CTC Review: 2009 Pontiac G8 V6

[CD_Editor]

Day 1:

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With most vehicles these days being front-wheel drive, it is odd to have been driving all-wheel drive vehicles for a few weeks, and now one that is rear-wheel drive.  The Pontiac G8 is the only rear-wheel drive Pontiac sedan available and one of the few available rear-wheel drive non-luxury cars available today.  More ...

[Careener]

The "more" link isn't working for me

[airbalancer]

The "more" link isn't working for me

me too

[wing]

Whoops, the more link was right the article was wrong!  Fixed thanks.

[rrocket]

Since the V6 and V8 get very similar fuel mileage, what's the advantage of the V6? The car Wing has is only $2K less or so than the same car with a V8..........

[Careener]

I'm very interested in your review of this car. Unfortunately it isn't selling well and I think it deserves consideration by anyone looking for a large sedan. I've seen some real bargains on the used 6cyl already.

[wing]

Since the V6 and V8 get very similar fuel mileage, what's the advantage of the V6? The car Wing has is only $2K less or so than the same car with a V8..........

$4500 difference my price includes destination (of course yes these are paper numbers)

[rrocket]

Since the V6 and V8 get very similar fuel mileage, what's the advantage of the V6? The car Wing has is only $2K less or so than the same car with a V8..........

$4500 difference my price includes destination (of course yes these are paper numbers)

You're at $35,720.  The G8 with V8 lists for $37,450 as per GM Canada.  Difference of $1730.

[wing]

Yes but you need to add the 1SC package which gets you up to $40k  That's not the same car, no leather, no sunroof, good stereo etc.

[rrocket]

Some people would trade leather for a romping V8....

[Just Bob]

before everyone conceded to a world of front-wheel drive boredom.

How can you say that and also rave about the MS3 and the Accord Coupe?

[vdk]

really neat car.. had the chance to drive one (the V8  ) and it felt well put together, the interior was REALLY good for a GM -- possibly the best GM interior design and feel IMO --. From what I could tell it handles very good and it goes like stink.
I was very very impressed.

[gover]

The G8 has been a total sales flop. Future orphan.

[tpl]

If GM slims down its car lines, could a version of this be the new cop car.   Maybe stretched 6 inches?   I remember the Fuzz saying that the FWD Impalas were rubbish as cop cars and I imaging a stretched and decontented Cadillac CTS or STS would still be a bit expensive.

[bmorton]

Correction - this is GM's first attempt at importing the Holden Commodore sedan. The Holden Monaro (Pontiac GTO) was a coupe only and went out of production about three years ago.

A friend of mine had a G8 as a loaner and loved it to the point where he was tempted to get into the V8 model. Dealers have tons of them available and offered a great price, but he decided to hold off given the uncertainty surrounding GM and the future of the Pontiac brand. Too bad.

[Jameel]

Nice interior. Especially for a GM

GM finally starts making nice interiors now that they’re on the cusp of bankruptcy. What a shame.

[safristi]

 I was just about to post how generic looking many interiors have become......looks "acceptable" to me.....how about going that extra MILE GM if ya want SALES.............seems like a BARN BURNING V8 Deal tho'  if ya can get them down to Mid 30's with some goodies included........Santa's on his SLEIGH'ing of the BIG three........time fer some PREZZIES ....to show Congress they are still SELLING CARS......Hmmmm??....


 also re-name it the GR8T  CAR_ZAR.............and make all the Pols BUY ONE..........then they'd KNOW a decent car from their Suburbans they get wheeled around in.....

[carcrazed]

No trunklid lining for a $37k car? GM's really trying to cut costs eh?
It looks good; but the rear end looks a bit like an A4 sedan from two generations ago.
The interior looks like Audi as well, not that it's a bad thing.

[toolatecrew]

Editing my post:

I went and did some more checking and found that the V8 and v6 are only about 1mpg difference on the highway. Further although the V8 is more expensive it comes standard with many "basic" features that I would want in something other than a rental that you must buy a package on the V6 to get further resducing the cost difference.

I'd like to see some real world economy numbers first(obviously a test drive too) before making a final decsion on if this would be something I would look at used (or at a fire sale price were the model to be discontinued or things to go bad at GM) . I really like the look fo this car, reports on the handeling are good

[Blueprint]

GM confirmed in November that there won't be a gen-2 G8, so the car is already an orphan (it doesn't remove its qualities, but involves prurchasing gambling at 40k$ if you don't plan running it into the ground).  The same memo mentioned a similar fate for the Solstice.  The "ute" version (G8 ST) might no be coming after all, and Pontiac is done as a division by 2012.  GM ponders making it a niche brand, with anywhere between one and three model lines.