Pontiac G8 GT

[Chunkee]

Seem to have made it less Gran Prix ish looking with the more european flare. Looks like a pretty slick ride...Price seems a bit high though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Co-worker of mine has a G6 and has had a bunch of problems with it. She also said that dealer service sucks.

 

[fbrdphreak]

High? $30K for a well loaded RWD V8 sedan? MmmmmmK

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Co-worker of mine has a G6 and has had a bunch of problems with it. She also said that dealer service sucks.

I like cheescake. We have now both contributed equally to this thread.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
Seem to have made it less Gran Prix ish looking with the more european flare. Looks like a pretty slick ride...Price seems a bit high though.

You get a 360hp V8 with a decent interior and exterior in a car that is a hoot to drive at $30K. That's an amazing bargain.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Co-worker of mine has a G6 and has had a bunch of problems with it. She also said that dealer service sucks.

Comparing a G6 (FWD, V6 powered, poorly received) with a G8 (RWD, V8 powered, very well received) is not really fair to this thread.

Not to mention that the G8 is really built by Holden (GM's Australian company) ...so there really is no correlation between the quality/reliability of a G6 and a G8.

 

[bruceb]

It is not bad, if you want a 4 door car. Personally, I would look for a 2003-2004 Ponitac GTO 2 doors, 350HP / 350cu in engine. Can be had 6 speed manual or auto tranny .... or the 2005-2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0L engine 400HP same tranny options, looks better with dual exhausts and hood scoops .. Both can be had for well under $20K with usually under 30K miles on them.

 

[ayabe]

I like them too, if they would offer a 6 speed and a nav system, it would be totally owning that segment.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Co-worker of mine has a G6 and has had a bunch of problems with it. She also said that dealer service sucks.

Comparing a G6 (FWD, V6 powered, poorly received) with a G8 (RWD, V8 powered, very well received) is not really fair to this thread.

Not to mention that the G8 is really built by Holden (GM's Australian company) ...so there really is no correlation between the quality/reliability of a G6 and a G8.

Fair enough.

He's still going to have to take it to the Pontiac dealer for service though.

 

[LucJoe]

Originally posted by: bruceb
It is not bad, if you want a 4 door car. Personally, I would look for a 2003-2004 Ponitac GTO 2 doors, 350HP / 350cu in engine. Can be had 6 speed manual or auto tranny .... or the 2005-2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0L engine 400HP same tranny options, looks better with dual exhausts and hood scoops .. Both can be had for well under $20K with usually under 30K miles on them.

Such an amazing car. I'm hunting for one now... as soon as I find an 05-06 manual with out a disgustingly bad color scheme (red w/ red leather UGH) for under 20k I'm buying it. I don't even care about the gas mileage, this beast will make me grin every time I start it up. :thumbsup:

btw, there is no 03. The new GTO only ran for 3 years

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Co-worker of mine has a G6 and has had a bunch of problems with it. She also said that dealer service sucks.

Comparing a G6 (FWD, V6 powered, poorly received) with a G8 (RWD, V8 powered, very well received) is not really fair to this thread.

Not to mention that the G8 is really built by Holden (GM's Australian company) ...so there really is no correlation between the quality/reliability of a G6 and a G8.

Fair enough.

He's still going to have to take it to the Pontiac dealer for service though.

True...and I'm sure there are a lot of really crappy Pontiac dealerships....but then that is true of every brand. My wife has a Honda and while the car has worked like a champ...the little maintenance we have done at the dealership...the dealership experience was horrible...so I don't think any one brand is special in that regard unless you start talking about luxury brands (Jaguar, Lexus, etc) where they pride themselves in their dealer experience.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: ayabe
I like them too, if they would offer a 6 speed and a nav system, it would be totally owning that segment.

The 6spd is coming soon...don't know about the NAV. GM needs to get on the ball with the NAV. While I really could care less about it...so many people are looking for that in a car purchase in that range.

 

[JJ650]

Originally posted by: bruceb
It is not bad, if you want a 4 door car. Personally, I would look for a 2003-2004 Ponitac GTO 2 doors, 350HP / 350cu in engine. Can be had 6 speed manual or auto tranny .... or the 2005-2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0L engine 400HP same tranny options, looks better with dual exhausts and hood scoops .. Both can be had for well under $20K with usually under 30K miles on them.

Or you just wait for the '09 with the 6.0L, 6 speed manual and standard bluetooth/ HD radio (no word on Navi yet), have the insurance for a 4 dr with performance of the GTO.
You still have the hood nostrils and dual exhaust with quad tips. Not too sure about the quad tips tho.

Simple flash on the brainbox (PCMforless) and you get a boost of 30rwhp on vulgar 89 octane without anything bolted on. Google it.

Personally, I like this car. I enjoyed the test drive I had in it. It can ride comfortably but you know that rear end can get happy when you want it too. The next year models will be about 1500 extra due to the standard HD and bluetooth radios, but it is still an excellent choice. The interior is a bit plasticky, but I don't expect plush everywhere for the price.

Still looking forward to what the GXP will be like with full production details.

It looks like a winner in the price/performance category and it's not that bad looking.

 

[melijak]

before you buy that GTO, open the trunk and see if you can live with the gas tank being there......I couldn't.
The G8 on the other hand would be on my shopping list if it had a 6-speed which will only show up in the supercharged G8 for around 38K.

 

[JJ650]

Originally posted by: melijak
before you buy that GTO, open the trunk and see if you can live with the gas tank being there......I couldn't.
The G8 on the other hand would be on my shopping list if it had a 6-speed which will only show up in the supercharged G8 for around 38K.

As it is now, it will be an option on the N/A G8 as well.

 

[KDKPSJ]

It is one nice car. I would have really considered it if it was, well, not Pontiac.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: ayabe
I like them too, if they would offer a 6 speed and a nav system, it would be totally owning that segment.

The 6spd is coming soon...don't know about the NAV. GM needs to get on the ball with the NAV. While I really could care less about it...so many people are looking for that in a car purchase in that range.

GM uses onstar nav. it works pretty well, just doesn't show you a map.

to to mention a garmin is better than the crap that usually comes built into cars.




fwiw, my experiences at nissan dealerships have been sub-par

"we can't recreate the problem so we can't do anything"

/me gets to the dealer, recreates the problem, the service ahole shrugs at me and i drive off in disgust

 

[thomsbrain]

My opinions are exactly the opposite of the OP's.

The styling, though an improvement over previous Pontiacs, is still crude and juvenile, IMO. I just couldn't take myself seriously driving a car like that. But the price for performance is fantastic and cannot be ignored.

 

[franksta]

Originally posted by: everydae
It is one nice car. I would have really considered it if it was, well, not Pontiac.

With the proper badges you can return it to being the Holden that it is.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: ayabe
I like them too, if they would offer a 6 speed and a nav system, it would be totally owning that segment.

The 6spd is coming soon...don't know about the NAV. GM needs to get on the ball with the NAV. While I really could care less about it...so many people are looking for that in a car purchase in that range.

GM uses onstar nav. it works pretty well, just doesn't show you a map.

to to mention a garmin is better than the crap that usually comes built into cars.

Don't think you can even get that, you just get the HAL9000 onboard computer with a GUI only a young Matthew Broderick could fully appreciate.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: ayabe
I like them too, if they would offer a 6 speed and a nav system, it would be totally owning that segment.

The 6spd is coming soon...don't know about the NAV. GM needs to get on the ball with the NAV. While I really could care less about it...so many people are looking for that in a car purchase in that range.

GM uses onstar nav. it works pretty well, just doesn't show you a map.

to to mention a garmin is better than the crap that usually comes built into cars.




fwiw, my experiences at nissan dealerships have been sub-par

"we can't recreate the problem so we can't do anything"

/me gets to the dealer, recreates the problem, the service ahole shrugs at me and i drive off in disgust

I can honestly say that I've always had good experiences at my local Nissan dealership. Been going there for 5 years now and I didn't even buy the car from them.

Oh, and Acura has a good nav system in their cars. A friend of mine had a TSX and also has a TL, compared to the nav in his brother's G35C it is a much better system.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: ayabe


Don't think you can even get that, you just get the HAL9000 onboard computer with a GUI only a young Matthew Broderick could fully appreciate.

why couldn't you get a garmin?

and gm onstar turn by turn navigation is available on the G8, along with every other pontiac model.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Co-worker of mine has a G6 and has had a bunch of problems with it. She also said that dealer service sucks.

Comparing a G6 (FWD, V6 powered, poorly received) with a G8 (RWD, V8 powered, very well received) is not really fair to this thread.

Amusingly enough, two other cars that ride on the same platform and share a large amount of pieces have won car of the year.

 

[Chunkee]

GM ha their employee pricing. i cannot afford the g8...it looks really nice and i am sure it would perform great...

the vibe seems to be a decent economical car...they have the gt 2.4 version priced very low with the employee pricing...seems like a lot of bang for your buck..toyota made?

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Co-worker of mine has a G6 and has had a bunch of problems with it. She also said that dealer service sucks.

Comparing a G6 (FWD, V6 powered, poorly received) with a G8 (RWD, V8 powered, very well received) is not really fair to this thread.

Amusingly enough, two other cars that ride on the same platform and share a large amount of pieces have won car of the year.

It is amusing...but there is a significant difference (at least the Malibu vs. the G6...I have not ridden in an Aura yet). I had a G6 as a rental car...and while not bad like a Dodge Avenger...nothing to write home about. The Malibu my friend has on the other hand is quite nice and easily a match for current gen Camry's I've been in (haven't been in new accord to comment).