I went to my local Pontiac dealership the other day and was talking to my salesman about the G8. One thing I feel strongly about is that us GTO owners (ex in my case) have a head start in understanding the quality of the Holden cars.

In my case, I loved my GTO.

I loved the color, the blue leather interior, and just everything about it. The quality, fit and finish, was great, the car (stock) ran like a bat out of hell, and with a couple of thousand (see my sig.) ran a 12.12 in the quarter. I ran her at least 150 times in the quarter and when I sold her, she was still an outstanding car. The only problems I had was a bad o2 sensor, and a couple of small items.

So, as compared to the general USA population, I understand what Holden is all about and would not hesitate to buy a new G8.

Other thoughts?

As someone who has never owned any of the Holden cars, I've heard nothing but good things about them. Even the autorags have had nothing but good things to say about G8 Holden and Vauxhall variants. I'm excited for the G8 to come out, if I heard correctly Pontiac might offer a GTO, is that true? In any case, I'll most likely be cross shopping between a Mustang GT and a G8 GT. Work that one out. :p

Other thoughts?

This is the only reason I am looking at another GM vehicle. From all the press reports of the goat and what ya'll have said about them has swayed me to look at the G8. I'm holding out for the '09 just to play it safe and I'm hoping for the M6. :eek2:

Other thoughts?


The experience with my GTO has me excited about the G8. The quality from Holden is very good and the V8 option with the G8's RWD platform is a must have for me.

I've had my eye on a Ute since 1993. Getting a monaro was near as good... No complaints here. Holden has been the only good thing in GM for a long time. My love for GM died with the 96 Impala ss.

I have never owned a GM, it has been nothing but Fords for me since I was 16. My last/current car is a 2k SVT and I can honestly say I will never spend another dollar of mine with Ford! Less than 3 months after driving my new car off the lot the steering rack goes, 2 months after that dash started warping, and I could put you all to sleep with the list of problems I have had.

Reading posts such as this one, posts that confirm what I had already suspected regarding build quality of these vehicles compared to our hometown stuff. I cannot wait until I have the opportunity to get one of my own. However, it is a bit unfortunate that we will have to wait soo long for the mt.

I have never owned a GM, it has been nothing but Fords for me since I was 16. My last/current car is a 2k SVT and I can honestly say I will never spend another dollar of mine with Ford! Less than 3 months after driving my new car off the lot the steering rack goes, 2 months after that dash started warping, and I could put you all to sleep with the list of problems I have had.

Reading posts such as this one, posts that confirm what I had already suspected regarding build quality of these vehicles compared to our hometown stuff. I cannot wait until I have the opportunity to get one of my own. However, it is a bit unfortunate that we will have to wait soo long for the mt.

My buddy was a local GM mechanic for several years and if you heard of all the problems he saw you wouldn't buy a GM either... They all have their good and bad... Doesn't matter what brand or where it's made. There's always someone with a story like yours.

I am a Ford guy as well (had good luck) but they aren't offering anything worth while! (luck is right)

Pontiac finally stopped putting all the Darth Vader plastic on the sides of their cars so I am hip to them!:D

Truer words could not be spoken, there will always be good and bad stories. My '94 SHO was a dream of a car, 160K on the odo without one single issue outside of the normal wear n tear. It has never been their products as a whole that has lost my business, it has been the practices of their staff on how they, the issues, are handled that has been the problem.

Truer words could not be spoken, there will always be good and bad stories. My '94 SHO was a dream of a car, 160K on the odo without one single issue outside of the normal wear n tear. It has never been their products as a whole that has lost my business, it has been the practices of their staff on how they, the issues, are handled that has been the problem.

Dealers got the name stealers for a reason... I am heavy into motorcycles and can't trust one of them to touch my toys. It's too bad really. Car dealers tend to be better at it though.

Sorry for the Hijack!:eek2:

I went to my local Pontiac dealership the other day and was talking to my salesman about the G8. One thing I feel strongly about is that us GTO owners (ex in my case) have a head start in understanding the quality of the Holden cars.

In my case, I loved my GTO.

I loved the color, the blue leather interior, and just everything about it. The quality, fit and finish, was great, the car (stock) ran like a bat out of hell, and with a couple of thousand (see my sig.) ran a 12.12 in the quarter. I ran her at least 150 times in the quarter and when I sold her, she was still an outstanding car. The only problems I had was a bad o2 sensor, and a couple of small items.

So, as compared to the general USA population, I understand what Holden is all about and would not hesitate to buy a new G8.

Other thoughts?

I love my GOAT! :thumbsup: Its the reason I am seriously considering a G8. The only problems I have had was being bit by the mod bug. :gr_jest:

I have owned/leased 11 Holdens over the years and have never had a lemon yet. None have been towed and the only things I would consider as problems were a faulty a/c condenser (replaced under warranty) and an alternator that threw in the towel. Not bad, but I do look after my cars and I think that helps a lot.
Here are pics of 4 of them
1st....1972 Torana GTR-XU-1
2nd....1980 VC Commodore 6cyl
3rd.....1996 VS commodore V6
4th.....2004 VY Commodore LS1

I have owned/leased 11 Holdens over the years and have never had a lemon yet. None have been towed and the only things I would consider as problems were a faulty a/c condenser (replaced under warranty) and an alternator that threw in the towel. Not bad, but I do look after my cars and I think that helps a lot.
Here are pics of 4 of them
1st....1972 Torana GTR-XU-1
2nd....1980 VC Commodore 6cyl
3rd.....1996 VS commodore V6
4th.....1994 VY Commodore LS1


Hey Olly, I'm guessing the VY was 2004 not 1994...

I bet you wish you still had the XU1 - I wish I still had my HQ Premier
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=273&stc=1&d=1199069385

Oops...my mistake....fixed it to 2004
Yes on the XU-1.......I would still love to have it in my garage now.
Looks like a 73 premier.....optional rally monaro rims (aka 69 pontiac gto rims) with the factory wheel trim rings.

May 74 actually - absolute last off the line. It was a Holden company car so it had some special stuff - HJ buckets, Statestman dash and the GTS gauge set including a TEMPERATURE GAUGE - no 'too late' red light for me !

I put it on gas and whacked in an under dash air conditioner.

Engine size?

Classic red 202 with 3 on the tree traumatic...

I found the original square edge trim rings at a hubcap 'wrecker' - paid about $6 each - they would be worth a packet now.

2823098 was their p/n.........:popcorn2:

I had heard good things about Holden cars as well. And, since I waited a year, I got more reassurance from the '04 GTO owners. Since I got mine, I've wanted a Crewman Ute. But, Holden isn't building those in the VE chassis, so I'll just have to get a regular Ute. I'm really getting ripped off. :gr_jest:

Let me tell you sccaGTO.......you wouldn't want to go on a long trip in the back of a crewman....the seat is way too upright and you get the feeling that you are really squeezed in back there. Having said that, it served it's purpose and there quite a few on the road here.

Let me tell you sccaGTO.......you wouldn't want to go on a long trip in the back of a crewman....the seat is way too upright and you get the feeling that you are really squeezed in back there. Having said that, it served it's purpose and there quite a few on the road here.

If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't be the one wedged into the back seat. I'd be driving. :gr_jest::gr_jest::gr_jest:

The only problems I have had was being bit by the mod bug. :gr_jest:

That's what I'm afraid is going to happen if/when I get a G8 GT manual! :D

The main reason I started looking at a G8 was because my husband bought a GTO and I adore the car, but I needed something that can fit 3 people in the back. The guys at the GTO meet recomended I take a look at this car too (my husband telling me just was not a good enough reason) and I just fell in love with it.

Dealers got the name stealers for a reason... I am heavy into motorcycles and can't trust one of them to touch my toys. It's too bad really. Car dealers tend to be better at it though.

Sorry for the Hijack!:eek2:

4gasem: Just curious, did the grip on the bike in your avatar use to be chrome?

I have owned/leased 11 Holdens over the years and have never had a lemon yet. None have been towed and the only things I would consider as problems were a faulty a/c condenser (replaced under warranty) and an alternator that threw in the towel. Not bad, but I do look after my cars and I think that helps a lot.
Here are pics of 4 of them
1st....1972 Torana GTR-XU-1
2nd....1980 VC Commodore 6cyl
3rd.....1996 VS commodore V6
4th.....2004 VY Commodore LS1
Aw, you're just saying that 'cause, uh, well just 'cause. :drool:

the quality is there....

Aw, you're just saying that 'cause, uh, well just 'cause. :drool:

Pretty much.......I also openly confess to being a one eyed Holden supporter. Holdens were originally conceived as a car for the masses, that catergory still exists and I fit into it.

i love my gto so much, I got a job selling them. So give me some business when u guys are ready to buy the G8! LOL

Another former GTO owner here. Buying another Holden product is something I very much look forward to. I've owned about 50 cars so far, and the GTO was the best all around car I've ever had the pleasure of owning.