Wednesday Feb 08

2008 Pontiac G8 GT: “Gr8”ness from an Unsuspecting Brand

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Written by Leon L. Brittain

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I believe it's only fair to start by saying I'm not the biggest fan of Pontiacs. Of all GM brands, this was my least favorite due to their lackluster vehicles with clunky plastic-galore interiors and an overall less than desirable image that lacked coolness. That is until now.

The 2008 Pontiac G8 GT (starting at $29,995) mixes European styling with the heart and grunt of American muscle to create a recipe for a surprisingly exciting driving experience. A sweeping, chiseled design, combined with bulging wheel flares and athletic stance give hints to the BMW 5 Series which the G8 is targeted to compete against. It also bears lines and styling cues reminiscent of the Lexus ES models. But the aggressive hood scoops say I’m an All-American bad boy, so please don’t be mistaken. And if there were any existing doubts to its heritage, one listen to the melodic bass produced by the 361-horsepower 6.0 liter small-block V8 that produces 385 pound-feet of torque will erase those remaining notions.

Linking all of this muscle together is a six-speed Hydra-Matic 6L80E automatic transmission with “Driver Shift Control” hitched to a standard limited-slip differential. Simply put, the driver is offered three transmission modes; full automatic, “Sport” mode, which adjusts the automatic shift points for higher torque and more engine control and lastly, a “Manual” mode for complete control for the enthusiast. And Manual does mean manual, for the transmission will not automatically upshift for you as I quickly discovered. You will not exceed the redline so no worries on destroying the vehicle; however, this is something you’ll want to avoid doing repeatedly. I did find it a bit confusing in shifting up or down to get to the desired gear, but after some time behind the wheel, I became more acquainted with this “Gr8” sedan with its ability to clock in a zero-to-60 time in a mere 5.3 seconds. Not bad for a ride weighing in at 3,995 pounds.

 On the inside the G8 does a fine job welcoming passengers with a very spacious and sporty cabin. Gauges, dials and other driver information are well placed with the exception of center console placed mirror controls and the oil and battery level indicators which are located in the middle of the entire dash. Although oil and battery level information are important, these could be placed elsewhere in the driver’s line of sight thus creating space for a glowing G8 logo, a back-up camera or anything else of more visual interest and appeal. The rear cabin area is great. Absolutely great. Sitting behind the driver, there was no need to re-adjust the driver’s seat forward to accommodate my preferred extended leg room. A rear fold-down compartment houses the ever-important cup holders and a huge flat surface area wide enough for a laptop, coloring books or a civil game of Go-Fish. Access to the cavernous trunk can be gained through this rear seat console.
On my test drive through the canyons of southern California, the G8 and I began to form a bond of respect and admiration as I was slowly becoming a Pontiac fan. It was as if this new American performance sedan was confidently smiling while saying “sit back and relax, you’re in for an experience.” The 18” Bridgestone Potenza tires stuck to the road with incredible performance. Where was the tire squeal? Where was the tire roll and road noise? The “Gr8” One promiscuously smirked, “I told you so.” For added performance, GT owners can opt up to the Sports Package that includes 19-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in P245/40R19 summer performance tires, metallic pedals and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

All of this performance would be wasted if safety features weren’t factored in, which is paramount. Pontiac continues to get high marks in this regard as it includes “StabiliTrak” electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring, dual-stage frontal air bags, head curtain side air bags for front and rear occupants, side thorax air bags for the front passengers, three-point safety belts at all seating positions, front safety belt pretensioners and turn-by-turn OnStar assistance.

 If the GT isn’t your speed, Pontiac offers a 3.6-liter DOHC V6 G8 starting at $27,595. The GT’s younger sibling pumps out a very respectable 256 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Linked to a five-speed automatic transmission, the younger brother sprints from zero-to-60 in approximately seven seconds.

But what about that “cool” image alluded to earlier? Apparently Pontiac is doing something right because it has attracted gritty rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) as a believer. Initially, the 50 Cent endorsement didn’t work for me. Maybe Funkmaster Flex considering he’s known for his collection of American muscle cars, but 50’s endorsement seemed too far of a stretch with his chrome painted Lamborghini, Escalade with Lambo doors, and other extravagant vehicles. However, we have the inside scoop that 50 was genuinely interested in Pontiac for their affordability and recent improvements with quality and performance. Thus aligning his brand/image with an affordable quality product his fan base could get down with. “Partnering with Pontiac has given me the opportunity to create something truly unique (speaking of his 500 horse power custom G8) – a customized performance vehicle I am really proud of,” said 50. “The G8 is like none other and it pushes the boundaries of what people think a car has to be.”

The 2008 Pontiac G8 GT is a true performance sedan very capable of comfortably transporting five while permitting the guilty pleasure of indulging the need for power and performance while keeping safety in mind. I still believe Pontiac has their work cut of for them as they re-brand, but this is a “Gr8” step in the right direction!

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