Just a few weeks ago I wrote about the Pontiac G8, one of my favorite cars, and how the prices for lightly used examples are getting rather low. Back in November, a V6 model with around 10,000 miles was $20,000. Cars with the big V8 were landing around $24,000. Now they’re even cheaper. The V8 models have hit the $20,000 mark on several have been offered below it. A Cuyahoga Falls, OH Pontiac dealer offered a 12,000 mile car for $19,994 (didn’t sell). That same dealer was, however, able to move a 361 hp G8 GT with 11,000 miles for $18,994. AutoTrader, too, is jam packed with 8-cylinder Pontiac G8s for just under $20,000 and some even have under 10,000 miles on the clock. If you are willing to get the V6 version with some 260 horsepower (though with the V8s so cheap, I’m not sure it makes sense even now), a Houston reseller was offering a 10,500 mile G8 V6 for a hair under $16,000. If the G8 is your cup of tea (and I realize that for many folks it’s not), these are stonking good deals. The question is where they will bottom out. Assuming the warranties stay intact (whether GM stays around or the government does an FDIC-style arrangement), I would think about $16,000-$17,000 is the absolute lowest a low-mileage 8-cylinder G8 could cost. That would be 50% of the original MSRP, but it remains to be seen.
Wow. I am so sorry for anyone that bought this guy new.
The only thing keeping me from trading in my GTI for one of these is the lack of a manual transmission. I may just wait a bit after this bailout mess to see if the GXP will be born. Then I may pick up one of those lightly used with a stick for $20 – $25K.
This showroom turkey still will not sell.
Thanks for the tip, I am going to have to look into that.
GIDDY UP!
Justin, when you drove the G8, did you notice any abrupt 1-2 shifting from the autobox? During a test drive I took, it was a neck-snapper. Shifting from other gears was fine, but I thought it strange. Even during mild takeoffs, it was abrupt.
Maybe just a bad sample.
I have a feeling it would’ve sold better if they had named it Grand Prix.
That’s the trouble with domestic cars, even the good ones. They’re impossible to keep track of whereas nameplates like Accord are household names, constant since childhood.
@jkross22:
It was a few months ago the last time I drove the G8 V8, but I don’t remember any problems with abrupt or clunky shifting.
I don’t know if I’d call the G8 the pinnacle of refinement, but I remember thinking it was a comfortable car for day-to-day driving that also has great big American-Aussie performance.
I really liked the car as well. I chalked it up to a bad sample as the V6 version I drove didn’t have the same problem. The V6 was a nonstarter after driving the V8.
Both handled very similarly to my E39. I don’t know if that’s a testament to how good the G8 is, or the durability of the E39. Probably both.
It’s all going according to plan (maniacal laughter)! I was originally thinking 2012 for my purchase of a used G8; maybe it’s going to be a year or two sooner!
Are these prices for rental fleet cars?
lease returns?
is there an abuse difference between a rental car and a fleet car? i’d love to buy used, but i’d hate to have a $3K transmission repair timebomb in it.
@jkross:
A few things.
First, you know that the V6 and V8 G8s have different transmissions, right? The V6 has a 5-speed automatic sourced from France. The V8 has a 6-speed auto; I don’t remember where it’s built.
Second, I think the E39 steering and steering feel is a lot better than on the G8. What do you think?
At that price, who cares about GM’s warranty? Do you really want to go to a dealer for service anyway?
Get a used G8 with a 3rd party warranty (from a big name like GE) and be happy!
In Canada the 6CYL used is $25k and the 8 is @$31k.
Hopefully the prices will tank even further as I would seriously consider the GT as a family hauler.
The prices on brand new G8s are coming down fast too. Some dealers are selling the GT for as low as $26k. I got mine for a little above that brand new this past July.
It is a Hell of a car, there is no denying that. You can’t go wrong buying one of these for yourself or your family. Even with all the glowing reviews all over the place I still think it’s an underrated car compared to the majority of FWD family haulers clogging our roads today.
If I could
* fit a rear-facing child seat
* depend on parts not being rare and costly
* delete the damn hood scoops
…I would actually try for this.
@Justin,
Good catch. I had heard that the 5 speed in the V6 G8 was the better of the two, but didn’t know why. I know there’s only a few of us out there for this market, but it sure would’ve been nice to have a manual in the G8.
I think steering feel in the G8 is pretty close to the E39, and the handling was nearly equal. I’m comparing this to a 528 sport with lower profile Yokohamas, and I still came away thinking the G8 with it’s all season set up was nearly the equal of the E39. No sport version of the G8, though. Sure, the BMW may have more steering bite at 9/10s, but for feel in most other scenarios, it’s really close.
I guess the only caveat is that my ride has 123k miles on it.
I thought of it this way:
G8 GT = E39 without sport package and nicer leather.
It`s really sad none of these come with a stick. A perfect budget M5 for the thinking man (who has a hairy chest)
Slip a decent exhaust system on it, and it’s a screamin’ deal.
Considering a used G8 GT is less than a Civic, how can you pass on it?
The linked G8 GT at 19,988 is “Panther Black”
Wonder if that’s “‘Sex Panther’ Black”?
I drove a G8 GT a few days ago and didn’t notice any problems with the 1-2 shift.
Thing is, it’s a Pontiac and in one year it’ll be worth about $10K, while the E39 will be holding it’s own on depreciation. Performance wise the M5 is also about .5s faster in the quarter mile, and a full second faster 0-100, and they handle amazingly well for a saloon. IMO, the only reason one would own this thing over an E39 M5 is the cost of ownership for things like BMW’s Inspection I & II. BMWs are NOT cheap cars to maintain specially the ///M cars.
This is what USD22.000 gets you where I live.
http://multimedia.dn.no/archive/00155/XLBB-Opel_Agila_155244a.jpg
The amazing Opel Agila. I should move back to the US.
Thanks for the info – I’m always tracking this stuff on cars.com (my fiance thinks I’m obsessed)… just a little pastime while I watch TV.
BTW- this would be an interesting feature to have weekly. (mentioning recent trends in the used or new car market in regards to pricing.)
I’d totally look into one if I didn’t live in New England… the rental I had in Denver was great! (V-6 Model… which is where I’m guessing all the used ones are turning up from.)
Stein WTF? seriously that is what you can buy for $20,000 used. Where do you live, Germany?
The prices on these G8’s especially the used GT’s are getting really nice. But I think the bottom is much lower. Think about it this is a great car and its brand new and its a great bang for the buck even at MSRP and it’s aready selling for peanuts.
1)This is a GM car, the first model year is always the best with the most sales, then they decline and they start to give them away.
2)This is a GM, that in itself is a resale black spot, add in going out of business and it’s huge.
3)GM is in serious public trouble right now, no keeping any of this quiet now. Anything in their model range can’t inspire resale confidence, so prices get driven down.
4)GM has said it will probably kill the Pontiac brand, this is instant death for anything they are trying to sell no matter how great it is. As more announcements of Pontiac’s fate come expect this car to get cheaper.
I think by Feb, you will see used GT’s as low as $15,000. I would love to get one at that price, but it’s still risky without a warranty being that its a new IMPORTED car with little parts sharing with cars manuf. here.
I really thought this car drove awesome, and I liked the tranny. I didn’t see any of the problems you guys decribed or the issues with slow shifts. It was fast a precise even if it always jump to a high gear, give it some throttle and it would haul like a freight train.
I really wish they would send over the wagon with the V8 and a 6 speed, I would be all over that I need that little extra utility. Might as well you aren’t selling these, I would even take the auto if it was in a wagon.
At $15k this would be a steal, esp for > 300hp.
At $30-$35k, it’s actually kind of pathetic that it is slower & more expensive than the 2.5L turbo’d STi I bought……almost 4 years ago. Not to mention no manual??? slower 0-60 and slower 1/4 by almost a full second — and the STi isn’t even a “good” straight line performer.
Who the f#$k is comparing the G8’s performance to an STi? The G8 is much larger, and a completely different kind of car
“Who the f#$k is comparing the G8’s performance to an STi? The G8 is much larger, and a completely different kind of car”
Why not? They both have 4 doors and have 4 wheels, however, unlike the STI, the G8 starts a timed “self destruction” sequence the day it rolls off the lot. If GM wants to move these POSs, just do a 2 for sale.
One word comes to mind when thinking of the Pontiac G8 … JUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKK.
Justin’s spot on that these are ‘stonking’ deals – except for the uncertainty of Mothership GM’s existence. It’s especially true for a limited production animal like the G8.
I’d wait ’till spring and see how the whole bailout / bankruptcy / bridge-loan crap plays out.
@revhigh:
Why? Just because it’s a GM product?
Hating on any GM product is passé. The G8 is legit. I’d have one if it was available with a manual. Then again, I wouldn’t have bought my condo, so that was probably a good thing.
btw, the Sebring is the latest gearhead’s whipping boy. Also, I’m 23 and I feel too old for an STi.
06M3S54B32 :
unlike the STI, the G8 starts a timed “self destruction” sequence the day it rolls off the lot.
The thing is, I would never buy a used STI unless I knew the owner and the owner was a responsible adult. The kids that hang out at my barber shop all have STIs and EVOs. I’ve seen what they do to these cars on the road.
seoultrain :
Also, I’m 23 and I feel too old for an STi.
25, and same.
I completely understand people hating on any GM car. I just think that, like most things in life, there are exceptions to every rule.
The G8 is one of a handful of GM products that surprises.
Beat you both, I’m 22 and I feel too old for an STi. (Nah that’s a lie, I’d still take one in a heartbeat.)
Just to be clear, are we talking about the current model or the previous one?
As an Australian, we’re fairly proud of these cars. Holden are so close to showing GM the road ahead.
They get a sedan, a wagon, a “ute” (like a light 2WD truck Tacoma/Ranger), a LWB limo and a number of simply amazing performance HSV models all from one platform, a small selection of parts and engines. With really small local volumes, production/model efficiency was a key requirement.
I’m not arguing that Holden are profitable or that they haven’t made mistakes, but GM need to study long and hard what they’ve managed to do with a low volume vehicle with an emphasis on maximum component use.
Having said that, resale is terrible, but that’s a worldwide GM problem.
The G8 GT is no doubt an outstanding performance value.
I really, really considered one of these as well as late model GTOs when I was car shopping.
I decided to go with a Dodge Magnum R/T because I can only have one vehicle in my life and I was willing to trade a bit of ultimate performance for a massive increase in carrying capacity vs. the G8 and GTO.
I work in manufacturing in Michinan, so from a political point of view it would make sense for me to buy domestic for a change. The G8 at a huge discount is the closest thing to an appealing alternative. Wait, no stick? Nevermind.
The (perceived) lack of a warranty is nothing new for me. I’ve never had a car new or low mileage enough to have a warranty. The five year old E60 I’ll probably buy next year certainly won’t have one, not at my price point.
PeteMoran :
Just to be clear, are we talking about the current model or the previous one?
The current model, the VE Commodore, is what we have as the Pontiac G8 in the US.
The only version of the previous gen Commodore, the VZ, that we got was the Holden Monaro which we called the Pontiac GTO. Those are absolutely dirt cheap, but I think VE was a huge step forward.
I’m with you guys on the used STi. IMHO sports cars are great “leases” and bad used buys, in general, because people rip them apart (especially manually trannys).
Btw, I just turned 33 and I love the STi :)
What the STI fanboys are missing is that the G8 (fat pig that it may be) will outrun a STI on the street 95% of the time.
You can do a “internet fanboy number” 1/4 mile in a G8 all day long. 20 of them in a row. While eating a burrito and steering with your knee. Knock on anything you want but the powertrain is golden.
The STI boys will have stinky clutch after 1 such launch, and most just aren’t willing to do that glorious clutch dump day after day. Handling is no question but calling the G8 “slow” comparatively is a testament to the flaws of internet drag racing.
Blue Knob Auto is about a five-minute drive from my house and is known for having awesome deals on very lightly used cars. Sweet deals go quickly there, so I’m a little irked now because with this free advertising courtesy of TTAC, this G8 will be gone before I have a chance to test drive it!
I can’t believe I’m the old man here. My 20 year high school reunion is next year.
We build excrement… Pontiac!
jkross22 – Mine was 4 years ago. They built NSFW then. No different now.
FWIW- How long do you have to polish the knob before it turns blue? If you work at a Pontiac dealer you have plenty of time on your hands to find out.
@Slare:
I really don’t think anyone here qualifies as an STI fanboy or an STI hater. Different cars for pretty different buyers.
In reality, both the STi and G8 are very low volume cars in America.
Wow, lots of negative comments about the G8.
Seriously have you even driven one?
I prefer to own a small front wheel car, because I live inner city.
But whenever the work Commodore (G8) with the 6.2l is available I grab it: The engine is awesome (GM deserves credit for this engine), its effortless to drive these big V8, good handling, you can fit the whole family inside with their luggage.
I always walk away with a smile on my face after taking it for a spin (The V8 Manual Ute is even better!!)
As for the long term durability, the average age of the Australian car fleet is close to 10years because these cars last and last.
PeteMoran :
As an Australian, we’re fairly proud of these cars. Holden are so close to showing GM the road ahead.
+1! You all should be proud. My 2½-year-old “Holdiac” GTO still puts a smile on my face each morning. Holden build quality and materials are first-rate and several steps above “real” Pontiacs. If GM would’ve studied Holden’s way of doing things, they might not be in as tight of a wad as they are now.
It’s too bad that the G8 will probably be “too little, too late”. We may never see the killa GXP model :-(
Really…
I was thinking a first gen CTS this spring but maybe a current gen G8 will be in the offing for about the same price.
I guarantee the G8 haters here have not taken the time to drive one. Say what you will about the Grand Prix and Torrent….but the G8 GT is a fantastic automobile.
Yuck!! Then again, I didn’t care for it as a Holden, either (during my time in aussieland).
jkross22
You’re not. My 20th was a couple weekends ago. Oops, I think I just broke my hip.
You might want to hurry to get one of these cars from Pontiac. After the dust clears from all this ‘bail or not to bail’ problem, Pontiac will be a ‘niche’ car for GM, meaning they will offer possibly one to three vehicles to the public and more than likely it will be one.