Hyundai Genesis vs Pontiac G8

[i8acobra]

I see you GTO guys are like the F-Body guys I used to hang with (I've had 3)... always talking about drag racing. I'd never buy an auto just because I'm a roadcourse kinda guy.

 

[SCVDon]

I see you GTO guys are like the F-Body guys I used to hang with (I've had 3)... always talking about drag racing. I'd never buy an auto just because I'm a roadcourse kinda guy.

I haven't a clue regarding F-bodies. Is that a four letter word? Plus I've never, in my life, been to a drag race track, except as a spectator.

I did feel that I should point out in this thread that the G8 auto (or GTO auto) is faster down the road, including on the curvy bits, for most people unless they can heel-n-toe better a race car driver. Double-clutching, IMHO is now a lost art, I guess, since modern synro-mesh manual sports cars have to have computer generated blipping of the trottle. Which I believe the G8 does not do.

The Genesis SEDAN is not, nor designed to be, a road race car, IMHO. The coupe might be, I haven't driven one yet.

I once vowed to never own a manual if I ever moved to San Francisco and I'm an ex-rally and ex-autocrosser myself. My Datsun 2000 hated SF since 1st gear bucked at 10 mph or below and some idiot put stop signs on the uphill roads. (Bill Cosby did a skit about this) My friend destroyed his Volvo's driveshaft trying to go up one of those hills after having to stop mid-way.

These days, LA rushhour driving also sucks with a manual after about 30 minutes. Having said that, my GTO has a M6, not an auto.

Some background, I too have owned many sportscars, driven even more, even have driven a friend's Aston Martin DB4. (Bond, James Bond!) I also know that Jag. 120's have LH Witworth threads on their vibration dampers. I have made lots of cash tuning dual and triple SU carb's and can tell you why English drink warm beer. (Sorry, couldn't pass up a Lucas joke!)

I have also organized up to 12 hour night rallys, one (HIS) nearly became an international closed-stage event, but SCCA and NRRA split company and the event was delisted. I've also course worked several road race courses. Have some great close-up pictures of the CanAm cars, including what was the soon banned Chapparel 2J at Laguna Seca. Almost spent whole summers at Mosport in Ontario.

Jim Clark was the driver that I most regarded as being what I'd want in a mentor.

My dealer sponsored former VW Scirocco (manual) was equipped with Bilstein Rallye shocks (that would knock your teeth out) and Vedrestein (SP?) tires that R&T tested as best (for their time) in dry handling, but both additions still allowed me to run autocross in stock class. One must test the limits of rules, you know.

All of this explains why I spent $3500 on suspension upgrades for my GTO and not used the cash for adding HP.

All that said, my wife loves her Genesis sedan. Doesn't need a manual for her. She's happy to have a great auto tranny and is more interested in an iPod cable than adjustable Koni shocks.

 

[i8acobra]

Did you see the and the ?

I was screwin' with you. F-Bodies are Camaros and Firebirds. Most of the guys in my old club were into drag racing. I was always the "odd duck" spending money on suspension and brakes while they all bought loose converters and nitrous. My car had $3,500 just in the front brakes, more than all of the parts on my engine.

 

[SCVDon]

I was just clearing the air.

 

[LSXcellent]

So I am also one of the many folks cross shopping these two cars, my criteria are pretty relaxed. I need a large (family friendly car) that has some luxury, and some sport. These two cars qualify for those categories but with different balances.

What I am shopping:

G8 GXP with Manual Tranny vs. Genesis 4.6 with Technology Package

Both cars MSRP is just about $41K
Both cars are the top level of their respective trim

The Pontiac is MUCH faster
The Genesis gets MUCH better mileage
The Pontiac rides better
The Genesis has MANY more luxury appointments
The Pontiac will probably end up costing less (greater discount)
The Genesis has a better overall warranty

I'm still about a year away from a purchase, but I drove a GXP the other night and I was totally impressed with the performance. That car is _FAST_ like nothing I've ever driven.

I have a Genesis test drive planned for next week.

Thoughts?

~LSx

 

[SCVDon]

So I am also one of the many folks cross shopping these two cars, my criteria are pretty relaxed. I need a large (family friendly car) that has some luxury, and some sport. These two cars qualify for those categories but with different balances.

What I am shopping:

G8 GXP with Manual Tranny vs. Genesis 4.6 with Technology Package

Both cars MSRP is just about $41K
Both cars are the top level of their respective trim

The Pontiac is MUCH faster
The Genesis gets MUCH better mileage
The Pontiac rides better
The Genesis has MANY more luxury appointments
The Pontiac will probably end up costing less (greater discount)
The Genesis has a better overall warranty

I'm still about a year away from a purchase, but I drove a GXP the other night and I was totally impressed with the performance. That car is _FAST_ like nothing I've ever driven.

I have a Genesis test drive planned for next week.

Thoughts?

~LSx

I think you have 2 good choices and won't lose in either case.

Hyundai isn't offering much in way of factory discounts on the Genesis.

The Genesis has more luxury apointments if by that you mean very bling stereo system, full nav. system, sun screen on rear window and stuff like that. Doesn't have manual tranny option. It isn't a muscle car.

Warranty is great and can be made into 100K/10 year bumper-2-bumper. (extra cost) (I did this) Warranty repair issues due to sales problem should not be an issue. Hyundai is improving market-share vs. GM's loss of share. Dealers should be able to get Genesis parts for many years.

G8 has more buyer incentives from GM. G8 nav. is part of Ontrack and doesn't include LCD display and requires that you keep Ontrack after 1st year to be able to use it. Stereo is decent but not as full of features.

The G8 will be easier to modify for more HP (aftermarket stuff) and also be able to get aftermarket suspension tweaks. (from Aussie companies - Pedders etc)

Parts for my GTO are all special order at my local dealer and can be a long wait for high failure items such as the GTO steering column key tumbler that freezes up and won't release the key nor turn. Same parts problems may also happen for G8? I don't know. GM may even walk away from G8 if sales slows if (when?) it goes Chap. 11 and so parts could very well be in short supply.

Basic warranty isn't is bad, but extended warranty for GM cars might be an issue if GM goes Chap. 11. Or may not. I have several more years on my extended GTO warranty and am hoping for no problems if things go real bad for GM.

 

[scottdk]

"The Pontiac will probably end up costing less (greater discount)"

Don't forget about the G8's Gas Guzzler tax of $2163 (MotorTrend)

 

[Dimitry]

The pontiac will definitely be a deeper discount.

Especially after this:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/24/autos/pontiac_obit/index.htm

 

[Poopsicle]

Why would they kill of Pontiac when Pontiac is in the top 3 GM sellers?

 

[SCVDon]

Why would they kill of Pontiac when Pontiac is in the top 3 GM sellers?

What is left as pure Pontiac? Nothing, IMHO. Saturn and Pontiac share their 2-seat sports car design. Saturn is also going away. Sports cars are not big sellers and GM needs sales. So it's gone. The G5/G6 are Chevy's and so aren't anything but badge cars. The Vibe is shared with Toyota, I believe and might be rebadged as a Buick? Or chopped. The G8 if kept at all could be sold via Buick, I guess. So goodbye to one more old time brand.

Wait until Chrysler is sold to Fiat (if that ever happens) - Fiat will no doubt not keep much except for the Jeep brand plus maybe Dodge trucks, I'll guess. The CAFE levels for beyond 2011 -2012 is going to kill the gas-sucking Hemi V8's unless there's lots of sales of smaller fuel efficent stuff to offset them. That's the problem that all car makers are going to have to face - fuel standards.

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[i8acobra]

The Vibe is shared with Toyota, I believe and might be rebadged as a Buick? Or chopped. The G8 if kept at all could be sold via Buick, I guess. So goodbye to one more old time brand.

Vibe is most likely dead. The G8 will probably be sold as the Chevy Impala with the GXP re-named SS.

 

[BigElm]

Ok... I've just been slapped with temptation. I was given a very strong offer on the GXP MT. Now I'm on the fence after my heart was determined to get the Genesis. Though I'm entertaining the idea of getting the G8 or GXP for business and the Genesis for personal. Either way, the GXP offer of $35k + (before taxes) is VERY tempting. I test drove the GXP AT and it was a solid beast. What to do, what to do?

 

[SCVDon]

Ok... I've just been slapped with temptation. I was given a very strong offer on the GXP MT. Now I'm on the fence after my heart was determined to get the Genesis. Though I'm entertaining the idea of getting the G8 or GXP for business and the Genesis for personal. Either way, the GXP offer of $35k + (before taxes) is VERY tempting. I test drove the GXP AT and it was a solid beast. What to do, what to do?

If you don't need a 4 door for business and you want to save some cash, look at a used '04-'06 GTO. Decent low mileage '06's are ~$20K. The 5's and 6's have the LS2/400HP engine and manual 6 speed was in about 1/2 of them. Then add a supercharger and go to 500+ HP and still be well under $30K.

 

[bnajack]

When I was car shopping last November, the G8GT and Genesis were my top two choices. I ended up the V8 Tech.

In terms of price, it was an apples/oranges comparison.

I really like the speed and the handling of the G8GT. I wish my Genesis handled as well. In terms of speed, my Genesis is fast enough and gets good gas mileage.

What turned me off the G8 was

- GM's financial mess; if they go bankrupt, warranty coverage may become an issue
- There was rumor then of GM shutting down Pontiac and I wondered who would work on the car.
- From test reports, the G8 got a materially worse gas mileage
- The stereo was cheap
- The interior materials were relatively cheap
- No nav
- No spare tire

The G8 and the Genesis are price point cars and give a lot of bang for the buck. To me, I felt the Genesis was a much better value even though it cost more.

 

[ImInPA]

This is just my personal opinion, but for me, those hood scoops just kill the G8 for me. I don't get it. The lines of the G8 are very nice and then they put that typical GM silliness on the hood. The G8 handles and rides much better than the Genesis to me (albeit noisier too), but, the materials are not in the same class as the Genesis. The fit and finish of the Genesis is also superior in my opinion. Put a window half way down on the G8 and close the door. Do the same on the Genesis. Which one sounds more solid? If GM would put a CTS grade interior in the G8 and lose those hood scoops (from the Firebird Formula 400) I think they would have a real contender. Until they do that, the G8 is simply a very fast, good handling, US family car to me.

 

[BigElm]

Point taken... but now that you can get a G8 relatively cheap, it is very tempting. I'm seriously considering it for my business and still planning on getting a Genesis for personal use. I need a roomy sedan and these two would fit my needs nicely.

Now that we know what GM will be doing to Pontiac and honoring all service, maintenance work through the Chevrolet dealers - also rumors of having the G8 rebirth as a Chevy; at least we know GM will take care of this car.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I really wish the G8 would become a Chevy Impala but that's not going to happen, unfortunately. The G8 is gone. It may not have been the greatest car in the lineup, but it was very, very nice.. Of course GM isn't going to sell it anymore. I completely expect this kind of nonsense...

Now that we know what GM will be doing to Pontiac and honoring all service, maintenance work through the Chevrolet dealers - also rumors of having the G8 rebirth as a Chevy; at least we know GM will take care of this car.

 

[jwaters943]

There is some discussion of it coming back as a Chevy: http://forums.thecarlounge.com/zerothread?id=4425173&page=1

I personally agree w/ the one poster in the thread above who said they should bring it over as a Caprice. It would make a great Police car, especially since Ford is killing off the RWD Panther platform (Crown Victoria, Town Car).

 

[YEH]

While both are large-ish sedans, they really aren't similar as others have pointed out.

Now that we know what GM will be doing to Pontiac and honoring all service, maintenance work through the Chevrolet dealers - also rumors of having the G8 rebirth as a Chevy; at least we know GM will take care of this car.

The Holden/G8 needs a better interior and I don't think Chevy would warrant such a price increase.

Turning the Holden into the top of the line Buick makes more sense (or even having it replace the STS), but it seems that the current head-honcho of GM has pretty much put a stop to all that talk.

This is just my personal opinion, but for me, those hood scoops just kill the G8 for me. I don't get it. The lines of the G8 are very nice and then they put that typical GM silliness on the hood.

The G8 looks very much like the previous-gen BMW 5 Series - w/ the kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink in the C-pillar.

 

[ImInPA]

The G8 looks very much like the previous-gen BMW 5 Series - w/ the kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink in the C-pillar.

Agreed, until you get to those garish hood scoops. I just don't get why Pontiac/GM thought they were necessary. Lose the scoops and the "golly-gee-whiz-boy-racer" look, add the interior from the CTS and this would be an awesome car, at least in my book. The handling is simply amazing and shows that GM can in fact get it right when they try. But then they drop the ball on the details and interior.