Since the Pontiac G8’s debut, it has long been rumored the 2009 model year would bring the sought-after option of a manual gearbox for buyers of the large sedan. On Friday, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz seemingly confirmed this, but today Pontiac Communication Director Debbie Frakes struck down the claims, saying only the GXP edition will get a six-speed Tremec transmission.
Last week, Mr. Lutz was quoted as saying the G8 GT — which can only be ordered with a six-speed automatic — would have a gain a stick shift on its options sheet for the coming model year. It’s not known if Mr. Lutz simply misspoke, or if he was misquoted.
Either way, PR boss Frakes made it clear in an email to Pontiac enthusiast community G8 Nation that only the GXP model will have a manual gearbox. “We currently have no plans to offer the Tremec on any other G8 model, although it might be an option we could consider in the future,” she told Leftlane.
It’s not secret the 402 horsepower GXP will have the option of a manual transmission, so we haven’t really gleaned anything new from all this, other than to say most G8 buyers will definitely be stuck with an automatic for the foreseeable future.



06/24, 10:26 AM
posted by:
xyunya
The great president in the last century said ” Here you go again”
06/24, 10:41 AM
posted by:
SWM335
That is a stupid mistake. A manual should have been offered from the beginning, and now, there not going to offer one at all! How hard can it be to offer one, its basically the same car as the Camaro, just with four doors.
06/24, 10:44 AM
posted by:
Stinky007
I like it how big manufacturers can be so lame/stupid!
When it comes to something as simple as exchanging the gearbox with one already developed, they say no, but they find the stupidest of “niche markets” to develop whole new cars for…
The bigger the company, the more retarded it acts!
06/24, 10:46 AM
posted by:
shaver
At least there is one in the Hi-Po model. But its a shame to me the DI V6 with six speed manual would be fun and efficient.
06/24, 10:49 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Does any normal (non-lux) carmaker offer a V6 sedan with a stick?
06/24, 10:50 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I mean in the USA, of course. Euro has them all over the place.
06/24, 10:58 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
No I don’t think so mayer_ray_nagin. I can’t think of any V6 sedans in any of the big threes’ lineup that offer a manual option.
Which is stupid and leaves you to chose from 4cyl’s or high performance variants with V8’s…. Yeah the big three are really stupid, but the only thing you can’t blame them for is the majority of American consumers wanting automatics…. That isn’t the automaker’s fault. They have to cater to their demands.
Oh and yeah soo stupid they won’t offer a manual tranny on any model besides the GXP.
06/24, 11:01 AM
posted by:
xyunya
mayer_ray_nagin, you can buy any Honda with manual, including V6.
06/24, 11:09 AM
posted by:
Fletch
Another poor product development plan. It’s sort of pitiful. Was this another bean counter decision, I’m stumped.
06/24, 11:10 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Xyunya, on Honda’s website I can’t get a V6 Accord sedan with a stick. Only 4 cylinders. I mean not a “tiptronic” auto.
Camry also is not available as a V6 with a stick.
Mazda6 offers a stick with a V6 only in the base level. Want some leather or a better stereo and you lose the stick.
.
It’s just a bit frustrating, but I do understand that is what the market wants and I suppose I am a rarity.
06/24, 11:13 AM
posted by:
SigmaHyperion
And the Mazda6 is losing the Manual on the V6 with the redesign next year. That leaves only the Accord as offering a Manual V6 at a sub-$30K pricepoint.
06/24, 11:15 AM
posted by:
SigmaHyperion
Oh, but you’re right, the Accord only offers a V6 Manual in the Coupe form.
06/24, 11:16 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
You guys are talking the Accord Coupe.
The Accord sedan can not be had with a V6 and a stick.
http://automobiles.honda.com/accord/
06/24, 11:22 AM
posted by:
SigmaHyperion
Yeah, I forgot that Honda added the manual option on the sedan back in 2006, but then ditched it again with the 2008 redesign.
06/24, 11:28 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
“It’s just a bit frustrating, but I do understand that is what the market wants and I suppose I am a rarity”
Yeah, you, me and I think half of the people here leaving comments on LLN are the minority that prefer manuals.
I’ve always preferred to drive coupes, so there’s usually not a shortage of manual offerings in that segment, like in the V6 Accord Coupe (which I really like alot).
But yeah not soo much for the 4 door sedan segment. Unless it’s a European car…
06/24, 11:29 AM
posted by:
xyunya
mayer_ray_nagin, you are right. Previous gen Accord you could get V6 with stick. You can get TL type S with manual, but it is akin to Pontiac choice.
06/24, 11:32 AM
posted by:
SWM335
Can you get a manual in the Altima with the V6? I know that you could at one point, but I don’t know if they still do.
06/24, 11:36 AM
posted by:
Mclaren19p
Sigh this is what happens when everyone gets fatter and lazier and can’t be bothered with pushing a clutch. In as much as we whine, nearly all the buyers of this car will not be bothered that it doesn’t have a manual, in fact it makes their choice easier. Even F1 type transmissions are threatening to make the driving purist/enthusiasts an extinct species. Woe to that time if it ever occurs, because cars will just be boxes to carry people and their stuff instead of having fun.
06/24, 11:50 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Yeah you still can SWM335, I just checked. You can get a 6spd manual with the base model. Wow, well at least the Altima offers it. I’ve heard good things about the new Altima too.
06/24, 11:54 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Actually, thanks SWM, yes you can get a 3.5 V6 Altima with a stick. The way Nissan’s Options are, if you want any options at all, you effectively need to buy a package that has almost all the options which shoves the thing into near-lux pricing, almost, but at least there is one vehicle out there.
I hope the next time I buy they don’t eliminate sticks from the 4-cylinder models. I’ll probably need a sedan or 4-door hatch to tote the parents when they visit but I want something to row thru to at least have a bit of fun. Not a fan of turbos so the Mazdaspeed won’t work.
06/24, 11:58 AM
posted by:
CleanGTO
We’re not talking about jap cars here. Why would Pontiac make an enthusiast model without enthusiast options? Bad call chief.
06/24, 12:02 PM
posted by:
SigmaHyperion
I would say that, by definition, the GXP is the “enthusiast model” and that one does have the Manual option. It’s the standard up-engined version that doesn’t.
06/24, 12:09 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid and even more stupid.
06/24, 12:22 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
WARNING: SARCASM AHEAD!
Who wants a manual? They get in the way of doing more important things, like talking on the phone, eating, watching TV, sending text messages, drinking my BigGulp, catcalling at chicks, etc. Last time I tried talking on the phone while driving a manual, I dropped the thing into my BigGulp, and when I went to reach it, I spilled my BigGulp all over the floor, causing me to swear, causing me to drop the cigarette in my lips, starting a small fire, making me swear some more and swerve, making me drop my burger. I was so mad! And all because I was driving a dang manual!
CAUTION: BACK TO REALITY!
I wish every car had the option of a manual, really. I was ticked when I went to buy my minivan and there was only the option of an automatic. My wife was even a bit upset. She loves manuals. In my family, only one person does not prefer a manual. But really, I honestly feel the roads would be a lot safer if we had manuals, because I feel people would be forced to pay attention to their driving rather than the other silly things.
06/24, 12:27 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
A cousin once had an old 60s VW bus with a manual. What a cool thing that was. A freakin 2 foot rod poking up uot of the floor, a $hitload of noise rattling out from under the floor in the back, 2 very flat vinyl seats up front, the front crumple-zone consisted of an AM radio, 0-60 in 9 days.
Ahhh, I loved that.
06/24, 12:37 PM
posted by:
oldraven
Stupid, stupid, stupid and a little stupid on the side. (Spam, spam, spam, spam….)
Everything should have a manual option. This is a fact. Has anyone told Pontiac about CAFE yet? A manual option would help the Ponchos get there.
06/24, 12:47 PM
posted by:
xyunya
mayer_ray_nagin, I have a former colleague who bought 200? WV bus. It has all the noises preserved from 60s, slow acceleration and reliability of 60s bus. It did cost him more, and he hated it, and could not sell
.
06/24, 1:22 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Xyunya, you mean a Vanagon or whatever those FWD water cooled piles of crap are that replaced the original? The ones that were priced sky high?
Yeahhaha. Smart dude!
06/24, 1:39 PM
posted by:
xyunya
You got it. That was it.
06/24, 1:46 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Ah, the old VW Bus. Great car. A friend of mine took one and cut out the middle and made it short. He took a VW Bus and made a VW Short Bus out of it. And, yeah, he looked like a retard when he drove it, so it was very fitting.
06/24, 1:50 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
I have and aunt and uncle that still have their 60’s VW Camper.. I love that thing. Just like what mayer_ray_nagin was talking about with the 10ft stick shift, haha vibrations all over the place. They still use it to travel to northern Michigan though and it’s still running…
06/24, 3:36 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
retard? a shortened VW bus is badass!
http://www.vwtrendsweb.com/events/0110vwt_08zoom+Volkswagen_Bus+Wheelie.jpg
06/24, 4:14 PM
posted by:
A4
that sucks now danny whats his finger cant sit on the shift knob and wiggle all around
06/24, 5:35 PM
posted by:
Get Real
IS THERE ANYONE IN CHARGE AT GM ???????
06/24, 5:50 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Ray, I’ll admit that particular one is pretty badass, but my friend’s didn’t look like that. His was peeling baby blue, and it had a horrible weld down the middle where he put it back together. He kept the stock wheels, had no VW logo, and had no seats besides his and the front passenger. Basically, it was a crappy version of this:
http://info.detnews.com/dn/joyrides/2001/beetles01/72vwbusjeri.jpg
But that was high school. We did dumb things back then just for fun. And my friend still looked like a retard.
06/25, 6:36 AM
posted by:
Got Handling?
GM: its what happens when senile men run companies