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Sedans Pontiac G8 2008 Pontiac G8
1265 messages, Last post on Jul 21, 2009 at 10:14 AM
You are in the Pontiac G8 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: pafromfl (Apr 24, 2009 8:41 pm) They tested the G8 GT without the performance tire and wheel option. How lame. CR's reliability are ratings are so out of touch with any other surveys. The survey is only sent to their biased CR subscribers unlike more reputable and creditable surveys such as J. D. Powers. The American nameplate does not have a chance these days. The G8 was the only decent large balanced RWD sedan on the market under 50k. The only competition is a 5 series. I wish there was a way to hurt CR in the pocket. They are on the take by rating vehicles according to the demographics of their readers.
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Replying to: mrpushrod (Apr 26, 2009 3:17 pm) I also have subscribed to Consumer Reports for over 20 years and appreciate their genuine attempts at unbiased reviews....otherwise all we would have to go by is sales hype. I am really tired of various people complaining that CR is biased against American cars. All they do is report on what their hundreds of thousands of subscribers say, which is as valid a database as any; and explains why American en masse have switched from domestic cars to Toyotas and Hondas --- they are tired of paying big dollars for unexpected repairs, and getting peanuts at trade-in time. It's a bottom-line thing, people are tired of getting short-changed, and now the "pigeons have come home to roost" as they say, for the domestic auto makers. Unfortunately it requres athreat of bankruptcy before they will "ake up and smell thecoffee."
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Replying to: whoosierdaddy (Apr 26, 2009 6:04 pm) In my opinion, if CR really wanted to understand why this phenomenon of constant differential in survey data occurs, they would create a fair survey and send it to a random audience (not exclusively subscribers of a biased magazine) like the reputable independent market research J. D. Powers does. CR should want to understand why their surveys do not correlate with any others and deliver a product to the customer that is accurate and sound. As I pointed out many times, I know many people totally satisfied with the reliability and quality of American nameplate vehicles that avoid and dismiss CR due to their heavy bias toward Japanese auto manufactures. These same people gladly fill out J. D Powers surveys and not just for the dollar they give you in advance either. I personally filled out J. D. Powers auto surveys for 4 new American vehicle purchases since 2005 and nixed CRs survey on each because I too always dismiss CR’s because of the magazines heavy bias. |
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Replying to: whoosierdaddy (Apr 26, 2009 6:04 pm) That is the description of a demographic: “marketing a part of a population identified as a group, especially as a target for sales or advertising” That exact phrase is what makes J. D. Powers and many other surveys fair and concise. They do not send it only to an audience that purchases a biased magazine that has constantly ranked on and downed American car manufactures for 25 years now. They send the survey out to random people and report the results without insults to one brand or another. If you read CR’s forums you can see the bias in CRs subscribers. The forum consists of a core group who will tell you an American vehicle can’t go 100k trouble free miles. They claim this even the most reliable nameplate on the planet such as Buick. Or the most reliable midsize cars on the market, such as the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. Yet not one of these members has owned an American nameplate vehicle in 25 years. |
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CRs comments on the their golden top rated Toyota brand Avalon. I wouldn’t put it past CR to create a straight test track to test the next Gen Avalon. The G8 is a perfectly competent sedan with the wrong brand name: “Make no mistake, though, thinking that the Avalon competes with other sports sedans. The soft suspension absorbs bumps well, but body lean is evident in turns, and the car lacks agility. Stability control is standard for 2009 The Avalon rides very comfortably and quietly. But because of its relatively soft suspension, the car tends to float a bit when encountering road dips at highway speeds. Handling is responsive but far from sporty, with overly light steering. Make no mistake, though, thinking that the Avalon competes with other sports sedans. The soft suspension absorbs bumps well, but body lean is evident in turns, and the car lacks agility. The Avalon displayed significant lean in corners. The steering is light and lacks feedback, but response to input is appropriate. At its limits on our handling course, it understeers predictably. It posted a rather low speed in our avoidance maneuver, and the electronic stability control (ESC) was needed to keep it on course. Braking performance was very good, but the pedal felt soft. The manual adjustments for steering wheel tilt and telescope operate independently, making it fussy to fine-tune a comfortable position. Visibility is good, but the rear view is obscured by large roof pillars. The large, flat front seats are well-cushioned and comfortable but lack lateral support. Some of the climate controls are a bit of a reach, and the hidden mirror and panel illumination controls are minor gripes.” |
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Replying to: mrpushrod (Apr 26, 2009 3:17 pm) “They tested the G8 GT without the performance tire and wheel option. How lame.” I know there are always CR haters around - but I subscribe - and I was ( pleasantly ) surprised that: 1 - CR tested the GT \ V8 version, not the V6. and 2 - They actually had quite a few very positive comments!! Including: “Highs Acceleration, transmission, steering, handling, ride, rear seat, value.” "As a bargain sports sedan that can challenge the performance of models from BMW and Mercedes, the Pontiac G8 is a success." and: "The G8 is a fun car to hustle through corners and has agile handling. The steering is quick and well weighted and gives excellent feedback. At the limit, the G8 is stable, well balanced, and responsive." Even ** WITHOUT ** the [ Sport ] performance wheel & tire option... I found their comments interesting - particularly since CR is ** NOT ** an enthusiast magazine... Cheers, - Ray Enjoying the 'responsive' aspects with each drive.... |
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| Fritz Henderson, in answering an Australian reporter, said the G8 will be phased out by end of this year... | |
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Replying to: rayainsw (Apr 27, 2009 3:01 am) G8 -- 75 Maxima -- 83 Avalon 89 -- The Avalon had the lowest speed through CRs accident avoidance The vehicle uses the air bag as an integral part of accident avoidance. Safety takes a back seat when Toyota and Honda are concerned. CR is a biased magazine that has an agenda to suit the demographics of their readers in order to sell more magazines. They use the biased reliability data to further insult the American nameplates in the magazine. Why can't they do a fair survey like Powers and others and send the reliability surveys to a random audience? If they did the results would be more in-line with Powers and others. CRs data is tainted and biased. I suggest anyone looking for true reliability ratings to look elsewhere for reputable sources such as J. D. powers who use integrity to collect data. CR leads the witness to sell more magazines. CRs Vehicle ratings G8 -- 75 -- Bottom of the head. Avalon 89 -- This vehicle uses the air bag as an integral part of accident avoidance Maxima -- 83 Ect, etc, etc. Now if you look at motortrend, edmunds, Edmunds owners survey or any other reputable publication, the Maxima is not a superior vehicle. Furthermore, notice how poorly the G8 did on braking without the performance tires. Over 19' longer. CR should be recommending the tires as a safety feature. Consumer Reports does shabby work and is sinking the big three to sell more magazines. |
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Replying to: mrpushrod (Apr 27, 2009 6:02 am)
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Replying to: mrpushrod (Apr 27, 2009 6:02 am) Clearly you have strongly held views on the magazine. Fine. I have no interest in that debate. As an appliance, I do see areas where the G8 GT falls short. I rarely even look at their ‘overall score’, as their priorities and the weighting of various vehicle attributes are [ rather significantly ] different than mine. If one [ primarily ] views an automobile as an appliance, I doubt the G8 GT would rise to the top of a desirability list. With 6,000+ miles on my 2009 G8 GT, and having recently purchased a car with an MSRP over $50K [ a Corvette ] I think that if anyone is – or expects that they might soon be - in the market for a car with the dynamic abilities of a BMW 535 or 550, you at least owe it to yourself to drive a G8 GT. Clearly, if certain features that are not available on the G8 GT are critical to you [ NAV, AWD, HUD ] the G8 GT is a non-starter. But if the size, acceleration, handling and overall performance abilities are your highest priorities, I think the G8 GT deserves at least a thorough test drive. If you can afford a BMW 5 series, and you like the interior & exterior styling of the current generation 5 series – and what the BMW 5 series does offer that the G8 GT does not seems worth the additional $$s, to you - well, good for you. If you want much of the performance ‘goodness’ of a $50K - $60K+ BMW in a bargain package, I believe the G8 GT is worth a close look. I replaced a car with a current MSRP roughly comparable to a BMW 535 with a few options. One could therefore argue that I could ‘afford’ a BMW 5. I chose a G8 GT – for $20K+ fewer dollars. Will there [ potentially ] be service issues in the future for the G8 GT, possibly – though due as much to the Australian origins as to the brand being dismantled, I’d guess. Will the depreciation \ resale \ trade-in value be hurt by the Pontiac brand’s demise – probably. But I bought mine with that expectation. And I will likely buy a GMPP extended warrantee \ service agreement to allow myself the option to drive my G8 GT until the disposal value is so low that any added ‘hit’ from the Pontiac brand issue will be nominal. Right here, right now – and looking as far ahead as I can – I still see this as an opportunity to buy a very competent, RWD, V8 sedan that is an absolute joy to drive, at a very reasonable price. For me [ biased, obviously ] the G8 GT provides 90+% of a BMW 535 or 550 performance experience for [ way ] less $$s spent. I am not sure anything that depreciates as quickly as a[ny] car can be called a bargain, but for me, the G8 GT comes very close indeed. YMMV. - Ray Sad that the brand I recall from GTO & 2+2 days will be gone . . .
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