No 6 Speed Manual for 2009 G8 GT

[CaptainDan]

Originally Posted by skylark68

The G8 GXP will have a manual though. It's got the LS engine as well. I'd rather have that anyways.

I think the previous posters missed that. No manual in the GT does not mean no manual in the GXP.

In fact, he confirmed that the manual will indeed be offered in the G8 GXP.

[CaptainDan]

Originally Posted by Beau

.... Then came the GTO, and it sold like 7 of them.....

Hey! I got one too! That makes eight.

[Chaz_23]

Who cares about a 50K GXP. Gives us a manual in the GT you morons (GM).

[JT87]

Originally Posted by skylark68

The G8 GXP will have a manual though. It's got the LS engine as well. I'd rather have that anyways.

Some people don't want the highest package though. Me, personally, I'd rather pocket the $7k USD difference in price and have a 6spd GXP.

The bottom line to the effect on CAFE is nearly pointless. The G8 will most likely be Pontiac's lowest selling model. Even at 50K per year, how many would actually opt for the V8 6spd GT? or the GXP? Of the 20k that buy the GT, maybe 5K will buy the 6spd manual. 5k sales, in the grand scheme of things, will not bring down GM's or Pontiac's CAFE score. AFM only works if you baby it, and let the car drive your habits, which 95% of buyers of ANY vehicle won't do.

The idea behind bringing the Commodore over here as the G8 was the fact that little had to be changed to do so. From what I remember, the Commodore doesn't have AFM at all, on either transmission. They also offer a manual on both engines. Regardless, neither does the manual version of the Charger, 300, 3 or 5 series, Maxima, Avalon, Genesis, Impala... Oh wait, only the BMW's have manuals... never mind then! They already make LHD manual V8 and V6 cars for other markets, so there's no plausible reason other than pure laziness.

Silly old GM, they get the vehicle right, and they STILL find ways to push away conquests.

[mcool]

I have been one of Pontiac's biggest chearleaders for the past few years... but as mgescuro wrote, with only the G8 and Solstice worthy of mention, the brand's days are numbered.

Unless GM can populate the G8 line with a full-range of options, it's relatively doomed to limited volume and excitement. A manual trans equates performance still, even though the sales volume tells another story. It's just too bad the cost equation won't allow it.

Anyway, without Alpha going to Pontiac, the brand's days are numbered as the excitement division. Someone had mentioned maybe Pontiac could become the small, compact, Scion-esque line... but with Scion hurting right now, Pontiac remains just another damaged brand.

The Solstice could easily be the entry-Vette. The G8 should be the Impala.

[TriShield]

GM is bungling this car nearly as bad as they did the Monaro.

How hard is it to simply sell the exact same car with the exact same options, colors and features to us?

GM just doesn't want to pay to certify the L98/V8 manual combo is probably what it comes down to.

[JT87]

Originally Posted by Beau

This comment is for all the of the wacked out people of GMI...

Remeber when you all bitched and moaned about not having yet another POS 2 valve manual v8 car? How you all said you'd buy it in a heartbeat. The came the GTO, and it sold like 7 of them.

Then you cried when that was gone, and then we saw the Aussie version of the Commodore and you all rejoiced knowing it would come over here...

Then we got it, no one bought it again...

Then you all said it was because it was lacking a stick. Well, now we aren't getting it, yet another failure, honestly GM needs to STOP listening to the likes of GMI.

Yes, I remember the GTO... It had an LS2, 2 adult seats, and 2 child's seats and a useless trunk, that costed 33k MSRP and goes like stink... The G8 is a 4 door, with a good trunk, and 4 adult seats, and one child's seat, that comes with an LY7, an L76, and an LS3. There's a reason or two why the G8 is on pace to far outsell the GTO. It IS SELLING decently well, I'm not sure what planet your on.

Personally, I was hoping to pick up a G8 GT manual once I finished my Bachelor's, but now I will be 'forced' to pick up a 2010/2011 Camaro or a used CTS-V (don't get me wrong, I love the Camaro, but the sedan is simply more useful and better on insurance).

On the cost side, there is pretty much zero cost difference in building the car, and a benefit of, say, 3000 sales. The used market, anywhere other than the snowbelt should be decent, as many in my demographic that can't exactly afford a new GXP, would opt for a slightly used G8 GT 6 speed.

[Beau]

We'll see what you buy JT.
And I'd prefer a robust 6MT attached to the 3.6V6, and work it over for boost.

[nikivee]

Originally Posted by G8Nation.com

No 6 Speed Manual for 2009 G8 GT

Following the rumor that spread like wildfire last Friday, G8Nation.com went straight to the source and asked Pontiac Communications Manager, Jim Hopson to confirm or quell the rumor.

Sorry guys....no rowing your own in the 2009 G8 GT.

Interesting, since this contradicts what Bob Lutz was saying as early as last week. Sounds like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

[BigEnos]

Originally Posted by TruckMan

Manual transmissions make up <3% of sales in vehicles that offer them. And they save maybe 1 or 2 mpg when you run the numbers. This isn't a huge deal for GM. Though I do feel sorry for those that want the MT because it's fun to drive. I think GM is weighing the costs vs rewards here and not seeing a legit reason. Aparently customer satisfaction is not a high priority for GM right now. Still no Nav or memory seats on the G8 either.

The take rate for stickshift GTOs was much higher than 3%. For '05 and '06 it was greater than 50% IIRC. That would go down a bit for a 4-door, but I'd bet it'd be in the 30-ish percent range.

I don't think BMW stays awake at night wondering whether to offer a manual trans based on take-rate or focus groups and Pontiac shouldn't either. They need to lead or get out of the way. The time for trying to follow has passed.

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by Beau

This comment is for all the of the wacked out people of GMI...

Remeber when you all bitched and moaned about not having yet another POS 2 valve manual v8 car? How you all said you'd buy it in a heartbeat. The came the GTO, and it sold like 7 of them.

Then you cried when that was gone, and then we saw the Aussie version of the G8 and you all rejoiced knowing it would come over here...

Then we got it, no one bought it again...

Then you all said it was because it was lacking a stick. Well, now we aren't getting it, yet another failure, honestly GM needs to STOP listening to the likes of GMI.

Why don't you take those childish silly misguided comments elsewhere. We are GM fans and when GM does something boneheaded like this with the G8, and furthermore screwing up the GTO with the stupid fuel tank and jelly bean styling (changing the front facia only wasn't going to cut it for US consumers buying something with the name GTO), sales will be hurt and that is the reason.

If GM ever learned to do something 100% and not just the bare minimum both cars would have been selling and the GTO may have stuck around a few more years.

[jomo]

Originally Posted by Canyonaro

I am one of them. I am so sick of being forced to buy an automatic. I prefer a manual, not only are they more fun but I get better mpg then most autos of the same model/make.

Except in this case... No auto, no AFM. No AFM = higher fuel burn as the motor will stay in V8 mode full time.

[ponchoman49]

This just confirms my belief that GM isn't really interested in Pontiac right now otherwise it would have a fully competitive lineup with truly exciting vehicles that are not cloned rebadges or badge engineered Toyotas. Not offering a stick on the G8, the China 3400 in the Torrent clone, no supercharged Di turbo in the G5, a G6 that is essentially a carryover, no Firebird etc are all proof of this.

[JT87]

Originally Posted by Beau

We'll see what you buy JT.
And I'd prefer a robust 6MT attached to the 3.6V6, and work it over for boost.

I too, would like to see a 3.6TT/6spd manual combo, albeit in a slightly smaller package (like the previous CTS or the Torana concept).
If I currently had my Bachelor's, the only vehicles GM's current crop that appeal to me would be the CTS, G8, the ZQ8 V8 Colorado, and the SAAB 9-3 Aero. Currently, only 2 of those come with manual transmissions, one is RWD, and neither would be in my price range. A 6MT G8 GT or 6MT Colorado SS would be ideal, but the former won't happen until at least 2010, and the latter won't happen, period.

A used CTS-V, new Camaro, used C5, combined with a 3800 W-body or a 4cyl/5spd Colorado will be my vehicular purchases, unless I can have a G8 GT 6MT as a year round car.

[Perian]

Originally Posted by Mischief007

Wow, sorry GM, looks like I will be forced to go to Subaru.

Before you do that...Test drive a Saab 9-5 Aero with a five speed manual transmission.

I too was waiting for the G8 manual - and bought the next best thing. No, it does not have a big V8, but neither does the Subaru. Trust me - take a test drive.