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Pontiac G8 vs BMW 3-Series vs Lexus IS 350

102 messages,  Last post on Apr 06, 2009 at 9:22 AM

You are in the Lexus IS Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac G8, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS 350, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 10 of 11

#86 of 102 OK so it has snowed, how is G8 in the snow?? by harddrivet

Dec 23, 2008 (8:16 pm)

People must have driven the G8 in the snow at this point.
Please tell us how if you survived.
 

#87 of 102 Re: OK so it has snowed, how is G8 in the snow?? [harddrivet] by roadburner

Dec 23, 2008 (8:42 pm)

Replying to: harddrivet (Dec 23, 2008 8:16 pm)
A G8-or 3er-with good all seasons or winter rubber will get around just fine.

#88 of 102 Re: Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans With and Without Luxury Badges [bvdj84] by richardga73

Feb 10, 2009 (9:15 am)

Replying to: bvdj84 (Dec 16, 2008 8:32 am)
Have any of you bimmer fans with their feathers ruffled actually driven a G8? It might surprise you. I havent as my lease doesnt run out for a year but the local Budget rent a car has one and Im going to rent it for a week to see. If it comes close to the 5 Im getting it as I dont care about badges even though the badges have proved to be what I prefer in the past. Ive had porsches,a ferrari, several benzes, a 3, a 6, and 2 corvettes. So I dont care what emblem it is if it goes good. The steering has got to be great and makes up for a lot with the engine.

#89 of 102 Thoughts from a 3-series driver by steveinvt

Mar 08, 2009 (5:09 am)

I have a 2007 328xi coupe with 20k miles. In general, I absolutely love the car. The 3-series is simply the best practical sports car/coupe that you can buy under $50k. It is a fantastic driving experience - the care just does not put a foot wrong. That said, the 3-series is not without its downsides. I personally hate the run-flat tires and, let's face it, you do pay a big premium for the badge.
 
The lease on my BMW is up in less than a year, so I am starting to think about what to do next. Having read the reviews of the G8 in the mags, I decided to test drive one yesterday (a GT). I was seriously impressed. I have never driven a non-German car that handled so well. Very balanced and poised. Even with 19 inchers the ride was very compliant. The steering is nicely weighted and feedback is very good. The brakes were also very good - easy to modulate - though stopping distances seemed a tad longer than my 3 series. The v8 power is great with a fantastic, but muted, exhaust note. The interior is kinda black, but the car is nicely equipped and seems well screwed together. All in all, the car compares favorably with the 3-series.
 
Now, here is the kicker. Even a fully loaded GT will only run about $30k or so with the GXP coming in well under $40k. To replace my 3-series will run about $44k. There is a lot I could do with an additional 14k plus interest in my pocket, so the g8 (along with the Camaro) will definitely by on my list.

#90 of 102 Re: Thoughts from a 3-series driver [steveinvt] by bowtiefan1

Mar 08, 2009 (8:43 pm)

Replying to: steveinvt (Mar 08, 2009 5:09 am)
My G8 GT is a really nice driver and very powerful. It's very BMW feeling in ride, handling, and power. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you get one. Also, you can do much better than $30K right now. The incentives are excellent. I have seen on the various G8 boards folks paying $25K to $27K for loaded GTs at this juncture.

#91 of 102 by pafromfl

Mar 08, 2009 (9:38 pm)

I traded a 2005 330i sport premium with 18k miles for a 2009 G8 GT sport premium and have no regrets. The BMW was more refined, handled slightly better, gave better gas mileage, and had more luxury features, but the G8 GT is just way more fun. A Rotofab cold air intake and Magnaflow street cat-back exhaust system restored the muscle car sound.

#92 of 102 Re: Thoughts from a 3-series driver [bowtiefan1] by bvdj84

Mar 09, 2009 (7:37 am)

Replying to: bowtiefan1 (Mar 08, 2009 8:43 pm)
Incentives will help, but even at those prices, they do not meet the real world values. Which are much lower in resale. Even with few 1,000 miles. You will already be so upside down on your loan versus real world value, it will take you years to break even.
I would not buy new at this time. You will take a huge hit.
 
I have seen G8's piling up at my dealer, the also have them sitting in the overflow lots, so perhaps a deal could be had in your area. Of course, their new. Check the used lots first. Just being realistic.

#93 of 102 Re: Thoughts from a 3-series driver [bvdj84] by bowtiefan1

Mar 09, 2009 (6:11 pm)

Replying to: bvdj84 (Mar 09, 2009 7:37 am)
Let's face it, very few new vehicle purchases are sound from a financial point of view. I would agree that buying a used G8 GT for say $19K to $22K (depending on mileage, condition, etc.) may make more financial sense for some folks than spending $25K to $27K on a discounted new one. But even at this price, it's a performance bargain. Heck, a V-6 Malibu or Accord will cost you this!
 
In my case, I chose to buy a new G8 GT because I was able to get it at the cost of a used one, using $3.5K in GM credit card monies I had accumulated and taking advantage of the red tag discounts when I purchased mine at the end of December. In the end, my final cost was $19.5K, plus tax. As you can imagine, I would have been hard-pressed to find an extremely low-mileage used one at that price. So in my case, it was worth it to buy new.
 
With that said, could I trade-in my car now and get at least what I paid from a dealer?--maybe, maybe not. I would probably be able to get more money from a private sale, pending I could find the right buyer. I purchased this car, however, with the intent of keeping it for some time and only driving it in "good weather" as a pleasure car. So, buying new was important to me and resale value was not as much of an issue at this juncture. If I keep it in great shape, maybe I will luck-out and get a decent price for it some day like some of the low-mile '04-'06 GTO's are commanding today should I decide to sell.
 
I would advise anyone looking at used G8 GT's to be careful to know what they are buying. Many of the used ones on the market now are former rental cars. Most of these vehicles have 8K to 15K miles on them and no telling if they have been abused or beat-up. Many folks, however, have been very happy with their rental car purchase, with no problems. If you are okay with a former rental car, that's great, but just know what you are getting to make sure everything is fine with the car. It could be a great value!
 
Lastly, there is a glut of unsold new cars from other auto manufacturers as well. As for the G8, GM had its best month yet on the sale of G8's this past February with 2,705 units being sold. This was a 50% increase from the previous month! Also, this figure was on the heels of competing BMW 5-Series sold last month. Here is a link to the February GM sales figures:
 
http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/84/84530/sales_production/Deliver- - - ies_February_2009.pdf
 
Just my 2 cents.

#94 of 102 G8 looks by richardga73

Mar 10, 2009 (5:05 am)

Circlew, sorry you dont have access to good physician care. Maybe when your company gave you the options in your yearly insurance choice and you clicked the cheapest one and you ended up in a clinic with a 2 hour wait I can see why you are so bitter. You get what you pay for in healthcare as well as anything else. We have the best healthcare in the world. Maybe its expensive but when you can go in and get a procedure done with robots or better still one done with no cutting with lasers or ultrasound and you walk out and go back to work with no bed stay its worth every penny. Healthcare is a privilege deserved by people who actually pay for it, not a right. Look at the constitution. If you want healthcare diluted by losers and illegal aliens then you get what you get and you dont pitch a fit!
    I think the G8 looks rockin from the front, very aggressive. The back of it is sort of lame. I heard the steering is a little light on center. Anybody experience that?

#95 of 102 Re: G8 looks [richardga73] by pat

Mar 10, 2009 (10:40 am)

Replying to: richardga73 (Mar 10, 2009 5:05 am)
You seem to be responding to a conversation that happened around two years old ago. Let's go back to leaving that be and stick to the cars in the subject line. There are conversations over on the Automotive News board where you can pursue discussion of benefits for automobile workers and other things of that nature.
 
Thanks.

Messages Page 10 of 11

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