2008 Pontiac G8 GT: The Best Car GM Makes. Er, Made.

I still want one with a manual, GT or GXP. I'm still very pissed that Henderson thought it a good idea to drop this car. Leaves someone like me who needs a sedan stuck with the CTS or FWD...I'll be buying used instead.

Note: I know the GT is auto only. It is a lot insane to have the manual transmission be an option costing almost $11,000...I still want it.
Also Noted: I think the CTS is pretty car, and would consider one, but for the performance of a GT I think the only CTS option is the CTS-V which is way over budget.

I love the lack of chrome on the G8. GM overchromes alot of their cars. I like the G8's silver wheels, and general monochromatic appearance. I like it alot. To me, just needs a manual trans in GT (this has been discussed obviously), More modern interior, and some Bi-xenon's.

Get rid of the hood vents, redesign the interior to not look like it was pulled out of some sedan from the 90s, get rid of Altezza-like lights

I like the styling of the CTS, but I couldn't see paying another 10k for a car that is significantly slower. The CTS-V, however, is hell on wheels. I'd love to have one of those.

I have a hard time believing that GM won't import another Holden car and slap a GM badge on it. Which kind of brings me to the original point of this entry - GM didn't make this car, Holden did. GM's version of an under 30k performance sedan is the Malibu.

I'd replace the knob control for seat recline. Also add the availaiblity of Navigation (not everyone want's to subscribe to OnStar Turn-by-Turn). But even with its list of minor glitches, I still love this car! No other car comes close to the value that it brings when price, power, handling, room and RWD are considered, IMHO.

Others may be faster, have more gadgets, etc., but those are either more expensive, less powerful, smaller, driving the wrong wheels, or some other thing. Plus there are far fewer G8s than many other mainstream cars, so driving a car that doesn't say "me too!" is nice.

This topic is really been beat to death, let it rest.

Things we all know by now:

1) The G8 was General Motors great answer to the question only driving enthusiasts asked of them. (read, not our government)
2) The G8 was sorely under marketed and quickly cut from future plans without a proper run
3) Eliminating it was a brash decision made in order to appease those who only consider economy and bottom line, not the image it would help GM create going forward.

g8driver, I couldn't agree more. I'm so happy with my G8 GT. I keep telling everyone that will listen to buy one now before it's too late.

The G8 manual would've had a gas guzzler. That's a no go on an affordable non speciality (ie GXP) model. The automatic avoids the charge with AFM and a non LS3 V8. Remember, GM doesn't mate AFM V8s with manual transmissions so they only option for a manual would be the 6.2L LS3 available in the GXP- and it had a gas guzzler charge to my knowledge.

@chavis10- Good point, but does the manny tranny Camaro SS have the gg tax??

audisport, the manual camaro ss does not have a gas guzzler tax.

Ditto on ditching the faux hood vents! Other than that, this car is (was) incredible...especially at this price point. Shame on GM for killing Pontiac and this car in favor of any Buick that they will ever build.

The Camaro is lighter than the G8 so that may be why it avoids the GG tax.

The basics of the G8 GT at introduction are \ were so good that I bought one. [ Full disclosure, here. ]

For a second generation, to tempt me to replace my 2009, the G8 GT could add:

I’d pay for an upgrade to the L99 400 HP \ 410 TQ version of the 6.2L V8 from the Camaro w/automatic trans – still with AFM \ DoD.

I’d pay for a Head Up Display option.
[ as I have had in several previous GM products, back all the way to a 1997 Grand prix – and I still occasionally miss this when driving the G8 GT. I am still somewhat perplexed at the choice of displaying ( in DSC \ manual shift mode ) the trans. gear currently engaged in such small characters across the very lowest portion of the DIC. About as far as possible below the driver’s line of sight. Then ( once you HAVE selected a new gear, and the change is in process or complete ) the new gear is displayed centrally, in a much larger size, in the center of the DIC. But only briefly. Then it is again relegated to the bottom of the display. Seems very odd, to me – but I have learned to live with it.]

Install [ as standard or optional ] either a slightly louder exhaust – or something like the NPP 2 mode exhaust from the Corvette.

I’d really like to see steering wheel shift paddles.
[ As implemented in the Corvette – NOT as in the Camaro. ]

Everything else that I require [ and much that I desire ] is already included in the first generation G8 GT. Even a standard, real Limited Slip Diff. – something not available, even optionally, on any BMW 3 or 5 short of the “M” series cars.

So – much further down my list of ‘wishes’:

I’d buy cooled [ as well as heated ] seats as an option – as I had on a previous car.

I’d consider paying for [ optional ] Koni dampers.

That’s about it, for me.

If these changes \ additions were made for 2011, I’d very seriously consider trading my 2009 for a 2012. In fact, unless something completely unexpected happens in the next 2 years, that WOULD be my next car.

Clearly, they will not be made.

I do hope that the $35K to $45K Sport Sedan ‘landscape’ improves over the next couple of years.
- Ray
Very happy driving the 2009 G8 GT – for now. . .

Personally, I LIKE the hood vents. Although they are relics from a hoary era in Pontiac history, they don't look bad on this car and like it or not, they don't detract from the styling.
On a car like this, I would have loved to see a manual option and a "sport" package, with perhaps sport seats, lighter (but not necessarily larger) wheels, a lowered, tightened suspension, a manual and the ability to delete certain equipment. I don't mind the car not having nav, because of the portable GPS revolution.

I like the vents, make the car stand out. Take away those and the badging and it looks like some jerked up Audi or something.