Did anybody else watch this earlier today? Although I had high hopes, this show was completely ghey!!!!

The first 20 minutes of the show were spent showing the Pontiac GTO (faux hood ducts and all) drifting around corners, smoking the tires down, and being driven by the guy and some hottie exchanging very lame quasi-sexual banter. (Note: I really want to like the GTO)

Then, the last 10 minutes were spent very quickly summarizing the results of comparo tests between the GTO and several coupes and the Grand Prix GTP and leading sedans (notably, BMW 330 and G35 5AT). My critique focuses on the sedan comparo, since I have a G35 6MT.

What with all the heavy breathing put out by Pontiac and the Speed Channel about these "new performance machines" out of Pontiac, one would have expected a blowout. However, the results were thrown up on the screen so fast you couldn't even analyse the results...probably intentional, since the heavily pro-Pontiac narration didn't seem to jibe with the actual results.

The editorial comments were blatantly biased toward Pontiac. When the GTO or GXP smoked its tires down and turned in good straight-line acceleration nubmers, they tried to make it sound like a stomp. When the other cars won (e.g. road course, slalom, braking tests), they downplayed it (at one point making the excuse that the GXP lost out to "smaller sedans") or only named the one car the Pointiac beat out while ignoring the other three that had stomped it into the ground.

In sum, despite both Pontiac and the Speed Channel attempting to make it sound like the Grand Prix GXP was some great new sport sedan that outperformed the likes of BMW and Infiniti, all they proved was that you can wedge a large V-8 into a midsize car and turn in decent 1/4 mile and 0-60 times. In every other category, the G35 5at sedan properly trounced the GXP. In addition, the acceleration numbers they turned in for the G were HIGHLY suspect. (0-60 in 7.11, 15.029 1/4).

Note too, the GXP is powered by a 303 hp, 5.3L V8, while its sedan comparators had 3.0 or 3.5 liter V6s. They obviously didn't have the scrotal contents to compare their car to any V8 powered sport sedans, or to bring their V-6 version to the show.

If they were going to run a 30-minute Pontiac infomercial, they should have disclosed how much Pontiac paid for it. Anyone who watched this show with half their brain on would know that even the superficial analysis performed did not support all the heavy breathing over the GXP. This show was not worthy of the Speed Channel.

If Pontiac are looking for converts among car guys, they're really missing the boat. This show was the video equivalent of ribbed tupperware cladding.

Thanks for reading.

 

I think I've seen similar shows on Speed Channel before. They try to make it sound like a comparison when it's obviously an infomercial for a particluar brand. I'll stick to watching Motorweek.

 

This originally ran back in June, and there was a lot of anticipation and discussion of it then.

Thinking about it, it may have been the one for the GTO.

 

Great review, Dudefish.

An obvious infomercial, and that's really too bad. I've ridden in a new GTO (MT) with a pretty good driver, and they are brutes that can haul 4 people really fast, and make a lot of noise doin' it - but they definitely lack the precision and refinement of the brake and suspension systems of most European and higher end Japanese cars. The GTO feels like it's suspension still needs to be sorted out, it feels twitchy and unbalanced when driven hard - on the other hand, that's exactly how the original GTO's felt - with a "point and shoot" steering technique .

I'm a fan of all things Pontiac, but know when someone's blowin' smoke up my *ss, too. Too bad they didn't just tout them for what they are - significant steps toward the return of the American performance car, and leave it at that.

 

I saw the show earlier today. Honestly, I don't think the "tests" were correctly done. Sure the GTO is a fast car, pushing 400 hp, but I watched closely and it did not handle that great. The roll on the car was pretty bad IMO.

It may be fast, but the thing can't handle that great. I may just head up to the dealer one day and test drive one hard for myself.

 

dbarnes---the comparo part of the show was on both the GTO and the Gran Prix GXP. I think the GTO is probably an okay car and I certainly would have cross-shopped against the G35 coupe, if I had been in for a coupe. What really chapped me was the very lame attempt to compare the Gran Prix to the 330 and G35 sedans.

 

male host was a guy name Kendall(won a few races in grand-ams back in the days i believe and the female was a local dj, and like most dj's full of lip service).......almost coughed up much my lunch with the way they "displayed" the results on the screen......can you say lightning quick?! and on tests that their premiered cars were beaten at, i actually swear that the volume went down mysteriously and fading fast! the test-drivers seemed to come off the streets!! anyhow, it was a great info-mercial and great for the sentimental crowd.............the real question is, how much was Kendall PAID to say all that?

 

Was it a re-run?... I saw the same show (or very similar) a week or two ago. I was peeved that they were calling it a comparison! A 400hp GTO vs G35, IS300 and BMW 3 series?!!! Not even in the same class!

The GTO screams! But looks crappy IMO. I was please to see that the G35 was on top in most categories (above IS300 and 3 series).

 

LOL, you could make a G appear faster than a Ferrari is you were biased enough to do so. It doesn't mean anything.
C.

 

Yeah, that reminds me, one of their cornier comments was that either the GTO or GXP, one or the other, "had more torque than a Ferrari _______." I was like, yeah, but the Ferrari motor can probably stretch that torque curve out to 9,000 rpm and develop double the horsepower. A Peterbilt probably has more torque than a Ferrari too, but that doesn't mean it has a sporting motor. Lame.

 

American sports cars in this price range (GTO, GXP and Stang) compete in a price range just a smidge under the G35. They go on the cheap and totally by-pass drivability (solid rear axle - crap) and go for 1/4 mile since this is what the uninformed like to buy. I would just as soon spend an extra grand or two and have the ability to corner quickly and comfortably. Anyway with my 6 spd mn only the new stangs can beat my on a straight line anyway.

THE OTHER REAL COMPARISON (as any former Ford owner can tell you) should be how long before you need warranty work. I'm going on two years without a problem... The best my previous Fords did was 6 repairs in the first yr, and no Pontiac isn't much better.

 

I have not seen any of these programs. For those who did... Were there commercials? I mean real commercials that the Speed Channel "normally" shows? Like Honda commercials, or Bud Light, of Ford, or Mr Clean Auto Dry car wash? ...

 

The one I referred to had regular commercials. I think the comment of "infomercial" was to say it seemed like there was a Pontiac bias that possibly was paid for? But it was aired as a regular car shoot-out like they do all the time with cars. It wasn�t an apparent commercial.

I agree with previous post - in a straight line the GTO, new Charger, and Mustang are fast... but the handling is probably lacking and American made cars reliability has always been lacking (but we all know that). I will say though that I love the look of the new Mustang and when I bought my G Oct of last year no dealer had any - if they did I would have at least test drove one (it was on my consideration list). I'm happy I got the G though!

 

I saw a little of it and it was definitely biased. The guy driving the fwd grand prix was trying his best to not say anything negative while driving it on a race course. A stock V8, front heavy, 303 hp fwd car is not going to be that good on a race course no matter who's driving. If anything, I bet Pontiac hosted the show, made it worth their while, and all that. If not, it seems like they would do shows like that more often for different cars.

 

We own a GTO and I've seen that clip. I always take those comparisons with a grain of salt. How they managed to get such horrific times out of cars, I'll never know....

The GTO handles fine for what it is, which is a large touring coupe. But 3660 (empty) curb weight is always apparent and it brakes and handles accordingly. Its a cheaper alternative to a G35 for folks that value straight line acceleration over cornering/braking and refinement. For what we wanted, the GTO works well.

For what my wife wants as a daily driver, the G35 sedan works better....

FWIW, the GTO does not have a solid rear as mentioned earlier. As far as suspension goes, the car needs more rear sway bar for sure.