CTC Review: 2009 Pontiac G8 V6

[rrocket]

Performance winter tires FTL.......(have a set  of LM-25 on the IS300 and not overly impressed)

[rrocket]

I guess I haven't read the one that says their cars ARE NOT up to industry standard for quality. I did read one that sounded like this:

Yep..it actually says exactly that in their apology.  I have sent a copy of the apology to your inbox.

[Zombie]

Horrible!

Do you wish you had the TT back?

[rrocket]

I'm sure he does.  But that car is also about $20K more than the Pontiac.....

[Careener]

Too bad about the snow handling. Can't wait to read that report.
Also I'm interested in knowing how much grunt the V6 has. It is, after all,pushing a pretty heavy vehicle around.
Is it more than enough compared to lets say an Accord/Camry/Altima etc?

[vdk]

Horrible!

I guess them Aussies forgot about the element of snow when they designed the car.  Understandable.

[rrocket]

It's the tires more than anything I suspect....

[vdk]

It's the tires more than anything I suspect....

But it has winters...    how bad can they be..

[toolatecrew]

It's the tires more than anything I suspect....

But it has winters...    how bad can they be..

If they are 18 inch winters (45 series?) how good can they be?

Not to say they wouldn't be better than summers or all season but low profile tires like that just don't tend to be very good in snow. That's why people go to smaller narrow tires for winter.

Its one thing to have to accept that ypur RWD RX8 or Vette etc might be bad (relativley speaking) in the winter. Its another for a mainstream sedan to be bad in the winter.

I would imagine the V8 would be even a bit worse since it has more weight in the nose? That's too bad I want to like this car ...ah well probaly not the most practical thing for me to look at in the future anyways.

[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.

[/color]

DO you have a link 

www.automotivenews.com

At least one local Pontiac / Buick / GMC here is converting to all GM brands under one roof.  Expect dealers closing with Pontiac killing G3, G5, G6, Montana SV6 and Torrent short-term.  Once G8 and Soltice are through their life cycle, who knows ?

[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.

I don't see how its a gamble because they discontinue it?

It can be serviced at any GM dealer. Parts shouldn't be an issue becuse its based on the Holden so there are parts out there. Warrantey is through GM (unless they totally dissapear which is unlikley).

Sounds like there could be real deals to be had when its time to clear them out.

It's only a gamble if you plan to keep it 4-5 years.  What I meant is resale will be awful, with steep depreciation.

[Honda Owner]

The major issue with cars like this, Blueprint, is that gearheads and auto journalists love them but the vast majority of consumers don't. The real market for them is in the USA and without low interest leasing, the great majority of buyers cannot float a loan of $35,000. At 8.5% that is $718.08 a month for five years when a before tax household income is $44,000 and net more like $30,000. Factor in depreciation and the bank is going to want a large down payment, too.

Low interest rate leases made this possible on an average income but reality is starting to enter the car market again.

My daddy always told me, "If you can't save the cash to buy a new car before the old one wears out, you can't afford it."

Wise words that have served me well.

Finally, before the GM fanbois start flaming me, the best thing you can do is go down to your friendly Pontiac store and make a deal on a G-8. With 60 month financing, they can have you driving for only $752 (plus taxes) a month. If you arrange your own bank financing, I am sure you could do less than $40k (plus tax). Really, that is a very cheap way to ensure GM survival. With insurance and gas, you would be looking at a mere $1000 a month for such driving pleasure.

[wing]

Your pushing it HO, but this one is somewhat on topic and less drivel.

[Jameel]

Is it me (or maybe the red paint) but in some angles this car looks like an Audi RS4.

[Seafoam]

I thought it was BMW like especially from the rear. Nice looker but lose the scoops on the hood unless they are functional.They just look tacked on like
pontiacs of the past.

[derek234]

All that money for a car that doesn't come with a warning light for Low windshield washer fluid !!!!   What a joke.  Only GM would do that. 

[Turbo Bob]

Is it me (or maybe the red paint) but in some angles this car looks like an Audi RS4.

Ha ha, what are you smoking? 

[vdk]

hey PLEASE... it is A LOT of car for the money.. so what if it doesn't have a windshield washer warning light? Seriously .. are we judging a car based on one damn warning light? Or a stupid trunk liner? You can get that off ebay for $100.
You can get a GLI for 37k or this. The GM is better in so many ways.

[rrocket]

^^^^Yep....V8 FTW!!!

[Turbo Bob]

Your pushing it HO, but this one is somewhat on topic and less drivel.

He has a very valid point JB, I'm cross shopping a load of cars in the same price segment, and looking at leasing too.  I was told by the dodge dealer to forget about leasing, their rates were 8%-10%+.  Whereas Honda/Subaru et al and even BMW can still do very low rates.

When it comes to leasing, it's all about the monthlies.