Sub-$35K Pontiac G8 GT wins over Autoblog readers
Tuesday's post on the rumored sub-$35K price for the upcoming Pontiac G8 GT drew plenty of interest from readers, and if our completely unscientific poll is any indication, should the car come in at or below that price, Pontiac will have your attention. After tallying up 2,500+ votes, 63% of you said that yes, the checkbook would be broken out if that number is the real deal. And from the looks of things, a G8 GT for $35,000 is going to happen, as Pontiac's reps told us that the V8-powered car's pricing will indeed start "well under" that sum. Good news for those of you who've been waiting for a proper RWD American power sedan. It's been a while, but you'll get your wish, and parking one outside your house shouldn't break the bank (as long as the dealers don't go into full gank mode upon release, which is always a possibility).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Avinash machado 9:34AM (6/21/2007)
So GM's turnaround plan seems to be working.
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tim 2:22PM (6/21/2007)
What makes one think this will be more popular than the 300?
Matt 6:25PM (6/21/2007)
Tim: The fact that a V8-powered 300 run a tad under $36,000 STICKER, is (I'm guessing) heavier, and has less horse power AND torque than the G8 will be rocking. Not to mention the somewhat... old-man appeal of the 300's styling. Sorry, but I'd take a Charger over a 300 any day. :)
FLR 9:36AM (6/21/2007)
A G8 GT red exterior, red interior loaded with a six speed manual WILL be in my garage.
The Aussies already have aftermarket parts available....can't wait!
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Rene Curry 9:47AM (6/21/2007)
When the GTO came out everyone said it was overpriced. Now it looks like it was the deal of the decade with hot hatches and Camry's costing the same.
It's kinda like gas, we now think under $3.00 is a deal.
Yeah, I want a G8! But, I really wanted the GTO too. My wallet just won't cooperate.
But if I get to the point of spending the bucks on a bimmer or Audi, yes the G8 would be in the driveway.
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Steve 9:53AM (6/21/2007)
They really need to price this close to a Charger R/T so about $32k. With a chager being 31k, easily purchased for invoice and then a $3,500 incentive it will have some stiff competition on price even if it looks like a better car.
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Scott 11:04AM (6/21/2007)
I know we don't have the final pictures yet, but the G8 will beat the Charger handily on interior comparisons alone. The Charger interior is entirely cheap looking plastic. GM overall has been making big strides in interior quality.
Steve 1:09PM (6/21/2007)
I don't doubt the G8 will have a nicer interior than the Charger. It would be hard not to . I still think GM will need to stay close in price while being better than the competition.
While enthusiasts like many readers here prefer a manual, most cars are sold as auto's so the Charger actually has another 1k in value even with its poor interior.
BLS 9:56AM (6/21/2007)
Question. Would you rather have this or the R32 in the last post for essentially the same money? Personally I guess I would rather not spend the money but if I had to...
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ObsessedAudiFan 1:51PM (6/21/2007)
come on! that is so not fair. they are two massively different driving experiences and two significantly different cars. I love the VW umbrella, but even as an Audi fanatic, I'm considering exploring a G8 as a lease to play around with a rear wheel drive car, in stick and with what looks like a pretty decent interior and great overall looks. The car looks fun, period. This is not a fast awd city car as much as it is a grunt with good looks.
SobeSVT 3:16PM (6/21/2007)
Since you asked . . . R32
cheezedog 5:45PM (6/21/2007)
Both the G8 GT and the R32 are nice cars. Normally I go with the R32 because I do love hatchbacks, stick shifts and AWD. But the Pontiac is a bad ass, and going to be much more available then the R32. And anything less then a R32 won't have much of a chance as far as VW goes..
So that battle goes to Pontiac... but If people want to see Pontiac loose, we have to find a much more worthy opponent then.
So... lets say I have about 35,000 dollars to spend, and I'm still me.. who love stick shifts, AWD, and hatchback styling. I still can easily be talked into the Pontiac G8 because it's a hell of a car, even without AWD, and even as a sedan I'm impressed with the styaling.
But I do live in Wisconsin, and the weather in Wisconsin dictates AWD or at least FWD 4 months out of the year. And under those conditions, I would look at a Subaru Legacy GT Spec B because of its AWD and 6 speed transmission, the Outback 2.5 XT limited, because of it's available with stick shift, has AWD, and by fact that it is a wagon.
If that is not enough to even the odds against the bad ass Pontiac, there is also the Subaru Imprezza WRX STI. Priced at about 35000, it has everything I want out of sedan, diluted to the size I really need. AWD, Turbo boxer engine, gobs of HP, sports tuned suspension with Driver Controlled Center Differential, short throw shifter, and rally heritage too boot, the only thing that belays me from completely ignoring the Pontiac is its demand for premium fuel.
The Pontiac is a deal, but only if you live in state where the weather never threatens to get cold and snowy on you. (And that could be easily remedied by bring Holden's AWD system to the G8.)
Gunnar 10:08AM (6/21/2007)
I don't know why Pontiac even bothers. GTO was somewhat cool because it had "power", but if all the cars look a like, what is the point of buying it. For $35,000, I will buy a low end BMW or Acura. Most people buy Pontiac, not because they desire to own a Pontiac, but because they can only afford to buy it (GTO is discontinued now, so there aren't any great cars in their line up....high end ).
I am sick of same interior and exterior from GM and even more sick of this from Pontiac as all their cars share the cheap look. And asking for $35,000 for a glorified G6 is a little too much from this company.
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Alex Nunez 10:27AM (6/21/2007)
Glorified G6? Come on, Gunnar...
epilonious 10:33AM (6/21/2007)
People who would trade money solely for a prestigious brand of car deserve neither.
The G8 is a full-sized RWD with a large engine. At the price point of 31K, you can get a TSX (large 4-cyl) or a 3-series (teeny 6-cyl). Comparably sized cars like the TL and the 5-series (or maybe even the 7-series) cost 10K to 30K more... and sometimes "it has a nicer interior" doesn't justify that price difference unless you are going to be a brand-snob. Hell, with 5K you could rip out the stock interior and replace it with whatever your heart desires.
Jason 10:44AM (6/21/2007)
"and sometimes "it has a nicer interior" doesn't justify that price difference unless you are going to be a brand-snob"
Unless you're like me and spend 2-3 hours a day in your car... in which case I don't like listening to the sound of rattly interior components when my stereo's not on and would glady pay more for a car with a nicer, more comfortable interior that's going to stay rattle free for as long as I decide to down the car.
I could care less about all of this "initial quality" nonsense... I'm not leasing the car, given average use a car doesn't retain it's "initial quality" long after you start driving it - I'm more concerned about what the quality will be like after 70-80K miles, not 5.
Paul 10:45AM (6/21/2007)
A TL costs around 33 - 38k, depending on trim/option.
A TSX runs between 27k - 30k, depending whether you have navigation.
This is a nice looking car, although the interior screams Acura TL - which is not a bad interior to emulate by any means. Will be interesting to see how GM handles this car.
epilonious 11:02AM (6/21/2007)
"Unless you're like me and spend 2-3 hours a day in your car... in which case I don't like listening to the sound of rattly interior components when my stereo's not on and would glady pay more for a car with a nicer, more comfortable interior that's going to stay rattle free for as long as I decide to down the car."
No car is guaranteed to never have rattles. I've seen more rattles and cracks in VW and BMW trims than comparably aged Aleros. What I CAN fathom is that if I am paying $200 less a month for the car I'll have more money to pay someone to take the doors and midconsole apart and tack down any "problem areas".
Cheaper is cheaper is cheaper. I've read Autoblog enough to see every form of brand-preference and while it's a bias everyone has and is free to have trying to defend it with sentiments like "but the interior is /always/ going to be better in the car /I/ like" is just pure ignorance.
itguy08 12:20PM (6/21/2007)
For $32k you can get a G35. Have the prestige, power, and handling. Not way out of line.... Hmm $31k for a Pontiac or $32k for an Infiniti. I'll take the latter, thanks!
epilonious 2:47PM (6/21/2007)
"For $32k you can get a G35. Have the prestige, power, and handling. Not way out of line.... Hmm $31k for a Pontiac or $32k for an Infiniti. I'll take the latter, thanks!"
See above: G35 = fatty compact.
G8 = Full sized. Much more comparable in space with the much more expensive Infinity M.
People looking at G35's and TSXs wouldn't consider a G8 because the G8 would be too big for 'em.
But, if you are looking for a nice RWD car with some power, and are planning to downsize a couple of classes just to drive the luxury marque without even giving the G8 a test drive... you may not be a complete tool. but you do have a "craftsman" tattoo somewhere.