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Is the 2008 Pontiac G8 a mistake for GM?

pushrod27 submitted on 02/02/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 7:29 AM
from: www.edmunds.com

[35] user comments | category: New Cars

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Is the 2008 Pontiac G8 a mistake for GM?

The release of the all-new 2008 Pontiac G8 is approaching. I just read an Edmunds article where they tested the car. It seems like GM really delivered a great ride with this one, with a 0-60 time of only 5.3 seconds.
The more i look at the G8 however, i can't help but think that GM missed a huge opportunity to make itself more efficient. This same car could easily have been badged and marketed as a Chevrolet. This could have been the new Impala SS.
What is the point in using this car to save Pontiac? Other than the G8, all Pontiac sells is rebadged Chevrolets. Pontiac is superfluous. Chevrolet can perform perfectly well as the value and performance brand (e.g. Corvette.)
Why hang on to the current FWD Impala when they have the Malibu? Why use the G8 to keep Pontiac alive when the Chevy brand is stronger, and could use more good product to keep the momentum positive?
Let me know what your thoughts are. Read Article

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S4cabriofoxone - 2/2/2008 10:32:34 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

The agents didn't write this, pushrod did.

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Blakura - 2/3/2008 11:59:47 AM

+2 Boost

Correction! The G6 is built on the same platform as the Saturn aura and the new Malibu.

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drew630 - 2/2/2008 4:11:15 PM

+1 Boost

The G8 actually is an Impala in other countries. But as to why not in the U.S., I don't think the G8 is best for the masses (i.e. Camary, Accord buyers) which is what the Chevy brand and Impala are for. Those people don't want RWD, sporty cars; They want FWD, boring cars. The G8 is just simply fits the Pontiac brand better.

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drew630 - 2/3/2008 2:59:50 AM

-1 Boost

Your right. My mistake.

Matthew1 - 2/2/2008 5:18:43 PM

+5 Boost

It's actually an Australian car.....

But thanks for your input anyway....

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toolatetorace - 2/2/2008 7:40:53 PM

-1 Boost

and your favorite brand is ?,,,,,,,,,,, rsands

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adamsaf723 - 2/2/2008 5:07:36 PM

+2 Boost

If I'm not mistaken, it's the next GTO. The market for that car isn't very large. I think GMs efforts would've been better put toward a Firebird, but like all cars, it will do good initially, but will slowly become soft. On paper it sounds great, 4 door sedan with a V8 Corvette engine, but with gas prices the way they are, and cars like CTS and the G35S offering comperable performance at a comperable price with better build, it makes this a hard car to sell. Granted it'll be fun to drive, but the whole point in a sedan is to move people, not to drag race.

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drew630 - 2/2/2008 5:51:13 PM

0 Boost

Actually, its replacing the Grand Prix.

atomicbri - 2/3/2008 9:33:28 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

How do we know what the build quality is on this car adamsaf723? Its not even out yet to be tested on build quality and I have heard the build on this car in Australia is not bad at all.

TONYRICH - 2/9/2008 12:31:12 AM

+1 Boost

THE V8 IN THIS CAR HAS SHUTS CYLINDERS DOWN SO IT GETS GOOD GAS MILAGE IT RUNS ON 4 CYLINDERS FOR NORMAL DRIVEING UNTIL YOU NEED THE POWER OF A V8 THIS IS WHAT WILL SAVE THE V8 ENGINE MY PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP WITH THE 5.4L V8 DOES THIS I LOVE IT I GET 27MPG ALONG WITH 303 HORSEPOWER.

bmwfan1513 - 2/2/2008 5:22:04 PM

+2 Boost

The G8 is nice.

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lyonboy - 2/2/2008 5:53:03 PM

+2 Boost

The G8 is a nice that will sell well in my opinion. It has a great chassis and good engine choices. It strikes a good balance of sporty and elegant without looking weird like a Chrysler 300.

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Htay7500 - 2/2/2008 6:05:28 PM

-1 Boost

Thats probably a good competitor to the G8, the 300, although its a bit dated and ugh inside.

great car, however, I prefer the styling to its vauxhall cousin in the UK.

sailnfl - 2/2/2008 8:02:49 PM

-2 Boost

The same designer that made the GTO. Why not get back to the 396 SS vs the 389 GTO vs the 442 and screw the japs and German cars as before. We make the best missiles, the fastest cars (viper, Z06) for the buck. geeks buying datsuns and and toiletota’s that try and look alike MB, bmw, etc. The same conversation I had with my daughter when she wanted a 3seriers (and I bought it for her). I don't get it.

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FerrarisR4me - 2/2/2008 10:21:29 PM

-2 Boost

Never thought of that, and its a good point, but at the same time, they can def share the platform and make an SS. As long as they give it a redesign you can def share the platform a la F-body twins. The original was the Camaro, but I always wanted that Trans-Am. Good internals and 2 distinct styles won't hurt GM, it'll help.

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S4cabriofoxone - 2/2/2008 10:33:41 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

No, and why would it be?

What is the point of this article?

It will only do good things for GM. Unlike the Chrysler 300, this car isn't just about good looks. It also has some fantastic drivetrain choices and a high-quality interior.

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pushrod27 - 2/4/2008 1:03:15 PM

+1 Boost

the point is GM would be more efficient with less brands to manage.

They were supposed to be developing an all-new RWD Impala, but now that's on hold. Why should they keep selling the current FWD Impala when the new Malibu is so good. Why not forget about Pontiac and use this G8 as the new RWD Impala?

My point is GM should drop Pontiac and Buick. They don't need so many brands.

JUGNU - 2/3/2008 1:24:46 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

"Middle East sold as the Chevy Lumina SS (Won car of the year in Middle East)"

Lumina never won Car of the Year Middle East in any magazine here. This year it only won in it's class.

CAR Middle East, Car of Year 2007 - AM V8 Vantage Sportshift.

AutoCar Middle East, Car of Year 2007 - Audi R8.

EVO Middle East, Car of Year 2007 - Porsche GT3 RS.

but u r right Lumina is very popular here in Middle East and it sells very well.

JUGNU

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1995e34 - 2/3/2008 11:40:23 AM

-1 Boost

i was under the impression that a rwd impala was coming later.

the only mistake i see so far is gm only offering a manual transmission in the v8 model.

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pushrod27 - 2/4/2008 1:06:35 PM

+1 Boost

what are you, retarded?

i was reading an article about the new G8 and i had an opinion. i put it out there to see what other people thought. not for you to psycho analyze me. i think i made it perfectly clear what my position was, i don't need you to regurgitate and attempt to clarify what i said.

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pushrod27 - 2/4/2008 1:26:15 PM

+1 Boost

My underlying point is that GM should kill some more brands (Buick, Pontiac) and concentrate on a core of great products.

Why design 1 knockout product for each division (Enclave, CTS, Corvette, G8) just so that you can maintain this portfolio of brands selling lineups that consist mostly of mediocre rebadges?

Why not kill some more brands and just make a lineup of knockout Chevrolets (bang for the buck all-American), Saturns (contemporary import fighter), GMCs ('professional grade trucks, crossovers, suvs), and Cadillacs (luxury)

Each of these brands are strong performers with well-defined roles. Buick exists somewhere between Cadillac and Chevrolet. Pontiac is like Chevy, but with serious BMW envy. I don't think the market is large enough, or GM prosperous enough to continue with these trivial distinctions. if they want to revive these brands at some point in a more prosperous future, then fine, but for now they should get smaller and more efficient. Let Buick and Pontiac go the way of Oldsmobile.

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pushrod27 - 2/4/2008 1:07:04 PM

+1 Boost

drop dead chump.

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PlanB - 2/4/2008 10:16:20 AM

0 Boost

So you think the G8 is a mistake because its a Pontiac and not a Chevy? I think thats kinda silly. Pontiac has always been branded as the performance division of GM and the G8 is very good performance car so I don't see a problem. Overall GM is adding some good models to all of their brands so I really don't see a problem.

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pushrod27 - 2/4/2008 12:59:39 PM

+1 Boost

the problem is too many brands. They should pare it down to Chevy, GMC, Cadillac. Maybe keep Hummer (the brand is strong, but i don't know where the market for that type of vehicle is going)

M35MT - 2/4/2008 10:59:31 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

This car has something like 4 or 5 variants around the world. One of them is a Buick in China I believe...

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