Comments on: Review: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

By: sti parts

sti parts — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:01:10 +0000

I’ve been seeing these more and more lately. It looks great in that red. If I were in the market for a sporty sedan, I would definitely be shopping one of these!

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:23:40 +0000

Looks good, but those seats are straight garish!

I like the Commodore, so this should be fine.

nachob: I never thought about the logic of center-mounted controls.

Heart64: the 6000 was replaced by the Grand Am (longest-lasting midsizer)

Ray Sinclair: “I think there were a few reasons why the GTO failed. First, the car looked like a Cavalier coupe. Second, if the car had all 400 horses when it debuted here, it would have done better. Third, it was initially priced too high (around 35k). And fourth, it was not marketed well at all.”

I think you hit it, except I’d also add that it felt cramped.

By: Kaizen

Kaizen — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:40:34 +0000

This thing still screams ‘fleet me’ for some reason.

By: meekin111

meekin111 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:10:52 +0000

Brendino, Ive owned a HSV GTS for jsut over a year and havnt had any quality or reliability problems at all. I have heard about bad interior fit and finish in VE commodores tho.

By: Ray Sinclair

Ray Sinclair — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:15:33 +0000

I think there were a few reasons why the GTO failed. First, the car looked like a Cavalier coupe. Second, if the car had all 400 horses when it debuted here, it would have done better. Third, it was initially priced too high (around 35k). And fourth, it was not marketed well at all.

I highly doubt the location of the window switches kept many buyers away.

This car is good-looking, and priced right. With an honest marketing approach, it should do great.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:51:30 +0000

Borger wrote: “… I wonder are the radio buttons backwards too, …”

Funny, you should mention that. The radio controls were indeed backwards on the G8 prototype that made all the auto shows in 2007.

Some of my colleagues on this forum fundamentally misunderstand the concept of [i]globalization.[/b] Globalization means that buyers purchase the product that best fit their needs from the most efficient [or cheapest] producer where ever on Earth the producer may be located. In a globalized market, the buyer needs to neither know the origin of anything he buys nor does he need to care.

The excuse that the G8’s design is compromised because we live in a global economy flies in the face of what globalization is all about. If GM does not understand globalization, then the Japanese more certainly do. They are eating the North American automobile market, and they are eating the Australian market as well. They are doing so by offering products that customers want to buy and they are not making excuses.

By: sj79

sj79 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:18:46 +0000

for all those complaing about Xm radio please note it will be offered on the 2009 model as will bluetooth and a few new colors. 2009s will apparently be on sale by summer or early fall.

Any of the haters who think you can criticize this car just because its a Pontiac should read the current issue of Automobile magazine where they compare it to the 550i. Read that before saying anything else.

Anyone talking about the materials must not have sat in a GTO before. The GTo had a top notch interior and the G8 should be no worse.

By: gbb

gbb — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:10:26 +0000

Sweet, way up there in the bang for the buck chase. Very nice looking Poncho. 6 speed available?

By: daniel.busoli

daniel.busoli — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:17:32 +0000

Everything you don’t like about this car, was only done because of the American Market.

The centre mounted electric window controls: Saves money pressing both a LHD & RHD version.

The (non-functional) bonnet scoops: Pontiac thought the Holden Commodore SV6 (G8-V6) and SS (G8-T) looked too bland for the American market (Australia doesn’t have them).

Why locate the trunk (Boot in Aussie speak) release in the glove box? It allows the owner to prevent access to the trunk by locking the glove box, which can only be done using the master key (and not the secondaries). This is a carry over from previous GM-H Commodores, but who really cares? There’s a button on the key anyway.

The cheap plastics: Well, you get what you pay for.

By: Heart64

Heart64 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:53:26 +0000

Its a piece of Junk Don’t BUY a G8. Eats too much Gas and its a Pontiac. Hey consider it a Pontiac 6000 reincarnated! Yuck. Ugly red gauages

By: Ray Sinclair

Ray Sinclair — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:58:33 +0000

Borger…You exposed yourself twice to be a M-M-Moron. First, my ENTIRE sentence speaks for itself. Second…considering that we are just a couple of months away from the 2009 model year, only an idiot would assume this car would not be available after that. I would even say this car will be available after the 2009 CALENDAR YEAR. Take it easy, son. You’re outclassed here.

By: Borger

Borger — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:38:37 +0000

Old school rear-drive American attitude? Don’t yo mean Australian old school? LOL! This car won’t even be offerd by GM after the 2009 model year

By: Ray Sinclair

Ray Sinclair — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:35:35 +0000

See what I mean?

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/mgm-logo.jpg

By: Ray Sinclair

Ray Sinclair — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:31:54 +0000

I like the hood scoops… If you look at the hood scoops as the eyes and the split grill between the headlamps as the mouth, it looks like that little red mask underneath the MGM Lion in the company’s logo.

By: Ray Sinclair

Ray Sinclair — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:23:57 +0000

What a fantastic car for Pontiac. It’s about time. It looks like a cross between the previous 3 Series and the previous Altima-with power to boot. I love it. One thing it could use: a manual transmission. Never thought I’d say this, but I would consider this Pontiac. I know it was conceived in Australia, but it’s got that old school rear-drive American attitude. Love it.

By: cookie4me

cookie4me — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:22:05 +0000

What company in its right mind is going to change the location of window controls for a US spec’d model? Do you realize that requires a completely different set of manufacturing processes? I suggest everybody get use to it because as we get more global platforms in the US you are going to find more of these things that we are not use to.

By: livelyjay

livelyjay — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:04:02 +0000

I like the new G8 and if I was in the market for a G35 or 3-series with a cheaper price tag I would give this a test drive. Of course build quality, materials, etc would be lacking but this car might turn a few buyers who are looking to save a buck.

By: injunraiv

injunraiv — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:30:13 +0000

Actually, I don’t. But the market down there isn’t the market up here anyway. I know lots of aussies who post on LS1GTO.com say this is a great car, but who knows if they have actually driven one?

BTW, interior materials from Holden are typically first rate, and the seats are among the most comfortable I have ever seen. And yes, I’ve sat in a G8. Wait until you see how much leg room you have in the back seat. It’s frigging AMAZING!

By: C6Racer

C6Racer — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:21:44 +0000

Interior materials do look a bit on the cheap side but, since this car isn’t gonna cost $50-$60k then I wouldn’t expect anything much better. I also wish they would have been a bit more creative in applying the red to the seats but, overall this car looks MUCH better than anything Pontiac has had since the last WS6. That WS6 will always be my favorite late model Pontiac.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:12:08 +0000

Thanks injunraiv. Any idea how it sold the first year down under?

By: injunraiv

injunraiv — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:04:53 +0000

johnnycanuck – this car was only introduced in Austrailia last year

By: LexusSoarer

LexusSoarer — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:17:44 +0000

I like the car overall, but those seat-covers look TERRIBLE.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:03:17 +0000

So there are a few warts on an otherwise very attractive sedan. Big deal. The biggest mistake made by GM however has nothing to do these quibbles but rather the timing. I’m not sure exactly when the Holden version of this was first introduced but I’m willing to bet it wasn’t that long after the 300/Charger made their debut. And how many zillion of those do you see everyday? GM should have had this in showrooms shortly after the last GTO, but then we all know the General. Better late than never, I suppose.

By: Borger

Borger — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:55:02 +0000

I agree with Richard, the hood scoops, the cheap interior feel, the 1980’s electronics, and the lack of XM radio, just reminds me all the more of the ill fated last generation Pontiac GTO. Has Pontiac learned nothing from that car? The window controls are in the middle because GM didn’t want to make the egineering call to put them on the left hand side because this car is a shared platform with Holden and they wanted them on the left. I wonder are the radio buttons backwards too, as they were on the GTO. I love the smell of compromise in the morning.

By: frylock350

frylock350 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:52:06 +0000

Ever consider that the G8 is just a fantastic car Deanster? Or are we just resorting to petty 5th grade insults?

By: jdasch1

jdasch1 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:42:28 +0000

Looks like a Hertz rental car with hood scoops and two tone seats. Maybe…..I’ll take mine with Neverlost and collision insurance.

By: nachob

nachob — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:08:23 +0000

The next time you fly in a jet you will notice the key controls are in the center console. This is done so the pilot can control the aircraft without taking his eyes off centerline. Since most European cars are manuals center mounted controls allow allow a driver to control windows and sometimes mirrors without ever taking you left hand off the steering wheel. Your right hand is free to control shifting and window controls. Americans are so used to the stupid design of window switches in the door because they mostly drive automatics but I applaud their retaining of the central controls. I must admit it took some getting used to the central controls in my 2004 BMW 325i but once you start shifting you see the brilliance. Even BMW has gone stupid and shifted to door controls to appease the American market but it’s nice to see a “driver’s car” still being made. Now if they only put a manual transmission, I might finally go American.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:03:08 +0000

The good news in the review is that the hood scoops may be on the way out, if only as a delete option. The hood scoops, cheap materials, and lack of XM even as an option point out the disjointed attempt to find a market in North America for the car. The G8 GT costs more than $30k, the plain G8 notwithstanding. It has too many features that are acceptable in cars costing $10k less, but not at this price. Going forward, GM needs to thoroughly think through its targeting strategy for the car. Removing the hood scoops is a good start. Adding XM would be a nice follow-through.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:56:16 +0000

So is the Charger, but this looks much less… wrong(?)

By: A4

A4 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:14:18 +0000

id take one over a 300 any day, way more sport oriented

By: purdue

purdue — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:12:45 +0000

It’s RED. At least they have an upgrade plan for all those boys that drive Grand Ams.

By: Brendino

Brendino — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:21:20 +0000

I was just at the Melbourne Auto Show and so I got to sit in some of the Holdens. I was in a Caprice (Commodore with a longer wheelbase) and I was playing around with some of the interior parts. In the center console I noticed that the plastics were really loose; I could jiggle them around pretty easily. LLN, did you catch anything like that? I know that show cars can get abused.