Saw My First G8 on the Street Tonight

[Larry]

While seeing a G8 on the street may not be any big deal in your bigger cities, down here in sleepy Bradenton, Florida, these things sometimes take a while. I knew they were at the local Pontiac dealer a few weeks ago, but I never went to check them out.

Well, tonight I caught myself making a totally unbiased evaluation of the car. I spotted what appeared to be a big black sexy looking sedan pull up to the light to the right of where my wife and I were stopped. I immediately said "What is that sharp looking car, a new BMW or something?" It was a G8.

I hope Pontiac has hit a home run here, but fear with the economy and high gas prices, it may have a tough job ahead... not because of the car, but everything else.

The price is right at the high-20s and low- to mid-30s. Compared to what you would pay for a big Beemer sedan it is a steal!

I haven't checked mileage ratings yet, but a V6 at 261hp and a V8 at 362 should give a range for everyone.

I sure hope this is a success for Pontiac!

[super]

I went to the dealership in my local town Saturday night to check them out. Danny had three V-6 cars on his lot and a V-8. I think they are a good looking car for a 4dr.

My wife was asking me about them. She liked the 360 horsepower. Wait until they come out with the 400 horsepower version (rated at 402hp I believe.) Might have to make room in the garage for my wife's new daily driver. Wonder if she will let me borrow it? Have to borrow it on a Saturday night and take it on a road trip to Sikeston. HA!!

Fuel efficiency will play a role in a lot of the market as you stated. I bet they don't do that bad as far as fuel mileage.

My 1999 LS-1 (6-speed - 320hp) T/A has produced 28mpg on road trips. Great for a car that can run the 1/4-mile in the 13's at over 100mph. I bet the G8 will hold its own as far as fuel mileage.

Danny had two Solstice on his lot. I like these cars too!! Can we talk GM brass in to cramming a 400hp engine in them? Might as well make Chrysler and Ford look real bad in the performance department.

[lightning]

Pontiac has the one weapon that may bring them some respectability in the marketplace. G8 has the look, the power and most importantly, no other "clone" in the GM line-up. How many times have we seen Pontiacs that are rebadged Chevy's? The Vibe, which by the way is up in sales since '07, is a Toyota Matrix?

The G6 is doing well, but look at the end of Grand Prix, a woping sales decrease of 76% since last year. Oyyy!

G8 will be a solid performer, but a tough sell. Ist. it's a Pontiac in a world of Toyotas, Hondas, Chargers, etc. 2nd. at 400 h/p and $4.35 (NY prices) for Super many will avoid the V8 model (approx. 24 mpg). When your marketing campaign is "Pontiac is Car", it may be time to hang it up for good!

The G8 is sexy, but so is the lady down the block, GM/Pontiac needs a Angelina Jolie type and not Sexy married with children type.

It's sad, we have watched two decades of Pontiac failing and GM can't figure out what to do.

[Larry]

Is it a case of GM being so big that it is like turning the battleship around in the harbor? By the time you get turned around, the thing you were going to chase is long gone.

When Chrysler hit the market with new performance cars and Ford continued with the Mustang, GM said "Hey, we can do that too!" Well, by the time they got their "battleship" turned around, the competition they were going to chase was long gone and tooling up for the next iteration of cars.

Have you noticed how "somehow like they had a crystal ball" Chrysler switched many months ago to really pushing their Nitros and other smaller vehicles?

Fortunately for other GM divisions, Chevrolet being the most noticeable, they have such a big line-up of models, they should be able to weather any market changes... just decrease one model production and kick up the other. Pontiac doesn't have that luxury with so few models. And, what models they do have are clones of Chevrolet or even foreign items. As for the Grand Prix.... it appears the public has really tired of the same car for the last 10 years.

The old chief is sad today, I'm sure.

[Larry]

I guess we finally know how a patio stone layer customizes his car. Goes to prove that their is a very fine line between unique and weird.

[lightning]

Maybe it just the paint cracking. I have read a few reports, watched some interesting videos on You-Tube and have watched a few on the street. The car is impressive.

[Larry]

You're right.... it is a hell of a car! And, perhaps not out of the relm of afforability mileage-wise either in today's market.

The one thing PMD has to stop doing though is pushing it as "the poor man's BMW." Those aren't the actual words they use, but that's what they mean. They have to find a way for it to stand on its own, prove itself, and then let people discover for themselves how much they get for the price, and even how much more they get, than with a BMW.