GA vs. G8....trade or stay?

[i_ammetal]

Alrighty guys and girls.... need some opinions and input on this...

I'm just shy of 94k on my GA SE.
The body is in decent shape, with some paint scuffs/scratches and small body dents. The engine/drivetrain is starting to show wear and tear.. nothing too serious YET...

Interior is falling apart, wine and oil stains in the back on the floor, each on different sides. Have one broken panel in the rear.

I'm honestly content with my car, and everything Ive done to it (intake, exhaust, tint, tails, and seriously killer stereo). But it lacks the power i want and the looks i could have with something else....

Still owe a few grand on it.


Recently i car shopped for ****s and gigs, and found this beauty.



There's 3 new left in/around Denver.... 4 yesterday. All of which are black 6 cylinders, which is ok because of my insurance/ticket situation.

They offered to pay what i currently owe, give me $2500 for the trade, and 6k off MSRP (which next time i go in i might get a better deal because a friend knows a salesman).

Money isn't exactly easy right now, but if I'm only paying another $100-$200 at the end of the month on car payment/insurance it doesn't sound like too bad of a deal.

Anyone own a v6 G8? Input?

[PhantomLover007]

TRADE if you can afford it.

[2000 GT Coupe]

I agree

[blario]

Hellz yeah, trade it off before it loses all value.

[Malibu Glow]

Better find out all the particulars on your monthly payment and insurance costs, then decide for yourself if you can afford trading up. If you are able to then why not trade for a newer car! Just don't put yourself into a financial hardship.

[notsoaveragej0e]

"only" $100-200 a month adds up (1200 to 2400 a year), and while I generally try to dissuade people from upgrading when they can't afford it, I';d say you might want to seriously consider it, since the power train and car overall is very solid and will easily last you 100k+ miles.

[zukiracer19]

to the 6 cylinders... There are a few v8s around here for sale at the dealers for extremely low prices, Will most certainly be my next buy after i can get rid of turbo and GA

[zukiracer19]

Originally Posted by notsoaveragej0e

"only" $100-200 a month adds up (1200 to 2400 a year), and while I generally try to dissuade people from upgrading when they can't afford it, I';d say you might want to seriously consider it, since the power train and car overall is very solid and will easily last you 100k+ miles.

sorry meant to quote this.. but Honestly 100-200 or even 250 is reasonable for a new car... but yes if YOU can afford it depending on your bills.

[stillriza]

like everyone is saying.. if you can afford it comfortabley, then why not..otherwise no sense getting into debt atm

[ryanbgb22]

Well, if you ever want a brand new car, and you like the g8, this is really a very timely opportunity; their almost giving these things away.

[i_ammetal]

Originally Posted by notsoaveragej0e

"only" $100-200 a month adds up (1200 to 2400 a year), and while I generally try to dissuade people from upgrading when they can't afford it, I';d say you might want to seriously consider it, since the power train and car overall is very solid and will easily last you 100k+ miles.

Bills are bills. They way i see it is insurance will bump up a bit just because its a new model and the payment of course because its a bigger loan. But then again like i said my friend knows a salesman there very well so i sorta have a "hookup", if i can get the car under 20k or better then there's no way i should turn it away....

BUT on the down side, and the biggest turn off to the car, i researched performance parts last night for the sixers and there's very few parts.... and given the fact they are already out of production im not sure if it will get any better.... maybe I'm ill-informed?

I love the car for its looks, but the brootal 0-60 time of 7 seconds flat is a major turn off. I want my next car to be an upgrade all around........ need more performance!

[blario]

Isn't the 3.6L DOHC in the camaro the same engine? If so I can see there being lots in the way of future mods.

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by Malibu Glow

Better find out all the particulars on your monthly payment and insurance costs, then decide for yourself if you can afford trading up. If you are able to then why not trade for a newer car! Just don't put yourself into a financial hardship.

Yup, Eric is right.

Financially, it does not make sense to get the G8 (or any car) at this point.
Based on your #'s

(Unless your GA is not in good shape to keep running. But car repair bills in the long run is cheaper than car payments.)

All around the G8 is more expensive to have.
ie: car insurance, gasoline mileage, etc...

You got to decide if the want is worth the extra expense.

For me it was.

[notsoaveragej0e]

Originally Posted by zukiracer19

sorry meant to quote this.. but Honestly 100-200 or even 250 is reasonable for a new car... but yes if YOU can afford it depending on your bills.

yeah but he made it sound like it was ON TOP OF his current payment, which could mean a lot of money.

but if I'm only paying another $100-$200 at the end of the month

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by i_ammetal

...

Recently i car shopped for ****s and gigs, and found this beauty.



There's 3 new left in/around Denver.... 4 yesterday. All of which are black 6 cylinders, which is ok because of my insurance/ticket situation...

Don't get that marked-up dealer accessoried G8.

They add stuff to pad the price & their profit.

If your insurance is bad on the GA, it will be bad on the G8 too.
For me (clean record) it was only $300 Cdn more per year.

Even so, the best buy is the G8 GT version with premium with or without the sports package.
I heard on another forum that there are only like 5 Panther Black Metallic G8 GT's left in the US.
So, get one while you can.

Originally Posted by ryanbgb22

Well, if you ever want a brand new car, and you like the g8, this is really a very timely opportunity; their almost giving these things away.

Yup, it is.

But the time was better back in the early spring before they announced the death of Pontiac.
They had better rebates & dealer incentives back then (from what US dealers have said in another forum).

Originally Posted by i_ammetal

Bills are bills. They way i see it is insurance will bump up a bit just because its a new model and the payment of course because its a bigger loan. But then again like i said my friend knows a salesman there very well so i sorta have a "hookup", if i can get the car under 20k or better then there's no way i should turn it away....

BUT on the down side, and the biggest turn off to the car, i researched performance parts last night for the sixers and there's very few parts.... and given the fact they are already out of production im not sure if it will get any better.... maybe I'm ill-informed?

I love the car for its looks, but the brootal 0-60 time of 7 seconds flat is a major turn off. I want my next car to be an upgrade all around........ need more performance!

What did you expect ?
It is a 3885-lbs V6 powered sedan.

Best bang for the buck for performance is the GT's with the L76 6.0L V8 engine & 6L80 6-speed auto tranny

Originally Posted by blario

Isn't the 3.6L DOHC in the camaro the same engine? If so I can see there being lots in the way of future mods.

Different engine.

The DI version was suppose to be introduced for 2010 model.

[blario]

DI meaning Direct Injection?

[Mike Jung]

Things to think about on the G8's:

The gasoline mileage is worse than on the GA's.
Car insurance is more expensive.
4" ground clearance (at least on the GT's) is bad for winter.
Hell, a tire shop could not put mine on the lift & had to jack it up by hand at each corner one at a time.
Becareful of parking curbs/stops (front & back) becuase you could ripe off your front bumper chin or bang your exhaust pipes.
Winter & RWD.
Winter tires & wheels package are expensive.
The side view mirrors are small, & the car is big. Got to be careful driving it (at 1st at least).
The trunk might be big, but the rear seats don't fold down. & the OnStar & XM Radio boxes take up room on the top of your trunk.
But it has a huge rear seats.

It is nice having a new car that everyone doesn't have.
The GT's are good bang for the buck & can be mod'ed (but it is expensive !!!).
The price difference between a G8 sedan vs the G8 GT is a no brainer.
Unless you are concerned about gasoline mileage.
You get so much more in the GT trim (non base level, ie: with premium package).
Even the G8 sedan V6 has real dual exhaust system (ie: 2 cats & pipes to 2 mufflers in the rear)

Bottom line if you get a G8:
Go for a GT.
Or you will be regretting it all the time later.


Examples of what can be done to a G8 GT:
http://www.livernoismotorsports.com/...ml?&f_query=g8


Go drive both & see how you like them.

PS: Get your own financing before hitting up the dealer.
Make sure you can afford the interest rate over the length of the loan.
& take advantage of the best pricing possible if you bring you own cash.

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by blario

DI meaning Direct Injection?

Yup.

[Mike Jung]

Oh, yeah.

There are different mid-year versions.

'08 for like 2-months

'09

& '09.5

If you want factory installed Bluetooth connect for your cell.
You need to make sure it is a '09.5 version.

[CraiGT]

If you have to ask about this, then you cant afford it.

What are you going to do when something fails (not covered under warranty) and you cant afford it?

Have you even got a quote from your insurance on how much more its going to be?

Did you get an price estimate a month for this G8? And for how many months till it changes? You know you pay for other stupid fees that go along with the price of the car right?

And of all models to waste your money on, why the V6? They are slower than a GTP. Its a fact. I have it on video. I have raced 2 local ones many times with the same outcome.

Plus the G8 V6 does not have nearly as much aftermarket/tuning capabilities as the G8GT.