1982: a miserable introduction
    styling that really doesn't even need to be mentioned on most models
    excellent aerodynamics with drag coefficients from .37 to .40
    2.5 liter inline 4, the old pontiac "iron duke" with new throttle body fuel injection
        generally acceptable reliability but painfully slow
        90 hp@4000, 134 ft-lbs@2400, EPA 25/40 mpg
    2.8 liter V6, 2 bbl rochester carb, chevrolet built
        generally hated due to reliability and painfully slow
        112hp@4800, 145 ft-lbs@2400, EPA 22/34 mpg
        car and driver tested a pontiac 6000 with this motor
            0-60 in 14.5 sec, top speed 92 mph, quarter mile 19.6@69
    3.0 liter V6, 2 bbl rochester carb, buick built
        generally hated due to reliability and painfully slow
        110hp@4800, 145 ft-lbs@2000, EPA 21/33 mpg
    4.3 liter V-6 diesel was also offered
    the only year an eight-track was offered
    over the years, these cars got a lot better as reliability, styling and engines improved

1983: performance introduced
    pontiac 6000 STE introduced with great suspension and quicker 2.8 HO v6
    2.8 liter HO V6, 2 bbl rochester carb, chevrolet built
        130 hp@5400, 145 ft-lbs@2400
    in Motor Trend test
        0-60 10.58 sec, quarter mile [email protected]
    buick century T-type introduced, olds ciera ES
    4 speed automatic becomes optional

1984: celebrity eurosport, and wagons
    wagons are introduced
    celebrity eurosport introduced with 2.8 HO and best suspension yet (.82 g's on skidpad)
   late in the model year, the century gets the 3.8 liter as an option
    3.8 liter V6 multi port fuel injected, buick built
        125 hp@4400, 195 lb-ft@2000

1985: fuel injection for the 2.8
    the 2.8 is redone with multi port fuel injection and becomes a vastly improved engine
        135 hp@5100, 155 lb-ft@3600
    (unfortunately the old carbeurated 2.8 is still around as well)
    olds ciera GT introduced
 
 
1986: styling touches
    celebrity gets a good looking new nose
    at mid year the floorpan becomes fully galvanized
  3.8 liter V6 gets sequential fuel injection, and extra power
        150 hp@4400, 200 lb-ft@2000
 
Later years: dwindling options
    Not much was introduced in the later years and the performance options gradually disappeared.The 2.8 liter V6 became the 3.1 liter V6 and a 3.3 liter V6 made a brief appearance.  The 2.5 liter was replaced by a newer 2.2 liter.  The A-body lineup was reduced to rental and old person cars.  The typical later model A-body was a buick century in light blue with wire wheels and the 3.1 liter V6.  They survived until 1996 because they had become very reliable cars and continued to make happy customers.
 
 The Bad
    -rusty doors
    -troublesome early v6 engines
    -rotten handling from base suspensions
    -styling of some models
The Good
    -reliability of later models
    -fuel economy
    -handling of performance suspensions
    -styling of some models
    -wide variety of parts available because so many different versions were made
    -can be found real cheap used