4 GM cars that won't leave you bankrupt: Pontiac G8

June 21, 11:54 AMBaltimore Car Shopping ExaminerAndrew Krebs-Smith

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Grrrrrr...the Pontiac's menacing design means business

If the Cadillac CTS is out of your price range, but the Chevy Malibu is too austere for your liking, don't worry - GM has one for you too.

The Pontiac G8 has identity issues, which can be a good thing. For example, the G8 can't decide whether it is a star athlete or a resource-conserving hippie. The car can rip from 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds with the optional V8, yet it returns 24 miles per gallon on the highway. What gives?

I thought things would start to make more sense when I built my own G8 at Pontiac.com. I added luxury options like heated leather (power adjustable) seats, premium audio, 19" wheels, sport package, and more, and winced in anticipation of my total. Yet I found myself confused, checking to see if I had made an error. My total price worked out to be only $32,855!

The best part about this pontiac is that it wasn't originally designed by Pontiac. Like the "Pontiac" GTO, this car came from Holden in Australia. So what, you ask? Holden has a reputation for better craftsmanship and better quality materials, which lead to a more satisfying ride and an interior that just makes you want to touch everything.

The reason that the Pontiac G8 is a personal favorite of mine, however, has little to do with the aforementioned qualities. I could care less if the car can haul a family, or get good gas mileage. I want an exciting ride and exhilarating acceleration that leaves me smiling every time I stab the gas. Even though the V8 G8 will do all those things well enough, the G8 GXP does them all stupendously. Here are a few statistics to fill you in:

Horsepower: 415 (More than a BMW M3)

Torque: 415 (WAY more than a BMW M3)

Lateral Grip: .88G

0 - 60 MPH: 4.6 seconds

1/4 Mile: 13.0 seconds

Top Speed: 155 MPH (electronicall limited)

The Pontiac G8 is for those that need room for four doors, but aren't ready to relinquish their driving excitement. So if you find yourself grappling with existential issues about your identity, you might just not own the right car. Then again, maybe you just stopped taking your medication.

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