2008 Pontiac G8 GT: All the Pretty Horses Mock Me

I don't see how a less powerful version of the same car is better. Yeah maybe it gets better mileage but its still heavy and big and everything else you don't like. It just decreases the fun of having that power.

I really, really like the G8. But, like you said, I would definitely get the V6 model. I just don't need 361 horsepower and 256 is still pushing it for me. Of course, buying that V6 leaves more money for leather/sunroof/upgraded blaupunkt radio...

Isn't the point of this breed of cars rip-roaring, tire-smokin', cowl-shakin' horsepower?
Without that, these cars don't seem to make much sense, given the drawbacks mentioned here (and others elsewhere).

"There's a lot of talk about the G8 GT being a great, fun-to-drive family car option. But IMHO, it's only a family car if the main driver of the car needs the fun of a performance-oriented sedan, has a higher speed highway commute and shuttles the family only occasionally."

I think that's the most logical statement in the most ironic context I could readily imagine.

Yes....it's a "family car" for the type of people who sacrifice ~4mpg on the alter on rip-snorting RWD fun. It is not a family car for the type of people who want frugality, unobstrusive engine characteristics, and FWD steering pull.

FYI - My 08 Subaru Legacy GT rocks back and forth when idling. It's the result of an inadequate amount of pistons firing sideways rapidly and not yet harmonically. I just pretend it's attempting to "box" the cars to my right and left.

Joe

There is a fine line between driver feedback and roughness. Sometimes it depends on the driver, or the mood he/she is in. Sporty cars have a more direct feeling to the steering, shifter, engine, etc, so that you can gauge things as you are driving. This can also be more involving and exciting. On the other hand, more direct feedback is not welcome to many people, who prefer an isolated, numb feeling to their car's inputs.

I've driven Hondas/Acuras with their 'buttery slick' shifters and 'light' clutches, but find that they lack any sort of feedback to the driver. My M3 has a heavy clutch and a notchy shifter, and while it does offer a lot of feedback, can be a bit too much in commuting or regular ol city driving.

If you chose this car for gas mileage, then you did not choose wisely. I know a few Ferrari/ Lamborghini owners whom daily drive the likes of AMG or ///M or Porsche Turbo's... so, this car would easily appeal to say a Corvette owner looking for a daily driver family car. Basically anyone used to a higher level of performance and anything less would feel scary to drive. It should not appeal to those who are accustomed to driving slow cars and care not for more.

Weird, as my mom's TBSS has a lot more power than that (Vector tune, CAI, headers/exhaust, etc.) and doesn't rumble too noticeably. Then again, as huyracing pointed out, as I drive a heavily modified SRT-4, it's all relative.

Ok, so, get a 328.

Thought about it for a bit and the V8 is the only reason I would consider a G8. Without it, it's just another big sedan... with it, it's a muscle car with attitude and character.

A minivan (or even a crossover) is better choice if you don't want the V8 but want something roomy.

"FYI - My 08 Subaru Legacy GT rocks back and forth when idling. It's the result of an inadequate amount of pistons firing sideways rapidly and not yet harmonically. I just pretend it's attempting to "box" the cars to my right and left."

Really? My Legacy LS doesn't do that. Maybe it's the smaller 2.2 but it idles dead smooth.

"Isn't the point of this breed of cars rip-roaring, tire-smokin', cowl-shakin' horsepower?"

The hood scoops are fake.

I have the 2009 G8 GT and though I do agree on the small side mirrors and fuel economy being not the greatest, I take issue on the other obeservations. In my experience the shifting is very smooth with very little jerk, in manual mode and in normal drive. They could have refined the ratio's for 09.
As for rumbling and jerking, I've not noticed that, the only comments I've gotten is that damn that's fast but it should rumble more. Unless you fun it you hardly can tell its a v8. As for it being heavy, I guess it depends on the cars you are used to. I had a grand prix 05 before and this car is positively nimble in comparison.
As other's have noted, you do not by this car for the fuel economy, and I admit to driving it pretty hard. Though I've obviously slowed down for winter (from Manitoba, and yes I do have Nokian winter tires) its still a lot of fun and I let the back end whip around from time to time. The car's a joy to drive and I do not regret the purchase.

altimadude for 09 the hood scoops are partially functional, and there is a mod to enable full functionality as I understand it. Though stock functional hood scoops would have been preferable, I admit I like the look and will problably modify them in the future.

This car is not heavy for its size. The CTS is much smaller inside and weighs just as much. Most EPA large cars (esp RWD) are in the neighborhood of 2 tons. The E550 is somewhere around 3900lbs and its a midsize car. Most reviews I have seen have said the V8 is too tame, not loud and obstrusive.

If you want less space you should look at a smaller car with less curb weight. The G8 is huge inside and is several steps above a 3600lb MAlibu or Accord.

She didn't say it was heavy for it's size. She said, "1. It feels too big and heavy."

The 2-ton mark seems to be the magic mark around which cars start to feel unwieldy regardless of state of tune.

Most reviews and owners agree the v8 is too tame. But she didn't say while driving, she said while idling. And remember folks, one bloggers opinion (who apparently prefers actual family sedans to performance sedans) is not "edmunds" opinion.

Joe

joefrompa... that "she" is actually a he. The poster is a guy, but I have to admit I had the same thought!

“So, this car would easily appeal to say a Corvette owner looking for a daily driver family car. Basically anyone used to a higher level of performance and anything less would feel scary to drive. It should not appeal to those who are accustomed to driving slow cars and care not for more.” - huyracing

I had a Corvette.
I bought a 2009 G8 GT.
- Ray
Happy with the choice . . .

"But the characteristic that most turns me off is this. While idling at stoplights, the whole car rumbles and jiggles ever so slightly as the 361 horses make me quite aware that they are impatiently tapping their hooves and rolling their eyes waiting for me to mash the throttle and get on with it already. It's just not the kind of feeling that I want in my everyday runaround car. But that's just me."

I'm the opposite. I love having all that power under my foot. I love the sound of it, I love the feel of it. It reminds me of a 747 with all 4 engines running at idle on the tarmac waiting to take off - the power just at idle gently rocks the entire plane side to side, and its just an awesome feeling to me.

There's just something special and fun to me knowing I can drop the hammer in almost any of the first 3 gears at almost any speed and get the car sideways if I wanted to. Yeah, I'm a horsepower junkie, I'll admit it.

I was planning on buying a CTS-V late next year, but with the economy and my investments lately, I may have to "downgrade" to a G8 GXP - that car really has my interest. Because, you know, 361 horsepower isn't enough...

"She didn't say it was heavy for it's size. She said, "1. It feels too big and heavy."

I understand that but for a large car I dont believe the G8 is heavy or "feels" heavy. He just doesn't like large sedans which would mean that any car comparable to the G8 would face similar criticism. This would be like buying a compact and then complaining that it makes a poor substitute for a minivan. Unlike most midsize sedans the G8 can seat 4 6 footers comfortably.

“So, this car would easily appeal to say a Corvette owner looking for a daily driver family car. Basically anyone used to a higher level of performance and anything less would feel scary to drive. It should not appeal to those who are accustomed to driving slow cars and care not for more.” - huyracing

This statement is so true on so many levels. When I drive a car now that doesn't react fast to any of my inputs (steering, shifting, throttle, braking, suspension) it scares me and I hate it instantly.

I honestly have no freaking clue how so many people in the northeast drive 5000 pound trucks/SUVs at 80mph while tailgating. They can't do ANYTHING fast, and they do a ton of damage due to their large mass.

Last week I was being tailgated by a Toyota SUV (could've been a lexus, it was night and the sequioa looks identical to the lexus to me) doing about 65mph in a 55mph lane. Really obnoxiously, and there was someone in front of me and to my side so I couldn't even do anything.

I left off the gas to allow him to get closer if he didn't brake/let off the gas. When he did, I hit my brakes with moderate force. Knowing my car reacts alot faster than his, I knew this would scare the guy.

He backed off and then passed me (when I was making a turn) with his window down. I have to ask: Due to his crappy driving, I had the ability to make him slam into the rear of me. I used the ability to let him know he was too close. And he's angry at me? Who was endangering whom?

If I had one of my old beaters, I would've hit the brakes with significantly more force.

People with non-performance cars should not drive on public roads as if they were ferraris (Speaking of which, I saw a red ferrari on the Jersey Turnpike yesterday doing about 110 and changing 2-3 lanes at a time without breaking a sweat....makes you realize how little "performance" your everyday car truly possesses).

Joe

"Who was endangering whom? "

Tailgaters bug the hell out of me too but that was a really dangerous thing to do. The trick is to tap the brakes with your left foot (just enough to have the brake lights come on) without taking your right foot off the gas.

It's still enough to make him jump but not enough to get a Lexus up your butt.

I wish my car rocked to and fro at lights! I miss the sexy grumble of my ZHP's exhaust when I turn on our sad little 4 cylinder cars. The other day a new M5 accelerated beside me and I nearly messed my pants with delight. That's a sound I want to hear daily...

BGDC - There is a 2003 540i 6-speed, dinanized, nearby for sale. I want to go test drive it, as I understand that the dinan exhaust helped to "unleash" the BMW v8 rumble more.

I haven't been impressed by the V10 sound very much.....they should just jump to v12 already :)

Or an inline 12....yeah, that'd be bad-ass. 30 foot long M5...

Joe

It's always nice to get a different perspective on the G8. Information is power! thanks

as to the justification on causing accidents or near-accidents... that's called road rage. I just don't see any sense in trying to 'scare' anyone. The law is DEFENSIVE DRIVING. If someone is tailgating, it's annoying but just pull over when safe and let them pass or get out of their way.
Justifying dangerous behavior is what causes many accidents.

In just the same scenario you described, someone was killed by a pileup caused by someone "brake checking". Witnesses got the person's license and that person was charged. It was on a news show, I remember.

"Witnesses got the person's license and that person was charged"

Charged with what?

There's no law against using your brakes and pulling over on to the shoulder to let a tailgater by is neither reasonable or safe.

The only person that should be charged is the tailgater. He's the only one who was committing a crime.

I agree jumping on the brakes is too risky but flashing the brake lights is the same as flashing the headlights.

It's a reasonable reminder that someone is doing something wrong and should stop it.

You can be charged with reckless driving if there is sufficient evidence of you TRYING to cause an accident by swerving and braking in front of people for that purpose.

I once had to call the police on two cars that were doing that to myself and someone else. I have NEVER seen cops respond that fast. We were on the phone for 30 seconds and quite literally 5 cop cars came out of 4 different directions and pulled them over.

If there is a "pile-up" due to someone brake-checking, that is the fault of those behind. The law states that you should always have a sufficient distance from the car in front of you to complete an emergency stop.

If I see a turtle crossing the road and decide to slam on my brakes, and someone hits me from behind, they are at fault.

I don't see my singular action as road rage. I didn't follow him, I didn't swerve to stay in front of him to aggravate him, and I didn't do it out of anger. I did it to show him he was driving unsafely.

Could he have hit me? Sure. I didn't brake that hard, but if he had been tuning his radio, he could've. But he also could've hit me in the same scenario if the guy in front of me braked and I had to react.

Sometimes a good scare is what someone needs to realize their stupidity. Kinda like passing a cop car doing 20+ over the speed limit....usually helps people slow down.

Joe