Breaking News: G8 St Is Cancelled!

[SolsticeSky]

wow, GM is dumb. They are stupid. According to sources from autoblog.com, the G8 ST sport pickup is cancelled for good. Great. You know i guess a fun sporty useful pickup with decent MPG is a terrible idea?

[wlkjr]

They should have cancelled the name and kept the truck.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by SolsticeSky

wow, GM is dumb. They are stupid. A

I completely disagree.

I am sure you have noticed GM is in an extremely dire financial situation and is surviving right now only because the Feds have lent them taxpayer money.

This means GM has an obligation to the taxpayer (aka Congress) to spend that limited money only on developing volume products for the future...... this means small, efficient cars.

Sporty trucks are simply a luxury niche market and will never sell enough units to justify the expense under the current financial restrictions.

[BNaylor]

That was a good move by GM and really no choice in the matter, especially financially. It was predicted only about 5000-7000 units would sell. Also, Americans are reluctant to buy specialty performance vehicles with the economy the way it is and on top of that frown upon Australian made vehicles.

For example only around 15,000 of the new G8 sedans both V6 and V8 models have been sold in the U.S. Obviously it will be a failure like the Holden Monaro/Pontiac GTO.

[wlkjr]

Was there less competition to the GTO's of the 60's or more today? Obviously Australian Goats are not very popular.

[drdisque]

The 60's GTO was not a model unto itself, it was a high performance version of the Le Mans, which was a rather bland mid-size car.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by wlkjr

Was there less competition to the GTO's of the 60's or more today? Obviously Australian Goats are not very popular.

Back in the 1960's, Pontiac's GTO was the perfect muscle car to address the market back then.
It was not the fastest muscle car, but it had the best overall package of performance, appearance, features, image, advertising support, affordable price, roominess and usefulness. It hit the target market directly.

The modern GTO did not address the market nearly as well. It did not have 4 doors and a sterling reputation like most performance BMW's. But it was not as cheap, low,wide and overly-decorated car like a Trans-Am or Mustang.

Imo the performance buying public did not know what to make of it. It was hampered by an unpopular 2 door body style, and had low profile almost economy-car looks, yet was pretty expensive.

One more thing..... the car was NOT sold here in Canada!!!

[richtazz]

Who needs another El Camino anyway? As far as costs go, the car is in production as a Holden in Australia and quite popular there, so rebadging and shipping would be the only "cost" (oops, forgot about left hand drive conversion too) . I agree that it won't sell well here (we Americans don't buy too many coupes, let alone a 2 seater "cruck") so why bother. I wish I could afford a G8, because I'd have one. Very nice driving car, and the 6-speed version is droolsville for me!!!

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by richtazz

I wish I could afford a G8, because I'd have one. Very nice driving car, and the 6-speed version is droolsville for me!!!

Me too!.

The problem is the Tremec manual 6 speed will only be available in the G8 GXP model. The G8 GT has the 6 speed auto. Nonetheless, the car is no slouch and a significant improvement over the defunct GTO. Best thing to do is wait for them to show up on the used car market at decent prices. If you check sites like cars.com plenty up for sale now. I came close to trading in My Regal GS but bailed out on the deal once I regained my senses.