G8 vs. G35: Overall thoughts?

[csdstudio]

Any thoughts as to it's intended market and class? Up against the G35 and 335? Or just the 300C and Charger?

I'm curious as to why it's estimated performance figures aren't even as good as some of the G35 figures produced to date: edmunds quoted "...we were able to crack off a 5.3-second burst to 60 mph and blow through the quarter-mile in just 14.1 seconds." That was with an australian built sister, the Commodore SS.

All that with how much more torque than the V6 VQ35? 140lbs? wtf. That thing must be an absolute pig or something.

[KCMO]

I thought the numbers i'd seen were closer to 5.0 flat and 13.3-13.5

It's supposed to have around 365hp and will weigh around 3800lbs if i recall correctly.

I'd say it is more of a competitor for the other domestics listed. But only for this reason.

Say Pontiac out loud... say Infiniti out loud. Which one makes you think of high dollar / luxury + performance?

[Jeff92se]

Edmunds isn't exactly the pinnacle for performance numbers. I'd see Motor Trend can get out of them.

It's rated at 361 hp and 391 ftlbs torque. The weight is probably 3800lbs or so. Should be plenty to handle a G.

[infini_]

I dont think its a direct competitor to G or bimmer. Anyone looking at these might look at Audi... but pontiac.... no way!!!!

[imnotplutonium]

nothing wrong with pontiac. the G8 seems pretty nice. I feel it is in a different class than the G though. I am unsure of exact numbers and am too lazy to look them up now but it seems bigger than the G and with the new motor in it it should be able to take the G imho. Especially if they are putting an LSX in it.

edit:
they are putting the L76 into it. It is no LS2 or 7 but it is based off the proven sbc. It should be quick.

[Jeff92se]

6.0 liter ls motor. From what I read, that motor should be putting out closer to 400+hp easy. Looks like Pontaic is detuning for marketing reasons. So it should be an easy bolt on mod gainer

[dopey]

I'm more interested in seeing how the G compares to the domestic "muscle" in the twisties. American "muscle" has always been line up toward point B, mash peddle, go fast, sit comfy. They've always been more focused on straight line power and comfortable ride. 0-60 and 1/4 don't mean jack **** to me because it's not that fun. Drifting through a 90-degree turn, now that's fun .

[Jeff92se]

You want to test that theory out on on a Z06?

Originally Posted by dopey

I'm more interested in seeing how the G compares to the domestic "muscle" in the twisties. American "muscle" has always been line up toward point B, mash peddle, go fast, sit comfy. They've always been more focused on straight line power and comfortable ride. 0-60 and 1/4 don't mean jack **** to me because it's not that fun. Drifting through a 90-degree turn, now that's fun .

[KCMO]

How often are you guys hauling *** around major turns/curves in real life tho? I'd say I charge an on ramp way more often than I try to tear up any corners. Most I ever see is fast sweepers on on-ramps or maybe the curvey back stretch of road by my lake house.

The G8 will easily out accelerate the G35. It will be more comparable to the 335i stock for stock and modded for modded.

For the $33k+ price of entry though, I'm satisfied w/ the G35. If the rebates or incentives from GM apply to this car or it sells slowly and dealers practically give them away, then maybe I"ll have some 2nd thoughts.

[imnotplutonium]

Originally Posted by dopey

I'm more interested in seeing how the G compares to the domestic "muscle" in the twisties. American "muscle" has always been line up toward point B, mash peddle, go fast, sit comfy. They've always been more focused on straight line power and comfortable ride. 0-60 and 1/4 don't mean jack **** to me because it's not that fun. Drifting through a 90-degree turn, now that's fun .

it is easy to find straight line fun out there on a highway or lonely road. As for curves maybe you are right but I feel much safer with my $32k+ car in a straight line than a 90 degree drift. I do not have the cash for replacing bumpers on my luxury vehicle.

[mal_TX]

Didn't the GTO have a bunch of HP/TQ too? The performance numbers on it aren't so great stock... Pontiac-level GM cars have trouble putting power to the ground.

[Wannabe6MT]

Charger and w/e Ford has to offer competitor.

This is not gonna be a G35 type car. Its a full blown American, er, Australian muscle car.

[bruddahmanmatt]

Originally Posted by mal_TX

Didn't the GTO have a bunch of HP/TQ too? The performance numbers on it aren't so great stock... Pontiac-level GM cars have trouble putting power to the ground.

Keep in mind that the GTO was a 3800+ lbs. pig. I heard of wheel hop issues with the car's IRS setup but nothing compared to the obnoxious wheel hop issues CTS-V owners were running into. The weak rear ends in the '04 and '05 CTS-Vs didn't help either.

[bruddahmanmatt]

Originally Posted by Jeff92se

6.0 liter ls motor. From what I read, that motor should be putting out closer to 400+hp easy. Looks like Pontaic is detuning for marketing reasons. So it should be an easy bolt on mod gainer

The motor is NOT being detuned from its Aussie incarnation. Pontiac is most likely leaving room for a GXP variant which will more than likely use the 412hp LS2 found under the hood of the HSV Clubsport R8. Hopefully it brings the R8s styling stateside untouched as well although going off of what Pontiac has done to the Monaro and the Commodore I doubt it.

[csdstudio]

I'm in the "twisties" far less than I'm using WOT. I don't drag or do I need the fastest, but luxury and tech is important as well as some nuts under the hood for those fun times.

IMO handling the "twisties" like a race car seems more like bragging rights similar to how top speed numbers are pretty much arbitrary limits most of us never experience in daily driving. As opposed to 0-60 and quarter-mile times which are the basis for what we use everyday, power.