Why do I still have three of these great cars???

[oregonduck2988]

Trevor,

I went to three dealerships looking for a G8 GT with the premium package. What I was told was pretty disheartening. First, I had a salesman at Willamette Auto Group in Salem, Oregon, tell me to my face that there was no GXP coming out. Then he told me the 5K mark-up was standard throughout the country. Then he told me I had to buy whatever was on his lot and take what I could get, not what I wanted. By the way, they were trying to offload a white 888 car for $41K.

Went to another dealership and was told they would get a few of the V-6 powered G8's in later in the year. They couldn't order a GT for me, and had no way or interest in trying to get one we liked.

Finally went to a small dealership, Mark Thomas Motors in Albany, Oregon. The saleswoman, Nancy Erickson, treated us like human beings. She didn't push, she didn't B.S., and she ordered us the car we wanted. We got a decent price without the $5K mark-up. Buying a car should be that easy and fun, but I think MTM is the exception, not the rule.

I do think the lack of availability with some dealerships, and the difficulty in ordering what you want, not what is on hand, is part of the problem. Also, the dealers seemed to believe the hype surrounding the car would cause a flood of purchases and decided to gouge those who first showed up. I can tell you from what I saw shopping for our G8 that such behavior drove people away in droves. I mean, if you have to gouge, mark the cars up AFTER the demand goes crazy, not before.

Anyway, my two cents as a recent consumer.

John Bruning

PS: The car was worth the hassle. I hope it sells a hundred thousand units and helps save GM.

[omegafiler]

I won't even consider them until they have GXP's sitting on the lots waiting to be sold. But a local dealer here sold the GT's they had fairly quickly, they just have a V6 that's been sitting around for awhile.

But yeah, gas prices, limited supply, missing options (ie. BT, XM, TNR, etc), no GXP, unfriendly dealers (ie. crazy pricing), etc. All reasons for people to hold off... at least for now.

[oregonduck2988]

You know, we thought about waiting for the GXP. But, it is only 40 hp. more power, which we can get in a GT with a performance tune and new pipes for a whole lot less money.

John

[tomcatinva]

I know that I am replying to and old message but let me tell you about an experiance with my dealership, that I have purchaced 7 cars and trucks from in the past.
I was also very excited to see the G8 come in to my local dealer, I was even there when they got their first one (one of 888) they had just gotten it off of the truck and washed it. I checked it out wanted to drive it but they said that because it was one of the first 888 that they weren't going to let anyone drive it (minus the sales manager). I understood... But then they received another shipment of 3 in red, orange, and white. I made a special trip into the dealership with my wife and kids, saw the same salesman that I always deal with and I was told (by my salesman) that the "new" management wanted me (a consistent repeat customer) to fill out paperwork with the intent to purchase the car before I could test drive it. I was also told that the management may not let me use my GM supplier discount on the car and there weren’t any incentives on the car either. I politely told my salesman that the "new" management has cost him a sale. And very possibly any future sales. I did email Pontiac and I received a phone call from them and they told me that each dealership is "independently owned and operated" and that it is not Pontiac or GM's policy to fill out paperwork in order to test drive a car. I am a GM man and I will probably purchase another Vehicle but chances of me going back to that Dealership to purchase, very doubtful. This stinks for my salesman who I can honestly say I trust hole heartily and I know he wouldn’t “stick it” to me.

So again the hype, dealerships not treating customers properly (customer service) and gouging… Yup that sums up the “greediness” of (some) Americans, get your $$$ and sc@@@ the rest.

And that is what has changed my mind, to hold on to the car I have even at 107K miles.

[KTBEAV]

As an internet sales consultant I'm blown away at the number of "premiums" are on this car! Throughout this and one other forum I've found the avg to be around 3000 dollars! We have upwards of 8 G8's in stock and are selling for supplier, less rebates and another coupon for 250.00 off. Blows me away that the big city dealerships can look someone in the eye and tell them that the premium is "nationwide."

[Tron]

I was turned off by a dealer wanting somewhere along the lines of 60k for a G8 GT. $15k markup, 700/month for 6 years. That was back in April or May. Kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

[Audra0729]

As many of you have pointed out, we have waited to purchase the G8 for a few reasons even though we text drove the V8 G8 3 times:

The GXP is coming out soon which gives more upgraded features, more color options, more horses and the option of a manual transmission (which is kinda what we are wanting).
Granted we are unlikely to jump on the GXP the moment it hits the lot, GM has came out with 3 G8 models already, the V6, the V8 and the GT, what's gonna come out after the GXP? What other upgrades and changes are they going to make then? Probably none but that thought has continued to stick in our minds.
It's a waiting game, the economy doesn't help right now either.