$500 off the G8 Sedan!? Are We Surprised?

[uvaeeman]

I just visited the GM Current Offers page. My jaw dropped - they have put $500 on the hood of the G8 Sedan (or 5.9% APR Financing). The G8 GT? $0 or 5.9% APR. I was pretty shocked, but upon thinking about it, realized that I shouldn't be surprised. While $30k is the right price for the G8 GT, the G8 Sedan is a bit overpriced. $27595?? $2400 less than the G8 GT??? TruDelta can chime in, but that difference is even less when you consider the features you get with the G8 GT that are add-ons to the G8 Sedan. I remember when the G8 concept came out, and Lutz talked about desired pricing for the car. Nobody believed the V8 would be less than $30k. In fact, few people thought it would come in under $33k-$35k. At the risk of tooting my horn, I tried to believe what Lutz said about mid to upper 20's.

One thing I remember thinking about - if the car was going to be a "hit" (gas prices aside for a minute), the V8 needed to start at $30k, and the V6 needed to start at $24k-$25k. I even said so more than one time on Lutz's Fastlane blog. Is incorrect pricing to blame for the sluggish sales of the G8 Sedan? Does the small price difference between the V6 and V8 play a part? Or, have all 4500 something sales so far been to enthusiasts like ourselves?

I've heard that all of the G8 GT's were tagged relatively fast, and that plenty of G8 Sedan's remained in the tagging system (haven't looked lately, not sure if it's any better - probably not). I seemed as though dealers were actually waiting to use their 2008 allocation because they are so uneducated on this car (perhaps another issue with it) that they don't know that the 2008 production is done!

I'd love to continue typing my thoughts on the matter, but I want to watch the Season Finale of Lost so I'll try to close up.

In short, I really - really - REALLY want a G8 GT. I love my Bonneville and the extra power would be sweeeeeeet. For the small decrease in gas mileage, and the small increase in price, I'd love to have one in my garage instead of the regular Sedan. I have been watching and noticed that the inventory in my area (Eastern NC) hasn't been changing really the past few weeks. I have to wonder if the $500 on the G8 Sedan is just the beginning...

The possibility of more savings if I wait a month or two, combined with ever increasing gas prices is prompting me to pause. I figure worst case if I miss out on all the remaining GT's I can always order an '09!

[rumble bee]

Am I surprised about the rebate? No

The G8 is a large car and as such it burns more gas, so with gas prices as high as they are, the bigger less efficient cars are going to have to be pushed or else they will not move good or at all

[steverino]

What happens to the dealers asking $5,000 over MSRP, are they going to ask for $4,500 over sticker now

[uvaeeman]

Originally Posted by steverino

What happens to the dealers asking $5,000 over MSRP, are they going to ask for $4,500 over sticker now

One of the two major dealers in Raleigh-Durham isn't asking more than MSRP, but the other is - a little less than $2000 if I recall correctly. Maybe this will shake some sense into them! Greedy jerks. That kind of thing can ruin a new car launch like this, especially in light of gas prices.

[paul8488]

Bah, people are so used to rebates, especially on domstics cars, so they need to offer a little something to get people's attention. I wouldn't be too worried about $500 for now.

[demonspeed]

I think it was more of the mark ups at the dealers than anything else. This car was to appeal to many different buyers, but I could see them leaving the dealer with a sour taste in their mouths after seeing a stupid markup. Off to the Dodge dealer for a Charger...

[FenwickHockey65]

Most people want the GT over the V6 too.

[uvaeeman]

Usually brand spanking new cars (at least the new, better-generation from GM) hasn't needed rebates. At least not in the third month!
It's not that I'm complaining, if all G8's end up with $500 or $1000 in close out cash, it might save me some money! Just a little bummed that they missed the mark a little with the V6/V8 mix, or gas prices.

[WWI Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by steverino

What happens to the dealers asking $5,000 over MSRP, are they going to ask for $4,500 over sticker now

Well said. The dealers shot themselves in the foot with the premium they added.

[drees1]

We can't even get ours it was due in a month ago. ((NO)) Rebates here in Wisconsin.. Cal and Flo only from what I can see.

[sonjaab]

Plenty of G-8s here in the Syracuse area!
V-8s and 6 bangers..............
Even a few of the "special" 1st 888 models.
All at discounts off MSRP too!

[377Z]

If you weed through the package contents of the 2008 G8 Sedan and the GT, you're actually only paying a few dollars less than $1,500 more than the Sedan for the V-8, six speed auto, and the limited slip, the rest of the money goes towards features the GT has standard that the Sedan does not (mostly upgraded climate control, upgraded stereo).

Of course, the V-8 undoubtedly costs less to manufacture than the V-6. I'd like the Sedan's price to be around $24-25K, I don't expect it.
I think someone posted the 2009 MSRP's and the Sedan went up by only like $400, whereas the GT went up like $1,400 IIRC. Don't know of any content changes though.

I think the G8 Sedan at $28K is just too big a shock to the $18K after rebates Grand Prix buyer, despite the G8 actually being the better value. I also think Pontiac shot themselves in the stomach, twice, by not calling the G8 'Grand Prix.'

[61BelAir]

Last weekend I saw a G8, presumably a V6 for $24k in a Dealership advertisement.

[377Z]

Wow. Didn't expect that in CA.

[ksr]

That's a pittance. Customers expect some sort of rebate. So they're throwing them a little bone.

It was probably worked into the price long before launch.