2009 G8 GT Gets Optional Tremec 6 Speed Stick

[G8Nation.com]

from -http://www.g8nation.com/2008/06/2009-g8-gt-gets-optional-tremec-6-speed/

The gang at CarDomain.com recently had the pleasure of breaking bread with Maximum Bob. They were relentless at getting answer to the all important question….”What’s with the disappearance of the stick shift from modern cars?”

Mr. Lutz responded by reminding us that gone are the days where manual transmission are more fuel efficient than automatics. So in order to meet the all-important average fleet MPG goals, the number of sticks needs to be reduced.

On to the good stuff…we’ll keep it short and sweet….Lutz confirmed that the G8 GT will have an optional Tremec six-speed for 2009.
Rejoice my friends….rejoice.

[Source: CarDomain]

[E. Haskell]

Cool.

[JerryL]

You asked for it ......now its here. Lets see how many people buy what they said they wanted, a manual in a 4dr car. I'm sure glad that it's being offered but I wonder about it being "bottom line" logical.

[Sinner]

I'd like to know what the GXP will cost, a GT tops $41,000 CDN.

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by JerryL

You asked for it ......now its here. Lets see how many people buy what they said they wanted, a manual in a 4dr car. I'm sure glad that it's being offered but I wonder about it being "bottom line" logical.

I drive a 4 door stick. The following companies find 4 doors/sticks logical to sell:

Honda (Accord)
Acura (TL)
BMW (3 and 5 series)
Mercedes (C class)
VW (Passat)
Ford USA (Fusion)
Toyota (Camry)
Lexus (IS)
Nissan (Altima)
Infiniti (G35)
Mazda (6)
Holden (Commodore with a V-6)
Ford Aus. (Falcon)

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Don't forget Saab (all models)!

And BMW (all models except the recent 7)

[69Firebird400]

^^^
And the 2008 CTS.

[Lichtronamo]

The G8, with its unremarkable V6 and thirsty V8 powertrain options, is likely to prove to be the answer to the question no one is asking in the era of $4.00/gallon gas. Its the wrong car at the wrong time - if it would have debuted when the Commodore did, it may have had an impact.

[CamaroCrazy]

^^^^ Just a small FYI: I was looking for used 2004-2006 CTS with a stick last summer and the guys at the local Caddy dealer told me only about 3% of all CTS's are ordered with sticks. If I wanted one, I'd have to order it (out of the question of the time, too much $). A stick in a G8 may only have a few takers, but I think it makes a very small but very passionate group of drivers happy and gives it a strong halo. Eat it, Charger.

[Masospaghetti]

Originally Posted by Lichtronamo

The G8, with its unremarkable V6 and thirsty V8 powertrain options, is likely to prove to be the answer to the question no one is asking in the era of $4.00/gallon gas. Its the wrong car at the wrong time - if it would have debuted when the Commodore did, it may have had an impact.

Wasn't it just a year or so ago when everyone was praising the 3.6 HF because it was such an amazing engine? I do agree that the timing is very poor (especially with such a weak dollar, they probably make little to no money on each of these they sell) but this is an amazing car.

Assuming I can find a job when I graduate in December, this is lookin' pretty good!

[djo165]

Originally Posted by Lichtronamo

The G8, with its unremarkable V6 and thirsty V8 powertrain options, is likely to prove to be the answer to the question no one is asking in the era of $4.00/gallon gas. Its the wrong car at the wrong time - if it would have debuted when the Commodore did, it may have had an impact.

I agree that it is bad timing as well, but this is great news to me. Unless GM comes out with some kind of Alpha product (RWD, manual tranny, smaller than G8), then I'll probably be buying a G8 in a year or two if I can get it with a manual transmission. I just don't know if I'll be able to afford to gas up a V8 or not. Maybe by that time they'll get the DI 3.6 V6 paired up with the 6-speed manual.

[fastball]

The G8 is among those cars that should offer a stick shift, no matter how minute the demand may be, to satisfy those of us who will not drive automatics.

I don't care that sticks no longer offer better fuel economy than autos - I never bought a stick for that reason to begin with.

Its all about fun. The fun and enjoyment of being physically connected to the car.

On a side note, the most fun (and I'm not lying) I've ever had driving a car was the 1938 Pontiac that my Uncle rebuild for a friend of his. He let me drive it. Now, consider the fact that no car had an automatic transmission when this car was built, here's how to start it:

1. Insert key, turn to generator mode.
2. With left foot, depress clutch (no hydraulic clutches here - direct mechanical linkage, with LOTS of resistance)
3. With heel of right foot, depress gas pedal half way (on a warm engine) or all the way (on a cold engine)
4. With the toe of your foot, depress the starter stomp switch on the top of the gas pedal and hold it untill the engine turns over.

I really enjoyed driving a 3 on the tree with no power or automatic anything. And you really have to think, EVERYONE HAD to learn how to drive that way back then.

Everyone's spoiled rotten today with automatic transmissions

[ColoradoZQ8]

Originally Posted by G8Nation.com

from -http://www.g8nation.com/2008/06/2009-g8-gt-gets-optional-tremec-6-speed/

The gang at CarDomain.com recently had the pleasure of breaking bread with Maximum Bob. They were relentless at getting answer to the all important question….”What’s with the disappearance of the stick shift from modern cars?”

Mr. Lutz responded by reminding us that gone are the days where manual transmission are more fuel efficient than automatics. So in order to meet the all-important average fleet MPG goals, the number of sticks needs to be reduced.

On to the good stuff…we’ll keep it short and sweet….Lutz confirmed that the G8 GT will have an optional Tremec six-speed for 2009.
Rejoice my friends….rejoice.

[Source: CarDomain]

Funny, perhaps then Bob can explain why Chevy's fuel miser Cobalt gets 4 more mpg with the manual than the automatic -- since "gone are the days where manual transmission are more fuel efficient than automatics." That's right -- half of GM's lineup still milks the tired 4 speed automatic.

Bob isn't an engineer. Automatics that utilize a torque converter will always be less efficient than a manual due to their necessary slippage. There are so new dual clutch automatics that match the efficiency of a manual -- but they are still rare.

But this is crap -- an automatic can't exceed a manual's fuel economy with the same gearing. Merely match it. He's full of crap.

[ColinOpseth]

Originally Posted by CamaroCrazy

A stick in a G8 may only have a few takers, but I think it makes a very small but very passionate group of drivers happy and gives it a strong halo. Eat it, Charger.

Yes, Charger. Eat it. I told my wife that I wouldn't buy a G8 unless it came with a M6. I guess now I need to put my check where my mouth is. I've been wanting a 4 door 6 speed car for a long time. I have a son and it's too much of a PITA to put him in a 2 door car. I had a 4dr G6 GTP but that car was boring to drive with an automatic. My wife can't drive stick and it was her car. The G8 will be mine.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

I drive a 4 door stick. The following companies find 4 doors/sticks logical to sell:

Honda (Accord)
Acura (TL)
BMW (3 and 5 series)
Mercedes (C class)
VW (Passat)
Ford USA (Fusion)
Toyota (Camry)
Lexus (IS)
Nissan (Altima)
Infiniti (G35)
Mazda (6)
Holden (Commodore with a V-6)
Ford Aus. (Falcon)

Yes, if "nobody" wanted stick shifts anymore, these companies wouldn't bother offerring them in their cars. Just like nobody wants roll-up windows anymore, at least in the industrialized world.

I figured they would offer the G8 GT with a stick shift eventually. It's the "performance" division, and if Cadillac can offer stick shifts...