Before our 2008 Pontiac G8 heads out to pasture, I thought I check in one more time to see how the old car was "Holden" up. Pretty well, actually and it's such a shame this car will disappear from U.S. showrooms. Each time I drive it, the G8 reminds me how the good American Sedan could have been had the domestic automakers not been so distracted by the decade-long SUV craze. So, besides some typical wear and accidental encounters with curbs, it seems the front brakes might need some attention. Slowing from freeway speeds makes the steering wheel wiggle slightly which could mean warped rotors or the really tired front tires need replacing or both. We'll put our chassis guru, Dan Edmunds on the case to determine what's going on there. I also discovered the window switches had been by used by somebody as a fulcrum. A photo wouldn't show it well so here's a video.
Chief Road Test Editor, Chris Walton @ 32,813 miles
roadburner says:
08:17 AM, 10/ 5/09
In some cases bad suspension bushings can also cause a shimmy under breaking. The E24 and E28 BMWs were particularly susceptible to that malady. In any event, in the case of the G8 it's certainly no deal breaker.
dougtheeng says:
09:36 AM, 10/ 5/09
Shame about the saggy buttons - hopefully its a dealer fix. I would have expected a more durable centre console though.
wrinklebump says:
10:09 AM, 10/ 5/09
Had that same thing happen to my old Chrysler.
Mad_Science says:
12:13 PM, 10/ 5/09
If that "warped rotor" shimmy comes and goes, it's likely not warped rotors but pad material that gets baked on after a long stop when the pads are hot.
Do a couple of 60-5 mph slow-downs (no stopping!) to heat them back up and see if it goes away (or gets worse).
Knowing you guys, a set of upgraded pads would've been wise.
(Wiser: having picked up a GXP).
sgude says:
12:43 PM, 10/ 5/09
Bad bushings are an E46 malady as well. I'm putting up with some right now -- they'll be fixed at the end of the week.
And the 'decade-long" SUV craze began with the 1990 Explorer, so I'd amend that to two decades.
redwoodaggie says:
04:54 PM, 10/ 5/09
Yeah, maybe in Holden's quest to make the care more BMW-like, they went a bit too far...
Man, I can't imagine how that window console ended up like that. I've never seen anybody complain about that on the G8 forums. That takes some talent to make a new problem. Oh wait, this is an Edmunds long-term test car. That takes abuse to a whole new level.
billt9 says:
05:41 PM, 10/ 5/09
maybe depressing the whole center console engages the warp speed mode! You've found a secret function!
fuhteng says:
07:33 PM, 10/ 5/09
Weird. I hope my buttons don't do that. I thought you guys had new tires not that long ago. Are the fronts in need of replacement again?
cr_driver says:
12:23 PM, 10/14/09
What do you do to cars people?