An interesting thread found on ls1gto.com.

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179234

Like I posted there at ls1gto.

GM has totally messed this launch up.

How so? They never planned from the outset of taking less than one year from show introduction to retail delivery. Let's see, car introduced in Feb., scheduled productin to start in Aug. Now delayed for a simple strut mount delay (when I say simple, I mean not GM doing it- onroe as reported) I guess it depends on if the redesign just pulls something off of the shelf for install or if teh body has to be retooled for the mount. So now full start of production gets moved back to Sep-Oct, on the boats in Dec instead of Nov. Feb retail delivery instead of Jan. Call them '09s instead of '08s. They still can meet their one year deadline. Luke, never ever in any GM document or quote has anyone officially said that production G8s would be in country prior to calendar year end. "Messing up" the launch would have been bringing in cars that might have marginally passed the curb test but failed left and right on real American potholes.

How is this any different than the GTO launch. I think people honestly forget how that was. I expect production to start in the next month or so but I wouldnt count on seeing any of the cars on our shores until the very end of 2007.

Funny how you can release info on a new upcoming model year motorcycle in august/september and be in showrooms in late winter/early spring. Honda hasn't even announced the new accord and it is expected in showrooms december/january.

It's not like this was a concept/prototype car/1 off that would have to be totally engineered from the ground up. It is a vehicle with a huge/new assembly plant and based on a chassis/drivetrain that is already being produced.

That said 11 months for a A6 to arrive at dealers (on the west coast) and 15-17 months for a M6 to arrive at dealers (on the west coast) IMHO is dropping the ball.

If I could have gotten my hands on a G8 M6 6-9 months after the announcement I would have already had my deposit at the dealership.

I've worked in the auto industry previously. I'm hoping to return in a year or so. It's not like reinventing the wheel.

I worked at a facility that did R&D and pre production tooling for most auto manufacturers. The vast majority of manufacturers would constantly be evolving, improving, and launching totally new models. GM seldom made a design change even though they were sometimes 2 or 3 generations behind in innovation. I'm just saying that I find it hard to believe that the execs at GM worked the North American model as hard as they should of given the Aussie unit is already in production. I could see an couple month difference between the launch of the North American models. I'm using the auto industry as a standard for my comments. I'm really excited and frustrated at the same time about this car.


Just my first hand experience in the global auto industry.

http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117&d=1186681406



117

How is this any different than the GTO launch. I think people honestly forget how that was. I expect production to start in the next month or so but I wouldnt count on seeing any of the cars on our shores until the very end of 2007.

True. Plus, with all of the anti-American car bashing by the media, a recall is not something GM wants. I'm sure that recalls will happen, but to recall them as soon as they go on sale will make some buyers lose faith. Catch the problem before it leaves the production facility.

I'm guessing that a year's+ production of Holden cars are defective all of a sudden? Something's up, so I'll enjoy the Solstice GXP a few months longer...poor me.

Good news is that the brand new re-designed G8 will be produced in Canada in 2010 calander year, right? And the costs to produce will drop.

Dern Australian dollar is messing us up!!! On the other hand--Good on ya, mates.

True. Plus, with all of the anti-American car bashing by the media, a recall is not something GM wants. I'm sure that recalls will happen, but to recall them as soon as they go on sale will make some buyers lose faith. Catch the problem before it leaves the production facility.

Well if it doesnt meet the crash standards it wouldnt be able to be sold. So its not really about a recall. The reason why Toyota profits so much is because they use the same identical parts as much as they can. Thats also why they have the most recalls - when one of those parts goes bad it can affect a few models of cars over the span of years.

Well if it doesnt meet the crash standards it wouldnt be able to be sold. So its not really about a recall. The reason why Toyota profits so much is because they use the same identical parts as much as they can. Thats also why they have the most recalls - when one of those parts goes bad it can affect a few models of cars over the span of years.

I would have thought that GM would have had the G8 crash tested, emission tested, etc. by now. I know the car is still less than 12 months old, but GM spends money like water. Bring over a Commie, crash test it (after emission testing it), then build inventory & ship to dealers. If crash tests are holding this up, then I'll blame GM for waiting to long to get started.

I agree, GM is a bunch of slow pokes that don't get things done. They are sucking with this launch......

The car is still going to rule though, but it's taking way to long.....

I would have thought that GM would have had the G8 crash tested, emission tested, etc. by now. I know the car is still less than 12 months old, but GM spends money like water. Bring over a Commie, crash test it (after emission testing it), then build inventory & ship to dealers. If crash tests are holding this up, then I'll blame GM for waiting to long to get started.

That's where they screwed up with the GTO and had to relocate the fuel tank in the trunk. You think that GM would have their **** together on the G8.
:ohsnap1:

That's where they screwed up with the GTO and had to relocate the fuel tank in the trunk. You think that GM would have their **** together on the G8.
:ohsnap1:

Not correct. The GTO was a "long after thought" of the Monaro. The Monaro was introduced to satisfy an Australian market. Mr Lutz was the one who asked for the Monaro to be engineered for the US market and hence the fuel tank relocation, etc.

Mike

I would have expected to hear from Pontiac where and when the G8 was going to be displayed. I've signed up a million times to receive "news" about the GTO and G8 and other models but have yet to ever, ever, over the past 4 years to receive anything from Pontiac. Why have those sign up forms if there is no return. I still can't believe they didn't at least let the dealer network of central ohio know about the G8 being in Columbus in June. Pontiac seems to have the racing program down but corporate marketing, I don't know...

It's common knowledge that Pontiac has been the red-headed step-child of GM in the last 10 years. They only have one vehicle that was specifically developed for them, the G6. Everything else is a rehash of something else. They have not marketed well at all. GM first fixed Caddy, then launched Hummer, then fixed Saturn and so on and so on.

The G8 is GM's attempt to get Pontiac kick-started. The G6 will eventually become RWD as will everything in their lineup. Once they get the product re-focused the marketing will be easier.

How is this any different than the GTO launch. I think people honestly forget how that was. I expect production to start in the next month or so but I wouldnt count on seeing any of the cars on our shores until the very end of 2007.

DY, are you going to get a sneak peak at any of the first arrivals?

It's common knowledge that Pontiac has been the red-headed step-child of GM in the last 10 years. They only have one vehicle that was specifically developed for them, the G6. Everything else is a rehash of something else. They have not marketed well at all. GM first fixed Caddy, then launched Hummer, then fixed Saturn and so on and so on.
Makes you wonder if it will be Pontiac or Buick that gets fixed first. :sneaky:
The G8 is GM's attempt to get Pontiac kick-started. The G6 will eventually become RWD as will everything in their lineup. Once they get the product re-focused the marketing will be easier.


I can't wait (until 2011) for that RWD G6 (PLEASE rename it). I wonder if it will have room for 8 cylinders? :yumyum:

I can't wait (until 2011) for that RWD G6 (PLEASE rename it). I wonder if it will have room for 8 cylinders? :yumyum:

Don't know about the new chassis but my girlfriends current G6 GTP has the 3.9L in FWD and that engine is packed in there, I wouldn't be suprised if you could shoehorn a 5.3L or LS engine in a RWD layout.

They only have one vehicle that was specifically developed for them, the G6. Everything else is a rehash of something else.

Not true.

04 Grand Prix, L32 before the rest of the W-bodies
06 Grand Prix GXP, V8 before the rest of the W-bodies
These got rehashed into the Impala SS.

Solstice (arguable, but developed alongside the Saturn thing)

Now I will say if Pontiac is to survive it needs Pontiac Only cars...(eg. G6, G8, G10..er GTO).

Not true.

04 Grand Prix, L32 before the rest of the W-bodies
06 Grand Prix GXP, V8 before the rest of the W-bodies
These got rehashed into the Impala SS.

Solstice (arguable, but developed alongside the Saturn thing)

Now I will say if Pontiac is to survive it needs Pontiac Only cars...(eg. G6, G8, G10..er GTO).

It is true.

The Grand Prix is dead.

The Solstice = Opel GT

They only have one vehicle that was specifically developed for them, the G6.

The G6 is not unique to Pontiac. It uses the Epsilon platform which also underpins the 2004-2007 Malibu, the Saab 9-3, Open Vectra, Saturn Aura and Cadillac BLS.

Pontiac has no unique products.

It is true.

The Grand Prix is dead.

The Solstice = Opel GT

You know what - I am pretty sure the Solstice came before the GT. Which is weird because Opel and Vauxhall had the speedster which is a mid-engine car. Now they have a re-badged sky?

The G6 is not unique to Pontiac. It uses the Epsilon platform which also underpins the 2004-2007 Malibu, the Saab 9-3, Open Vectra, Saturn Aura and Cadillac BLS.

Pontiac has no unique products.
The Aura and Vectra from which it is spawned may be Epsilon, but it is not an identical underpinning to the G6. And with the redesign of the Malibu, and the 9-3, the 2008 G6 does stand alone as a unique Pontiac only offering, awaiting redesign next year or the next...
You know what - I am pretty sure the Solstice came before the GT. Which is weird because Opel and Vauxhall had the speedster which is a mid-engine car. Now they have a re-badged sky?
The Solstice came even before the Sky, which some refuse to believe. In fact the hardtop Sol was the first design, and then spur of the moment Bob Lutz asked how it would look with the top removed. The styling of the Sky (and of course Opel GT) is drawn from many prior excercises, including the Vauxhall Lightning. Opel does still have the Tigra TwinTop and the Astra TwinTop for top down motoring in additoin the the GT, models we may never see.

You know what - I am pretty sure the Solstice came before the GT. Which is weird because Opel and Vauxhall had the speedster which is a mid-engine car. Now they have a re-badged sky?

True. What is really messed up was the "concept" Daewoo D2C or some crap like that. They were (at one time) seriously thinking of building it. :err:

You know what - I am pretty sure the Solstice came before the GT. Which is weird because Opel and Vauxhall had the speedster which is a mid-engine car. Now they have a re-badged sky?

So who did the development of the Sky/Solstic/GT? I thought it was Opel that was the lead division for the design, which was based on the Vauxhall VX Lightening concept as it's inspiration.

Here are pictures of the Vauxhall VX Lightening concept

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1679-1.jpg
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1679-3.jpg

I was wrong. It seems that the Opel is a rebadged Sky. That should teach me that a car based on a European concept does not have to come from a European division. It is hard to believe Saturn is the division responsible for such a great car.

By the way, here is the Daewoo GX2

http://i3.tinypic.com/wwbwco.jpg

spewing G8 been delayed. i was hoping some overtime before christmas. you yanks make sure you buy the G8 in a shipload. you wont be dissapointed.

spewing G8 been delayed. i was hoping some overtime before christmas. you yanks make sure you buy the G8 in a shipload. you wont be dissapointed.Sorry, I don't understand your accent, are you saying they are delayed, or they aren't?

Don't worry, they will be bought by the shipload, just build them as good or better than the aussie versions, and keep that quality up!

I was wrong. It seems that the Opel is a rebadged Sky. That should teach me that a car based on a European concept does not have to come from a European division. It is hard to believe Saturn is the division responsible for such a great car.

By the way, here is the Daewoo GX2

http://i3.tinypic.com/wwbwco.jpg
Actually Pontiac is the division responsible for such a great foursome of cars. Other than the Vauxhall, the Solstice predates and underpins them all. And other than body, I would wager tghat there are more differences between a VE Commodore and a G8 than there are between a Solstice and a Sky. You will find all three (including Opel GT)currently being built under the same roof in Delaware.

So who did the development of the Sky/Solstic/GT? I thought it was Opel that was the lead division for the design, which was based on the Vauxhall VX Lightening concept as it's inspiration.

Here are pictures of the Vauxhall VX Lightening concept

[/IMG]

I just found out that the Opel Speedster (Mid-Engine) car was built by lotus.

Sorry, I don't understand your accent, are you saying they are delayed, or they aren't?

Don't worry, they will be bought by the shipload, just build them as good or better than the aussie versions, and keep that quality up!

quality is no issue. there's a huge jump in quality from the GTO to the G8. i can't really say much cause GM do monitor sites like this but you won't be dissappointed.

Most of the info I have seen recently has stated that the G8 will be here after the start of 2008. I don't see that as a delay. If it is, maybe they are loading up on M6 cars to be available at launch. :D Wishful thinking at least.

Actually Pontiac is the division responsible for such a great foursome of cars. Other than the Vauxhall, the Solstice predates and underpins them all. And other than body, I would wager tghat there are more differences between a VE Commodore and a G8 than there are between a Solstice and a Sky. You will find all three (including Opel GT)currently being built under the same roof in Delaware.

"Pontiac" isn't responsible for the Kappa cars as GM's engineering and vehicle development is integrated by region. Thus, it was GMNA that developed the Solstice. However, they raided parts bins from all over the GM world to make the car financially viable - the mirrors are even from Fiat.