G8 test drrive....
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 284
From: Pa
G8 test drrive....
http://www.g8board.com/08G8/
V8 time
We took a ride in the G8 GT. Let me tell you ..... do not be fooled by the Horsepower rating. This is a serious ride. Stabilitrack was left active and we were driving in a spirited manor. The roads were wet and the stabilitrack kept us moving forward. With the stabilitrack enabled and road conditions less than adequate, we experienced only minor wheel hop. The G8 GT packed with four passengers and the surprising part was that it got up and went like a bat out of hell. Keep in mind - turning off stabilitrack disabled the entire system, you are on your own. I know - it is not a LS3 or even an LS2. So its an L76. It still has 6.0 Liters of power. It does have great potential. Let me explain: you have a 6.0L Aluminum base (same as an LS2); you have an LS3 intake manifold. L98 (Baby LS7) heads - a great upgrade from LS6/LS2 heads. While its rated for 361 HP, if you ran 93 octane in it and the ECM was tuned for it I bet it would be very similar to an LS2. It does have AFM (Active Fuel Management). There is no light or notice when you are in "V4" mode - in fact I could not tell at all. It is rated for an estimated 15 city 24 hwy economy. If you really wanted to take the car to the next level you *could* upgrade to a slightly large camshaft.... assuming you would be able to disable and remove the AFM system and convert the upper cam sprocket to a 3 bolt design suitable for the E38 PCM.
We took a ride in the G8 GT. Let me tell you ..... do not be fooled by the Horsepower rating. This is a serious ride. Stabilitrack was left active and we were driving in a spirited manor. The roads were wet and the stabilitrack kept us moving forward. With the stabilitrack enabled and road conditions less than adequate, we experienced only minor wheel hop. The G8 GT packed with four passengers and the surprising part was that it got up and went like a bat out of hell. Keep in mind - turning off stabilitrack disabled the entire system, you are on your own. I know - it is not a LS3 or even an LS2. So its an L76. It still has 6.0 Liters of power. It does have great potential. Let me explain: you have a 6.0L Aluminum base (same as an LS2); you have an LS3 intake manifold. L98 (Baby LS7) heads - a great upgrade from LS6/LS2 heads. While its rated for 361 HP, if you ran 93 octane in it and the ECM was tuned for it I bet it would be very similar to an LS2. It does have AFM (Active Fuel Management). There is no light or notice when you are in "V4" mode - in fact I could not tell at all. It is rated for an estimated 15 city 24 hwy economy. If you really wanted to take the car to the next level you *could* upgrade to a slightly large camshaft.... assuming you would be able to disable and remove the AFM system and convert the upper cam sprocket to a 3 bolt design suitable for the E38 PCM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
The 6 liter Commodore I test drove last year, while it wasn't an SS and was an automatic, was fantastic. It also was alot quicker than you'd think for the weight and a supposed horsepower rating barely 20 more than the final LS1 Camaros.
There's plenty of people on this site that turn their noses up at anything that doesn't have 400, 450, 500 or more horsepower in everything with 4 wheels, regardless as to if it's needed or even fits the purpose of the car. The "361 horsepower" in the VE is plenty, and although may not be as quick as a 425 SRT 8 Charger, probally comes pretty frigging close.
Best part.... it costs alot less than an SRT8 and with minor mods probally will close the gap.... even with less horsepower.
There's plenty of people on this site that turn their noses up at anything that doesn't have 400, 450, 500 or more horsepower in everything with 4 wheels, regardless as to if it's needed or even fits the purpose of the car. The "361 horsepower" in the VE is plenty, and although may not be as quick as a 425 SRT 8 Charger, probally comes pretty frigging close.
Best part.... it costs alot less than an SRT8 and with minor mods probally will close the gap.... even with less horsepower.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,801
From: South Bend , IN
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Also, the G8 concept looked so badass with it's more agressive wheels/tires/stance, but when I see a photo of a regular production G8, I just think....ehh.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,801
From: South Bend , IN
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
It seems that Zeta cars require 19 or 20's to look good. 17's or 18's look small on them. BTW I think the concept had the 20" HSV wheels.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,801
From: South Bend , IN
Yes , the concept wheels were 20" . The actual production version of that same wheel though that u can buy thru HSV is 19" . Unfortunately that seems to be the norm nowadays that anything sub 18" looks too small on many cars .
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,496
From: Roseville, MI, USA
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,123
From: Melbourne, Australia
You're probably right but all cars look great with big wheels but manufacturers don't equip them that way unless you pay a premium for the top range version.