The automaker's favorite type of song is always the call and answer. If the masses say they want it, then it's likely we'll see it in next year's model. Say what you will about the masses and their opinions-when it comes to selling cars, there's no good or bad-it's all subjective. Trouble is, most people want a Tag for the price of a Timex.
Pontiac answers the call for a flagship sedan with the new G8. In the process, they've wrapped their arms around every one of us and our demands. They say all the right words: performance, power, styling, accessories. On paper, the numbers are there in bold: The G8 GT is more powerful than the BMW 550i. In the next breath, what's even better: for less than $30K.
Right around the $30K mark, and only $2,400 more than the base G8, the GT is worth every penny. For one, it jumps from a 256hp 3.6L V-6 engine to a 361hp 6.0L V-8, with more competitive numbers next to the likes of BMWs. Standard with the GT is a 230-watt Blaupunkt 11-speaker system with a 6.5-inch color LCD and six-disc changer. Of course, the base model is no slouch, with its seven Blaupunkt speakers. The whole look of the up-level radio integrates the system into a better overall interior. Subtle additions, like the improved style on instrument cluster and the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, elevate what might otherwise be considered a typical American-made interior. Both have inputs for portable music devices and two power sources, one inside the center console. OnStar is available in both as well, with turn-by-turn navigation as well as the rest of the concierge service.
Everything about the G8 looks tougher, beginning with the carriage. The wheelbase is bigger and the dimensions are stretched to all four wheels, with flared fenders and a prowling posture. This gives the interior, especially the back seat, an incredible amount of room. Accents like the shoulder line and grille shape are angled and not boxy, giving the car the appearance of a heavy hitter without looking like a Fentley. Speaking of the 300C though-the G8 has a lot to offer from the factory; for instance, for the up-sale of a Premium and Sport Package, you get more adjustments and leather to the seats, and those 19s that put the car at the height of its game. But like the aforementioned Chrysler, this Pontiac could be great for customizing freaks and has the appeal for the rabid aftermarket crowd.
In terms of performance for the G8, beyond the horsepower, Pontiac seems to have focused on turning and handling-after all, a driver doesn't live by power alone. This car is thick, which is to say, filled out in all the right places. On the twisties, it feels big, and the stiff sport suspension, the same on both the standard and GT, is much-needed. The steering is what keeps things cool-the feeling is more direct than expected, with a quality of control that contributes the most balance in the corners.
Neither G8 model offers a manual transmission. The Driver Shift Control allows for some options in shifting, however. Normal automatic is for the fuel conscious, but you can slide the shifter over and leave it there for sport mode, and also use it to shift manually up and down. Unlike some manual modes for automatics, the transmission won't automatically up-shift, making for more driver control, fun, and perhaps fuel consumption. Which, for the record, is surprisingly close between the two engine models: 17mpg city, 25mpg highway, with 15/24 mpg on the GT. Some paddle shifters on the steering wheel would be nice with the auto-only factor-we'd trade that out for the eight cupholders that we Americans always call for. Alas, people are more critical of their cars than they are of their significant others. Still, in their eagerness to please, this is one carmaker that has satisfied without stretching itself too thin.