Pontiac G8..looks..awesome?

[cerfus]

This is a pretty cool car, i saw one the other day and although I would never buy one, the car looks bad ass, and the interior?!
And its an actual 6-speed! the tail lights are a little too busy though.





What does everyone else think? anyone know of someone who has one, or has driven one?

[Silverstreak98]

I actuallly do like the styling as well, but I've only seen a few of them driving around.

No way to really accurately judge the interior until you've actually sat in one IMO.

[Chapunki]

The G8 is a fantastic car, the Gen IV 6.0L is a great engine. The car is a rebadged Holden from Australia, and they design very nice interiors. I used to have a 2006 GTO, which is basically a Holden as well, I loved the car so much, amazing interior as well.
[IMG][/IMG]

[Quattrotakis]

doesn't 6sp only come on the 400+ hp 40K version?

[Alan]

G8's are the shit, i tried to convince my mom to get one, but my dad said no to a V8

[A4 TSCHUSS]

Saw one not to long ago and it caught my eye, I hadn't ever seen one before.

[passatkid]

Still made by GM as someone that owned GM in the past what will always stick in my mind is the crap they build. Only GM products I would own are a Duramax, a vette and Cadillac products.

[pyro]

having had a GTO in the family for a few years now, i can vouch for Holden cars...you can't beat Holden cars, and once you ride in one, you won't want to ride in an A4 again. The G8 is an amazing vehicle, sadly it has come state side a few years too late, as nobody is looking for a big V8 car anymore.

and yes, the manual is only available in the GXP version. i think this year or next they are bringing the manual to the gt as well.

[will175]

I think it looks beefy.

[Shak]

Just me or that interior looking awfully familiar?

Think the DIS, light switch, steering wheel controls, knobs on the radio button, the knobs for the air vents.. but maybe that's how all cars are doing it now. Just reminds me of my a4.

[Jung]

gm did a lot better with it than they have been doing lately, but they're still going with their "economical" path. which is sticking different names and slgihtly different paneling on the same chassis. It's nothign new.
The car looks great, i wont doubt it. the interior looks good. BUT, I drove an automatic GT, and it feels like a pontiac. It shifts fucking hard, way too hard for a "Grand touring" car. The interior looks the role, but it can't play it. it feels cheaper than my 7 year old audi. just not enough quality parts. they could step it up a notch.
I myself would not buy one, just because it's a pontiac. whenever i picture a pontiac, i picture a fat, mid 20s woman listening to a pop station singing kelly clarkson and putting on lipstick. no matter what, theyre not my style.
but.. it is a quick car and it sounds great. the v8 is great and has a lot of punch. i know one thing, americans sure can make a great sounding and performing big liter motor.

[MYDWAGON]

Problem is for the price of that there are to many other fun cars out there.

[Four Play]

The G8 is an amazing vehicle, sadly it has come state side a few years too late, as nobody is looking for a big V8 car anymore.

I am
$31k out the door with employee pricing for a car like that is a hell of a deal for what you get. Your going to find a lot of people getting into these after seeing what else they can get for the money, the pricing of it just can't be beat.

Problem is for the price of that there are to many other fun cars out there.

What else is there that does what the G8 can for the same money?

[Four Play]

gm did a lot better with it than they have been doing lately, but they're still going with their "economical" path. which is sticking different names and slgihtly different paneling on the same chassis. It's nothign new.
The car looks great, i wont doubt it. the interior looks good. BUT, I drove an automatic GT, and it feels like a pontiac. It shifts fucking hard, way too hard for a "Grand touring" car. The interior looks the role, but it can't play it. it feels cheaper than my 7 year old audi. just not enough quality parts. they could step it up a notch.
I myself would not buy one, just because it's a pontiac. whenever i picture a pontiac, i picture a fat, mid 20s woman listening to a pop station singing kelly clarkson and putting on lipstick. no matter what, theyre not my style.
but.. it is a quick car and it sounds great. the v8 is great and has a lot of punch. i know one thing, americans sure can make a great sounding and performing big liter motor.

Your comparing two totally different vehicles, it's hard to beat the interior quality and refinement of an Audi. And the transmission your complaining about is one of the best things about the G8. The six speed auto is worlds better than the 5 speed auto in my A4, and it shifts no harder than mine. Downshifts are buttery smooth with the rev matching, the only real gripe I had about the transmission is that it could shift a tad bit quicker.

And the chassis is one we've never seen over here, so it may be a car with a different name for the same thing elsewhere, it's something totally new here.

[LampyB]

the G8 IMO is an awesome car. i'm a pontiac hater and this car is still tits in my mind. i think the wheels shown above are terrible, but the hood, rear end, and interior is spot on. i've ridden in my buddies G6 and it was great, so this has got to be even better. pricey for a pontiac though, i don't think i could ever shell out that much cash on a GM product.

and Passatkid, a corvette is like the pinnacle of a midlife crisis car. way too many of them on the road, and 90% of the people driving them haven't even come close to utilizing what they own. it's just like a new mustang, something to make you feel cool when you know you're getting old.

[MYDWAGON]

I am


What else is there that does what the G8 can for the same money?

I can get a Lotus Espirit for about half the money.Will always look cooler.Not like a rental with a hood scoop.Gets better mpg and is only 1/2 second slower 0 to 60.I can get a slant nose 911 Turbo with 488 hp for less.It's alot nicer and better built than that turd will ever be

[Jung]

Your comparing two totally different vehicles, it's hard to beat the interior quality and refinement of an Audi. And the transmission your complaining about is one of the best things about the G8. The six speed auto is worlds better than the 5 speed auto in my A4, and it shifts no harder than mine. Downshifts are buttery smooth with the rev matching, the only real gripe I had about the transmission is that it could shift a tad bit quicker.

And the chassis is one we've never seen over here, so it may be a car with a different name for the same thing elsewhere, it's something totally new here.

well.. i know a NEW car should be able to be of as good a quality as a 7 year old car. I dont care if it is an audi, for a car thats over 40 grand loaded, i want plush leather and no cheap plastic shit everywhere, that is soooo prevalent in american econocars.
I'm sure the 6 speed will make the car a bit better, though. I disliked that automatic very much.

The chassis is one we've never seen, but one that the Australians have had for years in the commodore and caprice of Holden. GM was just like "why design a new chassis when we can take a complete car, change the styling a TAD, call it a pontiac g8, and then boom.. profit" It makes perfect sense in the business world, but I'd rather not have a car that every other schmucko is driving

[Four Play]

I can get a Lotus Espirit for about half the money.Will always look cooler.Not like a rental with a hood scoop.Gets better mpg and is only 1/2 second slower 0 to 60.I can get a slant nose 911 Turbo with 488 hp for less.It's alot nicer and better built than that turd will ever be

Half of $31355(Fully loaded GT) is $15677, let's just say $16k for simplicities sake, and your telling me you can get a Lotus Esprit for about $16k? Where? Unless your talking about one of the first few generations, which would just be ridiculous to compare a car like that to a brand new American sports sedan.

And once again with the Porsche, your talking about a much older car than the G8. And while you can find one for under $32k, I'm sure the repair/maintenance for a car like that would completely destroy any cost savings from the purchase price. And I can imagine with the technology they had available in those days, the turbo lag is tremendous.
Do you happen to know what kind of motor the G8 has? It's an LSx based motor which is a lot nicer and better built than that turd of a motor will ever be.

[Four Play]

well.. i know a NEW car should be able to be of as good a quality as a 7 year old car. I dont care if it is an audi, for a car thats over 40 grand loaded, i want plush leather and no cheap plastic shit everywhere, that is soooo prevalent in american econocars.
I'm sure the 6 speed will make the car a bit better, though. I disliked that automatic very much.

The chassis is one we've never seen, but one that the Australians have had for years in the commodore and caprice of Holden. GM was just like "why design a new chassis when we can take a complete car, change the styling a TAD, call it a pontiac g8, and then boom.. profit" It makes perfect sense in the business world, but I'd rather not have a car that every other schmucko is driving

Where does it say $40k+ loaded? Top of the line GT is around $32k buddy. And pricing for the GXP hasn't been announced yet as far as I know, so that's open for speculation but over 40 large is not going to be anywhere near what it actually comes out to.

I'm not sure what could make you dislike the trans so very much, what car has an automatic that you do like so I can get an idea of your tastes?

And why not use a chassis that's been around for a bit and has had all the kinks worked out instead of starting at square one and waiting year after year for improvements? They got it right on the money with the G8, both V6 and V8 cars have a very competent chassis that's difficult to beat for the money you pay. At least the chassis isn't being used in 80 different vehicles between just a few different brand names like they were doing until very recently.

It may have not worked out very well with the GTO, but they learned from their mistakes and priced it just right this time...

[Four Play]

the G8 IMO is an awesome car. i'm a pontiac hater and this car is still tits in my mind. i think the wheels shown above are terrible, but the hood, rear end, and interior is spot on. i've ridden in my buddies G6 and it was great, so this has got to be even better. pricey for a pontiac though, i don't think i could ever shell out that much cash on a GM product.

and Passatkid, a corvette is like the pinnacle of a midlife crisis car. way too many of them on the road, and 90% of the people driving them haven't even come close to utilizing what they own. it's just like a new mustang, something to make you feel cool when you know you're getting old.

Thinking of it as pricey for a Pontiac is the wrong way to go about it, think about what the car is and can do and you'll realize it's a hell of a deal. It's an all around great vehicle that can't be touched for the money...

[onemoremile]

I am
$31k out the door with employee pricing for a car like that is a hell of a deal for what you get. Your going to find a lot of people getting into these after seeing what else they can get for the money, the pricing of it just can't be beat.



What else is there that does what the G8 can for the same money?

A hell of a deal doesn't diminish in value so rapidly. A hell of a deal increases in value which you'll never get from a new Poncho.

For little more than half the price you can get a car that does everything the same way.

[pyro]

gto = <3

[Quattro Krant]

Still made by GM as someone that owned GM in the past what will always stick in my mind is the crap they build. Only GM products I would own are a Duramax, a vette and Cadillac products.

You are an idiot. A Passat person talking about a crap product

[pyro]

^ owned?
lol

[passatkid]

You are an idiot. A Passat person talking about a crap product

Just guessing, but I have probably owned more GM products then yourself, and I know I have serviced more of them. I would not buy another GM product except those I listed. As for Passats I have own two of them, they were both almost flawless. On the first one the only none routine maintenance was a clutch, a CV boot. The other one just had a pair of CV boots and valve cover/cam tensioner gasket. In the two Passats owned over 3.5 years, I spend 1/4 in Maintenance compared to my Chevy Blazer in years. What does that tell you. So far my A4 has need similar, I bought it knowing I need to replace the clutch, but it needs valve/cam tensioner gaskets and thats about.

[passatkid]

Yep Gm really knows how to build good reliable vehicle here is a perfect example. Was looking at buying one or both of these, rebuilding them, and selling them. FYI, diesel usually last until 300k before a rebuild should even be considered.
Example one
Eample two

FYI my Cummins has 180k and is still flawless.

[pyro]

you do realize that GM's aren't the only cars that break down when neglected, right? worst examples ever btw. buddy of mine has over 350,000 on his duramax and only minor repairs.

back on topic though...i can't wait for the pricing to be released on the gxp...i saw it as the NYAS this year and it was riiiidiculous!

[passatkid]

you do realize that GM's aren't the only cars that break down when neglected, right? worst examples ever btw. buddy of mine has over 350,000 on his duramax and only minor repairs.

back on topic though...i can't wait for the pricing to be released on the gxp...i saw it as the NYAS this year and it was riiiidiculous!

Do you work on alot of GM's, do you see the issues they have, weak suspension(balljoints anyone), crappy transmissions, engine issue(intake manifold gasket anyone?), U joints that fail at 50-80k(said to be Lifetime). Like I said I'm speaking from personal experience working on car on the side of my day job as a mechanic for a gold course. Also if you think VW dealers are bad, try going to a GM dealer, they are worse.

[MYDWAGON]

Half of $31355(Fully loaded GT) is $15677, let's just say $16k for simplicities sake, and your telling me you can get a Lotus Esprit for about $16k? Where? Unless your talking about one of the first few generations, which would just be ridiculous to compare a car like that to a brand new American sports sedan.

And once again with the Porsche, your talking about a much older car than the G8. And while you can find one for under $32k, I'm sure the repair/maintenance for a car like that would completely destroy any cost savings from the purchase price. And I can imagine with the technology they had available in those days, the turbo lag is tremendous.
Do you happen to know what kind of motor the G8 has? It's an LSx based motor which is a lot nicer and better built than that turd of a motor will ever be.

The only reason you can get one now for 32k is because GM can't sell crap so they have to give it away.
As for the technology in those days.They doing the same 0 to 60 times 20 years ago with almost half the engine.Obviously you've never driven a 911 Turbo.There isn't much lag going on.The LSx motor is nothing.It's a 6.0 making 361hp.My 4.2 with a chip makes 354hp.RS4 4.2 makes 420hp.So it takes them almost 2 liters more to make 60hp less.That's progress?GM has the means they're just to stupid to use it.If you don't think that a company that is loosing billions per quarter is cutting the customer short you ignorant.Look at any 911 Turbo or Lotus Espirit on Ebay now and then in 20 years see how many of the G8's are on there and it what condition.

[gmx]

well.. i know a NEW car should be able to be of as good a quality as a 7 year old car. I dont care if it is an audi, for a car thats over 40 grand loaded, i want plush leather and no cheap plastic shit everywhere, that is soooo prevalent in american econocars.
I'm sure the 6 speed will make the car a bit better, though. I disliked that automatic very much.

The chassis is one we've never seen, but one that the Australians have had for years in the commodore and caprice of Holden. GM was just like "why design a new chassis when we can take a complete car, change the styling a TAD, call it a pontiac g8, and then boom.. profit" It makes perfect sense in the business world, but I'd rather not have a car that every other schmucko is driving

The VE(G8) is a new platform. It's nothing like the previous VX/VY/VZ

As usual what can you expect from Holden Interior.... at least it's better than Ford's Au domestic competitor (Falcon).

The only reason you can get one now for 32k is because GM can't sell crap so they have to give it away.
As for the technology in those days.They doing the same 0 to 60 times 20 years ago with almost half the engine.Obviously you've never driven a 911 Turbo.There isn't much lag going on.The LSx motor is nothing.It's a 6.0 making 361hp.My 4.2 with a chip makes 354hp.RS4 4.2 makes 420hp.So it takes them almost 2 liters more to make 60hp less.That's progress?GM has the means they're just to stupid to use it.If you don't think that a company that is loosing billions per quarter is cutting the customer short you ignorant.Look at any 911 Turbo or Lotus Espirit on Ebay now and then in 20 years see how many of the G8's are on there and it what condition.

Lol, and if you get GM to go from OHV to OHC/DOHC you will see more loss per quater.
OHV is what works for them. The LSX is a very light engine... even with the big displacement.

http://www.corvetteracing.com/cars/c6r/engine.shtml
http://www.corvetteracing.com/cars/c...ne_specs.shtml

It's what works for them, it's netted wins with the C5R and C6R. Credit where it's due...

[juju4uofa]

^^ Yet, the 6.0 gets exceptionally better mileage and can affordably be modded to make serious numbers, two things the 4.2L will never have.

6.0L + mild cam + reworked stock heads + exhaust = 550hp

I will always be a fan of european cars but will never neglect the possiblity of America making a decent product. The LS line of motors have more than proven themselves and will continue to do so. Also, most people would be shocked to see an Audi 4.2L and GM 6.0L side by side. Becuase the 6.0 is still a pushrod engine the overall dimensions are relatively small. So which would you rather have, a small displacement physically large engine or a large displacement physically small engine? IMO this is a no brainer.

Because it's so outrageously expensive to produce serious numbers in any Europenan car I'm seriously considering a CTS-V as my next ride, and keeping the 3+ A4 for track days.

[Four Play]

A hell of a deal doesn't diminish in value so rapidly. A hell of a deal increases in value which you'll never get from a new Poncho.

For little more than half the price you can get a car that does everything the same way.

What nowadays doesn't diminish in value so quickly besides Honda Accords and Toyota Camry's? I'd be lucky to get $10k for my car, but it offered a lot for the money when it was new. You can find an RS6 for around half of what they went for new, along with the W211 E55 AMG. Very few cars hold their value well nowadays...

EDIT: And why the heck is everyone comparing two door sports car to this full size family hauler? At least keep it in the same ballpark...

[le91688]

G8 looks like crap...

[a4dc89]

gm did a lot better with it than they have been doing lately, but they're still going with their "economical" path. which is sticking different names and slgihtly different paneling on the same chassis. It's nothign new. .

I dont understand why people always diss american cars, yet no one talks about how a toyota camry is the same as the lexus es just re-badged and 20k more.

[MYDWAGON]

^^ Yet, the 6.0 gets exceptionally better mileage and can affordably be modded to make serious numbers, two things the 4.2L will never have.

6.0L + mild cam + reworked stock heads + exhaust = 550hp

I will always be a fan of european cars but will never neglect the possiblity of America making a decent product. The LS line of motors have more than proven themselves and will continue to do so. Also, most people would be shocked to see an Audi 4.2L and GM 6.0L side by side. Becuase the 6.0 is still a pushrod engine the overall dimensions are relatively small. So which would you rather have, a small displacement physically large engine or a large displacement physically small engine? IMO this is a no brainer.

Because it's so outrageously expensive to produce serious numbers in any Europenan car I'm seriously considering a CTS-V as my next ride, and keeping the 3+ A4 for track days.

One thing that frustrates me most with GM is not only what they do but what they could do.Look at the Cyclone very impressive but they do nothing now.All they do is throw a bigger engine in every thing.BFD

[pyro]

my friends dad has a cyclone and a typhoon...OMFG


/life

[Four Play]

G8 looks like crap...

Cool beans, tell us more...

[Four Play]

One thing that frustrates me most with GM is not only what they do but what they could do.Look at the Cyclone very impressive but they do nothing now.All they do is throw a bigger engine in every thing.BFD

Reliability ftw?

[Quattro Krant]

^^ Yet, the 6.0 gets exceptionally better mileage and can affordably be modded to make serious numbers, two things the 4.2L will never have.

6.0L + mild cam + reworked stock heads + exhaust = 550hp

I will always be a fan of european cars but will never neglect the possiblity of America making a decent product. The LS line of motors have more than proven themselves and will continue to do so. Also, most people would be shocked to see an Audi 4.2L and GM 6.0L side by side. Becuase the 6.0 is still a pushrod engine the overall dimensions are relatively small. So which would you rather have, a small displacement physically large engine or a large displacement physically small engine? IMO this is a no brainer.

Because it's so outrageously expensive to produce serious numbers in any Europenan car I'm seriously considering a CTS-V as my next ride, and keeping the 3+ A4 for track days.

I have a 6L LS2 GTO and the engine is physically small. With the fuel rail covers removed you really get a sense of just how tiny the engine is. The 3.6/4.2 is a MUCH larger engine physically speaking. My dream would be an LS1 powered 4000 Quattro That was what lured me in to the GTO, cost to buy and value for the buck when the mods start to fly.

[MYDWAGON]

Reliability ftw?

GM had one of the most reliable engines in history and they quit using it.