated for 1985 with multi-port fuel injection, raising output to 135 horsepower (101 kW) exclusively for the STE. The fuel-injected 2.8 made its way into the Base and LE models for 1986, however in these trims it only made 125 hp. The Tech IV was given various updates over the years but was mostly unchanged. In 1987, an S/E model arrived with the STE powertrain but fewer features. In 1989, passive front seatbelts were introduced and a 3.1 L (191 cu in) V6 replaced the 2.8. The 6000 was dropped after 1991, replaced by the Grand Prix sedan.
[edit] STE version
The 6000 STE was introduced for the 1983 model year, and was known[citation needed] as the spiritual successor to the performance-oriented Grand Am that was offered in the 1970s. It features a High-Output version of the 6000's optional 2.8 L V6. Like that engine, it sports a 2-barrel carburetor, though it delivers 135 horsepower, rather than the usual 112 horsepower. Although intended to compete with similar entries from BMW and Audi, the carburetor (competitors had fuel injection) and gauge cluster without tachometer made the STE seem rather deficient when compared to competitors from those manufacturers. The 1984 6000STE featured a digital gauge cluster featuring a bar-graph tachometer. The STE featured a driver information center with a system which monitored functions such as lights, doors, tune-ups and tire rotations.
Special steering rack, and suspension tuning with a self-leveling rear air suspension yielded European handling, though the rear end felt a little floaty at times. 4 wheel disc brakes improved stopping to European standards as did standard Goodyear Eagle GT tires, size 195/70R14 (large for the time).
In 1985, the carbureted engine was replaced by a multi-port fuel injected version of the 2.8 L V6, still delivering 135 horsepower. Although the 3-speed automatic remained standard (a Getrag 5 Speed Manual was a no charge option), the new engine accelerated faster than the previous engine, and enhanced the STEs emphasis on performance and technology. For 1986, a revised front facsia with composite headlamps, anti-lock brakes, a revised tachometer, steering wheel mounted audio controls and a new 4-speed automatic transmission were new. Following this was a two-position memory seat for the 8-way power drivers seat for 1987. New for 1988 was an optional All Wheel Drive system. It was mated to a new 3.1 L LH0 V6 (the first use of GMs new 3.1 L in a production car) but only a 3-speed automatic transmission, which didn't help acceleration or fuel economy. The all-wheel-drive system became standard for 1989, but was moved to the SE model for 1990, since the STE was discontinued from the 6000 line and moved to the new four-door Grand Prix lineup that year. It was later discontinued from the Grand Prix after 1993.
[edit] Engines
- 1982-1991 LR8 TBI "Tech IV" 2.5 L (151 in³) I4
- 1982-1986 LE2 2-barrel 2.8 L (173 in³) V6
- 1982-1985 LT7 diesel 4.3 L (263 in³) V6
- 1983-1984 LH7 2-barrel 2.8 L (173 in³) High Output V6
- 1985 L44 MFI 2.8 L (173 in³) V6
- 1986-1989 LB6 MFI 2.8 L (173 in³) V6
- 1988-1990 AWD models LH0 MFI 3.1 L (191 in³) V6 (The 1988 6000 STE AWD was the first use of the 3.1 L in a production car.)
- 1990-1991 LH0 MFI 3.1 L (191 in³) V6
[edit] Transmissions
- 1984-1986 Muncie 4-speed manual w/overdrive (only available on 2.5 L 4-cyl & 4.3 L diesel)
- 1987-1988 Muncie/Getrag 5T40/HM282 5-speed manual w/overdrive (only on 2.8 L V6)
- 1982-1991 Turbo Hydramatic 125C/3T40 3-speed automatic (Standard on 2.8L V6 and 3.1L V6)
- 1985-1991 Turbo Hydramatic 440-T4/4T60 4-speed automatic with overdrive
[edit] Parodies
The Pontiac 6000 was the base for the parody car "6000 SUX" in the movie Robocop.
[edit] Awards
The 6000 STE was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list three times, from 1983 to 1985.
[edit] External links
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