No manual option for the 2008 Pontiac G8?!
On the eve of what could be the revival of GM's "Excitement" division, it comes to light that the new Pontiac G8 will make the trek from Down Under sans stick. For whatever reason, General Motors has decided to offer the G8 – one of its sportiest and most potentially enthusiast-pleasing models – with only an automatic at launch. Granted, it's the General's six-speed slushbox with paddle shifters, but for those of you who prefer to row your own and have a down payment in hand, you'll have to wait until late 2008.
So you say to yourself, "Self, I'd prefer the 256 hp, 3.6-liter V6 in the base model. It'll save some weight and Chevron can only extort so much from me when I hit the pump." Wrong again. The base model will also come with same 6T70 six-speed auto, although the same motor mounted in the new Cadillac CTS has an available manual option. Befuddled? We are too.
[UPDATE: Yeah, this is old and it was late when we wrote it. Our apologies.]
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Random Task 8:01AM (10/18/2007)
Cars of that size don't need a manual. Especially American cars- manuals in American cars tend to be poor and self defeating. I doubt many people are even interested in a manual.... even the racer boys, because automatics are faster in a straight line now.
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Random Task 8:02AM (10/18/2007)
I meant poor in feel, BTW.
Owain Ozymandias Buck 8:42AM (10/18/2007)
When was the last time you drove an american rear wheel drive car with a manual transmission?
Even the T-5 in my 89 Camaro felt slick compared to most cable shifted gearboxes--except maybe for Honda units. I used to have a 93 F-150 with a 5.0 and the sorry Mazda five speed, and even it shifted better than most FWD cable shifted units I've had.
Random Task 8:45AM (10/18/2007)
The GTO I drove was a rubbery shifting mess. Good that you could just leave it in 3rd gear thanks to the torque.
Andrew 8:13AM (10/18/2007)
I'm confused because I always thought this was the case with the G8. They are launching it with auto only and then making a manual available late summer. Did something change where there is going to be no manual at all?
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J.Crew 8:24AM (10/18/2007)
Exactly, Inside Line is making a big deal out of nothing. This was already known and they decided to make a negative news story about it. This is not news worthy and should be considered a waste of time. I am guessing someone at GM pissed off someone at Inside Line and they are taking a little shot back. Maybe because of how GM engineers treat the spy photogs?
AirZurk 1:55PM (10/18/2007)
yeah, and everyone posting on this site had the same reaction when they posted the first specs about the G8. They accused GM of dropping the ball again, even though this was the plan from the start.
Todd 8:24AM (10/18/2007)
I hate to say I told you so, but...I TOLD YOU SO! Gentlemen, seriously, do not believe anything Bob Lutz says. He has a long history of spitting out great one liners, only to end up quietly approving the the opposite of what he says.
Just wait til the Camaro comes out dripping with safety zealot bumpers, skinny 18 wheels, an all plastic interior and a V6 automatic.
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alex 9:10AM (10/18/2007)
YOU TOLD US SO? get over yourself, you chugnut. this is old news, we heard it straight from the general months ago.
sheth 9:11AM (10/18/2007)
todd,
what are you talking about? They said months ago that the manual would not be available at launch. Also, IL is incorrectly saying the base car will have a 6 speed auto. That is not the case, it gets a 5 speed.
This not NEW information at all. IL is always trying to come up with something negative to say about american brands so they created a non-story about the G8 that repeats info we already knew.
tbss_in_the_D 8:24AM (10/18/2007)
GM knows they are only importing limited amounts of these cars and will sell every last one of them for at least a year. If it catches on at all they will not be able to meet demand until they start building them here. I read a story a few months back saying that GM was projecting 2-3% sales of the new CTS with a manual. I do not think they are doing anything crazy here. There is not a big market in the US. Now if this was Europe they would laugh and say "you are only riding in the car with an automatic". I think they are right, but most Americans do not want manuals. Driving in stop and go every morning = no manual to for me. Now on a weekend car MANUAL FOR SURE!
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IGB 8:29AM (10/18/2007)
Agree with Andrew. GM was clear about this from thw start. This is neither news nor interesting. If you want a manual, you will wait a few months...so what?
All this excitement about minor details of a new model...you'd think GM was the new Apple or something.
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Calebe 8:31AM (10/18/2007)
WHAT? Totally Clueless lazy fat *** mentality. Yes, I'm sure you would sell more lazymatics. but not having a manual is crazy.
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The Other Bob 9:11AM (10/18/2007)
And most of the people here whining about not have a manual offering the first year wouldn't buy this car anyway and likely currently drive an automatic.
motorman 11:43AM (10/18/2007)
with cylinder deactivation the std trans would have a "jurky" feel to it. this is even true with a std shift and cruise control going down hill and cylinder being cut off to hold back the speed.
amastadon 8:33AM (10/18/2007)
The V6 comes with a 5 speed auto and it is not direct injection. So says the pontiac website.
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Generic Critic 8:40AM (10/18/2007)
At the full-line General Motors press event a few weeks ago I heard from a GM engineer's mouth that a manual was coming later in the year. This was not a surprise to anyone at the event. Old news.
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JB 8:47AM (10/18/2007)
Typical GM. Why can't they offer the full line of options from the get-go? Same thing with the CTS, it had an old V6 at launch, a year and a half later, it got the better V6 because "it wasn't ready" WTF? Arguably the most important Cadillac in the last 10 years, and it launches with the same engine you can get in a Chevy? Atrocious.
And GM wonders why generations of Americans have never owned, much less ridden in, a GM product. I think a lot of kids today think GM only makes cars for rental companies. That might be a useful strategy down the road.
And when the manual finally arrives for the V8 G8 GT, or whatever scrabblicious name the car has, I bet it will have that 1-4 lockout like the GTO came with.
Those guys down at the Tubes better smarten up fast. I bet if there had been a convertible G8, it would launch another 2 years later! Like the G6 GT V6! Or is it V6 G6 GT? Or GT V6 GT? Whatever....
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sheth 9:14AM (10/18/2007)
the CTS never had an engine from a Chevy. People who crack on GM never seem to be able to get a handle on the facts. The CTS had a German designed 3.2L V6 that was an evolution of the Catera's engine. It was DOHC and had decent power for that time. The 3.6L DOHC V6 was not in production when the CTS came out and that engine was for far more vehicles than the CTS.
Brian Dreggors 8:51AM (10/18/2007)
Admittedly, this is sort of old news. I don't see where the outrage is.
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