NYIAS 08: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP!

[FierySolstice]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Everything's good except I was hoping for the HSV GTS taillights.

I like the rings above a lot, but I'm hating these new Altezza tail lights on the G8 and Vibe. They DO NOT below on American cars!!! Plus that fade was over like 5 years ago! LED is where its at, use them instead!

[firebird1324]

well, there you have it.

my new dream car. I must have one.

[PWB02]

Holden has new colors up. Should be 09 G8 colors
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/...1&modelid=4006

[atomicshark]

Originally Posted by PWB02

Holden has new colors up. Should be 09 G8 colors
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/...1&modelid=4006

I don't usually like green, but it would be interesting to see an Atomic Metallic G8 in person. It would probably stick out almost as much as the fluorescent green Lambo driving next to me this morning. What a sight!

[ScottS]

Echoing several others...

Why bother detuning the engine? It has a big weight disadvantage to the Vette. It should get the full power for the sake of the window shoppers vs. the SRT. 40's not a bad bump, but if you can offer a bump of 70 without added cost, why wouldn't you? Insurance and mpg seem to be pretty empty arguments when you're talking 400+ to begin with. If it were detuned for 87 octane (which I don't believe it is), I'd buy that case since gas is so expensive and you can save a nice chunk of change running 87.

I think the GT got the better front fascia. It should get more differentiation for the price difference I imagine is coming.

What's with the 245 tires and 8" wide wheels on a 4000lb vehicle? No one could figure out a way to get 285s 9.5's on there when designing it?

What's with the rear seat not folding? A $20k Impala executes this nicely for when you need to transport larger things, why not the G8?

As for the "who care's?" comments, I do. 1) You drop $40k, why go back and fix what GM detuned? 2) if you want to run it in a race environment, (SCCA, autocross) you want the stuff stock to keep in a stock class. That's my biggest concern. I'd like to make it a weekend warrior on the local auto-x circuit.

Annoyances aside, the G8 looks like a winner to me and I'll be shopping them once the dealers come off MSRP and I can see where the GXP comes in on price.

[mitchikins]

Originally Posted by ScottS

Echoing several others...

What's with the rear seat not folding? A $20k Impala executes this nicely for when you need to transport larger things, why not the G8?

Structural rigidity. I believe the chassie looses a lot of its strength when you engineer it to have the rear seats fold down with a wide opening.
In a performance orientated RWD car this is important.
In a POS (in my humble opinion) FWD nordic fishing boat like the impala, structural rigidity is not very important.

I have to say, when in New York this past December, we hired a 2007 Impala and drove up to conneticut. This was the worst drive in the world. It is a pretty big car, but there was no room inside.
We often (a few times a year) drive from Sydney to canberra, a 3 hr drive, or from Sydney to West Wyalong, a 6 hr drive, and the commodore does is more comfortable on these drives than the Impala on the 2 to 2 and a half hour drive up to Connecticut.

So you can have your rear seat fold down across the back a few times, or have an incredibly comfortable, well handeling V8.

This GXP doesn't deserve you whiny criticisms, it is the BEST GM car on sale in the US, i'd even say more so than the fantastic CTS, because this is an ACTUAL 5 series competitor, that stands up to the bavarian very well.

[mitchikins]

Originally Posted by FierySolstice

I like the rings above a lot, but I'm hating these new Altezza tail lights on the G8 and Vibe. They DO NOT below on American cars!!! Plus that fade was over like 5 years ago! LED is where its at, use them instead!

i think the main problem is capacity issues, as these lights and body panels are HSV, and they may not be able to cope with a Massive increase in production, the time just isnt there for this to become reality. At least in this first run of G8's. Especially considering we still dont know how well it will actually sell.

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by jzEllis

what are you talking about? every where else but here this car DOES compete with BMW. in fact the HSV has BMW directly in it's sights. what, you put a Pontiac emblem on the nose and all of a sudden it's not good enough to compete with the Bavarian?

unfortunately, thats how alot of people think.

[FierySolstice]

I really think they need to lower the price on the V6 version to compete with the Charger and other larger sedans. $27k is a lot for a car like that. Especially since it replaces the Grand Prix that starts around $22k.

[mrgto]

Anyone notice the orange car has the brembo's and the red car doesn't?

[mrgto]

Originally Posted by ScottS

Echoing several others...

Why bother detuning the engine? It has a big weight disadvantage to the Vette. It should get the full power for the sake of the window shoppers vs. the SRT. 40's not a bad bump, but if you can offer a bump of 70 without added cost, why wouldn't you? Insurance and mpg seem to be pretty empty arguments when you're talking 400+ to begin with. If it were detuned for 87 octane (which I don't believe it is), I'd buy that case since gas is so expensive and you can save a nice chunk of change running 87.

I think the GT got the better front fascia. It should get more differentiation for the price difference I imagine is coming.

What's with the 245 tires and 8" wide wheels on a 4000lb vehicle? No one could figure out a way to get 285s 9.5's on there when designing it?

What's with the rear seat not folding? A $20k Impala executes this nicely for when you need to transport larger things, why not the G8?

As for the "who care's?" comments, I do. 1) You drop $40k, why go back and fix what GM detuned? 2) if you want to run it in a race environment, (SCCA, autocross) you want the stuff stock to keep in a stock class. That's my biggest concern. I'd like to make it a weekend warrior on the local auto-x circuit.

Annoyances aside, the G8 looks like a winner to me and I'll be shopping them once the dealers come off MSRP and I can see where the GXP comes in on price.

The G8 does have a rear pass through seat.

[Boi350Sierra]

I freakin love this car i can't wait to see them driving around town its gonna be wat the CTS was for caddy but for pontiac

[F14CRAZY]

I think it's worthy of being a "GXP"

[WWI Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by F14CRAZY

I think it's worthy of being a "GXP"

Amen! It is a beautiful car!

[Col Klink]

Nice job perhaps a little understated for NA but hey lets see this go up against the 6.1 Charger.

I wonder if they are dropping the power like Holden did with the L76 ie just say you've done it - don't actually do it.

Good to see LS3 early on, now just bring it to Aus/NZ, oh and wrap in the Coupe60 body.