So I have driven quite a few cars over the years...C6's, GTO's, Mustangs, basically a lot of cars. Most recently I spent a lot of time with a Charger SRT8 which I actually liked alot.

That being said..this weekend I got the itch to go test drive a G8..and I liked it so much I bought it

Basically...Edmunds had a recent article that basically started "Dollar for Dollar, Pound for Pound, this is the best sedan in the world"...and they nailed it. I am going to be 100% honest, I have seen them online obviously..and had like a brief glace from the highway...but I figure.."Hell..I have a GTO..why do I need a slower 4 door one?". Well like I said..last Saturday I went to the dealer, and spent some time with one..below are my impressions and what drove me to buy one.

Exterior-
In term of styling most pictures do not do the car justice. It looks okay on the internet, but is really pretty exciting for a sedan in person. The car has a very crisp, yet muscular design. The most striking view is dead on from the front. Basically, the front wheels on the G8 are moved forward from where they were on the GTO..and to cover them, Holden put fairly dramatic hunches in the fenders that do not show in most pictures. The below image shows it best...



Also, the styling with the chome accents is very tastefully done, and the only real questionable exterior styling element is the wheels..none of which are better than average.

Interior-
This is really the only part of the car that had things I really do not like. First off, the materials are on par, if not better than the GTO (a good thing). These are things that so not show up in pictures like the textured dash pad, or overall solid feel of the materials. You can tell Holden pulls all their interior stuff from Germany..the ip itself looks like it was pulled right out an Audi. The seats are also GTO great, and the car is overall very spacious. They fixed several GTO gripes like the terrible stereo, lack of XM, and overall feel of a car that had to be change dto be sold in the US. That being said...I still have a few things I dislike. My #1 gripe is for 09, they pulled the gauges out the center stack because customers claimed they were useless. Instead..you get a big empty hole of a shelf. That would not be so bad..but the rubber mat they put inside the shelf does not fit right and is always sticking up, or bunched somewhere looking like ***. Being that this hole is at eye level..it really instantly makes you think less of the car's quality. The next gripe I have is that the power seats do not have a power seatback. To adjust the rack of the seat you have to turn a **** which is in the most awkward place ever. Whoever decided to ditch the lever normaly there needs to be fired. Moving on from that, the only other major thing that bothered me is that the radio and HVAC controls are needlessly integrated and complex. For instance, the Auto climate control temp settings and all HVAC info shows on the radio LCD. This makes an aftermarket radio a complete no no. Luckily the radio has plenty of thump for most..but it still sucks. Also, the switchgear for the HVAC is different and requires a bit of thought to use. Either way...these are minimal grips coming from a GTO. Also did I mention that the car has a REAL trunk!

Driving-
This is where the G8 is a rockstar. I think before people say one word about the G8, you should have to drive one. Everyone associates this car with the GTO which was an average to below average handling car. If you go into a drive thinking that you will simply be stunned. Also, there is a lot of bashing over weight on this board..and as you know the G8 is a 4,000lb car. That being said...the car drives like it is 700-1000lbs lighter. It is the kind of car that is simply put together perfect. The kind where you are driving down back road and look down and realizing you are breaking the speed limit by 20mph. The kind of car that makes an SRT8 feel like a really fast schoolbus. It is not SRT8 fast...but that that is forgettable when in terms of handling/road composure it is the best RWD sedan I have ever driven. The G8 does not beat you up, but also feels better and lighter on it's feet than any Mustang I have ever driven. I am talking the kind of handling confidence I only have only had in a C6. Yes...it is THAT GOOD. I don't sing praises like this often..so if you are sitting there shaking your head...I am imploring...no begging...you go drive a G8 before writing this post off.


On one other note..if the Camaro is really just a two door G8...I really think everyone who has been complaining about weight killing the Camaro is gonna have crow to eat. Holden hit a home run with Zeta..this really is one of the best RWD platforms in the world without a prop on the hood.

I know you all are wondering why I did not get the Camaro..and the reason is..I am not buying the first year of any car because I have gotten screwed everytime. By the time the second year is here..I will trade something else in for one

 

It is a very nice car, but I still would not give up my GTO for a G8 GT. The G8 GXP, maybe, but most likely it will be the Camaro.

Anyway, I pretty much agree with what you said regarding the car. I test drove it and was overall impressed. However, I still think the GTO has the better interior, minus the flimsy HVAC controls.

 

I still have the GTO...it's paid off and staying with me for good. It's funny though..the thing that kind of makes me love the GTO is it is so unique and has so many quirks. That being said..I love the G8 because everything I hate about the GTO was fixed (trunk, radio, sunroof, not so great handling).

 

I briefly drove the Holden Commodore Calais 6.0 when I was last in Oz.

The only issue I had with the entire car was a piece of console plastic near the driver's foot that didn't seem to be anchored to anything, and moved. Outside of that, I found the car awesome as you have.

I think it's very significant that you mentioned how the car felt far and away lighter than it's mere number would suggest. That is the same word that's coming in regarding Camaro (which is said to be dialed down even better!!).

This goes into what has been said by everyone involved with the Camaro (as well as the target of the entire Zeta program). The goal was world class handling with no excuses. There's a reason why so many magazines compare the VE sedans to BMWs.

Congratulations on your purchase.

 

Hey Brandon, congrats on the G8.

I haven't driven one yet but I have checked them out and in person they are very attractive, cleanly styled and yet aggressive looking cars. I particularly like the front end too - that short overhang with aggressive flaring of the wheel arches - just menacing looking - especially in black.

I am kinda jealous though, I can't get one, even though I want one and have been following the VE since it came out - the timing it came to market here is/was just wrong for me. A year earlier and I'd have gotten one, now I have to wait.

On an related note, I really hope the rumblings - (echoed in a RT article on SRT8 vs GXP article this month) about a wholesale return to FWD by GM are wrong. We do need this type of car in the market and it would be a shame to have them snuffed out. Maybe the day of the v8 is drawing to a close, but BMW has proven that RWD can work even if not powered by an 8. I'm not just talking about the G8, but the rest of the Zeta could-have-beens and also the current CTS and company from Cadillac - Sigma options are visibly dwindling - no more STS or SRX. The CTS shouldn't stand out as an anomaly in the Cadillac lineup.

Back on topic though, it's good to see another G8 being purchased - they seem to be even more rare than GTOs on the street - and that's just wrong.

 

Congrats and thank you for your new G8 purchase!!!!

 

I would have one in my garage if it came with a manual transmission. Yes, I did drive one. No, I did not like the auto transmission, nor did my wife. The rest of the car was very nice.

 

A G8 GXP will solve that.

 

I have been seriously considering buying one myself...I just have a hard time parting with the GTO.

I'm thinking a TVS1900 from MagnaCharger will help with the decision

 

Congrats on the new car. I sat in one at the NAIAS and came away thinking that if I bought cars with fixed roofs I'd be all over the G8 GXP. If the G8 doesn't succeed for GM I wouldn't be surprised if spells the end of affordable RWD from GM.

 

The G8 is a great car. I can't say that agree with Branden about it feeling like it's 1,000 pounds lighter than it is though. You (or at least I) feel the heft, no doubt about it. But it has great balance, nicely weighted steering, just a very well handling all around package.

For all of you guys with GTO's - the G8 GT makes them feel like your grandma's Century. If you don't mind the two extra doors, the G8 is a far superior driver than the GTO.

 

If anyone wants to buy me a G8, I would happily take one.

 

Really? I really need to drive one now. However, some of us have taken care of the poor handling of our GTOs

 

Go drive one and let us know what you think. Of course, it looks like your GTO has quite afew mods, but stock for stock, I've got to say that the G8 GT, blows the GTO away in handling.

 

I drove a G8 at Indy Bash. Very nice car. The V-8 just kept pulling. Great power.
I've never driven a GTO, so I can't compare the 2 that way.

I have, however, sat in many GTOs. I much prefer the GTO interior over the G8's. The GTO interior seems richer with nicer materials. The G8's interior felt uninspired and the materials didn't seem as nice. Plus, a manual isn't available unless you step up to the GXP, which is $40K.
I think they need to offer M6s across the board.

I also drove a CTS at Indy. I really liked that car except for the power. It felt weak, but it was an AWD with the slushbox.
A RWD CTS with the 361 hp G8 motor and a 6-speed stick would just about be the perfect daily driver.