Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Etc., Pontiac
Useless Pontiac G8 auxiliary gauges going away for 2009
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
We became HUGE fans of the 2008 Pontiac G8 after having one spend a week with us in the Autoblog Garage. We could find little about which to quibble, but one element of the G8 GT model we reviewed annoyed us the most. It was the giant pair of digital gauges atop the center stack that relay to the driver those oh-so-important stats of battery charge and oil pressure. Sure, that information might be handy at some point, but certainly doesn't deserve such a prime piece of dash real estate. Motor Trend's Edward Loh recently had lunch with GM's global rear-drive chief engineer, Al Oppenheiser, who revealed that the gauges would be gone for 2009. Loh correctly followed up by asking with what GM's thinking about replacing them. Oppenheiser would like to see a three-pack of performance-oriented analog gauges take their place, but it could become just another storage compartment. Then again, the center console could be redesigned to accept a full navigation system, the absence of which many first time buyers and the media have been questioning. Regardless of what gets put there, it will be better than what's there now.
[Source: Motor Trend]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Geeky1 6:07PM (6/12/2008)
"Useless"?
I'm sorry John, but ANY oil pressure gauge is better than none at all. It's in a bad location and I don't like the digital gauges either, but losing the oil pressure gauge for (potentially) a storage compartment is crappy.
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User 12:20AM (6/13/2008)
It would be cool if the screens were programmable so you could select what it displays. Maybe with the choice of an oil pressure gauge, battery charge, acceleration (in g's), etc. Sort of like a less-expensive and more simple version of the GT-R's screen.
Flashpoint 8:15AM (6/13/2008)
I think where GM has gone wrong is in not using that spot for a pop up Navigation display since ITS THE EXACT SAME PLACE THEY HAVE IT IN THE CADILLAC CTS.
Why don't Malibu and G8 get it here too?
Just make people pay for it and I guarrantee you alot of them will.
This is why the Japanese are kicking GM's ass.
The Joker 6:08PM (6/12/2008)
I say redesign the center dash, add in a GPS option, and toss the gauges out altogether. The lack of GPS is inexcusable for that car in that price bracket. Also, lack of HIDs is inexcusable as well -- hopefully they will both be options for 2009.
That being said, I saw a reddish-orange G8 GT the other day here in Raleigh. Absolutely GORGEOUS car.
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Cameron 6:31PM (6/12/2008)
+123
Torrent 6:55PM (6/12/2008)
For any car, if the only main complaint is a little gauge on the dash, I think that's pretty good. OnStar emails you the stats for your car regularly. There really is no need for a gauge like that. OnStar, just include those things in the Online Checkup thingie. Ummmmmmm, DUH.
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Arsenal 10:03PM (6/12/2008)
Great idea. They should include the tach and speedo in that OnStar email too. Hell, while we're being really smart and emailing information that's only useful in real-time, lets include the fuel level too.
Torrent 10:27PM (6/12/2008)
And you're mad for what reason?
Bah 12:08PM (6/13/2008)
I agree with arsenal. Any performance car instantly loses points for lacking an oil pressure gauge.
What good does an email do you when you are out driving and lose oil pressure and wipe a bearing because you didn't know untill it was too late?
Torrent 1:24PM (6/13/2008)
They're gonna get rid of it regardless.
Dave 6:57PM (6/12/2008)
To say that oil press is useless is wrong. I would love SOMEBODY to put in readable, real analog gauges in the cluster where it belongs. Oil press and water temps at the minimum, and they must have numerical markings (not just L and H - useless).
Another option, though less usable: A nav display that can be set up to display real time oil press and other engine data, a la Nissan's GT-R.
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Mobius_1 9:28PM (6/12/2008)
Alfa Romeo is your friend, just look at the 159's interior, the three gauges in the centre console marked "Olio", "Acqua" and "Benzina" (oil, water and petrol), looks really stylish as well
Papi L-Gee 2:41AM (6/14/2008)
The Silverado that I learned how to drive in had actual numbers for the oil pressure, water temp, AND battery charge. And to top that off, the model year was 1988.
I notice more and more these days that so many more things are printed such that it takes little reading/comprehension effort... not just in cars, but everywhere.
mroverlord 7:04PM (6/12/2008)
Just more Gee-Whiz crap (the Nav).
I love gadgets, but have no use for Nav.
It's unfortunate but Oil and volt gauges are going away in many vehicles to 1) save money and 2) because no one really knows what's good or bad.
So, they rely on dummy lights, which are pointless because by the time your oil pressure is low enough to kick the light on, the damage is done. In many cars today that HAVE gauges, they aren't really gauges, just low/norm/high switches.
I installed Autometer volt and oil gauges in my Dakota because Dodge did the same thing with elimintating these and it drove me nuts.
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Geeky1 7:22PM (6/12/2008)
Couldn't agree more. I consider oil pressure and coolant temperature the absolute bare minimum auxiliary gauge requirement (along with a fuel gauge, of course).
Turbocharged engines should have oil temperature and boost pressure at a minimum, in addition to the oil pressure and coolant temperature; transmission temperature on cars with automatics is always good and on modified cars or trucks used for towing I consider it a requirement. Volt and ammeter gauges aren't required but I'd rather have them than not (I'd much rather know that the voltage regulator on my alternator is failing by looking at a gauge than find out when smoke starts pouring out of my radio, for example...).
You can never have too much information. The problem though, is exactly what you said; gauges cost money, and most people are ignorant of their meaning and don't care enough to learn.
Seoultrain 7:27PM (6/12/2008)
More importantly: Manual transmission available for 2009. That auto is frustrating.
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wilsonce01 7:40PM (6/12/2008)
I suspect they'll just pull the 3-gauge cluster from the Vauxhall VXR8. That would be much better than a storage tray.
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4agze 7:42PM (6/12/2008)
just like the title says Useless "Pontiac G8 ********* ****** going away for 2009" i dont know why they put it anyways but ill stick to my 2007 ford mustang GT.
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Scott 9:59AM (6/13/2008)
Your rear seat passengers prefer the G8.
Harrison 7:44PM (6/12/2008)
Do the Nissan GT-R thing and integrate the oil pressure gauges into the nav system. Those who know their stuff can see it, and those who could care otherwise won't need to.
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