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2008 Pontiac G8 GT Take Two

By Jonny Lieberman
September 12, 2008 - 5,000 views

When it comes to cars from General Motors, I’m always prepared for disappointment. No matter how promising the new vehicle is (Corvette!), GM finds a way to let me down (Corvette seats!) Take the Pontiac Solstice GXP. Flat gorgeous. More important, that sweet turbocharged engine with its (relatively) massive power and torque. Hell yeah, right? But the shift linkage is made from hamster bedding. The interior was designed for Gitmo inmates. And the brakes — when pushed — stink. I mention this because I was wholly ready to be let down by the new Pontiac G8 GT.

The French have seven types of love. Eskimos have 40 words for snow. Jews have 78 ways to call you the village idiot. As such, pistonheads need a few ways to explain “ugly.” There’s Deformed Mutant Awful Ugly (Aztek, BMW 1-Series, anything made in Malaysia), Dull Ugly (Toyota, BMW 3-Series), Bizarre, Avant-Gross Ugly (BMW 6-series, modern French cars) and Exciting Ugly (BMW X6, Nissan GT-R). The Pontiac G8’s face is without question Exciting Ugly. Whereas the side and rear views are just kinda an homage to Acura.

Inside, I love every inch. I love the font they chose for the gauges. I love the bolt-action clack-clack-clack-clack when the doors lock. I love the rubber bellows coverings on the column stalks. Hell, I love the column stalks. And after 100-years the General finally gives us world-class seats. Sure, the glove box isn’t made from the same top shelf petrochemicals as the rest of the G8’s dash, but do you really care? Really?

As nice as the G8’s innards are, that’s all just bunting. I’m here to crow about how damn well this Pontiac drives. Every review of the G8 has mentioned that the wunda from down unda is nearly identical to the BMW 5-series. Why be different? But here’s the thing — the Pontiac’s better. BMW has scientifically bested themselves out of the ultimate driving machine game with drowsy steering and rock hard run flats that necessitate softer springs. Meanwhile, the G8 is old-school and coarse enough to provide actual feedback. Which makes it not only a hoot and a holler, but easy to hoon.

The secret sauce is the G8’s completely neutral and compliant chassis. There’s no predilection towards under or oversteer. Thrown hard into a corner, the big boy’s content to just gently break grip before calmly (and quickly) regaining purchase. Kick the fun-pedal and the Pontiac simply heads off in whatever direction you’re pointing. While losing traction (for a moment) sounds frightening, in reality, it’s confidence inspiring. Meaning the G8’s predictable; the most you can ask for in a performance car.

Two little qualifications, if I may. First, my test car showed up with 18″ all-season tires. As Southern California doesn’t have seasons, slathering some larger wheels with USDA Choice meats would’ve provided more stick ‘em. The other caveat is when I say the G8 breaks grip, it only does so with the traction control disabled and the driver punching the snot out of it. Which I certainly did. In fact, let me paint you a picture.

My buddy’s been babysitting a replica 1973 Porsche RS 2.7. The Porsche’s owner finally demanded the RS back. So we set out over Mulholland Drive to return it. In case you’ve never been, it’s a fall-off-a-cliff curvy road. I was behind him in the G8 and the Porsche never got more than two car lengths ahead of me. How is a four-door, two-ton American sedan able to keep up with a race-ready, 2,000-pounds lighter German sports car? Because the G8 GT’s handling is totally awesome, dude.

Then there’s that hunk of an engine.

Under the Pontiac’s blistered hood resides a 6.0-liter V8 that’s good for 361 horses and 385 sweet lb-ft of torque. That works out to a 0 - 60 time of 5.3 seconds, even with the less-than-stellar six-speed slush-a-roo. But drag racing’s not this car’s prime directive. The G8 with the V8 is all about confidence. That weaving van? Of course you can get in front of it. Just dip your foot, prepare your ears for a snarling sonic treat and go! Easy like Sunday morning. And thanks to the torqued-out simplicity of pushrods, with the cruise control set at 80 mph, I was getting 27 mpg.

I suppose there are a few G8-related bugaboos you could fret over. That muscular motor makes triple-digit speeds far too easy. I constantly found myself over 95 mph when I wasn’t even in the mood. Conversely, without explaining that you’re actually driving a thuggish, high performance antipodean sports sedan, everyone will assume you spent $32k on a rental car. And you can’t have three pedals. But even with only two, the G8 GT is the best American car I’ve ever driven. Color me smitten.

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I can't read any of that.

 

Hahahahaha, the link is borked

 

Ive thought about the G8 GT as my next car, but I decided to wait for the G8 GXP to arrive IF I choose to go the the G8

 

anyone hear ever drive a 5 series? I've driven the 535 and the 550, they are simply fantastic cars, the luxury is perfectly created through out the cabin. Though I haven't driven a g8, I find it hard to believe that its an equal let alone better.

 

I have never driven a 5, but the 8 was boat like, felt heavy, and the steering was numb. I cannot image that it would compare to the 5, from what I have heard.

 

if you factor in the $$$, I am sure it starts to make sense. But those who are considering the M5 will likely not even cross shop a Pontiac.

 

most people who are considering ANY 5 series will not cross shop a pontiac.

goes for the 3 series as well. and definitely not for the 7 series.

 

Correction..it is an Australian Made/Designed Sedan...Not American

But, yes, WHEELS mag here rated the Statesman (Larger Luxury Version than the G8) better than the Mercedes S Class and BMW..

So now I have heard that from TWO Continents.

 

aussieland is a bit biased though....

 

My brother prefers hotdogs to steak. He's a retard. And, well....

 

TopGear did a comparison of the Vauxhall VXR8 [same car as the soon to be released G8 GXP] against Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. Jeremy liked the Vuaxhall over the German cars. If I can find the video, I'll post it.

 

You're dead wrong. I have a friend who could easily afford the 5 series, and he's looking very hard at a G8. Successful people don't like throwing money out the window either, and he would use it for regional business trips.

 

My friend test drove a G8 GT, and he can afford a Benz.

 

im not dead wrong. i said most people. as in, most people that buy bmws bought it for the badge, not the performance. so, no. it is actually you, my friend, that are dead wrong.

its, "daaadddy, please get me a bmw for my 16th birthday!! <3"

not

"daaaddy, please get me a pontiac for my 16th birthdayy!! <3"

 

Car and Driver compared the G8 to the 550i earlier this year. Basically bang for the buck, they felt the G8 was the better choice but acknowledged few people would cross shop them. I have read several reviews and all were positive.

I have also read the G8 is not selling so chances are you could pick one up at a substantial discount. I'm not into true four door cars but I have been tempted to test drive this one.

 

I'm waiting for the LS3 (420 hp?) to come out so I can get get a bigger discount on the 361 hp version.

 

You're dead wrong, just like kersh4w. I don't know what about, but there must be something.

 

They announced it will be 415hp.

 

Check out what the Aussies are doing with the "G8"!!!!!!!!!! HSV rules.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/H...1.htm?Ref=Blog

HELL YAH!!!!! What's up haters? That's the **** right there.
The G8 platform is for the enthusiast.... tell me I'm wrong.

 

it is for enthusiasts.

there is a difference between enthusiasts and the general populace. i cant believe you cant see that.

 

Ill fill in my .02 seeing how we own a pontiac Buick gmc store. I've had more customers come in and say the g8 is hands down one of the best sport sedans out there. It doesn't have all the extra fancy features that a 5 series has, but its also half as much.
I love my 2009 I'm driving right now with the 19 inch wheels.

 

I thought you were a G8 hater. I guess I was wrong. Dead wrong.

 

Sorry, what was that?? I couldn't hear you over the sound of a 700+ hp V10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhKw9...eature=related

haha, just stirring the pot.

 

HAHAH nice, okay, here ya go!!!! Believe me, it took me all of two minutes to find these... I bet they cost a third the price of that M5

800rwhp Vortech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47xLf34jDTI

or howabout a 1000 horsepower??
Edited out... he romped it on the street...