2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges

FenwickHockey65 · 06-12-2008, 07:15 PM

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/12/u...away-for-2009/

Quote:

We became HUGE fans of the 2008 Pontiac G8 after having one spend a week with us in the Autoblog Garage. We could find little about which to quibble, but one element of the G8 GT model we reviewed annoyed us the most. It was the giant pair of digital gauges atop the center stack that relay to the driver those oh-so-important stats of battery charge and oil pressure. Sure, that information might be handy at some point, but certainly doesn't deserve such a prime piece of dash real estate. Motor Trend's Edward Loh recently had lunch with GM's global rear-drive chief engineer, Al Oppenheiser, who revealed that the gauges would be gone for 2009. Loh correctly followed up by asking with what GM's thinking about replacing them. Oppenheiser would like to see a three-pack of performance-oriented analog gauges take their place, but it could become just another storage compartment. Then again, the center console could be redesigned to accept a full navigation system, the absence of which many first time buyers and the media have been questioning. Regardless of what gets put there, it will be better than what's there now.

Astra RL · 06-12-2008, 07:17 PM

Yay those gauges looked so dumb.

drew630 · 06-12-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astra RL

Yay those gauges looked so dumb.

Agreed. But I wonder what GM will put up there now?

CamaroCrazy · 06-12-2008, 09:36 PM

Good. They were useless. I just wonder who decided to put those there in the first place?

Sinner · 06-12-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroCrazy

Good. They were useless. I just wonder who decided to put those there in the first place?

Seeing how the car comes from Australia they make sense.

63GrandSport001 · 06-12-2008, 09:51 PM

Its probably something that is the norm down under but doesn't make much sense over here.

WishIhadatruck · 06-12-2008, 10:02 PM

I wouldn't call voltage and oil pressure gauges useless at all. They did look silly however and out of place. I'm glad to see them gone in that format. I'd be glad to see them come back in analog form. Nav. would be a nice option as well since many people want it. More important would be improved fuel economy. How about that 2.9L diesel? Some people like a large, good handling car but don't care (enough) about a V8 to buy one with $4+ gas. The G8 doesn't need to be super fast to still be a great car.

ARCANGEL · 06-12-2008, 11:06 PM

i think the three analog gauges would be dope!!!

DuSpinnst · 06-12-2008, 11:14 PM

The display was configurable.

Also on the base cars with no digital radio display the radio display function is on that screen.

http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/200...llpaper_0e.htm

versus

http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/200...llpaper_15.htm

Jimmy Jive · 06-13-2008, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

The display was configurable.

That's what I was thinking too.
If it had info like a trip counter, or showed gas mileage per trip, would be useful.

Anyhow, isn't the G8 getting a nav unit for '09? Probably will have a screen standard, but higher up to meet U.S. regulations. So the loss of this little screen won't be to bad. The Commodore's center stack was to get a re-design to allow the G8 to have a nav unit anyways, if I recall was reported a little while ago...

tholland · 06-13-2008, 08:54 AM

The '09s are starting to trickle into Canada. Early comments say the red plastic panel looks the same, but no display behind it.

*Edit- actually, it's now called a "storage tray" with a black panel where they display was.

I would like to have seen the HSV gauge package there... I mean really, with all the negative comments, they could have at least tried to make an impression.

tholland · 06-13-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

The display was configurable.

Also on the base cars with no digital radio display the radio display function is on that screen.

http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/200...llpaper_0e.htm

versus

http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/200...llpaper_15.htm

Hmmm... then some enterprising individual should turn it into a scan guage.

PA Dweller · 06-13-2008, 11:54 AM

Good, put a navigation system into its place. Maybe they can integrate these displays into the navigation screen?

redTT · 06-13-2008, 10:59 PM

Maybe something like this

Nav can be displayed on the current screen.

PA Dweller · 06-14-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redTT

Nav can be displayed on the current screen.

So if I went out today and bought a G8 I can wire the standard audio/LCD screen to act as a navigation system? I am intrigued, how would that work?

06-12-2008, 07:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Astra RL 3.6 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,002	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges Yay those gauges looked so dumb.

06-12-2008, 09:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
CamaroCrazy 3.0 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cary, NC Drives: 1994 Camaro Z28 2000 Camaro Posts: 713	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges Good. They were useless. I just wonder who decided to put those there in the first place? __________________ Webshots: My Camaros, the Camaro Concepts, and the Sunoco Camaro in action at VIR The Typical Honda/Toyota driver: You are bland and boring and risk-averse. Not to mention you could care less about buying a foreign junk car. These are dependable cars, no doubt, but lack any substance or style. Crappy handling and worse styling. Screams "I have no style or class and live a boring, meager existence. Please let me get over into the exit lane." ~ Posted by Steve11115555 on Forbes.com

06-12-2008, 09:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
63GrandSport001 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,765	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges Its probably something that is the norm down under but doesn't make much sense over here.

06-12-2008, 10:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
WishIhadatruck 4.6 Liter Northstar V8 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Drives: '01 Grand Prix GT '96 Roadmaster Wagon Posts: 1,753	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges I wouldn't call voltage and oil pressure gauges useless at all. They did look silly however and out of place. I'm glad to see them gone in that format. I'd be glad to see them come back in analog form. Nav. would be a nice option as well since many people want it. More important would be improved fuel economy. How about that 2.9L diesel? Some people like a large, good handling car but don't care (enough) about a V8 to buy one with $4+ gas. The G8 doesn't need to be super fast to still be a great car. __________________ 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix

06-12-2008, 11:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
ARCANGEL 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Manalapan N.J. Posts: 2,822	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges i think the three analog gauges would be dope!!! __________________ I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.

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06-12-2008, 11:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
DuSpinnst Banned Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Unemployment Hell Drives: '08 Corvette '08 Grand Cherokee Posts: 17,587	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges The display was configurable. Also on the base cars with no digital radio display the radio display function is on that screen. http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/200...llpaper_0e.htm versus http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/200...llpaper_15.htm

06-13-2008, 08:54 AM	#11 (permalink)
tholland 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toronto Drives: 2002 GTP Posts: 991	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges The '09s are starting to trickle into Canada. Early comments say the red plastic panel looks the same, but no display behind it. Edit- actually, it's now called a "storage tray" with a black panel where they display was. I would like to have seen the HSV gauge package there... I mean really, with all the negative comments, they could have at least tried to make an impression. __________________ 2007 Avalanche, Black LTZ 4x4 2002 Grand Prix Black GTP, Intercooled Last edited by tholland : 06-13-2008 at 09:15 AM.*

06-13-2008, 11:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
PA Dweller 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lords Valley, PA Drives: 2009 Ford Escape Limited Loaded Posts: 5,090	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges Good, put a navigation system into its place. Maybe they can integrate these displays into the navigation screen?

06-13-2008, 10:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
redTT 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,252	Re: 2009 Pontiac G8 Loses Aux. Gauges Maybe something like this Nav can be displayed on the current screen.

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