<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/18408/g8_with_rs6_11-08.jpg"></center><p>
OK, so I copped out. I was going to trade in the RS 6 and my more bland sedan (07 Saturn Aura) and walk away with a check. In the end I couldn't give up the RS 6 at the price they offered for trade, so I decided to keep it at least until Daytona.

Instead of getting a check I wrote one. After three days and a whopping 170 miles, I remain impressed. But the G8 is more of a low-priced challenge to BMW than Audi. Its side window profile and front fender flares look BMWish -- no surprise since the 535i was their design target. The G8 sales literature is filled with comparisons, the most amazing being the claim that it has "more torque than the V10-powered BMW M5." Incredulous, I looked it up and confirmed the M5 at 383 in the link below; the G8 GT boasts 385. (The M5 is faster, of course; hp counts too and it has a big edge there with 500 vs. 361.)

Elsewhere in the lit: "Zero-60 in 5.3 -- better than a BMW 5 series"; Active Fuel Management helps "achieve better highway fuel economy than the BMW 550i or Dodge Charger RT," the latter of which it trashed from launch and in handling in a comparo; "...longer wheelbase and wider stance than BMW 3 Series and 5 Series"; "more overall passenger room than BMW 5 and 7 series"; "more rear-seat leg room than a BMW 750i" -- you get the idea!

The G8 also shares near-perfect balance with the BMW. Battery is in the back, tucked behind side trim. And, thank you Lord, one of the most reliable and popular tuners nationwide (Vector Motorsport) is located about two miles from my home. I visited his shop yesterday -- filled with Vettes, Caddys and fast GM trucks. He commented that the NA V8 in the G8 seems especially friendly towards tuning. Out of 100 or so G8s he's tuned since the car came out in March, he said, none have reported problems. He estimates gains of 30 for hp and torque with his software, which was used on the car at VIR that got me excited about the G8 (see link at thread titled "Speaking of change....")

But the G8 is no RS 6 and never will be, if only for the fact that it doesn't have AWD. So, just like a RWD BMW, it has traction issues -- especially in the wet. Electronics help, and it's much more stable than my '86 turbo Regal was, but even computers can't defy gravity or add grip where there is none. Given that, plus the G8's taller profile, softer suspension, extra length (5 inches) and width and higher center of gravity, the RS6 feels more glued to the pavement. But the larger G8 is a little lighter and handles easier -- a plus for daily driving.

Ride comfort is very good in the G8 and seats are supportive, comfortable. Suspension may need work before small track use, though maybe not for Daytona. With upgraded pads, brakes seem to hold up even for track use.

Anyhow, I plan to be at Daytona with the RS 6. Not sure yet if the G8 will be there too, or whether I'll leave it in Michigan for the winter. One one hand I'd like to find out how it performs at D; on the other, getting it there means more expense sooner than I expected, e.g. $1300 for a set of PS2s.

(PS - I'm using a new camera, this is the first time I've posted a pic from it, and it's also the first time it showed up so huge! Anyone who can help me control that, please email me. Or maybe you guys like it this way?)<ul><li><a href="http://www.edmunds.com/new/2008/bmw/m5/100874882/specs.html">http://www.edmunds.com/new/2008/bmw/m5/100874882/specs.html</a</li></ul>

:-P

Seriously though, that would be a tough move for me to make, going from an RS6 to a Pontiac.

If I was younger I might not go for any US brand. But as a native of Motown who remembers the original GTO and owned a new '69 Firebird 400 convertible, I know they're capable of producing reliable fast cars that don't cost a fortune to fix.

Handling was awful back then, of course, not to mention tires. The G8 is a huge improvement. If GM keeps making cars this good, their future looks bright.

Oops, I almost forgot: it may be too late....

But after discovering a GM media report (linked below) that shows a different suspension, I decided to wait.

On one hand the GXP suspension is described as "fully adjustable," which sounds great. But it also says it's tuned for the "highest performance" in the G8 family. Which sounds like stiffer, and while that may be great for the track, I'm looking for daily driver comfort too. So I decided to buy now and, if the GXP proves comfortable enough, maybe trade up if/when I sell the Audi. If it's too harsh, maybe mod the G8 I have per the VIR track write-up.

I also thought of the possibility that the GXP may not be produced. GM is re-thinking a lot of products right now, and anything not already in production could be at risk IMO.<ul><li><a href="http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=999&amp;docid=45388">http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmon

You should use your camera at the garage and maybe it will enlarge to give you some more room. ;)

Congrats and I look forward to seeing you at Daytona!

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/18408/2009_g8_gt_11-08.jpg"></center><p>
My pre-delivery G8 had not even been washed when I took these. Plus the neighbor's garage door being open, we've had no sun since about Tuesday and none is expected in the 10 day forecast.

Daytona is sounding better every day!

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/18408/lm2_5603.jpg"></center><p>I can still imagine scooting over Daytona's lumpy pavement at 130 &amp; up for long stretches at a time. (The lumps are small &amp; easily handled by the RS 6, as well as a Porsche I rode in. Daytona does NOT have jarring concrete "lips," as for example Sebring does.)

Congrats.

Back seat has a little more legroom than the RS 6. Also more than 3" wider between rear armrests, which makes a curled-up nap cozy but feasible for me (I'm 5/10"). Trunk is a generous 17.5 cu ft.

Front overhang is less, with most of the engine behind the front axle.

RS 6: 191.3 in. length, 108.6 wheelbase
G8: 196.1 in. length, 114.8 wheelbase

Yeah, that's one reason I gotta take better pix -- if the sun ever comes out. The garage belongs to a neighbor trying to sell that condo. Says he's got no other place for the stuff -- but at least he could close the door, eh? I was in such a hurry taking the pix, trying to get the car back to dealer before closing, that I didn't notice. (In retrospect I guess they wouldn't close with a car missing, would they?)

Thanks for the congrats!

I have a friend that did the whole suspension of his GTO...its an amazing transformation, cost maybe 3-4K and he did the installs himself. Check them out.

He said he could do an install, which is great because anything beyond changing a light bulb is beyond me.

Have you ridden in your friend's G8 with a Pedders setup? I'm sure it handles better but need to know about ride quality too before buying an aftermarket setup.

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/18408/g8_in_snow_11-08.jpg"></center><p>

Another review by Edmunds found the GXP actually a notch slower than the GT in the slalom. They theorized that the GXP's reduced understeer, combined with the slightly heavier rear antiroll bar, might create a pendulum effect. And Edmunds' 0-60 of 5.2 was only .1 faster than Pontiac's factory time for the G8.

The GXP sounds good, but with the GT I avoided its gas guzzler tax and can match its torque with a $700 "tune" i.e. engine software. Plus maybe get additional 2-3 mpg over now, or 2-5 mpg better than the GXP. Maybe. I'm in no rush to mod this car, but they have a pretty active forum at g8board.com<ul><li><a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/american_performance/2009_pontiac_g8_gxp_short_take_road_test">http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/american_performance/2009_pontiac_g8_gxp_sho