Food for thought New Pontiac G8

[Jesda]

Didn't you also say that the new 7series is ugly?

Absolutely.

[Infinitiguy19]

Hey sorry to bring up an old topic but....

Here is my review of the Pontiac G8 By Paul, Age 19

Ok so when I went to the dealer just to waste some time before I go to get my check, I went to Pride Chevrolet in Lynn, MA.

Interior:

When I first got into the G8 I thought wow these seats are the most rough (Sporty Leather) I have sat on, I saw the flimsy plastic door handles as well, I bet if a 300 pond guy were to open the door they would break. But the interior was OK but not roomy, The glove box wouldn't even open all the way even with my chair as far back as possible.

Exterior:

The front nose look like a BMW when looked at from the side, There were fake yet functional scoops, I mean fake because they only cool the engine and don't deliver air to the intake (yes I know that only works at mach speed). Other than that not much good to look at.

The engine:

The engine supposedly according to two salesmen is a restricted Corvette engine, If that was true then it would have pulled you back more in your seat for a 360 HP and 290 Torque car but my Q45 (Which I must change the transmission fluid, Spark plugs, get a new TPS and possibly more) pull you back in your seat more, Hell it just feels faster overall, I mean I will admit the G8 had 18 inch rims with crappy dunlop slick tires.

But the car only had 1 Mile on it so that is the lowest mile car I have ever been in and driven.

2002 Q45 review:

Then I test drove a ****ed up 2002 Q45 with ****ed (not installed correctly tire pressure monitors) the center console hand rest hing was broken. and I don't if it had the updated pedal and transmission upgrade, But it sure felt like it.

The dealer didn't even have the metal key he said, He told me I could get it for $40, then I looked at the Key FOB flipped over and pressed something in and out popped the Key. Then I turned the key to unlock 2 times and the windows started coming down and the sun roof opened and then locked it and it all closed, Not that was the best part of the car in my opinion and If I could put that on my G50 I would never ask for anything more.

Over all I agree with people who think that the F50 is just a more of a luxury car and less of a sport O luxury car, I mean it had balls but its just too big and it "weighs a ton" or two and the fact that it just has way to much luxury in it.

It was a Base model by the way.

And I think I know why some people who buy F50 AKA (2002-2006) Q45's go back to the G50 AKA 1990-1996 Q45, Its because they feel like there home. In the 2002 Q45 I liked it a lot but it was just to much for me (At the time) Too much luxury and performance and price tag along with the maintained and what ever else i didn't cover.

O yea the dealer was just some puertorican who didn't know much about the car besides the price tag.

All in all it was a pretty fun day.

[MinisterofDOOM]

G8 GXP will have the Corvette's 6.2 liter LS3. GT (which is probably what you drove) has a lesser 6.0 liter. It makes 390ft-lb, though, not 290. And of course the base G8 has the EFI LY7 V6 from the base model CTS that makes ~260hp.

I had thought the hood scoops were 100% non-functional (as in no pass-through into the engine bay at all).

[Jesda]

Took a G8 V8 for a test drive a few weeks ago at a local B-P-G combo dealer. Bright red with black leather.

It was sublime yet aggressive.

Quiet, confident, stopped on a dime, and felt like a BMW 5-series. Goose the throttle and it roars like a banshee. I haven't felt that kind of automotive joy since I first drove a G50 Q eight years ago.

It is a fantastic car. Still, the Q has a nicer interior. Few cars are as nice inside as the G50.

[maxnix]

Saw a late model Lincoln LS park next to me. Although built too cheaply, a good basic 4 door sedan with good suspension and a modern V8. But despite being almost ten years younger than my everyday beater G50, did not look as good in the wear department.

Nevertheless, a much better basic design than the new MKZ trash.

[mr.beeks]

I just cant get over the fact that the my 92 Q does not have a cup holder.Three lighters and a stupid storage compartment in the rear deck, no trunk space at all and no rear legroom.But over all I like the way it drives (except in the snow).But lately the infinity interior feel cheap quality.What happened there?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Saw a late model Lincoln LS park next to me. Although built too cheaply, a good basic 4 door sedan with good suspension and a modern V8. But despite being almost ten years younger than my everyday beater G50, did not look as good in the wear department.

Nevertheless, a much better basic design than the new MKZ trash.

There actually is a higher-tier Lincoln than the MKZ now (the MKS), but it's still unacceptable as an LS successor. I really liked the LS. It's new successor is a bloated front-driver (which means V6-only). It's not bad looking...but again it's just the wrong car for the job.Plus, the new "emm-kay-something" naming scheme is easily the worst in a long history of very bad naming schemes. I mean, letters and numbers are one thing, but butchering abbreviations is an entirely different thing.

[maxnix]

I just cant get over the fact that the my 92 Q does not have a cup holder.

What happened there?

It was designed for drivers, not boulevardiers.

If cupholders are your priority, get an Odyssey.

[maxnix]

This "improved" SEMA version of the G8 might be even worse.

[OZQ45]

Going to the specification page I started reading. Whoa I thought, these looks familar. So I did a little research and found the following;

Dimensions (Src: NICO)

Infiniti Q45 4-door sedan........ Pontiac G8 4-door sedanWheelbase, in. 113.4........ 114.8Overall Length, in. 199.8........ 196.1Overall Width, in. 71.9........ 74.8Overall Height, in. 56.3........ 57.7Curb Weight, lbs. 4039........ 3995Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 14.8........ 17.5Standard Payload, lbs. --Fuel Capacity, gals. 22.5........ 19Seating Capacity 5........ 2+3Front Head Room, in. 38.2........ 39Max. Front Leg Room, in. 43.9........ 42.2Rear Head Room, in. 36.3........ 38Min. Rear Leg Room, in. 32.0........ 35

Powertrain

Engine:90-96 4.5L DOHC 32v V8 (VH45DE)........ 6.0L OHV 16v V84494 cc........ 5967cc274 ci........ 362 ci93x82.7 mm........ 101.6x92.0mm10.2:1 compression ........ 10.4:1HP: 278 at 6000 rpm* ........ 361@5300 rpmTorque: 292 lb-ft at 4000 rpm ........ 385@4400 rpm

* We know this is light on what it is really under the hood/bonnet (for my Aussie\NZ friends, I used to work for BHP)

I am thinking.... either the Q45 is ahead of its time or they copied a 18 year old car........

I know... I know, its not that simple. But you have to appreciate the geniusof Nissan\Infiniti at getting it so right the first time.

Looking at both, you will have to pry the keys from my cold dead hands before I would consider trading down to the G8.

Well I agree I wouldn't swap mine either.

But, I certainly don't think there was any copying at all! There's any number of vehicles within that range of sizes and power. And the G8 is hardly trying to compete with a Q45.

While I'll be sticking with my Q, I just wish I could keep up with these youngsters though.

In Australian form (which of course is what the G8 is body wise) even the base SS V series with the lowest spec V8 - 6 litre, 270kw - will quite simply chew me up and spit me out. Sure, I might be able to beat them in sheer top speed, but seriously where am I going to try and push 150+mph? In meaningful terms I'm going to be easily out accelerated, out cornered, out braked and out handled.

Then I come up against it's big brothers in the HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) range (Clubsport, GTS and Senator Signature) each with a 317kw 6.2 litre, and to top it off, they're going to release the W427 with the 375kw 7 litre (basically US sourced).

W427

But seriously, sitting in any of these, as capable as they are, its simply a sense of quality, room in the front and value for money (at least second hand) that makes me happy with my old Q.

If you wanted to make a real comparison to a Q, Pontiac should be importing vehicles based on the Australian Holden Caprice or Statesman with the 270kw 6 litre for luxury, or HSV Grange with the 317kw 6.2 litre for luxury and power.

Grange