Less than sixty days ago, I wrote about my brother’s seemingly quixotic quest to purchase a year-old Pontiac G8 at something less than sticker price. Time after time, he’d been placed on endless hold, denied test drives, and generally treated with the type of courtesy normally reserved for guest stars of “To Catch a Predator.” After more than ninety days of intermittent searching, the best price we’d been able to find was a sorta-invoice deal from a dealer in Texas, more than a thousand miles away. Did I mention his trade-in? It was a 63k-mile Mazda RX-8 which was on its second rotary engine thanks to an autocross motor implosion and which also featured a fascinating array of scratches, rocker-panel dents, and impact-wrench-installed suspension upgrades.
To be honest, I was pleased he hadn’t found a value-priced Poncho. Just a few more months of intransigent mouth-breathing GM dealers and I’d be able to bait-and-switch him into a Taurus SHO, which is clearly a better car to anyone but the most ardent Crocodile Dundee fan. But just as it is always darkest right before the dawn, sometimes the best deals don’t appear until you’ve given up hope.
In our Midwest-wide search for a vaguely sane dealer, we’d skipped exactly one Pontiac store. The dealer around the corner from my brother’s house is a small, relatively forthright shop, run by that rarest of creatures: an actively involved dealer principal. You could walk right in and ask for the owner by name. And this owner didn’t want any part of the G8. He didn’t stock ’em, didn’t trade for ’em, didn’t have any interest in adding the Aussie transplant to his inventory. GMC and Chevy trucks were this guy’s stock in trade, and this guy wasn’t rash or stupid enough to waste his time with high-priced Pontiac sedans.
Even the most headstrong dealer has to deal with his manufacturer rep, however, and that’s how this truck-focused store came to have one loaded, white 2009 G8 sitting on its lot. My brother saw it on that lot on the way home from work, called the guy, and worked out an invoice-minus-part-of-holdback deal on the phone. The only problem: they didn’t like the trade. Two relatively bloodless back-and-forths later, the deal was done and a “White Hot” G8 found itself in the garage where the RX-8 used to sit. It was that easy.
It’s a happy ending but not quite a Cinderella story for GM. The 2009 G8 now has three grand of money in the trunk plus discount financing, all of which conspired to put a $34K Pontiac on the road for a net financed/subsidized total of under $29K. Any dealer in the Midwest could have done this deal two months ago for $32K, cycled some inventory, cleared their floorplan, and taken a finance spiff from a local bank instead of having to push GMAC’s paper.
Persistence pays off.
Almost every car that gets dealer bonus money added to the purchase price see’s a drop off in sales a year or two later. G8 happened sooner rather then later.
Here’s one question: why would he buy new? There are plenty of used ones out there.
The Taurus SHO doesn’t actually exist yet, so you can’t exactly say it’s a better car. It’s also expected to sticker at least $8,000 higher than the G8 GT’s original sticker, so it better damn well be better.
Why bother? If this is considered a desirable car in america I feel sorry for you guys.
Bummer. I’ve seen used ones in PA with under 20k miles for $18k-$20k.
jesus, did you just call the SHO a better car than a G8? Insanity. Especially considering it doesn’t exist yet.
My boss just landed his Pontiac G8 GT, going to look at it early next week. Has 14000 km (8700 miles) on it and got it for $29,000 CDN (about $22,500 USD).
a Taurus SHO, which is clearly a better car to anyone but the most ardent Crocodile Dundee fan.
Well, since I own a GTO, I guess you can call me Crocodile Dundee…
Interesting that this is in a “dealers suck” posting, because this is the same sort of unsubstantiated nonsense that I’ve heard time and again from overzealous car salesmen that usually causes me to walk right out the door because I don’t like to have my intelligence insulted.
From Wikipedia:
On February 11, 2009 a Ford press release officially announced that the SHO will return to the lineup, and will feature a 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ twin-turbo V-6 engine. This engine delivers an estimated 365 horsepower.
The 2010 Taurus SHO will feature a SelectShift® six-speed automatic transmission with control paddles mounted on the steering wheel, in combination with a torque sensing all-wheel drive system.
Taurus SHO will be available summer 2009, starting at $37,995, including destination fees.
At that price, you should be comparing it to the G8 GXP (yeah, I know, if you can find one):
…with its LS3 V8 producing 415 hp and 415 ft-lbs. of torque. Both the six-speed Tremec TR-6060 manual transmission [emphasis mine] and the six-speed automatic transmission are available. The GXP’s performance is substantial, reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 4.5 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 13.0 seconds at nearly 110 mph (180 km/h), and 0.90g of lateral acceleration.
The GXP utilizes the upgraded, Nurburgring-tuned FE3 suspension package as well as larger, ventilated Brembo disc brakes.
Jack, you should have sent your brother up to the Great White North where GM Canada is giving away G8’s these days.
Regular 2009 G8’s are going for CDN$23,998 = US$18,678 and G8 GT’s are going for CDN$28,898 = US$22,491 if you pay cash – that’s $8,500 off the MSRP
Jack,
I actually posted about used G8 prices back in December. You can see it here.
Back then I noted that there are plenty of V8 powered G8s out there with low mileage for around $20,000.
The boat is warmed up…
The sharks are in their pen…
Fonzi is putting his water skis on…
I think I know which dealer you’re talking about in Texas (located in Granbury), but I got mine from a Dallas area dealer a couple weeks ago. I got my loaded (premium, sport, sunroof) ’09 GT (12 miles on the odo) for $26,164.13+TT&L. Sticker was $34,110. That includes $395 for an installed Motorola IHF1000 Bluetooth kit, so you can deduct that from the price if not interested in that. The dealer even got me 5.44% financing through a bank, which beat my credit union’s rate. ALL of the used ’09 G8 GTs within 300 miles of me on Autotrader are more than what I paid, even the 6 cylinders, and a GT with 18K miles. That and the only one in the color I like is a 6 cylinder. Yes, I’m picky, which is why I wouldn’t want an ’08 model (small changes that mattered to me). So, I’d say my deal was pretty much worth the new car purchase.
My dealer also offered me any of their manual GXPs for $34,550…autos were cheaper. The GXP is nice, but I didn’t like the extras enough to pay the premium. My friend got their first one (and paid the early adopter price for it), so I’ve driven one. They must’ve had 5 or 6 GXPs in stock when I bought my car, but only 2 left as of last week. Maybe you just need to be in a big city to find plenty of GXPs.
My last car was a BMW and I’ve never bought a Pontiac, so this is new for me. I’m enjoying the car so far. Other cars seriously considered: Infiniti G37 Sport Sedan manuals, CPO BMW 335i manuals (hard to find the combo I wanted in a sedan with a nationwide search for weeks, still kinda pricey), Nissan 370Z (didn’t fit), ’05 BMW M3 (a bit harsh for my long drives to work, worse mileage than the G8 GT), BMW 135i (used ones not plentiful, still high priced).
Redwood—
Congrats on what sounds like a stellar deal! Either you are my new negotiating hero or the dealer REALLY wanted to move that car.
My brother bought one 2 months ago, BTW. Great family ride, IMO. One of the best looking/performing sedans for the $ out there.
Used 2008s are listed in Onratio, Canada at the same price or HIGHER than the cash deal on a new 2009 right now.
Raskolnikov, thanks. I think it was a combo of both. They had offered me a 4400 mile demo car in the exact same color/options as the one I bought (minus the bluetooth installed) for $29.8K a week earlier, so I think my constant hard to get routine was working. When I first went in, they offered me GM Supplier pricing with the $3500 rebate (or 0% financing) on a new one. I don’t remember the exact figures, but it was quite a bit higher than my final deal. I think what I ended up with was GM employee pricing -$5500 ($3500 rebate and $2000 dealer cash). It was probably about 3 weeks between my first test drive, then a 24 hour test drive of the demo car 2 weeks later, and my final purchase a week after that.
Has anyone seen the Top Gear G8 Test Drive. I think G8 is better car than Taurus SHO. I can’t imagine SHO handling like G8. Most production cars don’t handle like G8. I am also suspicious of SHO transmission and the engine. I think G8 is one of those rare gem. It’s a rare car for GM. I am so used to Chevy Oreo, House Barbie Malibu, and fugly interior… G8 seems so different kind of car from GM. G8 can use bit more stuff to make its interior or pijazz and eye friendly. I would love to see cooling seats… So, needed in Texas for sure. I think G8 is a better buy than the Hyundai Genesis Coupe by a comfortable margin. I don’t know whether Genesis can do G8 stuff.
Maybe, I can get two… but then, they don’t bailout car notes.
I thought the GT was supposed to get a manual? I would be interested but no manual!?
That and having to deal with a Pontiac dealer. I like the car, though. Congrats, Redwood and good luck with the new ride! What color did you get?
Counted 12 G8s in front of the Plano, TX BPG dealership this weekend. Didn’t check for more in back. The Pontiac front facia and hood scoops look boy racer cheap to me. Wish GM had designed a face that’s more interesting than the Holden, but didn’t try so hard to look like a recent Pontiac. Hood scoops and tacked on plastic crap don’t belong on a car with a sticker price in the 30s.
pb35, thanks. I got the Magnetic Gray Metallic. I also considered Sport Red (aka maroon), but the wife said it’s an old person’s color.
George B, I could do without the fake hood scoops, but I really like the rest.
My Pontiac dealer was/is awesome. The same one also has Infiniti nearby and the sales guy there was amazing. I honestly wished they owned a BMW dealer, because then I might still be driving a BMW.