Pontiac G8 - Kelley Blue Book's Review

[hsvsv8]

Found it amusing when the guy says the car was designed for America.

Um, no it wasn't. The car was designed & built for Australia, but with the potential in mind of exporting it. The car was simply rebadged with a different grille & front bar & LHD conversion for America.

[stylus850]

Man, I have a 2004 Mazda 6......I think if I can afford it, I;m gonna buy this car sometime next year......it's too beautiful to pass up, and it helps that all the reviews have raved about this car being the overall best Pontiac in years in terms of reliability and looks. (Not including the Vibe because thats really a Toyota Matrix rebadged)

[chris92282]

Got my first ticket in my G8 GT today...81 in a 60:(

[thethirdq]

I liked it so much I had to!

[DUSHANMANGRUE]

ANSWERR

does the v6 transmission coming with the tap shift?

[chuckers40]

The new look Impala will debut for the 2013 or 2014 model year.

[statorjso]

3:24

[gteam2]

Ford Australia kicks this car. and the car is built in Australia... for Australia not America

[SonofthePhantom]

@gteam2 Found-on-rubbish-dump is UGLY compared to Commodore and sucks sales wise

[fpvshitsonhsv]

@SonofthePhantom Ford sales have been better then holden for about 10 years now

[SonofthePhantom]

@fpvshitsonhsv Actually it's the other way round, Ford last outsold Holden about 2003/4, if ur going to yell at someone then tell people off for not buying Aussie fords

[hsvsv8]

@SonofthePhantom Also the only reason Ford outsold Holden then was due to the European Focus. They were also aided by the fact that Holden was in it's last year or 2 of the VT (which by then had been altered to be a VX, VY & then VZ), prior to the release of the VE.

The Commodore was the #1 selling car in Australia from 1995 to 2010. 15 consecutive years until in 2011 the Mazda 3 series pipped it for #1 selling car in Oz.

[SonofthePhantom]

@hsvsv8 I know all of that. . I am a Holden man after all

[hsvsv8]

@fpvshitsonhsv You've either been mislead into believing that or the figures you've read have been doctored.

Again, Commodore outsold every other car for 15 straight years. Holden has outsold Ford every year bar 1 since 1995 & it was a European car (Focus), that gave Ford the upper hand that time. Once the madness passed & people realised how expensive to maintain they were, their sales dropped exponentially & Ford resumed its place behind Toyota, Holden & Mazda.

[fpvshitsonhsv]

@hsvsv8 Mazda is owned by Ford nowadays, This has been going on since the 1982 323 and laser. Just like the days old Holden merging with Nissan, however Ford and Mazda stuck Holden and Nissan did not or should i say GM. Ford Focus was 2nd to Toyota Corolla. Yes Toyota blows the world out the water with sales but focas still did extremely well. Also dont dis Falcon range as they where 5 star ancap rating 5 years before Holden ever was until the VE, which is on par as far as ratings.

[fpvshitsonhsv]

@fpvshitsonhsv Yes im not ignorant and can not deny Holden dominated the sales in 90's, however 2000's was a new story as imports for Holden was the only thing making them keep the lead. Without importing Holden was third in sales to Australia, Toyota first the Ford and Holden. There is also no doubt the xr6 turbo range converted Holden fans to Ford. Both cars have good and bad Era's and i know your not that ignorant to dislike a nice GT Falcon. Forget my YT Aussie for the win!!

[hsvsv8]

@fpvshitsonhsv The import figures are not counted in the local sales division. The sales figures you see where Commodore has been #1 for so long until last year are sales in Australia only. Global sales do not count.

Ford Oz are in trouble with no export options. Ford US will not import F6 or XR6 or GT Falcons due to the embarassment that the American public will notice that Ford Oz make cars that are above & beyond anything that Ford US release.

[hsvsv8]

@hsvsv8 also, bugger the VE SS & FG F6. Give me an HK GTS 327 Bathurst Monaro & a Phase III XY GTHO Falcon in my 2 car garage anyday.

[hsvsv8]

@fpvshitsonhsv Holden has had partnerships with both Nissan & Toyota. The R31 Skyline was more Australian than the VL Turbo (the original Turbo 6 "hero" car). We all remember the Toyota Lexcen, unfortunately.

As for the 5 star ANCAP rating. The BF was the first Aussie car to get it. The VE still hadn't at that stage until they added the extra airbags. But it was only a year or 2 between, not 5.

The Focus reignited sales due to the XR5 Turbo version. Aided by Police using them on highways.

[Thesuperblack22]

-school girl scream-

[4431prw]

it shoulda been called the Grand Prix

[ExistUNDRGROUND]

@4431prw The G6 is the follow-up to the Grand Prix.

[4431prw]

@ExistUNDRGROUND nope. the g6 is the fallow up to the grand am, the g8 is the fallow up to the grand prix.

[shnizalproductions]

well, americans cant make cars :S so they get Aussies to do it for them!

[XombieZX]

@shnizalproductions and aussies cant make motors or transmissions so they get americans to do it for them!

[WRS493]

@XombieZX  Americans can build a great engine and transmission set up, its in their natureandcombine it with tough aussie engineering, your onto a winner.

[fpvshitsonhsv]

@XombieZX Bullshit Ford Australian 6cyl are 100%Australian and destroy the V6 its just they too still use American V8's. None the less you guys may build good engines but we know how to use them

[hsvsv8]

@fpvshitsonhsv There's no doubting how great the F6 is. My cousin has a Mk 2 BF F6 & after a few mods she pulls a 12.7. A great car & goes like the clappers & shits all over Holden 6's. Keeps the V8's honest. But the figures being touted about the new FG Turbo variants are a stretch. I have a 2011 Series 2 VE SS ute & in stock trim I accounted for an equally stock FG XR6 Turbo ute at the drags on both runs. The cars are so evenly matched now that the drivers are the telling difference.

[NakedSnakeBlGBOSS]

3:23

that KBB girl has huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge boobs.

[Hunter3021990]

gotta love the Holden Commodore SSV

[burgandy25]

@ 4:20 that is one large ass arm rest.

[05front]

I wish that chevy would make the imapala this. this is how that fwd impala should be. rebadge it and re-sell it please :(

[bestamerica]

'

no no thank,,,

i dont like this car

[Nytherr]

Buy it. Love it. See the productions last this 2010.

[macktenful]

They Have A Gxp

[HSLN10]

i heard that the gear get damaged easy on this car but i never tried it never had one i am trying to make sure of this info

any idea about this?

[Mechknight73]

@HSLN10 As a former detailer in an Australian Avis franchise, this is the official list of stuff known to break on a G8 (aka VE Holden Commodore) interior:

Speaker grilles: They are made of a fragile honeycomb material. Do NOT kick them

Side panels on seat bases: have been known to work loose, but can easily be fixed.

Steering wheel controls: be gentle.

Not much else goes wrong with them. Holden got it right the first time, and the G8 is almost a clone inside of an SS Commodore.

[Michael6609]

This is a Holden Lumina SS that is sold in Autralasia, South Africa and probably Europe.

[strife2xlr8]

So you complain when Americans rabadge a car but when japanese car companies do it, it's a pass? The Acura TSX is a re badged Accord. look that up...

[carddj]

I am so glad I bought the V8 Ute version, with 6 speed manual, it goes like nothing else I have ever driven!!!!

[GXPFiend]

@carddj Is that similar to the G8 GXP or GT?

[carddj]

@GXPFiend It is what was called the G8 sport truck in the US I think. It was going to be marketed as the El Camino.

[123ATOM321]

lol you American's are only getting the weakest version of this car. The GTS, GTS-R and the W427, are much more powerful (up to 500 hp), look better and are faster.

[rodsterau]

Not to forget the CSV, HDT and Walkinshaw retunes!

[123ATOM321]

This is a rebadged Australian HOLDEN COMMODORE. You american's can't design good cars for crap.

[gigaboat]

wake up dopey .

[123ATOM321]

i made a mistake lol, the corvette, chevelle and 300c are good cars. Seriously though, the G8 is nothing more than arebadged Holden Commodore....look it up.

[adogg619]

That lady has some nice legs.

[gb10100]

beautiful car, too bad it game too late

[markmarshall39]

have to agree with ya there!!!!!

[MCHAH]

I looked at both the 2009 G8 GT and the 2010 Taurus SHO. I bought the G8 GT due to the 0% for 72 months financing. The SHO had no incentives and the cars were similar. I prefer RWD, so the G8 GT is a good fit for me. I also think the Pontiac badge will have some collectibility down the road.

[chuckers40]

Thanks for the reply. Now that Pontiac will no longer exist after 2010. Do you think the Vibe and the Solstice will be rebadged as Chevys in 2011?. (The Vibe replacing the HHR.)

[chuckers40]

Thanks for the reply. Speaking for someone that has always driven front wheel drive cars, Does Real Wheel Drive make that big of a difference? Also there are two more Pontiacs that may be rebadged as Chevys: The Solstice and the Vibe. (The Vibe replacing the HHR.) I wouldn't be suprised if that happened.

[miraritra]

Well, FWD cars have the tendency to understeer, and when there's too much power to handle torque steer can be pretty nasty. OTOH RWD can be a handful in snowy condition, even with snow tires.

[BklynJayL]

This will be smoked by the new Ford TaurusSHO! ;-)

[seymorass93]

Yes, horrible understeer, slower 0-60 and quarter mile times, costs $6K more.......

[BklynJayL]

Which one are you talking about? I know it's not the SHO.?! Lol..

[seymorass93]

It is

[BklynJayL]

The SHO is only tenths of a sec. slower than, the G8 GXP...and, it have a big 6.2 V8 with almost 100 more hp....AND, it's smaller and, lighter! If you ask me..., that's bad on GM's behalf!

[seymorass93]

Wow, your completely wrong on all levels.

The SHO is about as fast as the GT, a lot slower than the GXP, and will not be getting a 6.2L. It's the same size and heavier than the G8.

Check the facts for yourself.

[BklynJayL]

Oh really? So, what engine does the G8 GXP have?

[seymorass93]

6.2L from the Corvette

[BklynJayL]

See. Told you! So..., you're comparing a VERY BIG 6.2L which is a Corvette engine(BTW)against, a normal sized 3.5L V6 that, the 6.2 can BARELY beat! ;-)

[seymorass93]

No, I was comparing the 6.0L with the 3.5L.

Displacement doesn't matter.

[BigNate021690]

yea and ur comparing a naturally aspired engine to a forced air induction engine (turbo) plus the 6.2 g8 gxp 0 to 60 is 4.7 sec the ford sho is like 5.4 sec and so yea like seven tenths of a second faster just to sixty in the quarter mile it will blow it away

[quessbee123]

@BigNate021690 Although, that may be true...but, look at it this way. The new TaurusSHO is bigger and, heavier than, the Pon. G8 GXP. Also, the G8 have a BIG 6.2 V8 engine compared to, the SHO's small 3.5 V6 TT. engine with, almost 100 more hp....and, that's all, the G8 can do with, the SHO? If you ask me..., the SHO is the better bargin...however, I love both cars because, they're strong...and, most of all..., they're American! ;-)

[blackened7]

"The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO will start at $37,995 when it goes on sale this summer."

G8 GXP 415hp/415tq. - msrp $37,610 w/ a current $3500 cashback offer.

Both are nice cars, but its more fair to compare the SHO to the GXP.

[BklynJayL]

Yeah. Makes sense! The GXP will give more performance but, the SHO will give more luxury. ;-)

[chuckers40]

Rumor has it that for 2011 the Pontiac G8 will be rebadged as the new 2011 Chevrolet Impala or the return of the new 2011 Chevrolet Caprice.

[seymorass93]

There is a possibility of that happening, though, and I am sorry to say, there might also be a chance of it being........ front wheel drive. But it still has a chance to be based on the G8.

[Mechknight73]

@chuckers40 No. If Holden is allowed to export the G8 as a Chevy, it's more likely to come over with a Lumina badges, as they already do in the Middle East. The new Caprice is based on the Holden Caprice, which also wears Chevy badges in the Middle East. This will be GM's new police cruiser in 2011, and is a LWB version of the car the G8 was based on.

[DUSHANMANGRUE]

@chuckers40 hopefully

[XombieZX]

@chuckers40 2012 chevelle ss is the new g8 :)

[smilesareamazing17]

@chuckers40 god i hope so.. :) that would make me sooooo happy. i love the look of this car and have heard nothing but great things about the performance. so heres to hoping. :)

[DaBigPenguin]

@chuckers40 it is going to be a police only caprice

[landcruiser151]

designed for americans how dose he figure that i don't think there is much difference between what australians and americans want car wise

[pomeroy82]

She's fucking sexy! And the girl is pretty hot too! She doesn't come with the car but I still love my G8!

[bewd6797]

Worst car in it's class

[gigaboat]

I am Aussie , my trip to te USA was more than I could have ever wanted . Do Not bag America . Grand people in a grand land . Thier are 10 cities the size of Melbourne and many bigger . USA rocks , . WE ARE MATES and BUDDYS. Beware China and arabs who want to fuck us up. US,. UK , NZ , CANADA , AUS . RULES !!!!!!!!! and some SAf's and ND.

[bcarby]

Your comment is a breath of fresh air. Thank you.

[AdThaDon2k8]

australians build badass cars ya!!!!!!!!!!

[nerv1]

This looks really bad... Holden was much better visually imo

[goat012]

vauxhal are supplied by holden this shows you how much better australians are at make better cars then americans

[btinder711]

why do you need to bash America?

[landcruiser151]

americans bash australians maybe not you but we get some shit from americans

[c0nv1ct1337]

"For a car built in Australia and designed for American, the Pontiac G8 drivers an awful a lot like a European sports sedan." -kbb

Great, now most Americans who watch this will assume Australia is located in Europe. Yes, I live in the U.S. and there are a lot geographically challenged people here who I believe will get confused by this.

I'm still confused though...

Isn't this basically a Vauxhal Monaro which is owned by the Brits? I might be getting my facts wrong here, can anyone explain?

[KiwiKid4Lyf]

the vauxhall monaro is really a holden monaro, the GTO is also a hoden monaro rebadged, just like the G8 is a holden VE Commodore rebaged for america imho i think the austrlian ones look better too :P

[Mr5150]

I like yalls bathurst edition of this thing.

[edgtex]

No its a Holden, which is Australian, but in Europe this car is called a Vauxhal just like in America its a Pontiac

[bobbykrepek]

Is'nt dis car a succeror of 3 cars?

[ChesterDoraemon]

lol @ 3:06. I guess the money for the powered seats had to go into some lazy overweight UAW's pension. This is why american cars suck. They will cut corners wherever possible. I never heard of a performance car getting 5 seconds with a V8. It's time to throw in the towel Pontiac.

[aalexsuprun]

If you are talking about 5 second 0-60, I can name several American cars that can do that with a V8 under the hood (some at partial throttle):

-Virtually any Corvette from the past 10 years

-The new Camaro (SS2)

-This G8

-Essentially every Ford Mustang Cobra made in the past 20 years

I can keep going, but I am approaching YouTube's text limiter, so I conclude my point.

BTW, the car has power seats and seat heating; what you decided to comment one with your chin up was lumbar adjustment.

Fool.

[ChesterDoraemon]

You are a buffoon. Listen to the video you retard. 0-60 in a little over 5 seconds. Go drive your american shit that is all you can afford... on credit haha. I buy my BMW in cash, because only suckers pay interest.

[aalexsuprun]

Yeah? What does BMW stand for in German, smartass?

[ChesterDoraemon]

I take it the guy working the floor showed you the door when you walked in the BMW dealership.

[aalexsuprun]

Bayernische MotorWerke

BTW

[Mechknight73]

@aalexsuprun Or if you don't like them, it's short for Big Motorised Wank lol

[meinsla]

Why pay twice as much for similar performance?

[paoceldran]

Maybe because Pontiac is DEAD. At least that's what I've been hearing in the news. The car is only as good as the company that makes it.

Too bad since this car gives a big bang for the bucks.

Cheers.

[meinsla]

Not yet it ain't. You can still buy this car. I picked mine up a week ago.

[Mechknight73]

@paoceldran Actually, the company that REALLY makes this car is very much alive, and still exporting in large numbers. They still have markets all over the world, and will get another toehold in Australia with the next Chevrolet police Caprice, aka Holden Caprice with LHD and police lights

[CordovaMage]

Must be fun spending tens of thousands more just for a badge.

[Mechknight73]

@CordovaMage In Australia, it's more like $100,000+ for a so called superior "European" badge. For example, the nearest equivalent for a fully optioned G8 GXP in Australia would be a 5-seies BMW. The G8's parent has a model called the Calais which has everything a 5-Series has, but is on the road for about A$60,000. The 5-Series will cost at least 3-4 times that. Both give you equal amounts of fun, but one makes you look like a tool for paying so much for a #$&*ing badge!

[92594583]

see ya pontiac!!

[chrisiztheman1618]

cant wait till the new v6 is avalible

[sportfuryman]

that g8 is a sexy beast

[joeyisballer]

most underrated car

[islandluc]

the show is biased.

[Aznzzboi]

everything is bias... it's obvious.... it's just a review... it's by americans...

[chandler3214]

looks like a bmw

[zorokakashi]

no folding rear seats eh...that's a downer..

It aint good for snow area anyways.

[adoniscomplex]

EPA estimated MPG on the highway for the V8 is 24 and for the V6 is 25, only 1 MPG better than the V8. That sucks. Also, no folding rear seat backs (3:20)? I hope they fix these two things in the near future.

[jaggerrock25]

Its because the V8 has active fuel management so it basically running on 4 cylinders.

And the Trunk isnt a problem theres plenty of space

I wish there was an indication where the redline was though

[HoldenMotorsport]

our aussie cars can go around corners alot better than some yankee made cars.

[HoldenMotorsport]

not very often that cars with aussie motors go to america. because nearly every other commodore up untill the VY used the ecotec 3.8L V6 which is made in yankee land. did some commodores go over to america using the aussie made 350 stroked V8?

[davidd2005]

I love my Pontiac G8. I am so glad I traded in my BMW for this, I cant wait to drive to work in the morning.

[HakemEX]

That is great hearing from a BMW owner.

[TheNewMrCool]

I've been hoping to see how people like their new G8, primarily the GT or GXP, in the snow.

I've got a 2009 Charger R/T, but the G8 GT is virtually second to none.

[teerexness]

I bought mine (G8 GT) in the Fall and it did extremely well during our typically nasty midwestern winter with a set of Blizzaks installed. Very good traction control and very predictable in the slick stuff. Keep in mind that nearly all police, emergency and utility vehicles are rear wheel drive and hardly have the luxury of being parked during bad weather. Just budget for a set of snow tires & wheels. Given the extremely good value of this car, that shouldn't be too much of a hardship!

[TheNewMrCool]

I've been doing all right in our brutal Minnesota winters with the 09 R/T (which had the Road/Track Perf Group and the 20s that come with that package). No winter tires, although that'd be nice.

I really liked the G8 when I drove it, but the R/T with the optional package handled well enough (I won't be throwing around a large sedan anyways) and offered some of the features I wanted the Pontiac didn't offer.

I'm still jealous. I'd like to race one with the upgraded 09 Hemi and 20s combo.

[mflora72]

i bought a grand prix front wheel drive just because of the snow,

[courtstone]

I have never been so excited about a car as I have been about the G8 GT! I have test driven both versions and I will be purchasing the GT. And I usually prefer Japanese sedans, but they are no match for this Pontiac! The quality is there and the sportiness.

[tampafoxx]

a guy driving a mustang thinks a g8 is ugly?? that's like rosie o'donnell calling mischa barton a dog.....

[EnigmaNZ1]

Bugger thats a lot cheaper than here in NZ, next door to Oz. $US30k is about $NZ38k, for the equivalent model here, the SS, we pay about $US40k. Then there is the HSV models with uprated engines and slightly different body style going up to about $US70k, but people buy them. There's even a waiting list for the W427 which will be about $NZ190k here.

[xkimopye]

nz gets it cheaper than aus :(

[EnigmaNZ1]

Since I wrote this the $NZ has dropped a lot, from 70c $US to 50c $US, so up goes the price here.

[old12school3]

WOW do we get the hot milf with it

[EnigmaNZ1]

Nice looking car in the flesh, front looks better than ozzie version. 7 liter model being tested at the moment, about 500hp.

[stu22aus]

already out in Aus as the HSV W427, costing 150,000AU or about 130,000US. Pretty expensive seeing as the only difference is a 20K delivered-in-a-crate engine that fits right onto the same mountings with the same tranny...

[darkninja9996]

The front is fucking ugly its almost the same as the gto which has and always will be called ugly

[Berumen85]

ugly

[magicalistik]

your ass is ugly fucking honda lover

[MigHunter7]

hey dude, honda's run well for a 4 banger, at least my 1998 does, but its pretty well known you dont go honda if you like hp, unless your hella ricer shit.

[Berumen85]

Wrongo stupido! I drive a 05 mustang gt, but Honda's arent to bad either.

[r1a9y]

Goooo Holden!