When Honda was cranking out bread-and-butter Accords and Nissan began building the first four-door sports car, Pontiac decided to throw its hat in the ring with an all-wheel drive 6000. An interesting car with few examples left today, it was feature-packed yet still overlooked by all-wheel drive shoppers who were distracted by a little thing called Quattro. This 6000 STE sedan supposedly has under 40,000 original miles and remains largely as it left the factory. Find it here on eBay with a $3,900 Buy-It-Now.
These are highly obscure cars today, with supposedly 2,000 or fewer ever sold. The 6000 didn’t exactly start out as an enthusiasts’ car, or even a vehicle that you’d potentially cross-shop with the cheaper Quattro offering, a VW outfitted with the Syncro 4WD system. So when the General rolled out a kitted-up A-body with all-wheel drive, I can’t blame consumers for not knowing exactly what to do with it. I suspect there’s lacking in the driving experience, as it appears this exact car has been for sale off and on for years.
The interiors were high-grade by 1980s General Motors standards, but it also introduced the bizarro styling exercise now considered uniquely Pontiac: the steering wheel with something like 40 buttons, all controlling different creature comforts or dashboard controls. Without even touching the obvious styling issues, how is it even remotely safe to have drivers searching for the cruise control switch hidden somewhere in the middle of what would be a traditional horn button? I’m surprised Pontiac didn’t get hit with a lawsuit from the first accident victim’s family.
The rear differential that was affixed as part of the all-wheel drive system had the unfortunate consequence of forcing the spare tire into the trunk. But while you’re there, check out the 6000 STE “Accessories Kit”, which I imagine would reveal all sorts of 80s awesomeness. The seller mentions the 6000 retains factory inflation tube in the trunk, useful for blowing up pool toys and tires with a slow leak; the wackiness abounds with this loaded-up all-wheel-driven 6000 STE. Would you drive it daily?
Nice one, Jeff. If I knew about the AWD variant I had forgotten. I guess Pontiac figured the 6000 was “1000 Better than an Audi 5000.” That button-filled steering wheel is amazing. Why don’t you buy it?
Cruise control is on the standard GM multifunction stalk. The steering wheel controls are all for the stereo.
An army buddy had one of these. I didnt realize at the time what an oddball it was. I remember it being a comfortable highway cruiserbut I never drove it.
I liked these new and also today. A lot of unique styling exercises including the tail lights run the length of the rear of the car. If I remember correctly the driving lights in the front are amber in color. This would be a nice Summer Collector Car.
Pete that wall to wall tail light design was common from the full size Buicks of the late 60s.
LeBaron, Chrysler Fifth Avenue/New Yorker, Buick Century, Skylark, Mercury badged Fords [Mercury Marquis, Sable, Topaz] all used something similar.
It wasn’t fresh when Pontiac did it, but sort of a universal can’t think what to do here styling cop out.
But I still like them. Clean looking, right size for an intermediate, roomy, practical, quiet.
My parent’s 84 Olds Ciera made me a fan.
I had an ’86 STE as my company car back then. The magazines touted it’s euro handling manners but it honestly was just a loaded A-body 6000. Typical GM build quality of the day, it spent a lot of time in the Palm Pontiac service department. By the time the over 20k AWD variant came out the 6000 was 7 model years old and almost impossible to sell. Almost all of them ended up in fleet service.
I would expect the price put most people off to buying an experimental car from General Motors.
It was a very expensive car in its day
Price: Base price is $22,599.
Dealer’s invoice price on base model is $19,503.
Price as tested is $23,049, including a $450 destination charge.
Parents had a 1986 Pontiac 6000 which was FWD and it was a great car. I like this one and hard to believe you could get a AWD 30 years ago.
My parents had an 84 6000LE. Great car as well. Had it for 13 years.
One of a few vehicles in my family I wish I had back. This example would be fun to check out.
Not all STEs were AWD, which came late in the 6000’s model run. Earlier 6000 STE (Special Touring Edition) variants were just FWD but already credible and competitive performers for their time and market segment.
BTW, the “cheaper Quattro offering” was a VW wagon from ’86-88 called the “Quantum Syncro” that just adapted Audi’s Quattro system from the platform-mate 4000, rather than VW’s viscous-coupling Syncro AWD system.
I had a 1986 two tone silver/gray with pigskin suede gray interior and a removable sun roof. Loved that car!!! Quad headlights with single fog light on each side. I purchased the car in 95 and all it took to get it road worthy again was a new mass airflow sensor…
My mom had the 2 wheel drive version. A very comfortable highway cruiser, digital dashboard it was fun to toggle kph/mph. Look how smooth at 130….ah to be teenaged again. How high do we think the reserve is?
In my opinion, it’s a commuter car. Not worth a lot, certainly not an expensive paint job.
Similar in color scheme to my ’93 Bonneville SSE, but that has leather inside. The 3.1 was replaced by the 3800, IMO one of the best engines ever to come out of GM. The SSE also has the onboard inflation system, and it has rear automatic load-compensating (via air pressure) shocks. That leads me to believe that the 6000 may have those as well.
This is a nice car, and apparently will sell. A single bid at $2500, and there is no mention of a reserve. No place to store it, so…..
A co-worker at the Pontiac dealership we worked had one of these. Same exact color. Not sure what year it was. It had previously been a GM factory car because, brand-new they were too expensive for the average consumer.
Definitely a unique vehicle, but for the claimed mileage this car is rough and filthy. Body side moldings missing, carpets are dirty, etc. Not sure how the mileage could have been tempted with, but this looks to have much higher mileage than the under 40k stated.
I sold a few for the Santa Fe Pontiac dealer (Where did you go John Nickeson?) back in “the day.” As crappy as a Fiero and just as poorly built. GM deserved to go bankrupt.
Mom had an 84 6000STE, she absolutely loved that car drove it for years. White with grey pigskin interior, nobody could believe it was Pontiac, that sedan drove like a sports car (their words). Mom cried when she had to give up her STE, she wore it out!
Not worth more than current bid @$2500 due to the wear and tear, especially considering it will need new paint for sure. Saw one awhile back in mint condition, low miles, in regular use for $4000 and it needed nothing.
A lift , 31/10.50’s on S10 wheels and a 100 shot . JMO .
I heard a lot of hype about how great the STE was back then but I don’t know. Did Pontiac really enhance the FWD A-Body that much to make it fun to drive? I had a 1985 Celebrity Eurosport with the 2.8 V6 and it was a pretty dull driving experience. Dishwater dull actually.
It was also a pretty slow car. I can imagine with all-wheel drive it would probably even be slower.
Car and Driver magazine loved the 6000 STE.
And not just them. I think all the three of the big magazines praised it. Reading those you would think the STE was like an Audi 4000 or BMW 325is. I have my severe doubts about that. If it was anything like my Euro, it was a competent family car that looked sporty but nothing more.
The 3.1 was a slug. But for $2500 you could drive something fairly unique. That doesn’t happen often
Looks like that single $2500 bid won the car.
Happy to say I’m the proud owner of this baby. I had her repainted, new battery, tune up, interior detail, and new Cooper Snow and Ice tires. She’s been my winter car and I love her! I get compliments all the time from her. Attached is an ‘after’ pic from the new paint job.
Do you still have it?
I loved my ‘86 STE. Only reason I sold it was because the paint was ruined by a concrete high rise construction next to the parking lot I parked at. I subsequently drove a Cadillac Seville four seater, and missed my STE.
i’ve always wanted one of these since i was in my teenage years. i’m now older and still would like to get one. these are very hard to find. when you are ready to sell, please let me know
I think I may own the nicest 1989 Pontiac 6000 STE in the world. If you’d like to see pictures of her, contact me at cotronix@aol.com.