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2008 Pontiac G8
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Comments
Heck, we only live once, if I can swing putting fuel in a big V8 engine, then do it!
You only live once, now this is fighting my practical side...lol. But its true.
But, you know what my issue is.... it is making choices.. like getting a car.
I could spend forever, on deciding which car I want, acting like it is the last car I will ever drive. lol, I find myself doing this method with other things in my life. It drives me crazy sometimes. Some tell me, "Just make a choice, and get on with it!". lol I should. I think we all need to have more fun! Then that way wouldn't treat each other so mean. We are all so tense! A walking bomb! Is it really worth your health and happiness?
Though I am not a big American car fan, I would drive a G8! I would probably get a white one! V8!
If you want a G8, a big V8! Then get one! Its a car, now check with your practical side before you do this...lol
Love this advert showing a lot of the old Holden Utes from the past.
A mate of mine has one in the same weird green color,
he also has one of those new Bimmer 335 Coupes with the twin turbos.
He prefer the Ute for the fun factor ;-)
JUST DO IT.
And make sure it`s the V8, then mod the damn thing!
I`m wacking a supercharger on my VZ LS1 Commodore.
Should get me around 620 hp.
That will scare the bejeezes out of any damn ricer that thinks he can take me at the traffic light drags.
But we shouldn't be talking politics here!
I'm planning on a GXP G8 this coming spring or summer! Mostly for the 6MT, Brembos and the Suspension. The 6.2L is also a nice addition too.
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
I`m one of the few Aussies that bothers to post here.
As for the political crap, couldn`t agree more, but the net result is that you will be able to get your G8`s cheaper down the track. That`s the point I was making, so all good for you.
I currently own a VZ Commodore SS(see below link) which I love, but are thinking about trading it in on the new Sportswagon. Just have to make sure I can fit a surfski in it with the front passenger seat flipped forward. I don`t like putting things on the roof as the wind drag is enormous ie; fuel economy goes out the window.
HSV have made a wagon with the LS3 in it, looks hot. Do you guys like the wagon?
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/xrt-holden-vz-ss-sedan.htm
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hsv-clubsport-r8-tourer/1013120/
That car is basically a HSV Clubby / VXR8.
Have you ever heard of MOTOR magazine here in Aus?
I`ll try and post a link.
Anyway, they ran a story in last months edition on a TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) modded Clubby with this reverse snorkle blower on it.
The charger is a Harrop 122 LS3 kit.
How does 630hp with 770Nm sound to you guys?
Does 0 to 60mph in 4.2 secs.
http://www.walkinshawperformance.com.au/wp/2008/aus/news/news.asp?ID=330
A Subaru Liberty Wagon 2.0 litre turbo with the STI bits, nice.
Funnily enough I was looking at getting the sedan version but $50k was
a bit too much to pay, so settled on the VZ.
That website I posted above, did you notice they are selling crate LS3`s?
Now I`m wondering if that would slot into my VZ`s engine bay ;-)
I have read in other forums that the LS3 is a beautiful motor and loves to rev.
What do they put them in over there?
Mate, if you are gonna get a Clubby, get it in black, looks evil.
I went to the local market on the way home and one was parked behind me.
Bloody drool factor is enormous, and amazingly, black seems to be the most popular color for the current VE Clubsport.
Actually, if you contacted Walkinshaw Performance they could pull your car off the assembly line and add the go fast bits ie; BLOWER, then ship it across to you.
It would then be classed as factory fitted and not affect engine warrenty.
Walkinshaw owns HSV you see. Walkinshaw is a Pom, this is how the Poms get the VXR8 with the blower option from day one. I think this is how that rapper,50 cents, or whoever it was got his,(HSV).
Funnily enough I was looking at getting the sedan version but $50k was
a bit too much to pay, so settled on the VZ.
Yah, it's actually a 2.5L over here. 243hp/243lbs torque, but added a few goodies (STi Pink Springs, Koni Struts, Group N front strut top mounts, SPT Exhaust, and a Cobb AP Chip/Tuner/Programmer) so I dynoed it at 212hp/243lbs torque at the wheels, with AWD that translates to roughly 280hp/320lbs torque at the flywheel.
I'm looking at the G8 GXP as my Summer Daily Driver and keep the subie for the track and winter duties.
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
I would have edited my reply to Mike to make it fit better but the edit button got buried.
Then you go back a page, then forward and the advert crap is not there.
Very funny, I`ll know next time.
I`m working off hp divided by 1.34 .
Is that the right calculation to use?
Just wondering as down here they are
184kw and 339Nm stock.
Also, earlier question I had for you,
What do they put the LS3 in over there?
What do they put the LS3 in over there?
Not sure, is that the 6.2L engine? If so the CTSV gets it and the ZR1 Corvette, both those are Supercharged versions. The GXP here will get the 6.2L NA engine with about 405hp/400lbs torque.
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
Yep, the LS3 is a 6.2.
The Vette is supercharged? wow, how much grunt and what type of blower?
Also, you say that the GXP does 405hp, our version in the HSV`s puts out 425hp.
When you get it, take it to a Tuner and get a custom tune done after you put a OTRCAI on it.
That will fix it ;-)
Does the Vette have OTRCAI? Because if you can`t get one, I know a few places here that have them.
Here is one, scroll down the page for the pics.
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=88344
Here is actual video of the OTRCAI.
http://video.google.com.au/videosearch?q=LS3+HSV&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#q=LS3%20HSV&hl- =en&emb=0&aq=f&start=10
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
Try this,
http://video.google.com.au/videosearch?q=LS3+HSV&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#q=Orssom%20VE%- 20Gen%20IV%20Intake%20G8%20R8%20GTS&hl=en&emb=0
The Jetta beat the G8 by just over 1/2 of a second. It looked like the G8 had the race from thee start, but I guess that was becuase of the Jetta's turbo lag. The Jetta pushed ahead by about half-way down the track for the win.
I later drove both cars on the auto course and I really liked the initial power of the G8, but the handling of the Jetta to me made it the better driver. The Germans really do make nice cars. I'd say a stiffer suspension in the G8 would be a must do for any road course work. Nice car though for V8 American power.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/112_0808_2008_volkswagen_gti_firs- - t_look/index.html
“The 16-valve turbo churns out 200 hp at 5100 rpm and 207 lb-ft of torque from 1800 rpm up to 5000, with a 6500-rpm redline. All that boosted power is good for 0-to-60 sprints in 6.1 sec and a quarter mile of 14.7 sec at 94.2 mph in our test car.”
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0806_four_cylinder_midsize_sedan_- - comparison/altima_camry_passat_specs.html
“15.0 sec @ 93.4 mph”
Curb weight: 3413 lb
200 HP \ 207 TQ - A6 trans.
= = =
G8 GT test ( also Motor Trend ) shows:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0804_2008_pontiac_g8_vs_2008_dodg- - e_charger
13.8 @ 102.8
That is such a large difference that my ** GUESS ** is this particular VW’s turbo 4 had been ‘chipped’ – and was producing well over the stock HP \ TQ numbers . . .
- Ray
But for the road course, I'll stand behind those comments.
As for the G8, just an FYI, the 08 is a 6.0L the 6.2L doesn't come out til 09 and only in the GXP which will get a 6MT option and upgraded brakes and suspension.
As for Auto-x having done it for 6+ years, any light car will beat a heavy RWD sedan!
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
MSRP $34.1K ( approx. )
Sell $30.1K ( approx. )
- Ray
Worth a 20 minute drive to look & drive & investigate a possible ‘deal’ sometime very soon. . .
Can you elaborate a bit?
My current 'ride' is a 2007 Corvette Coupe...
Thanks,
- Ray
Driven 2 2008 G8 GTs - and off to drive a 2009 tomorrow,
if the planets align.....
I tested quite a lot of the new cars prior to buying the G8. The G8 is by far the best bang for the buck. I liked the CTS too but interior space is superior in the G8.
The g8 rides more like a 5 series BMW or Mercedes than a Maxima or Accura. Torque from the V8 is also a big plus.
I appreciate that - is your Corvette a Z06?
If not, is it Z51?
or 'Base' \ F55?
Thanks,
- Ray
Base Coupe...
While you may be right about suspension setup and tire technology, given 2 cars, same power, same size tires, and one weighs in at 3300lbs and the other 4000lbs, the one that weighs in at 3300lbs is the one who is going to handle better.
I agree with the ideas of FWD v. RWD, however you CAN tune a FWD suspension to handle and feel good. For instance, I'd put any FWD race car up against a stock G8 and the race car will feel better, handle better and turn better lap times.
In most racing organizations for road race, they actually decide on what class you are based on HP to Weight Ratios. Not FWD v. RWD v. AWD. Show up with the Dyno Sheet and put your car on the scales...
To that end, for a street car, the G8 is a great compromise of size, ride, and handling. I don't expect the suspension upgrades on the GXP to be anything earth shattering. Nothing you couldn't get from Konis + Bushings + Spring + Sway Upgrades on a G8 GT. The GXP really is giving you the 6.2L engine, and the 6MT as the significant items that can't be had in the aftermarket.
Suspension and Brembos both are easy aftermarket bolt ons as far as I'm concerned.
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
as far as I'm concerned."
Easy - perhaps.
For those more mechanically adept than I.
Not typically 'cheap'....
Executive summary:
I do like the G8 GT – a lot.
Background:
I currently drive a Corvette Coupe with A6 \ 6L80 trans. – driveline is very similar to the G8 GT. I have driven 2 2008 G8 GTs. And posted my impressions here – several months ago.
I waited for the 2009 for 3 primary reasons:
1 = A [ model ] year of US production. In case there were any significant issues.
2 = XM.
3 = A color I really wanted = Silver.
I was also hoping [ expecting? ] that GM \ Pontiac \ Holden would address the few issues I had with the drivelive.
Impressions:
Compared to my Corvette, the G8 GT [ even with the Sport Package & 19” wheels \ relatively low profile tires ] is a much less ‘intense’ riding car than my Corvette. Understandably so. Yet I was still pleasantly surprised that the ride \ handling compromise is so close to what I would consider ideal – for a 4DR high-performance sedan. Well controlled & well damped.
The interior is somewhat ‘plain’, one could argue – and the missing “Atari Gauges”, with only a very small rubber shelf & not even a raised lip seems a rather odd solution to THAT issue. Oh, well.
I find the seats comfortable & supportive, the visibility good. The ergonomics are generally OK. Nothing fancy here – but very functional.
I will certainly miss the HUD, and particularly the ability to display the MPH, RPM and the current gear selected a whole lot closer to my line-of-sight than the DIC. Again – oh, well.
The trans. appears better sorted \ tuned \ programmed than the 2 2008s I drove some time back. Upshifts and downshifts were quick & well-managed. Downshifts in particular were smoother than in those 2008s. I will miss the paddle shifters on my Corvette. One more time: Oh, well.
Think, think, ponder ponder . . .
- Ray
F.Y.I.
Here are my trans. comments from a test drive of a 2008 G8 GT.
The trans. downshift behavior still concerns me a bit. I currently drive a GM V8 with the 6L80 trans. Corvette Coupe. With 2007 calibrations & hardware version. For 2008 the 6L80 version in the Corvette was substantially revised & updated ( hardware & software ) to quicken both the upshifts and downshifts – and to do a better job ( by some reports ) on the “rev match on downshift”. My 2007 does not do this at all ( or does it so poorly as not to be worthy of the name ) on 3 – 2 or 2 –1 downshifts.
Sadly, though, both of the 2 G8 GTs I have now driven seem to do a reasonably good job when manually commanded to downshift from 6 – 5, 5 – 4, and 4 – 3 ( the relatively “easy” ones ), but - I was ** NOT ** impressed with the 3 – 2 or 2 – 1 downshifts I tried. And I tried several.
These were not at all extreme downshifts – not 3 – 2 at 60 or 2 –1 at 35, for example. More like 3 – 2, while slowing through 30 or 25 MPH and about to accelerate – requiring a ‘blip’ to something like 2500 RPM. To me, these downshifts felt more like someone driving a manual trans, downshifting, and abruptly letting out the clutch – without a throttle blip. Seems to accomplish the actual downshift a bit more quickly than mine – and responds a bit more quickly – meaning: command to beginning of shift execution seems a bit quicker. But not nearly what I had hoped for, however, after reading the 2008 Corvette technical data & reviews.
Somewhat disappointing. Probably not a deal-breaker, for me.
Note: The trans. ** DOES ** perform ( in several respects important to me ) much better then the 6L50 in a 2008 Caddy CTS I rented & drove a couple of hundred miles last month . . .
As far as after market parts, etc, those days are done. I have gone as far to weld on custom stabilizer bars, etc on some of my past dinosaurs. I purchased the G8 for a daily driver vehicle for my wife and a family car for both of us. As such it blew away the competition. Maxima, Avalon, Taurus, Accura products, Chrysler products, etc. The interior is spacious, plus it feels very confident in both in the twisties and at high speeds on the highway.
The only other comment about the weight/suspension issue that was not mentioned was size of vehicle. I bet there are tracks where you can get a midget FWD car to beat a Viper. Just make the turns tight enough to make the Viper feel huge. Yet on a huge oval track a super small lightweight vehicle would not be ideal.
Larger size/longer wheel base aids in tracking. For example, I own a F150 and it is a no brainier to drive on the highway. It is like having laser steering. The G8 tracks awesome on the highway especially at speeds above 80MPH
I see so many comments about the auto trans which make me think some of you peeps are REALLY going to rave when you drive the G8 with V8 & stickshift...
There's probably no way i'd trade vehicles now since I have an 'optimal' pair of used vehicles, but if I were to trade 2 used for 1 new, it's fun to at least consider:
G8 GXP...
09 camaro SS (the v6 starts under $23k!)
09 base vette 6-spd, (recent-year/used more likely)
08 or 09 saab 9-3 6-spd wagon (a pal just bought 08 new under $24k with all options!)
vw tdi 6-spd wagon. (similar price to the saab)
I would probably like that wonderful G8-El-Camino monstrosity that Holden was going send to USA before GM ran out of money for any additional outrigger-canoes to transport the cars from Australia.
With the MSRP and great incentives, I think it would a great buy compared to the others out there.
Today I sat behind the wheel and just soaked it all in. What a nice vehicle. With a small family, I cant justify spending money on a BMW but with the Vette engine and 4 doors, I think the G8 could work. The seats were great, great plastics and dash, yet a bit more style is needed. GM has a winner with this but they need to give us a bit more style.
First of all, the center caps on the 19 rims look like a matchbox toy's plastic center. Give us more Rim options. The gauges could use some silver rims around them and some two tone color. Homelink and those cool GXP gauges. And a 8 way power seat.
I read about the updates to the 2009.5 with Bluetooth, rear cupholders are coming which make better sense.
Any of you that have driven a GXP prototype think it could pass as a family hauler or would it be too much vehicle?
This vehicle is so close to stealing the show from the others in its category, even a few higher ups. Why not drive a great priced four door sports cars? This family man wants it!
My GTO would be better for family-haulin it had 4 doors and a good snow-wheel/tire solution. 100% of adults who sit in the back of the GTO comment about how they are surprised how comfortable it is.
GXP has bigger brakes than G8-GT? I am wondering about possible snowtire solution for both G8 GT as well as G8 GXP, will browse around tirerack to fantasize about wheels/tires for my imaginary G8 GT, probably they don't have the GXP info on there yet.
-mike
In regular mode, the G8 auto seems to change gears with economy in mind. Sport mode seems to keep the engine in the power band. The transmission works decently in sport mode.
I do know that todays autos are totally controlled via firmware (embedded software). I have a 05 F150 that had weird shift points and manual control was impossible at best. I made a complaint to ford and they updated the software. The transmission now shifts totally differently and manual control is much more precise. I am hoping GM will issue a firmware upgrade for the G8.
One other oddity I see with the G8 is that the engine does not provide much breaking power when down shifting. Maybe the cylinders are deactivated (valves open) when down shifting. I think it is a joke when auto writers complain about the fact that pushing the shift lever forward instead of backwards produces up shifts. This is more intuitive to me since it is the same way I shifted bikes/floor autos all my live.
Here is the text of a bulletin [ TSB ] including the VIN breakpoint.
#08-07-30-036: Automatic Transmission Delayed Downshift,Lack of Acceleration, Flat Spot (Reprogram TCM)- (Aug 13,2008)
Subject: Automatic transmission delayed downshift,lack of acceleration,flat spot(reprogram TCM)
Models: 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 GT with automatic transmission(RPO MYC) built prior to VIN breakpoint 9L210304
Executive summary:
This is as close to a ( reasonably priced ) 4-door Corvette as I see available today. With just over 2 years and just over 32,000 miles in a current generation Corvette, this is exactly what I was looking for. Having driven her just over 100 miles, I am quite please & satisfied!
A few details & impressions.
Car: Silver 2009 G8 GT with red & black seats, Premium, Sport & Sunroof.
Interesting ( to me ) that the VIN happens to end in: 888
With quite a lot of ‘seat time’ in a car with a very similar drivetrain ( 6L80 trans. and LS2 V8 ) I was looking for improvements in the trans. behavior & hoping that GM \ Pontiac \ Holden had addressed several concerns I ( and others with the 6-speed automatic trans. in their Corvettes ) had regarding shift speed and some other specific behaviors.
This trans works very well, for me. The delay between shift request & beginning of shift execution is improved compared to my ‘Vette. The actual shift events, up & down, are quicker than in my Corvette and a couple of 2008 G8 GTs I test drove, & they are very smooth – and the ‘rev match on downshift’ feature ( at least in mine ) actually works quite well, indeed! Good job, GM. [ Though listed in the Corvette brochure, no pre-2008 Corvette with 6L80 automatic actually does this at all . . . ]
The drivetrain make this rather large & fairly heavy sedan feel quick & smooth – and the acceleration feels seamless & effortless. I prefer this trans behavior & the programming selected ( by far ) to the 3 & 5 series BMWs I have driven - even with their latest 6-speed ZF automatic trans. Kudos!
The absolute maximum acceleration rate is clearly not quite what I am used to, in the Corvette - obviously. Mid- to high 13s in the quarter mile is quick enough for me, however, in this class car. The acceleration is very smooth – and I expect that it will prove to be ‘sufficient’. Saying quite a lot, coming from someone who has been driving a [ roughly ] 3200 pound ‘Vette for over 30,000 miles, I think. I have so far found the G8 GT to exhibit what I’d call ‘a satisfying level of quickness’.
Overall, the experience in the G8 GT is rather dramatically less ‘intense’ than the Corvette – yet the feeling is remarkably similar, to me. The ride is quieter and much less firm, ( the Corvette has run flat tires – a big contributor here ) yet I find the steering feel of the G8 GT to be excellent and the body motions remain largely well controlled. The high speed handling, feeling of security & directional stability seem quite good. And the ride is really excellent on smooth but slightly undulating highway surfaces – again, very well controlled – and it certainly is quiet. On surface streets, the ride is very well damped, impact harshness is well muted ( over RR X-ings, for example ) and handling is very good, up to any cornering lateral Gs I’d use in normal street any driving. The ride & handling compromise results in a level of refinement I find rewarding – and pleasantly surprising in a $30K sedan. The various systems seem to work well together, resulting in a sense of a very well integrated machine that generally gives the impression it is responding as a whole – rather than a bunch of separate parts.
The interior ( with a couple of exceptions, listed below ) provides very comfortable & supportive seating and a well-finished appearance, with most amenities I care about. I find the tilt & telescope steering wheel to be particularly well done.
I knew that I would miss my HUD – had one in the Corvette – and a couple of Grand Prix sedans – back all the way to 1997. I still just find it weird that none is offered on any G8. I am still adapting to the display of ‘Gear Selected’ in the DIC – so low on the dash – compared to right below my line-of-sight out the windshield. I am old & slow to adapt, sometimes – but I expect that this will be OK, eventually.
I miss the paddle shifters that I had in my Corvette – and in a 2005 Grand Prix. Another odd option omission, seems to me. And no surprise.
I do ** NOT ** miss having to be [ oh, so very ] careful when approaching any significant dip or severe upward angle in the road, and even some ‘speed bumps’, due to the extremely low ground clearance of the ‘Vette. I scraped the front spoiler nearly every time I backed out of my garage & onto my street – not to mention a few hundred other times. And now I can actually see most overhead traffic signals without poking my head forward in front of the steering wheel. I find the visibility good. The ergonomics are generally very good. Nothing fancy here – but very functional & convenient.
I am still working to find the perfect sunroof position – but I do really appreciate again having the option of an opening roof – since the Corvette’s removable panel was really useless ( noise & wind buffeting ) at highway speeds, and could not be removed while driving, nor set \ adjusted in any way. And having the convenient option of the sunshade open \ partially open \ fully closed at any time is appreciated as well.
Anyway – so far, I am well pleased with her.
And at an actual transaction price near $30K – well it is the best alternative I see to a BMW 550i. And I actually like several aspects ( the looks, inside & out, the trans. behavior ) a lot better on the Pontiac!
Cheers,
- Ray
G8 GT 09 driver . . .
Notes:
I waited for the 2009 for 3 primary reasons:
1 = A [ model ] year of US production. In case there were any significant issues.
2 = XM.
3 = A color I really wanted = Silver.
Also: All comments above re: the trans. behavior refer only to Sport \ Manual mode.
You have by now all likely seen one, but here are a few quick pics:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rayainsw/new%20G8%20GT%202009/P1320363cro- pnewG8GT2009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rayainsw/new%20G8%20GT%202009/P1320370cro- pnewG8GT2009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rayainsw/new%20G8%20GT%202009/P1320423new- G8GT2009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/rayainsw/new%20G8%20GT%202009/P1320430cro- pnewG8GT2009.jpg
Sticker of an identical one:
http://www.gmbuypower.com/ws/nvlWindowSticker.vs?gmMilitary=&makeId=002&model=G8- %20Sedan&makeDescrip=Pontiac&partnerID=900001&nameplateids=004^002^012^&sellingS- ource=16&year=2009&preferredColor=&userType=GMBP&optionCode=&typeDescrip=%20%20%- 20&searchType=0&modelId=085&VIN=6G2EC57Y19L199732&zip=28779&styleDescrip=GT%20Se- dan&pvc=208&make=pg&subModelId=251&iPi=5&preferredOptions=&subModel=&mmc=2EC69&b- rand=G8%20Sedan&styleId=GT%20Sedan&style=GT%20Sedan&fPi=5&vehicleModel=/images/g- mbp/16002/vehicle/2009/med/2009251.gif&type=%20%20%20&&dealerName=JOHNNY%27
GM pays out just as much on health insurance for working employees as it does for non workers Legacy packages for UAW is choking the US companies. We are all going to be buying American regardless if GM goes under or stays afloat. Some
That said, the 2009 is an improvement. They got rid of the stupid OIL/Temp gauges and put a nonsticky surface on the lip so now it can bes used for cell phones, etc. They definitely reprogrammed the transmission which shifts a little cleaner in auto normal and sport mode. Manual mode is still useless which I have found in other makes including Toyota.
I have done some serious driving in the G8 now. Funning, I really miss the HUD too. One of my daily drivers is a C5 vette with HUD, selectable suspension.
Prior to purchasing the G8 I drove just about all the crap out there in this price range (both for my purchase and a cousin's). I can't believe Pontiac is not selling more of these cars.
I drive from Mass to Manhattan NY quite often and to tell you the truth, I have never driven a better car than the G8 for handling the washboard twisties once you start getting close to the city. Everyone wants to race and the G8 put all the competition to shame. The rear end keeps its composure in tight corners regardless how broken the pavement. My cousin owns a new mid size Mercedes and it handles these rodes nicely too. But I will say the Pontiac seams to handle the potholes better. I am not saying the G8 can out handle my Vette, but I am saying driving the G8 fast in this these types of situations is brainless. Never any hops or surprises. Very easy to negotiate.
The car has a big interior toboot. There is not much sacrifice (I traded my wifes town car for the G8, so I miss the 24CF trunk) to use this vehicle primarily as a family car. My kids are older and complain like hell when the back seat is tight.
So far I have test drove a 08 or 09 CTS, STS, Avalon, Camry Fusion, MKZ, last gen Maxima, Altima, Focus, Mercedes, BMW 3 series. I did like the STS and CTS too. The CTS is too tight in the interior. The STS is nice but a lot more money. The FWD vehicles from Japan could not hold a candle to this car. Especially the Avalon and Camry. You instantly notice the balance and lower center of gravity in the G8 when piloting the car. One of the other great features is the bite you get during takeoff. It barely lays any rubber due to the weight transfer you get to the drive tires when accelerating in a RWD car. Great for deleting a Maxima at a stop light.
My only real complaint is positioning of some of the buttons, no power recline & lumbar.
Good luck with your new car. Being a car buff, I have purchased many new vehicles in my day. The G8 is an excellent daily driver in my opinion offering a great compromise.
Narrowing down my next car purchase....
09 G8 GT
09 G8 GXP 6MT
10 LGT 6MT
10 Genesis Coupe 6MT
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor
GM dropped of a 2009 G8 for me to review. Unfortunately, I can't copy and paste all the pictures and text here, but if you like you can check out the post here:
http://allcarsallthetime.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-week-2009-pontiac-g8-gt-test-d- rive.html
I expect to be driving over 700 miles this coming long weekend.
Mostly highway.
I will post results next week.
- Ray
Looking forward to a 'road trip'...