Thinking GT instead of GXP [Archive] - Pontiac G8 Forum: G8 Forums - G8Board.com

: Thinking GT instead of GXP


L8RG8R
05-01-2008, 12:40 PM
First off, if money were no object, I would be on the Ferrari forums. Unfortunately, it is definitely a factor in my decision for my next vehicle purchase. The G8 GT and G8 GXP will both be performance bargains. For that matter, a Corvette Z06 is also considered a performance bargain, but I can't swing that much for a car. I can probably make a GXP happen, but the GT looking like the right car for me and my little piggy bank. It still has awesome V8 power and great handling. I do like to a few mods, and I'm thinking a couple of grand would go a long way with this platform. I'm just waiting for my M6, and I think I will be a G8 GT owner.
I won't be the king of the road, but I will feel like highway royalty.:gears:

Mr. Sandog
05-01-2008, 12:55 PM
Once you have a look at the price of aftermarket Brembo brakes, the GXP will start to look like even more of a bargain.

sccaGTO
05-01-2008, 04:25 PM
Once you have a look at the price of aftermarket Brembo brakes, the GXP will start to look like even more of a bargain.

Plus, right now the GXP is the only G8 guaranteed to get the M6 transmission.

L8RG8R
05-01-2008, 05:29 PM
Mr. Sandog, sccaGTO- you guys aren't helping me and my conservative approach. Brembos- Pffft! Stopping is over rated. I'll just drag my feet Flintstone style. Hopefully the GT gets an M6- I have faith. I gotta row my own boat.

CodeJockey
05-01-2008, 06:15 PM
By the time Pontiac decides to offer an M6 in the GT, you might be able to save up the extra cash for a GXP anyway. :gears:

-dak-
05-01-2008, 06:34 PM
To each his own. I bought the G8 to get out of a manual GTO. First off my wife couldn't drive stick, and therefore I couldn't borrow her SUV to go camping on the weekends. Second, the manual SUCKED at the drag strip. Maybe the G8 has a better rear suspension, I don't know. The M6 GTO wheel hopped like mad off the line. The auto guys consistently ran a few tenths faster in the 1/4 mile hp for hp (I was running 410 rwhp in my cammed '04). Yes, the stick was fun to drive (except for numberous clutch problems with the Textralia clutch), but for me I opted for auto this time around. Again, to each his own!

ToneyTone
05-01-2008, 07:01 PM
I also would be on board for a M6 GT if they produce it. Looks like i will have to wait awhile for the GXP.

sccaGTO
05-01-2008, 08:39 PM
Mr. Sandog, sccaGTO- you guys aren't helping me and my conservative approach. Brembos- Pffft! Stopping is over rated. I'll just drag my feet Flintstone style. Hopefully the GT gets an M6- I have faith. I gotta row my own boat.

If Pontiac would offer the M6 on the GT trim, guess what I'll be ordering. 2010 Pontiac G8 Ute. L76, M6 trans.

kewlv8
05-01-2008, 09:39 PM
Mr. Sandog, sccaGTO- you guys aren't helping me and my conservative approach. Brembos- Pffft! Stopping is over rated. I'll just drag my feet Flintstone style. Hopefully the GT gets an M6- I have faith. I gotta row my own boat.

I'll play devil's advocate here. If you are the least bit performance oriented, and can swing the coin, get the GXP. The performance extras are what separates a performance car from a fast family car. Brakes are about stopping fast, but also about stopping repeatably, or enduring the punishment of a track. I guarantee most 'standard' rotors or pads will not put up with that kind of punishment. Handling? The current G8 skidpad numbers are good for a family car, but not for a performance car. 1/4 mile times? Well, enough said. Sure, you can mod the hell outta a GT, but you end up with a modded GT (can you say Frankenstein?). Go for the GXP.

pruettfan
05-02-2008, 01:12 AM
The M6 GT won't happen. Nearly 70% of C6 Corvettes are sold as automatics so to think that both a GT and a GXP would make good business sense is kinda crazy. I will be buying the GXP and think as long as the price is less than 40k it is a bargin. The Brembos are very nice brakes and I am really looking forward to trying the car out. I think the GT is a great car and if the extra 5-7k for the GXP makes it less attractive the GT is a great option. My guess is the GXP will be 10-15% better than the GT.

Ryan M
05-02-2008, 01:13 AM
Thats my reasoning as well.

It all depends what the final GXP price is.

For the bigger brembo brakes from the factory and a few of the other things it might be worth it.


Right now, we expect the GXP to be available very late this year, most likely in late November or early December. Pricing hasn't been finalized, but will likely be a few thousand dollars more than a comparable GT. Final pricing will likely be announced about two months prior to availability.

Regards,

Jim Hopson
Manager, Pontiac Communication

So if this holds true, G8 GT's can be picked up now while they are in high demand for 31-33k then 34-36k might be a good price for the GXP.

If dealers start lowering the price on GT's to sell more the GXP might be possible... Maybe you can get a GXP for the current price of a GT now?

:gears:

JLockhart
05-02-2008, 07:50 AM
the manual SUCKED at the drag strip. Maybe the G8 has a better rear suspension, I don't know. The M6 GTO wheel hopped like mad off the line. The auto guys consistently ran a few tenths faster in the 1/4 mile hp for hp

I was kind of hoping for a G8 GT manual; most of the time I prefer driving a stick. But geez, the auto is a 6-speed. I think an M6 would be hard-pressed to keep up with the A6.

G8 Lover
05-02-2008, 08:39 AM
I'm leaning towards the GT as well. Normally, I'm all about the highest performance model, but really, around 400 hp (tune) for a DD, is pretty damn good. I will not be racing the car at any track as I don't drag race and have another car I take for road courses. I'll mostly be driving from home to work (about 6 miles stop and go). Plus, the GXP will be rated at about 400 hp so the stock ones would be a close race. :)

I know, I know, the GXP will likely be under rated and a tune will likely take it up quite substantially, but I still contend that a 6 mile drive and 400 hp is pleanty. Heck, I'm pretty pleased with my 320 ish GP GXP for my commute. Even further heck, I might ride my bike into work a few times!:p

L8RG8R
05-02-2008, 03:09 PM
I'll play devil's advocate here. If you are the least bit performance oriented, and can swing the coin, get the GXP. The performance extras are what separates a performance car from a fast family car. Brakes are about stopping fast, but also about stopping repeatably, or enduring the punishment of a track. I guarantee most 'standard' rotors or pads will not put up with that kind of punishment. Handling? The current G8 skidpad numbers are good for a family car, but not for a performance car. 1/4 mile times? Well, enough said. Sure, you can mod the hell outta a GT, but you end up with a modded GT (can you say Frankenstein?). Go for the GXP.

There seems to be a lot of devil's advocates on this forum! :D
I see what you are saying with family car vs. Performance car, but you have to admit, the G8 GT is a kick ass family car. I also get the Frankenstein reference. I don't really consider the act of throwing a good exhaust system or springs on a GT an abomination.

Thats my reasoning as well.

It all depends what the final GXP price is.

For the bigger brembo brakes from the factory and a few of the other things it might be worth it.

So if this holds true, G8 GT's can be picked up now while they are in high demand for 31-33k then 34-36k might be a good price for the GXP.

If dealers start lowering the price on GT's to sell more the GXP might be possible... Maybe you can get a GXP for the current price of a GT now?

:gears:

Bottom line, if I can make a GXP happen for a reasonable amount above a GT price, I'm all over it.

L8RG8R
05-02-2008, 03:17 PM
I'm leaning towards the GT as well. Normally, I'm all about the highest performance model, but really, around 400 hp (tune) for a DD, is pretty damn good. I will not be racing the car at any track as I don't drag race and have another car I take for road courses. I'll mostly be driving from home to work (about 6 miles stop and go). Plus, the GXP will be rated at about 400 hp so the stock ones would be a close race. :)

I know, I know, the GXP will likely be under rated and a tune will likely take it up quite substantially, but I still contend that a 6 mile drive and 400 hp is pleanty. Heck, I'm pretty pleased with my 320 ish GP GXP for my commute. Even further heck, I might ride my bike into work a few times!:p

I'm not planning on racing or dragging either. I just enjoy spirited drives and love the rumble of a good American V8. Top of the line is my preference too, but a GT is honestly more than enough car for me. The GXP is icing on the cake. Gobs of icing.

Cashed
05-02-2008, 03:32 PM
The GT has been a blast to drive. I would rather have had a GXP, but I am notoriously impatient. I figure I will trade my GT in on a GXP in another year or so anyways. I dont intend to mod my car out. I will do subtle changes that only make it better...yet it will still be dependable and practical.

Go with the GXP...be patient. I hear patience is a virtue...I just havent stuck around long enough to find out!

RoadTrip
05-02-2008, 05:16 PM
We're thinking GXP because we want the 6-Speed Manual Transmission...

neelnug
05-02-2008, 05:28 PM
I went for the GT because I too was getting out of a m6 GTO. The GT performance is fine and for a few bucks will match the GXP. The stock brakes feel pretty good to me. If I was actually going to track the car the GXP upgrades wouldn't cut it anyway.

Mr. Sandog
05-02-2008, 06:32 PM
If I was actually going to track the car the GXP upgrades wouldn't cut it anyway.

If the GXP has 6-piston Brembos in the front and 4-pistons in the back, wouldn't that be good enough to track? Or are you just talking about pads and rotors?

Gfrom8
05-17-2008, 11:09 AM
The whole reason I got the g8 was value. You get what you pay for.

h3llphyre
05-17-2008, 12:04 PM
If the GXP has 6-piston Brembos in the front and 4-pistons in the back, wouldn't that be good enough to track? Or are you just talking about pads and rotors?

GXP has 4 piston front, same rears as the GT. Honestly, my GT stops VERY fast, I don't see the reason for larger fronts, other then the "ricer" appeal or just having larger brakes for the sake of larger brakes. It's kinda like people driving these cars, and never going over 35mph.

kewlv8
05-17-2008, 12:13 PM
GXP has 4 piston front, same rears as the GT. Honestly, my GT stops VERY fast, I don't see the reason for larger fronts, other then the "ricer" appeal or just having larger brakes for the sake of larger brakes. It's kinda like people driving these cars, and never going over 35mph.

Don't underestimate the Performance brakes. If you remove the speed governor on your car and attempt to slow from 150+, it is likely you will find out the hard way that standard brakes are rotors were not designed for high performance (can you say 'new rotors'). Agreed, the high performance brakes are not required for everyone, but it is not a "ricer" thing.

Mr. Sandog
05-17-2008, 01:18 PM
Don't underestimate the Performance brakes. If you remove the speed governor on your car and attempt to slow from 150+, it is likely you will find out the hard way that standard brakes are rotors were not designed for high performance (can you say 'new rotors'). Agreed, the high performance brakes are not required for everyone, but it is not a "ricer" thing.

Also, some people will autocross this car and the extra braking power will come in handy.

kewlv8
05-17-2008, 02:06 PM
Also, some people will autocross this car and the extra braking power will come in handy.

True that. In August, there is a 2.5 mile road course opening here in town as well.... my brakes will get some serious workouts.:driving:

Tonkadad
05-17-2008, 04:26 PM
Don't underestimate the Performance brakes. If you remove the speed governor on your car and attempt to slow from 150+, it is likely you will find out the hard way that standard brakes are rotors were not designed for high performance (can you say 'new rotors'). Agreed, the high performance brakes are not required for everyone, but it is not a "ricer" thing.

I live on a mountain and drive down a 5 mile winding road everyday. Any kind of spirited driving and brakes on all of our cars start to fade.

Also don't forget it is a 4000 lb. plus car.

We changes front pads every 7500 miles.

Waiting for the GXP.

I want the biggest brakes I can get.

LS2GTO
05-17-2008, 07:05 PM
First off, if money were no object, I would be on the Ferrari forums. Unfortunately, it is definitely a factor in my decision for my next vehicle purchase. The G8 GT and G8 GXP will both be performance bargains. For that matter, a Corvette Z06 is also considered a performance bargain, but I can't swing that much for a car. I can probably make a GXP happen, but the GT looking like the right car for me and my little piggy bank. It still has awesome V8 power and great handling. I do like to a few mods, and I'm thinking a couple of grand would go a long way with this platform. I'm just waiting for my M6, and I think I will be a G8 GT owner.
I won't be the king of the road, but I will feel like highway royalty.:gears:

I believe you really really want a GXP and I don't blame you.

But think about it...you say you're waiting for the 6spd. manual GT version. As far as I know the manuals aren't available yet but if you're waiting then why not wait and save up more and get the GXP? You say you will mod the GT, well in what way? Larger brakes are very important especially if you plan on making the GT go faster. You'll also get more exclusivity with the GXP version, slightly larger displacement LS3 (corvette powerplant) and better seats.

Don't sell yourself short by getting the GT instead of the GXP if you can spare the coin cause you might get the dreaded buyers remorse if you do!

L8RG8R
05-18-2008, 07:58 PM
I believe you really really want a GXP and I don't blame you.

But think about it...you say you're waiting for the 6spd. manual GT version. As far as I know the manuals aren't available yet but if you're waiting then why not wait and save up more and get the GXP? You say you will mod the GT, well in what way? Larger brakes are very important especially if you plan on making the GT go faster. You'll also get more exclusivity with the GXP version, slightly larger displacement LS3 (corvette powerplant) and better seats.

Don't sell yourself short by getting the GT instead of the GXP if you can spare the coin cause you might get the dreaded buyers remorse if you do!

Good points! How did you guess I really want the GXP? I'm going to have to test drive both and figure out how much more I like the GXP over the GT and ask myself if it is worth the cost difference.

Speedfreak
05-18-2008, 10:31 PM
The only way I would consider a GXP is if I had to have a manual, which I don't need. Got a 6pseed in my 30th TA or if it was not subject to the "Gas Guzzler Tax"

I like the front facia better, the seats seem nicer but for the $ diff...hmm

BBBBGXP
05-18-2008, 10:36 PM
Was all hot for the GXP until the GM talking heads started with the $40K price talk. Just can't come up with a justification for the extra $$ as compared to what you're getting verses the GT. Made the decision to go with the '09 GT, to get the color I want (26U, Sport Red Metallic).:dunno:

G8Smitty
05-18-2008, 10:59 PM
The GT has been a blast to drive. I would rather have had a GXP, but I am notoriously impatient. I figure I will trade my GT in on a GXP in another year or so anyways. I dont intend to mod my car out. I will do subtle changes that only make it better...yet it will still be dependable and practical.

Go with the GXP...be patient. I hear patience is a virtue...I just havent stuck around long enough to find out!

I couldn't agree more.

LoveMyGT
05-19-2008, 04:20 PM
I simply LOVE my liquid red G8 GT. The ride is awesome. I love the driving performance and to be really honest here, I can barely handle the juice she gives me. I am not a racer. so she is plenty peppy enough to put a BIG mile on my face:). I got a great price on her. I traded in my paid off suburban (2002), and took there $1000.00 incentive. Walked out the door owing $21,000.00. I looked at all other cars and makes in my price range and NONE of them even came close to this car. She is just pure and simply put my dream car:) Thanks GM, I'm having a blast!!!!!

omegafiler
05-19-2008, 05:41 PM
Yeah, a lot has to do with budget, price, and what you really want out the G8. Afterall, there are plenty who will be happy with the V6.

I'll be considering a G8, along with some other vehicles, when the '09 MY GT/GXP's start hitting the dealer lots. Final OTD price will be the big deciding factor, along with any changes in optional equipment, if any.

Then of course, a back to back test drive would be helpful. :)

LoveMyGT
05-19-2008, 07:54 PM
I have to say that I am truly enjoying my GT !! I looked at all the cars out there in the $30,000 dollar price range and nothing even came close to it. I bought the Liquid Red. I feel like a queen when I am in it:driving:. With any new car I always find glitches from bad windshield wipers to crappy glove boxes. Both of these are part of my GT as well, but the sheer performance is outstanding! I do however like the way the seats feel, and the fact that the back seats are big considering it's a sedan. I realize they are coming out with 400hp in 2009, but for me, what I have is plenty of speed. I love the way it handles from city driving to mountain driving. My G8 GT is more than I ever thought I would have at this price point. I am a happy buyer! I will have this car for a long time:).

BBBBGXP
05-19-2008, 08:33 PM
I feel like a queen when I am in it:driving:

Uhhhh, I am assuming that you should be feeling like a QUEEN and not a KING?!:huh::sneaky:

Oh, and Welcome to the forum!

kewlv8
05-19-2008, 08:37 PM
Uhhhh, I am assuming that you should be feeling like a QUEEN and not a KING?!:huh::sneaky:

[/B][/I]

Not that there is anything wrong with that.....:wiggle:

BBBBGXP
05-19-2008, 08:40 PM
Not that there is anything wrong with that.....:wiggle:

You'll note I didn't say that. It was an attempt to determine male or female, not preference! But thanks for the assist.......unneeded as it was!:wink2:

gmag21
05-19-2008, 10:58 PM
Whether I get the GT or GXP im gonna be happy. When I plan on getting either of the two, it wont be for a long time. I suggest waiting for both models to have been used and abused by other people and get their opinions on each and compare. It really comes down to what's more important to you. Looks, Price, Power, ect..
Im gonna give it some time with some heavy research before I come to a final conclusion of the two

:popcorn2: