2009 Pontiac G8 GXP Milwaukee WI
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2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
December 7, 2009 By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor
2009 Pontiac G8 
2009 Pontiac G8
DriverSide Overview
Here in North America, General Motors and Detroit go together like hamburgers and French (ahem, Freedom) Fries or football and John Madden. It was with unwavering logic then, that when GM released a new sedan packing an oh-so-Red-White-and-Blue 6.2-liter V-8 and rear-wheel drive, most assumed it hailed from the mean streets of Motown. Not quite. As it turns out, the G8 GXP is from that continent-sized island known for Crocodile Dundee, Vegemite and, er, the world’s deadliest jellyfish. And spider. And probably marsupial. Ok, you get it.
While it has been slightly re-skinned for Pontiac in North America, the G8 GXP begins its life as a Holden Commodore in Elizabeth, Australia before making the long journey across the Pacific. Much like the Australian language, it doesn’t lose much in translation. With its bombastic engine note, asphalt-churning burnout potential and industrial-grade gearshift, the GXP feels a lot like an American car, albeit minus the questionable interior plastics and oafish handling. You may have read some other road tests that likened the car to the last generation BMW M5 , and we completely agree. Considering that, when new, the E39 M5 sold for $70k, it’s difficult to argue a case against this half-priced Aussie import. Xenophobes fear not, it has not gone without some American influence – you can still have one with chrome rims.
What's to Like
The LS3 engine – which made its debut in the 2008 Corvette – is a force to be reckoned with, or in the case of the G8 GXP, enjoyed thoroughly. Sports seats provide plenty of lateral support but don’t leave you sore and bruised after long rides. A roomy interior makes hauling people and cargo an easy task. Tons of standard features and a tiny options list means buyers will get a lot for their money.
What's Not to Like
Center console-mounted window controls we can live with, but when the side-view mirror controls accompany them, we have to draw the line. With an in-dash LCD display standard, sat nav would be a welcome option – but sadly it isn’t on the very brief options list. Unfortunately, fitting the G8 with the Corvette’s engine has brought with it an insatiable appetite for unleaded. At least its dietary inclinations remain American.
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
A raucous throttle blip upon startup means anyone within earshot will instantly know you’ve got something special under the hood. Seated in the comfortable yet grippy sport seats, you’ll discover a steering wheel seems just a little bit too large, but all of the controls have a solid weighting to them. The chunky gearlever and talkative clutch go well with the serious nature of the V-8 engine. There is a curiously small amount of tra...