G8 GXP, The car I want to like.

Slight rant, I really do want to like a 402hp four door sedan with a T-56 and 14" brembo's. But after watching vid's of one on track couldn't they have stiffened them up a bit? They are trying to market this as a drivers car. The car looks like it's going to fall over on it's doors! Then there's the 4000lb curb weight that obliterates the 402hp and 14" rotors that makes you wonder why car's don't get good mileage? All in all an awesome car I would buy if I had the wallet to hack up a $30k car but I think I'm too old school in thinking that 402hp and 400+lbft should do better than 13's in the quarter for acceleration. I wish we could have seen a GXP-R or something before Pontiac was killed. You know, something without leather bucket's, a gazzilion airbags, skipshift, traction and drivers aids, dual climate control, subwoofers and all the bs that keeps us Americans in uncle sam's comfortable safe padded room. Shame really this never came in a no frills, no cupholder sub 3000lb varient.

With the safety structure built into that car, it would never get down to 3000 lbs. Even stripped, I think the best you could hope for would be about 3800 Lbs.

It did best the M5 around several tests, so there is that - it must not handle that badly. I've never driven one, only the GTO, which was pretty darn good...

and with new rules regarding stability control and airbags etc dont expect that pontiac (or anyone else) could have legally built a sub 3000lb variant even if they wanted to.

thanks Sam!

Too bad Ford wont bring any thing from down under up here.

It's impressive for what it is. It's a big, heavy sedan that you could get with a real manual. It's not like it was supposed to be a 4-seat Miata or something like that. Ford and Chrysler still haven't put a manual in a big RWD V8-powered sedan in recent years. I still want one, and really wish I had really looked at G8's when I bought my WRX.

you're complaining about 4000lbs and 415HP for an MSRP of $41,000 for a 4 door sedan that runs 13.0 sec 1/4 mile out of the box...

when a Lexus ISF weighing 3800lbs having 416HP for an MSRP of $61,000 for a 4 door sedan that runs 13.0 sec 1/4 mile out of the box...

when a BMW M5 weighing 4000lbs having 500HP for an MSRP of $85,000 for a 4 door sedan that runs 12.4 sec 1/4 mile out of the box...

when a Porsche Panamera S weighing 4000lbs having 400HP for an MSRP of $90,000 for a 4 door hatchback that runs 13.5 sec 1/4 mile out of the box...

Now do you like it more? No? Ok....

It's also got pretty much the most fun and modifiable engine mankind has ever produced. If you've never driven an LSx powered anything than you haven't realized there are TWO answers to anything car related:

1) Miata

2) LSx

You're bitching about a full size, 4 door car with a V8 weighing 4000lbs. Seriously?! Most compact cars weigh more than 3000 lbs now! So some little 2 door coupe like an E36 M3 weighs more than 3000lbs and you think a full size 4 door is gonna weigh that?

My 944 with an LS1 weighs 3000lbs and it's tiny in comparison to a G8!

SilverFleet wrote: Ford and Chrysler still haven't put a manual in a big RWD V8-powered sedan in recent years.

I can speak for the Chrysler crap, if you want to dive into the parts catalog, you could build yourself your own 6 spd sedan. Then you just have to deal with some of the electrical, but it isn't too difficult if you know what you are attempting to do.

In reply to Ranger50:

I know you could, they make the Challenger with a 6-speed now. Why can't you get that in the Charger R/T from the factory? I would probably buy one, and I bet many others would too. I like the new Chargers.

Buy an 05-06 GTO and forget the rear doors.

I do love the G8 though. Monster forbid I ever find a 6-Speed GXP, as I would probably buy it immediately.

The G8 is a WAY prettier car than the GTO to me.

Modern four-door sports sedan with at least 400 hp and less than 4,000 pounds. Has that ever existed in our market? In any market? Sounds like you need an E39 M5... wait, that was over 4,000 pounds too. I think the Mitsu Evo RS was right around 3000 pounds, but it's also down 100 hp.

DILYSI Dave wrote: The G8 is a WAY prettier car than the GTO to me.

And I feel the exact opposite.

05 GTO (scooped hood + wide-spaced dual exhaust outlets) plus the factory optional "autocross" grills = teh hott!

Plus, they make a sweet looking racecar...

Also, blue interior.

/thread

Nope, the G8 is cooler looking. The GTO tries to be svelte and just looks fat. The G8 looks like it bludgeons the air into submission.

I want one. Not enough to get rid of the E39 M5, as they scratch the exact same itch. But I bonded with the Commodore as a kid, so I can't help but love them now.

The GTO's rear wheel arches always felt like an after thought, or like they forgot to design something there and instead left a big blank spot. It needs a bulge or a body crease or something; then I would think it looks pretty sweet. And actually the racecar pictured above looks like it took care of that. But Keith is right, the G8 looks cooler.

You guys want the Woodward GTO then:

Which the aftermarket made a close-enough kit of that many people have installed:

The G8 seems like such a cool car. It is larger than I would have liked though. Something the size of a BMW 3 series would have worked better for me.

Given the price of gas lately I don't think I'll ever own a V8 powered daily driver type car. I do about 50/50 city/highway driving and the $ hit on city driving is not worth it.

Side note: I really want a GTO too.

Anyone have one on here? What kind of gas mileage can they get on the highway with the 6-speed?

I want a 6.0 GTO, but without that godawful hood, please.

I had an '04 GTO, sold it last summer. So it had the 5.7L. That photo of the blue interior brings back memories, that's exactly what mine was...blue exterior also. My car had some pretty nice mods on it, engine, suspension, etc... Yeah, it was kind of boring looking compared to other performance cars, but it was an awesome driver. Fast, handled really well (though I can't speak for a stock suspension car), and really comfortable. It could serve as a great DD easily.

As for fuel mileage, if I was real easy on the gas, I'd get about 24mpg in rural country road driving. Pure highway cruising it would get around 30mpg. Punch the throttle and the numbers went down...fast.

In reply to Klayfish:

I struggle to get 24mpg highway in the WRX. Only thing holding me back on the GTO is that I need something that I can commute in when the snow flies, and the WRX can't be beat for a fun all-season daily driver.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I want a 6.0 GTO, but without that godawful hood, please.

That was an option actually, to delete the scoops and have the stealthy flat hood. They didn't make very many of them, but it's pretty easy to find an 04 owner willing to trade if you have one of the carry-over colors.

Keith wrote: Nope, the G8 is cooler looking. The GTO tries to be svelte and just looks fat. The G8 looks like it bludgeons the air into submission.

Looks way better in person

SilverFleet wrote: In reply to Klayfish: I struggle to get 24mpg highway in the WRX. Only thing holding me back on the GTO is that I need something that I can commute in when the snow flies, and the WRX can't be beat for a fun all-season daily driver.

GTO in the snow...hehehe...that would be fun to watch anyway. I never drove mine in it, I only used it on sunny days. But I did get caught in a t-storm once or twice. Traction control kicked on many times. Can't imagine snow...