2008 Pontiac G8 GT: Still Cool the Second Time Around

Which would you get for your money? G8 or CTS?

that car is so good looking- especially from that angle.

I'll echo the comments so many people have made recently: I'll be sad to see this car go before I have the need to own one.

I test drove both the G8 and the CTS a few months back and even though I like the over-all styling of the Caddy better, I want a G8 badly! My local Pontiac dealer (Gilroy, Ca) let me take it for a 30+ minute test drive on back country roads with lots of sweepers so I could give it a nice workout. Now that dealership is gone, but my desire for the G8GT remains! In all honesty, there is nothing like it for a family guy who still wants that child-like glee in his heart while happily carting the family about. Sign me up!!!

So how much are you selling the G8 GT for?

It'd be a tough choice between a G8 GT and the CTS with direct injection.

@altimadude00: I'd personally chose a G8 GT over a CTS.

We usually sell our cars for around Edmunds TMV (True Market Value). Right now, our G8 GT would carry a TMV private party of $23,932. -- Brent

That's a very tempting price! Though traveling 1,300 miles to buy a car and drive it back up to Seattle is a bit of a stretch. Then again, driving through Highway 1 and 101 would be great this time of year.

Hmmm... G8 GT... Talk me out of it, Brent. Talk me out of it!!! LOL!

I still think GM should try to get this car under the Chevy nameplate and call it a Caprice/Impala SS or something. This is by far one of the most desirable and well executed GM products in years. Why kill it?

@hondacura4

Agreed, my only big gripe with the G8 GT is the lack of folding back seats.

Our local soon-to-be-shuttered(no great loss) Chevrolet/Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealer has an orange G8 GT with 6,800 miles for just 24,988. If I could get it for under $20,000 I might be tempted.

@roadburner, $24,988 is too high for an '08 with those miles. I know it's an '08 since that was the only year for that color. My NEW gray '09 (not 09.5) G8 GT was $26,164 + TTL including $395 for the Bluetooth install. It just took playing hard to get for a few weeks.

@altimadude00
I voted with my money and got the G8 GT. I would have probably considered the V6 if it had the DI V6 in it though.

redwoodaggie,

I know; that's why I said that would have to be under $20,000 to even consider it. I like the color and the fact that it has the Performance Package and it doesn't have a hole in the roof. The major problem is that I'm not sure that I can live with a slushbox.

Doesn't GM have a recall on this car?

CTS vs G8 GT

I rented a ‘new version’ CTS for almost a week, in Sunny Southern California a year or so ago.

And I test drove a very well equipped 2009 CTS last Fall – before buying my 2009 G8 GT.

I chose the G8 GT largely because it is a far more Sport[y] Sedan than the CTS. Though it seems to be a reasonably successful Luxury Sedan.

While I recognize that they are both 4DR sedans w/RWD,
And that they really are in 2 quite different segments –
IMHO – I did want to give the CTS a “fair shake” before
choosing my next purchase.

First big difference is price:
Base \ RWD with 304HP V6 DI starts at $38,860.
Add the UltraView sunroof @ $900
And the Y43 performance package @ $1,490
[ to make the equipment level roughly comparable
to a G8 GT with every package & option ]
results in an MSRP of $42,575.

MSRP of the ‘equivalent’ G8 GT = approx $35-36K.

The CTS lists for over $6,000 more.

Second – dynamics:
Based on my driving, both the rental [ not the DI ]
and the ‘loaded’ ’09 w/DI I test drove last Fall,
my view is that the CTS just is not a
very sporty sedan.

I am not talking here about handling.
Though this is important, and the CTS
does handle competently – better than that,
with the Y43, I expect – the 304 HP DI V6
just is not particularly powerful, and the
6L50 trans calibration in the CTS just is
not aimed [ IMHO ] at performance driving.

The acceleration numbers I recall for the 304HP CTS
run in the mid-14s.
The G8 GT records mid 13-s.
That is a difference most seeking acceleration
Performance could likely feel.
[ I admit that I am a TQ addict ]

The CTS’s V6 is certainly ‘sufficient’ – but driving one,
I knew that I would ** REALLY ** miss the G8 GT’s V8,
with deep wells of Torque everywhere, at any RPM –
as well as the much quicker ultimate acceleration.
Some will not care about this aspect.

By far, my biggest disappointment with the CTS’s drivetrain was actually the trans. I had heard \ read much about how great the 6L50 is in the CTS. My Corvette had a 6L80 & the G8 GT has the same designation trans. I drove my ‘Vette & drive my G8 a fair percentage of the time in “S” & manual \ manumatic mode.
2 things about the CTS trans. drove me nuts – to the point that after the first 50 miles or so, I never used that mode again.

Thing 1: In my Corvette, & in the G8 once in a gear ( fourth or fifth or sixth, for example, on the freeway ) it will NOT downshift without a manual request. Ever.
[ At least not exclusively based on throttle position. ]
The CTS will downshift based on throttle position – even in ‘manual’ mode. Often shifting down one or 2 or 3 gears. Weird. And not ‘manual’, by my definition. Not exactly sure what GM is thinking here – though I have experienced something similar in a couple of BMW 3s, with their Steptronic automatic.

Thing 2: If accelerating at ( or close to ) WOT, commands to upshift in the CTS are ignored. Again, my Corvette & G8 will do as told. And again, I have seen this behavior in BMW 3s. Weird.

Both these odd ( to me ) choices in the programming of the CTS automatic are counter-intuitive, to me. And I dislike them both. A lot.

When driven like a luxury car ( the fun portion of my trip, with my Daughter ) the rental CTS was fine. When I tried to drive it like a Sport Sedan – no dice. Would not work, for me.
The 6L50, as installed in the CTS I find just weird.
Very weird.

Again, during the 3 days I spent driving the rental CTS
driving it as a luxury sedan – not a performance car \
sporty sedan, with my daughter in the right seat, it was fine.

I will refrain from comments about the interior –
except to mention that I did not find the CTS seats
particularly comfortable. I find the G8 seats
very comfortable & supportive. The interior ‘styling’
of the CTS is purely a personal opinion area.

Now, one ** CAN ** find a CTS with AWD & NAV – so if that is a deal-breaker, clearly
the CTS is ‘the winner’.

Just my 0.2 gallons worth . . .

And now one could add on the Caddy’s “Plus Column” the fact that the CTS comes from a GM division that appears it will survive long past the demise of Pontiac.
[ sigh ]
- Ray
Very pleased with the G8 GT – is that obvious??

I love mine. This blog was a big factor in me buying my red 08. I am so happy with it! She just needs a manual tranny and I think she would be perfect for me. (26 year old engineer, no kids, no wife)