I saw the G8 in person yesterday at the autoshow.

It looks good, but it looks so much longer in person. I don't know if it was my eyes playing tricks on me or what, but it looked like a competitor to an Audi A8, or a BMW 7 series, or the Lexus LS460. It just looked strestched.

Also didn't look as striking as the pictures I had seen online before hand.

After seeing it in person, I decided this is definitely not the size car I'd want. When it's available though, I'll still read reviews and most likely test drive one just to make sure.

[EDIT] I just looked at the dimensions online and it looks like it's ~3" shorter than a 300, and ~6" shorter wheel base. It'd be nice to see the car next to other cars to get a better idea of its size.

Mike

 

I know what you mean. I loved it, but it did look alittle large. And like you said, although I know it's abit smaller than the LX cars, it seemed to take up the same volume to my eye.

I can imagine that the longer wheelbase Buick and Caddy Zetas will really be substantial looking cars.

Anyway, I liked it an awful lot. It looked so badass, lowered over those gray tinted 20" wheels.

 

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Macromedia's Flash Player. Get the latest flash player.
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Am I the only one who couldnt see it? I installed flash from the link several times.

 

lol i was about to post, since when were they putting FI on it.. lol

 

OMG. We are having the EXACT same problem with our computer. It started about 1-2 months ago. No matter how many times we install it, that damn message keeps popping up. And nobody seems to be able to tell us how to fix it. I think it also happened on my mother's brand new laptop.

What is the deal with this?!?!

Sorry for hijacking.

 

Have you tried installing it directly from Adobe's website?
http://www.adobe.com

Click the link on the left column for "Get Adobe Flash Player" and it should install within a couple minutes.

 

It's roughly the same length as a G6 and the new Malibu. G8 looks much larger because of the unusually long wheelbase and the relatively long passenger compartment.

G8 is actually over half a foot shorter than the Ford Fusion, let alone nearly 10" shorter than a Grand Prix or Impala.

Pretty impressive optical illusion, I'd say.

Bland???!

You're kidding, right?

 

Wow I can't wait to see this thing on the road!

 

GROSSLY OFF TOPIC, but here's the problem:

Macromedia, Quicktime, and Media Player are all fighting to load the file, and you are missing one of the key Adobe utilities. Uninstall Quicktime, install all of the viewers that you can find on the Adobe download page and ensure that your file associations for vids point only to the Adobe and Windows Media Players. I had the same bug, and I couldn't even get the new GMC site to work. I can't give you better directions because I forgot all of the hoops that I had to jump through myself.

Computers SUCK!

 

... i don't know where you got your numbers Guy but i think they are a little off.. here's what i've found:
http://autos.msn.com/research/compar...2953&v=t102929
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/s...d.php?p=918063

Pontiac G8
Wheelbase: 114.8"
length: 196.1"
width: 74.8"
height: 57.7"

Pontiac Grand Prix
Wheelbase: 110.5"
length: 198.3"
width: 71.6"
height: 55.9"

Pontiac G6
Wheelbase: 112.3"
length: 189.0"
width: 70.6"
height: 57.1"

Ford Fusion
Wheelbase: 107.4"
length: 190.2"
width: 72.2"
height: 57.2"

so.. G8 is 2.2" shorter than Grand Prix... 7.1" longer than G6 and 5.9" longer than Fusion

i agree the G8 is hardly bland.. but it sure makes the GTO look bland

 

I was shocked and annoyed when my dad (who's quite the car enthusiast, and the proud owner of an SOM '02 Formula with 4,000 miles on it) said the new G8 is as bland as the GTO, and will have the same mediocre sales success.

I disagree, but I wonder if maybe he has a point????

 

i don't agree... besides the styling... it's got 4 doors, which is a much bigger market than 2 doors.. it's got a full sized trunk.. the gto's gas tank used up half it's trunk... it's a whole new world class platform.. the gto's was a much older platform... the GTO came only in one trim level.. fully loaded... the only option was automatic or manual transmission really.. the G8 will come in v6 and v8 versions.. with 3 different transmissions, and other levels of options.. etc

those are just a few things

add to that i think it's a much better looking car as well

 

Agreed. There will be more people looking at the V6 version. This car is going to slot nicely into the Camry, Accord, Maxima market, and I belive that it will compete well.
If any one has seen the next gen sketches of the Accord, they are determined to make BLAND and HONDA ACCORD an association of the past.

The coupe design is real eye candy.

Lots of aging boomers out there that don't want a Mustang (or Camaro), but will warm up to a solidly built domestic that could haul them and another couple to the antique show. the G8 is a sporty alternative to a CTS, and a mile better looking (IMHO).

 

Thanks for saving me the trouble. I think some of you guys are forgetting that the G8 is a FULL size car, nearly identical in most dimensions to the Chrysler LX cars. It is larger than a CTS and significantly larger than the midsizers (G6, Malibu, etc.). It may be 2" shorter than a GP, but it is 3" wider. The appearance size is partially an illusion of the long wheelbase, but it is also simply because the car is, in fact, fairly large.

Some other comparisons:

BMW 750i (not the LWB version):
WB = 117.7
L = 198.4
W = 74.9
H = 58.7

So the G8 is dang near in that ballpark, though it looks like a lightweight at 3995 lbs relative to the lux'd-up 4486 lbs of the 750i.

Infiniti G35:
WB = 112.2
L = 187.0
W = 69.8
H = 57.2
Wt = ~3500 lbs
Base price in the $32k range.

Some in a different thread were commenting about the G8 not being quick enough relative to the (more expensive) G35, IS350, etc. even though it has a V8 and they have V6s. The G35 is more of a Caddy CTS / BMW 3/5 Series sized car. The G8 is significantly bigger, according to these specs (from Infiniti's website). In fact, the G35 is fractionally smaller than the G6... So comparing the G8 directly to the G35 isn't really fair. It's a size class up. The more appropriate competitor is the M35/M45:

Infiniti M45:
WB = 114.2 (close to G8)
L = 192.6 (close to G8)
W = 70.8 (4" narrower, which is a big difference)
H = 59.4
Wt = 4005 lbs (M45), with 325 hp and 336 lbft and 5 spd auto, all for $49k

So when the 306 hp G35 (400 lbs lighter and quite a bit smaller) turns in similar performance numbers to the 362 hp G8 GT, let us remember that those are two different classes of cars. The G8 offers full size car space, like the Dodge Charger.



Oh, and for reference vs. the 2008 CTS:

L = 191.6
WB = 113.4
W = 72.5
H = 58.0
Trk F/R = 61.8 / 62.0

So the CTS, which used to be a bit narrow (like the G35 and M45 still are), is now probably a bit closer to the M45 than the G35 in overall size. It is still a bit smaller than the G8, though. 4" shorter, 1.4" less wheelbase, 2.3" narrower...

I love 'em both.

 

Holden's website lists the Commodore at 4894mm long which translates to 192.5 inches, a mere 3" longer than a G8 and about 8 shorter than a Impala-Grand Prix.

What I didn't anticipate was that the G8 would gain 4" of length in the redesign of it's new snout, and slightly different bumpers.

In this instance, I stand corrected.