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Sedans Pontiac G8 2008 Pontiac G8
942 messages, Last post on Oct 06, 2008 at 8:10 AM
You are in the Pontiac G8 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: holdenguy (Mar 03, 2008 6:42 am) A number of the “First 888” are apparently en route to dealers. Regarding price, I agree that ( on paper & in videos ) the $30K base makes the G8 GT a “screaming bargain” - ** IF ** the car lives up to what many have been saying in the press about the US versions. I have not yet put my deposit down, for several reasons. 1 – I have not driven one. While the acceleration ( now verified in several published tests ) is clearly quite good, there remain questions I need answered before I make a decision. These include: A – One open question regards handling & ride. Is the ride \ handling trade-off right, FOR ME. It appears the G8’s FE2 suspension is near universally commended in the press – but I have somewhat different preferences in this particular realm than some. I ( for example ) had to special order my Corvette, partly because I decided that I wanted the base suspension – not the Z51 option that was on nearly every car my Dealer ordered for stock. Only a test drive can answer this question, for me. I am not expecting a Caddy ride ( whatever than means today ) but I need to be comfortable with the ride and the handling feel. The steering, particularly ‘on center’. Etc. B - How exactly does the manumatic function in manual mode? Specifically: How quickly does it respond to manual requests for up- and down-shifts? Some testers have complained about the automatic trans behavior ( both C+D and Topspeed ) and I need to experience this & compare with the ( very similar 6L80 automatic trans ) w/paddle shift manumatic in my Corvette. “If you use the manual mode, changing gears will only get you frustrated. Even though Pontiac was thoughtful and installed a gearbox that will hold gears when you hit the rev’ limiter, and blip the throttle on down shift to bring the engine up to ’rev’. We found the gear box so slow that we completely stopped playing with it after a few miles or simply stuck it into one gear in the fear of frustration.” – Topspeed. And “And the terminally confused transmission positively neuters the 361-hp, Corvette-sourced L76 V-8—something we thought heretofore impossible.” – C+D. Neither of these ( rather harsh ) comments leads me to cross the G8 GT off my ‘short list. But. Again, a test drive is required. Not to verify things like quarter mile acceleration ( I trust the various publications, particularly given how close the results have been – except for Automobile ), nor absolute cornering Gs. I leave those to the professional testers \ closed course. But I do need to verify that the ‘feel’ is something that I will enjoy for a while. And it is not that I do not trust you. Just that from experience I know that my own judgment regarding things like ride & handling feel & the behavior of the automatic trans. is the only opinion that really counts. I would not buy my Corvette unless I could drive both a ‘base’ and Z51 suspension ‘Vette back-to-back. Both are fine suspensions – in my view – but only one suits me. 2 – With such a very short 2008 model year run & very limited initial supply, it is not at all clear when a G8 GT will actually be available for a test drive. Also ( related ) the actual transaction pricing is unclear. It even now appears that the first 2009 G8 will be in production before a single 2008 is actually delivered to a retail customer. Bizarre. Although I consider the base list price of the G8 GT to be reasonably aggressive, I have already heard numerous reports that some Dealers will be trying ( much like with early GTOs ) to sell these first G8s at a premium above MSRP. Also, this tagging process & no current way to actually order the exact combination of colors & options one wants is rather weird. European manufacturers ( BMW & Audi, for example – and even when my Daughter ordered her MINI, last year ) with a comparable ‘supply chain’ length allow, and even encourage customers to order exactly what they want. So. The published tests ( here on Edmunds & elsewhere ) have answered many of my questions & concerns. The rest will have to wait – quite possibly for months. - Ray So very, very patient . . .
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Replying to: rayainsw (Mar 03, 2008 8:07 am) As far as the supply chain issues, pricing and GM history, nothing surprises me. When I see one, I will check it out. I expect NOT to see one until July around NJ since they are coming in to CA. Regards, OW |
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Replying to: rayainsw (Mar 03, 2008 8:07 am) link title Regards, OW |
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Replying to: circlew (Mar 03, 2008 8:28 am) This typically means that they are en route. It appears that Pontiac has started dispatching East Coast units before Left Coast. Possibly in an attempt to sync first deliveries. I expect to see one at a Dealer near me ( Atlanta area ) well before July. Possibly this month. Though ( as I said ) it could be a while before there are test drive-able units... - Ray Ready for my memory check...
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Replying to: rayainsw (Mar 03, 2008 8:07 am) A - The suspension is not overly hard, From what you have said about the Vette, I reckon somewhere in between the two. Remember, this is a family car. Australian roads are fairly crap so needs bump absorbtion. The steering is beautiful, very direct and quick and on centre. B - The gearbox is from over there, so isn't that supposed to be good  It's mainly software probs that are being sorted, get a tuner to make it the way you want it to be. Of course, take one for a test spin, crazy not to. 2 - The factory here as you would be aware is flatout making them for Here, You,Poms,Arabs, Kiwis, Africans. The sooner the Canadian setup is going, all the better for you guys. Then you could custom order what you want. That 1st shipment would be because of that they don't know exactly what individual tastes would be. As for the dealer asking more than the cars retail price, do what I would do ,tell him to get stuffed mate! There will be plenty more on the way. In the meantime, why don't you give HSV a call and see what can be done via them. With the two dollars around the same now, could be worth a shot. Some rapper guy over there got one ages ago and I think it got Foosed as well. Did you check out the link Ray? What did you think of the car? This country is going nuts over it, well nuttier than we already are. 
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Replying to: holdenguy (Mar 03, 2008 6:42 am) |
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Replying to: rayainsw (Mar 03, 2008 8:49 am) 
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Replying to: white6 (Mar 06, 2008 11:12 am) I manipulated another search link \ url that I’d saved, changing zip codes, etc. Not exactly something I’d recommend. The links are 14 to 20 lines in MSWord. But it works. And the data is there – not really ‘hidden’. There is also still some old \ inaccurate G8 information on their site And that may be part of the reason they have not yet Set up everything to allow a search . . . - Ray Not quite a software wizard . . . |
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Replying to: white6 (Mar 06, 2008 11:12 am) Here's the link: http://www.gm.com/shop/ |
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Here you go Ray, HSV has just sent a boatload of R8s to Dubai. Left hand drive and with Chev bowties all over them. They are selling like crazy there as Holden has a long history of exporting cars to the Middle East. Now, if one should happen to get on the wrong boat....... Contact HSV and see if you could get one sent to you. Here is a link to a review of the car for you to look at. Also Wheels magazine did an article in the Feb edition on this car. http://www.auto-power-girl.com/cars-2008/chevrolet-specifications/chevrolet_csv_- cr8-2253 |
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