I'm surprised no one else has noted this in the blog yet (at least not that I can tell by scanning 119 entries), but the steering wheel of our 2008 Pontiac G8 GT feels pretty nice to hold.
At the 9 and 3 position the steering wheel has these indentations that make it possible to comfortably snug that juncture between your index finger and thumb against the wheel. And on the backside of the wheel is a nice little bump that you can wrap your fingers around in a curve that feels natural to your hand.
Anyway, it's nice for gripping when you're doing rocket launches from a stop. Heh.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 26,520 miles
teamoncerider says:
11:10 AM, 08/19/09
A lot better than the last Grand Prix, which basically had no place to grip.
sideswiper says:
11:14 AM, 08/19/09
You know what.....I'm not sure why more Grand Prix references aren't made. It's weird but the G8 IS pretty much the Grand Prix replacement. It's just in an entirely different league
dougtheeng says:
11:18 AM, 08/19/09
I agree - I'm a fan of this wheel feel. I also like the layout of the controls on it.
adavis2493 says:
11:28 AM, 08/19/09
it seems extremely Audi-like
compare that to:
http://l.yimg.com/dv/izp/audi_a5_coupe_with_tiptronic_2008_interior_steeringwheel.jpg
Same Material (visually), and same basic placement.
wobbly_ears says:
11:42 AM, 08/19/09
The reason why G8 is so driver friendly is because it is a Holden design. You see, in markets where cars are marketed to drivers, such as Europe or Australia, little things like these are expected. Many people there enjoy driving, don't eat/drink/text while driving, use signals when changing lanes or aren't left lane campers.
But here in Amerikka we tend to do everything but drive sanely, with only a finger on the steering wheel (if at all).
No sire, not like those Socialists in rest of the civilized world.
(PS: Sorry about the rant. I am questioning the intellectual capacity of the drivers on roads in Houston as a soccer mom on her phone in her Equinox tried to merge into my car this morning. Only a honk & a finger alerted her to the presence of other pesky drivers on I-45 in morning peak time)
ptcdawg says:
11:50 AM, 08/19/09
It's no Caprice Steering wheel, but it's OK.
ahightower says:
11:50 AM, 08/19/09
Good point. And the Grand Prix was not a terrible car, by the way. Neither is the G6. I don't know why Aura and Malibu get all the praise, aren't they pretty much the same platform? I've had a handful of G6 rental cars and have been impressed. But I digress.
brn says:
11:52 AM, 08/19/09
Damnit. ptcdawg beat me to it. :)
bkochuk says:
11:53 AM, 08/19/09
@ wobblyears: the reason Amerikkans drive with one finger on the wheel is so the other one can be readily available to salute fellow motorists.
wayno_san says:
12:01 PM, 08/19/09
If you want to see/feel the polar opposite check out the new Camaro.
jlacourt says:
12:09 PM, 08/19/09
no kidding....i had a new camaro rental during a recent business trip and it has the most uncomfortable steering wheel i have ever put my hands on. there were other issues with the car too (lack of being able to see outside, oddly shaped trunk opening, etc.) but the steering wheel alone would keep me from buying one.
lowmilelude says:
12:54 PM, 08/19/09
Is it just me, or does that steering wheel look HUGE in the first pic. Either that or Caroline is a pygmy.
caroscuro says:
01:07 PM, 08/19/09
lowmiledude,
It's true. I AM a pygmy. :)
Mad_Science says:
01:12 PM, 08/19/09
My WRX has similarly large notches, but most of the time it's more comfortable to grip higher, such that your fingers (not thumbs) wrap around into the notch.
The grip shown is correct when it comes to real performance driving, though.
@lowmiledude I'm going with pygmy.
Also, whoever's praising the G6 clearly must get their paychecks for a bargain plastics supplier. There's no other explanation.
dubaizen says:
02:43 PM, 08/19/09
Nice tan you got there :-D, but then again its probably your natural skin tone Miss Pardilla.
fuhteng says:
02:58 PM, 08/19/09
I thought you had the sport package, and I thought that came with the goofy steering wheel with the huge bulges at 10 and 2? If it does, it sure does bulk out because that doesn't look any different from my non-sport wheel.
stovt001 says:
03:09 PM, 08/19/09
I completely fail to see the complaints about the Camaro's wheel. It fit just fine in my hands. It wasn't the most comfortable wheel, but it wasn't anywhere near bad either.
ptcdawg nearly made me spit my tea over the screen/keyboard. Well done.
blau32 says:
04:10 PM, 08/19/09
wobbly: it was probably the honk, and not the finger, that did the job. the finger was just for your own pleasure.
aohurst says:
05:44 PM, 08/19/09
I did not have any issues with the shape of the G8 steering wheel....but its diameter is too large.
Shrink it by an inch and it's perfect.
roadburner says:
08:04 PM, 08/19/09
I love the MOMO Alpina wheel in my 2002. Airbags just about killed the replacement wheel market.
redwoodaggie says:
08:36 AM, 08/20/09
The steering wheel in my G8 GT (identical to that one) is okay, not great. The indentations for the thumbs don't work right. If I recall, the GXP has a slightly different wheel that is a little better. Neither is as good as a BMW M steering wheel, but there are definitely a lot worse out there.
roadburner says:
10:08 AM, 08/20/09
On my Mazdaspeed the stitching runs down the top of the spokes- exactly where you should rest your thumbs if you are holding the wheel correctly. Why they didn't run the stitch behind the spoke the way BMW and others do it is a mystery.
skeezix4me says:
01:37 PM, 08/20/09
Does this GT have the SAME steering wheel as the GXP? I seem to recall the GXP's wheel was flat on the bottom side much like the VW GTI's, but I can't remember for sure.