"We will probably spend more on the G8 than on any single nameplate [this year],"

Saw this article talking about NCAA tournament advertising. Looks like those excellent G8 TV spots will be getting their fair share of play.

For the first time in a while, Pontiac is looking like a brand that wants to sell cars. Again, we just need to keep our fingers crossed that enough dealers will suddenly see the light on price-gouging.
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/magazine/current/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003725879

good, if that is the case, they should follow up quickly with the G8 brand and build the coupe, wagon, and truck, and release them within two years of the launch of G8. If the cars are built, mostly developed, don't cost much to make and huge amounts of funds are being allocated to marketing, it's the only thing that makes business sense. Unless the 'leaders' at GM aren't looking to make the most profit out of thier marketing dollars.

I'm raising the odds of us getting a G8 coupe from 51% to about 60%. ;)

The funny thing is the G8 is pretty much a 4 door GTO and yet the perception is 100% the reverse that the GTO was.

The funny thing is the G8 is pretty much a 4 door GTO and yet the perception is 100% the reverse that the GTO was.

Likely b/c it isn't a 4 door GTO. Not having that hallowed name hanging over its head changes people's perception a lot.

Likely b/c it isn't a 4 door GTO. Not having that hallowed name hanging over its head changes people's perception a lot.

Bingo. And I think the trunk on this one is useful.

Calling the GTO a GTO was a mistake.

The funny thing is the G8 is pretty much a 4 door GTO...

...without the weighty name, and on a next-generation platform, and with a much bigger trunk and a usable back seat.

I know why the perception is different. I've been saying it for a long time. GM just is like the slow kid.
I also said they need to make it 400HP seeing as how it's 3 years later and needs at least if not more HP then the 3 year old GTO it's replacing, otherwise people are going to be like WTF.
Looks like once again GM finally got my point a year too late.

I know why the perception is different. I've been saying it for a long time. GM just is like the slow kid.
I also said they need to make it 400HP seeing as how it's 3 years later and needs at least if not more HP then the 3 year old GTO it's replacing, otherwise people are going to be like WTF.
Looks like once again GM finally got my point a year too late.

I don't think 400 hp is required for a large RWD sedan to be successful. The BMW 5 series, MB E class, 300C, Charger RT all seem to be all somewhat successful w/out 400 hp in their everyday version. The G8 will do fine, especially given its limited production status.

I'm raising the odds of us getting a G8 coupe from 51% to about 60%. ;)

It would look great next to my G8 ST in the garage.

I guess I'd better save up for at least two zetas.:D

It would look great next to my G8 ST in the garage.

I guess I'd better save up for at least two zetas.:D

I am guessing they will both be red like your Firehawk was, correct?

I'm raising the odds of us getting a G8 coupe from 51% to about 60%. ;)


Is this based on the marketing money being spent, or have you heard something of significance? If so, I hope it's not one of the ;) club deals. :mad::)

GM will spend the most of the G8, while Pontiac Dealers will be gouging the most on the G8 ;)

As long as asshats keep paying premiums, dealers are gonna continue putting them out there on high demand cars...I'm pretty sure it's called supply and demand?

I am guessing they will both be red like your Firehawk was, correct?


Actually, the red Firehawk was not chosen for color. The Black Firehawk was the one I chose and ordered. Black is my default color for performance cars, but I don't care for the metallic black Holden uses - so color choice is up in the air at this point.

As long as asshats keep paying premiums, dealers are gonna continue putting them out there on high demand cars...I'm pretty sure it's called supply and demand?

exactly. Im really wondering who wouldnt have bought the mid east chevy lumina with a Chevelle name.

Is this based on the marketing money being spent, or have you heard something of significance? If so, I hope it's not one of the ;) club deals. :mad::)

There seems to be a bit of optimism by some over at Holden regarding GM North America greenlighting a version of the Coupe 60 concept. It would likely be called a G8 coupe if it came.... not to say the GXP wouldn't be called a GTO.

(that last part is solely my own speculation :D)

There seems to be a bit of optimism by some over at Holden regarding GM North America greenlighting a version of the Coupe 60 concept. It would likely be called a G8 coupe if it came.... not to say the GXP wouldn't be called a GTO.

(that last part is solely my own speculation :D)


Thanks! Man, there is going to be some hard decisions for me coming up. With Camaro, G8 GXP, CTS, possibly Vette, and if this gets greenlighted out there, not sure what to do. Finally GM has some appealing and desirable cars.

Though money-wise the situation seems elevated by many insiders around the web, I view the G8 line as a net positive and a necessity to keep relevance at the Pontiac brand. You want an easy, cheap way of keeping them in the hearts and minds of buyers? Release the G8 coupe, wagon, truck here. Even though buyers won't necessarily have the option to buy these in huge volumes, it would help create an aura around Pontiac that is desparately needed.

Let's say there were four buzz-creating iterations of the G8 line. G8 sport wagon, G8 coupe, G8 sedan, G8 truck. all those are superb product, the coupe is spectacular in design, the rest are very good looking solid entrants. Buzz is instantaneously created. The marketing is there just with the intros. All they really need to do to spend money on marketing is get as many examples of the cars, including the buzzworthy models [ie stickshift V8s] into the hands of auto reviewers.

Suddenly, Pontiac gets completely revived. They actually have a credible lineup that is desirable. Two kinds of successes in the marketplace are image and perception success which also builds up a brand for future bigger success, on the other hand you have actual market penetration. The goal obviously is to get buyers, but you have to have a brand worth looking at to do this. Right now, the mission of Pontiac [excepting the just-introd G8] seems targeted to sadly support fleet sales, support bargain hunters, and support those looking for some "flare" in thier cars. Let's say these low volume models exist for a purpose of reigniting a stated mission at Pontiac of driving excitement with strong exterior impressions.

G8 on its own is an incredibly solid entry. My original awestruck feeling for one of them was more the result of premium chrome wheels and a killer combo with black paint. The GT model also has the blacked out rear lenses that look hot. Admittedly, the paint/wheels combo was making a difference, as the regular G8 sedans are not as exciting as I originally saw.

Regular V6 trim the car's front end is strong and the rest of the car flows and has an athletic stance. It's a strong, fluid, modern, aggressive impression that also happens to be rather generic. It's got a great character and will only help bolster the Pontiac name and look. Conservatism can be okay for a sedan, but only with a cast of wild supporting players. conservatism though is not really okay in the overall picture for a Pontiac. Also, ideally, with a big expensive RWD sedan you want to create a distinct impression; since this is what bolsters luxury carmakers, as they've seemingly been hitting hard since the introduction of the CTS withdistinc characicatures.

All that being said, from a marketing and business perspective, it only makes sense to build the spectacular G8 coupe since apparently little is required to make the investment. Going down the line, perhaps Alpha should take over as the single platform that Pontiac draws a number of distinct models from, or if GM is able to remove weight from the Zeta platform, and even if these serve as halo editions for Pontiac, and the G8 maybe moves up to a $30k base price [when the CTS also moves up in price to cover the $40k territory], it could be beneficial to keep big cars like this alive going down the line.