CD Article: 2009 Pontiac G8 V6

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


G'day mate!  It's the G8, Pontiac's Holden import from Down Under.  Rear-drive and an independent suspension make for great driving dynamics, says contributor Bob McHugh.  The G8 challenges Euro and Japanese sports sedans for less money, he says.
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Read the article | View the photos | All the Test Drives

[rrocket]

Rumour floating around the "Net that GM may drop this car from the line-up already.  Not sure how true it is.  V6 doesn't seem like a great deal compared to the V8 model......

[Demosthenes X]

I hope they don't drop it.  GM needs cars like these - that make a splash - if they want to do well in the future.  I think the G8 is a very attractive package overall.  And $33 000 for a 260hp, RWD sedan that handles like a sports car seems like good value to me.  IS250 only offers 200 hp at the same price point.

[Careener]

Rumour floating around the "Net that GM may drop this car from the line-up already.  Not sure how true it is.  V6 doesn't seem like a great deal compared to the V8 model......

What I read was that they wouldn't bring in the replacement in a few years.

I'm actually quite interested in this car. I'd prefer it without the two scoops as they look a bit silly to me.
Other than that it seems like a great sedan.
Wouldn't they be able to build the G8 on the same line as the new Camaro? That would be great for Oshawa.

[rrocket]

  IS250 only offers 200 hp at the same price point.

Not in the same class...but hey.......(Doubt those shopping for either models would cross shop the other.)

[Mitlov]

The base engine in the Camaro (which is several thousand cheaper than this and built on the same platform) is the 306 hp direct-inject V6.  Shame they haven't used this same engine as the base engine on the G8.

[ktm525]

V6

V8

[rrocket]

The base engine in the Camaro (which is several thousand cheaper than this and built on the same platform) is the 306 hp direct-inject V6.  Shame they haven't used this same engine as the base engine on the G8.

Turns out that DI V6 mods nicely too!!!  With a reflash, intake and exhaust 300 RWHP.  Impressive!!

[Honda Owner]

It is definitely a nice package but is it the correct one for the times? Sales figures (which are what really count) say otherwise. Too bad, really. What GM really needs is a 1.5 litre car that people want to buy and doesn't fall apart at 60,001 km. But that wouldn't pique "auto enthusiasts," would it?

[carcrazy]

The base engine in the Camaro (which is several thousand cheaper than this and built on the same platform) is the 306 hp direct-inject V6.  Shame they haven't used this same engine as the base engine on the G8.

+1.

The FWD mid-size family sedans have more HP than this. I hope GM will be around long enough to upgrade the engine and the tranny on this otherwise nice car (and remove the silly faux hood scoops).

[Mitlov]

It is definitely a nice package but is it the correct one for the times? Sales figures (which are what really count) say otherwise. Too bad, really. What GM really needs is a 1.5 litre car that people want to buy and doesn't fall apart at 60,001 km. But that wouldn't pique "auto enthusiasts," would it?

Not every thread about a Subaru or a Volvo (regardless of the model) degenerates into rants about how they don't offer a competitor with the Fit or the Versa.  Actually, I've never seen a single Subaru or Volvo thread with posts like yours in it.  Why must people do this with every GM thread, even if the thread has nothing to do with the admittedly-uncompetitive Aveo?  It gets real old real quick, and frankly, it feels like trolling.

[Honda Owner]

Not every thread about a Subaru or a Volvo (regardless of the model) degenerates into rants about how they don't offer a competitor with the Fit or the Versa.

I will try not let this get into a rant, but Mitlov, the car business is not about "canyon carving through the twisties with a shift lever that falls readily to hand, piquing the interest of any autophile," it is about people actually walking into dealerships, plunking down their hard earned dollars, and buying cars. It is about making money. Not one of the US makers does this. It is because they do not make products enough people want to buy. Your tax dollars are about to bail these companies out just for this reason. The dealers have been screaming for an entry level product that could compete with Honda and Toyota for the last twenty years and what we got was the Tahoe, Solstice, Camaro and the G8 because Lutz thought he could generate fat profits off of them. And he was totally wrong. That is because for every G8 that is sold, Toyota is moving about a bazillion Yaris sedans with option pack B and accessory floor mats, with service pack. And they're movin' the exact same car in Canada, America, Thailand, the Philippines, South Africa and makin' more money on every one they sell. And for the last 30 years, GM just hasn't gotten this point. This is coming from a person who has worked for both Chrysler and GM and seen them alienate their customers for the last 25 years promising them quality product that was never delivered. Our customers were then delivered to the Honda store down the road. Doesn't anybody get this in America?

Fact is, the G8 is about to be sh*tcanned, along with the Solstice, because GM doesn't sell enough of them to make money on each unit sold.But hey, if you want to pay taxes to bailout a car marker like GM so it can make cars people don't want to buy, I hope Wagoner gives himself a $50m bonus for pulling the wool over your eyes. Why would you need to sell cars when you can feed from the public trough?

[Wolfe]

Not every thread about a Subaru or a Volvo (regardless of the model) degenerates into rants about how they don't offer a competitor with the Fit or the Versa.

I will try not let this get into a rant, but Mitlov, the car business is not about "canyon carving through the twisties with a shift lever that falls readily to hand, piquing the interest of any autophile," it is about people actually walking into dealerships, plunking down their hard earned dollars, and buying cars. It is about making money. Not one of the US makers does this. It is because they do not make products enough people want to buy. Your tax dollars are about to bail these companies out just for this reason. The dealers have been screaming for an entry level product that could compete with Honda and Toyota for the last twenty years and what we got was the Tahoe, Solstice, Camaro and the G8 because Lutz thought he could generate fat profits off of them. And he was totally wrong. That is because for every G8 that is sold, Toyota is moving about a bazillion Yaris sedans with option pack B and accessory floor mats, with service pack. And for the last 30 years, GM just hasn't gotten this point. This is coming from a person who has worked for both Chrysler and GM and seen them alienate their customers for the last 25 years promising them quality product that was never delivered. Our customers were then delivered to the Honda store down the road. Doesn't anybody get this in America?

Fact is, the G8 is about to be sh*tcanned, along with the Solstice, because GM doesn't sell enough of them to make money on each unit sold.But hey, if you want to pay taxes to bailout a car marker like GM so it can make cars people don't want to buy, I hope Wagoner gives himself a $50m bonus for pulling the wool over your eyes. Why would you need to sell cars when you can feed from the public trough?

 

I agree with Mitlov.

I've been very critical of how GM has managed their business but the G8 looks to be an excellent car and no matter how shitty the Aveo is it doesn't make the G8 any less impressive.

Toyota is profitable in spite of building boring cars, not because of it. There is absolutely no reason that a car can be great to drive and profitable to build.


I saw a G8 about a week ago and it looks great. I want one.

[Demosthenes X]

Not in the same class...but hey.......(Doubt those shopping for either models would cross shop the other.)

Really?  There's not all that many affordable, RWD sport sedans on the market.  I agree someone looking for a Lexus probably wouldn't cross-shop the G8, but I'm equally sure there are many looking for a fun, practical, RWD vehicle.  And those people would certainly cross shop the two models...

[Mitlov]

Not every thread about a Subaru or a Volvo (regardless of the model) degenerates into rants about how they don't offer a competitor with the Fit or the Versa.

I will try not let this get into a rant, but Mitlov, the car business is not about "canyon carving through the twisties with a shift lever that falls readily to hand, piquing the interest of any autophile," it is about people actually walking into dealerships, plunking down their hard earned dollars, and buying cars. It is about making money.

I'm sorry, I thought this was CARtalkCanada, not PROFITSANDLOSSEStalkCanada.  I'm a driver, not a stockholder, and I do prefer to talk about the cars themselves instead of just the overall financial health of the parent company.  This subforum is dedicated to reviews of the cars themselves.  This thread is dedicated to a review of the Pontiac G8 sport sedan.  If all you want to talk about is whose overall company is making money, I'd suggest you stay in the "Sales Reports & Industry News" forum and stay out of the "CanadianDriver Articles/Reviews" forum.

[safristi]

..OBJECTION....M'LUD.................. .....

[ktm525]

It is definitely a nice package but is it the correct one for the times? Sales figures (which are what really count) say otherwise. Too bad, really. What GM really needs is a 1.5 litre car that people want to buy and doesn't fall apart at 60,001 km. But that wouldn't pique "auto enthusiasts," would it?

1.5L's? Sounds like fun I'll take a GXP with the gobs of excessive tire smoking power thank you.

[Honda Owner]

I saw a G8 about a week ago and it looks great. I want one.

I've never seen one but from the pictures, it looks quite nice. Unfortunately, GM has only sold about 4000 of them in North America so far, out of a planned 20,000. It is very unlikely that the G8 will be available in 2009.

So, you guys are enthusiasts. I guess I am, too. I want my friends to continue receiving their GM pensions and health benefits, the ones they slaved for 30 years to get. The G8 ain't gonna do that.

I'll take a GXP with the gobs of excessive tire smoking power thank you.

By all means, go out and buy one. That is one way GM will stay in business. But go ask a dealer what he wants to sell, so he can survive and pay his employees. I think you know the answer.

[DanYanoff]

The car looks great and hot and no doubt it will have that "America is for muscle cars" presence about it on the road. Not everybody needs a 1.5 4cyl no matter how much money it saves on gas. I had to personally compromise since I drive a lot for work, but still based on my test impressions 1.8L and below was out of the question. 2 reasons really. 1st I already have a bicycle  and 2nd I dont want my car to tell me how many fishing rods, tents, boats and so on I can take with me. Hence it was Sonata. It is nice, soft and floaty and is very comfortable to the point it is hard not to fall asleep, but it is not for enthusiasts and it will be the last "appliance" I buy.
I can put up with a few extra repairs and a few more bucks a day on gas, but my next purchase will be a proper driver car, most likely a RWD. I've had nothing but good experience with GM and it'll be a bonus if the car will come from Oshawa.
In here I believe G8 will be a seller as we missed on the GTO. Camaro will be a tough thing to beat but on the other hand many will prefer more conservative looks, an extra set of doors and a proven power plant. Like a poster above I suppose they have to offer "nostrils" as an option. 32 grand is a lot of dough but its a lot of American iron 

[footlong58]

I agree with Honda Owner... Corvettes, new Camaros, G8's, are really really cool cars... But they aren't going to make any money for GM!!  Not one red cent...  They are pretty much making them for the sake of making them...

Does anyone here remember the K-Car story for Chrysler?

GM needs a 2009 K-Car....