If I can get out of my lease early, I would have a hard deciding between the G8 GXP, the CTS-V and a Vette. No SatNav in the G8 is a real sticking point though.

 

I won't disagree that the G8 GXP is more of an ultimate driving machine in the classic BMW sense than the BMW 5 series is... however I have a hard time agreeing with the Cadillac CTS being included in that lump statement from the article.

The CTS is just as heavy, complex, and cushy as BMW's current offerings if not generally moreso.

Not that there's anything WRONG with that from my perspective. I think the CTS is a best in class offering overall. However from a purely driver oriented perspective the CTS is no ultimate driving machine.

The CTS-V on the other hand... it sounds like it is (I don't know, I haven't driven one) based on the times. But I did drive an FE2 suspended CTS and while I loved the car, it was no ultimate driving machine even relative to the current day 5-series, much less the 3-series.

 

Here is another article in Autoblog:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/i...ontiac-g8-gxp/

They seem to like it:

 

Or even the damn G8 GT

I'd consider letting my POS T-bird die its well deserved death if there was a good alternative for a DD.

I really like the G8 but if I'm putting down good money for a new car it better have my basics: RWD, V8, and a manual transmission. The GXP is a waste of money for someone like me. This is a two ton, four door car. What good is all that power when I intend to have it riding on all weather tires anyway?

Friggen slushbox fanatics!!!!

If I wanted an overweight performance car I'd buy a new Camaro

 

Because the certification costs are high and when it comes down to signing on the dotted line, very few people buy sticks.

 

14/20 mpg. Ouch.

 

Especially since the Camaro is supposed to get better mileage than that, and weigh nearly the same with a higher horsepower rating...

 

That's about 2 tenths quicker 1/4 mile than I thought the GXP would run. Nice work. The Camaro SS 6M looks to be heading in the right direction to crack 12’s in stock trim.

This is just another lesson that curb weight can me masked at the drag strip because of big power and torque. I won't say it can be hidden at a road course but on the drag strip the more hp/tq prescription always delivers.

 

There a G8 GXP "Short Take" on the Car & Driver website too.

 

That's a big downer. It could be the 2008 standard's typical underreporting of mileage, though. I am surprised that the difference against the GT is so large on the highway, though- 20 vs. 24mpg.

I still want one, though.

 

As I understand, the GXP does NOT have AFM...

 

True, but AFM accounts for 5-8% tops, according to GM. That's ~1mpg.
G8 GT's final drive ratio is 1.96 (2.92 rear x .67 6th in the auto).
G8 GXP is 2.11 (3.70 rear x .57 6th in the manual).

6.2l vs. 6.0l

What else? Maybe tire width? Weights ought to be nearly the same.

Still, it's tough for me to see 4mpg difference in those differences. Those are the same numbers as the Tahoe!!

 

70% of all 2002 Camaros were automatics. Last year, 19,100 Corvettes were automatics while only 16,000 were manuals.

Point?

If these performance oriented cars sold mostly automatics (Camaro by a massive margin) then you have to realize that manuals on sedans (especially large sedans) probably has a take rate similar to selling Backstreet Boys tickets outside a Rolling Stone concert.

I recall the take rate for the CTS manual is below 5%. Yet, an automaker must spend money to certify manuals, so the question becomes "Is it worth it"? I doubt GM would sell enough G8 GTs with manuals to be worthwhile, but performance sedans like the GXP (which will likely still sell more autos than manuals) will be worth it.

As for my next car, I'm not a stickler on it being a V8 & I've always owned RWD vehicles. But I do want to go back to a manual next time.


BTW: if you want any RWD V8 performance car with IRS today (as you say), Camaro is about as light as you're going to get. If you don't mind a live axle and a 155 governed top speed then the Mustang is alot lighter.

 

With car sales in the slump for some time now, we cant honestly say the G8 is the sales flop it looks like. They traded a lot of Grand Prix sales (fleet vehicles in there, I know) for only a handful of G8 sales. While I don't know the precise cost of certifying a trans on a production car, and the take rate is very low for a stick on a CTS, I would ask the question of what BMW's stick take rate is.

Only to read that the G8 GXP (which was originally the only G8 with a stick) now doesnt even come with one - but it is a cost adder option!!! Let's just continue to punish the few enthusiasts GM has left.

 

While we're talking about CTS manual trans take rate....

I wouldn't have bought my CTS had it not been available with a manual trans.