Why You Should Invest In A Pontiac G8 GXP

"lorem ipsum" (nothing123456789)
10/08/2014 at 11:48 • Filed to: Pontiac, G8, GXP, V8, American, Investment, LS3, Nurburgring, GM

I would like to start this article by saying that I am highly qualified to be giving investment advice. In fact, I'm 20 years old and in college, which means that I'm not only extremely smart, but I also have a wealth of life experience to draw upon to inform my opinions (minus that micro economics class I failed first year).

Now that's out of the way, and everyone trusts me, here are a few reasons why the car pictured above is the smartest thing you could spend your hard-earned $35,000 on. For those of you who were thinking of saving that money for things like education, or your retirement fund, or healthcare, or donating to charity, or something not nearly as practical as a rear-wheel-drive, V8, manual (!), sports sedan, listen to my words.

1) It's a rear-wheel-drive, V8, manual (!), sports sedan. Even if you're not looking for an investment opportunity, and just need a new car, this one is pretty bitchin'. First of all, it has rear-wheel-drive, which means you can do drifts all day long, because that's what people with RWD do. They drift everywhere, unless they're in a Volvo 240, in which case they lament the fact that the weed-whacker engine doesn't have enough power to overwhelm the rear wheels, let alone get it up a mildly-steep hill. You won't have that problem in the Pontiac— with an LS3 V8 in this rolling lump of American iron (or high-strength steel, whatever), you've got 415 hp and 415 lbs/ft to light up those tires whenever the mood strikes you. And, best of all, doing so has never been easier due to the presence of three glorious pedals. Well, two glorious pedals— the brake pedal isn't that fun. That's right, these came in 6-speed configuration. Dump the clutch at 5,000 RPMs, and you won't be able to see through the cloud of smoke behind you, or hear the police sirens!

Holy shit, are those the wheels from the CTS-V?! Yes, yes they are. And those are Brembos behind them. Almost like they engineered it for more than straight line performance! Which neatly brings me on to my second point: It's not just good down a drag strip (although 4.5 to 60 and 13.0 through the quarter mile at 129.6 mph isn't shabby), it's also good through corners. In fact, it was tuned on the Nurburgring! Or however you spell that. This was a trendsetter back in 2009 for tuning your chassis, suspension, and dampers on that famed racetrack. Nowadays, everyone is doing it, but this is where they got it from. Probably. Maybe. At any rate, Aaron Robinson at Car and Driver wrote: "The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP is just the sort of four-door Corvette Americans have long prayed for, with sharp steering, fabulous response from the four-piston Brembo brakes, exceptionally balanced and neutral handling, and a simple and classy look to the interior layout and trim". A four door Corvette, huh?

And that brings me onto my third point: this thing will not only reduce you to tears in its muscle car cum sports car glory, it will also reduce the other four people and their luggage that are also in the car with you to tears. Yes, even the luggage will be crying— Pontiac's majesty isn't lost on anyone or anything.

That's an interior from GM's glory days. I can taste the soft-touch plastics and build-quality from my desk, where I should be working.

One of the main reasons why this is a good investment (haven't written much about that yet) is that this was the last great sporty Pontiac ever produced— let alone of the last Pontiacs ever produced, period— and, at only 1829 of them made, it's as rare as a black-and-blue ribeye. If you don't get that reference, read up on your cooking methods. This car was only produced in the 2009 model year, and Pontiacs ended production in the 2009.5 model year. This car will be hugely desirable down the line. It has one of the last— and one of the all-time greatest— naturally aspirated V8s, it has one of the last manual-transmissions, and it's the last great model produced by one of the greatest American manufacturers. This has greatness flowing through every little part of it— every little part that is so susceptible to recall it's not even funny.

The last reason why this car is a good investment actually has something to do with economics. One would expect a car like this— from a defunct brand, with a thirsty engine, with a transmission no one knows how to use— to have depreciated like crazy. You know, comparable BMWs and Mercedes' would have tens of thousands of dollars off their MSRPs at this point, five years down the line. The model I've linked to on eBay has about $110 off its original sticker price. You see, back in 2009, when no one was buying these, they were marked $5000 off their original price, to $37,610, according to Bengt Halvorson at Motor Authority. This car is for sale at $37,500. If this car doesn't appreciate like crazy over the next ten years, I will, to take a line from Mr. Grimwig of Oliver Twist, eat my head.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (28)

For Sweden > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 11:54

What about the 2015 Chevrolet SS?

ly2v8-Brian > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 11:54

It's the last great Pontiac

CB > For Sweden
10/08/2014 at 11:56

Doesn't get the prestige of being the last car from a dead brand.

Jayhawk Jake > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 12:00

Do you really think it will appreciate much now that there's a Chevy SS?

Not to mention the Charger Hellcat just stomping the semi-rare American muscle sedan.

In the words of Jim Cramer think the G8 GXP is a "SELL SELL SELL!" while the values are still high

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 12:04

Your writing style is glorious.

lorem ipsum > For Sweden
10/08/2014 at 12:04

Basically the same car, and I bet that it'll be collectible one day as well.

lorem ipsum > Jayhawk Jake
10/08/2014 at 12:05

I think it will appreciate regardless of its competitors because I think it's a collectible. I agree that the Hellcat twins will also be collectibles one day— they're modern classics.

lorem ipsum > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
10/08/2014 at 12:07

Thank you!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 12:11

He has a point. This and the Solstice GXP (especially the coupes) are the last performance oriented Pontiacs sold before they were given the axe. Given the low numbers of production, these should appreciate in years to come.

I still think that at $30-35k, they're in the "Don't Buy" category if we're going on the Jim Cramer scale.

Clay...Bill Clay > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 12:22

Only one problem with your logic. Since it is 415 hp of RWD, stick shift American/Aussie awesomeness, I will rack up miles and drive the wheels off the thing to the point its value plummets to the vicinity of a primer gray '96 Kia Sephia. I shudder at the thought of the alternative: I don't drive it to preserve its value, but then commit Seppuku because life isn't worth living when you have a G8 GXP that you're not driving.

lorem ipsum > Clay...Bill Clay
10/08/2014 at 12:24

That's the best part of this car, though! This one costs the same as one with 1,700 odd miles, which costs the same as one with 30,000 miles! It's like Doug Demuro's Lotus thing.

quarterlifecrisis > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 12:28

I nearly pulled the trigger on one that was listed at a Backyard Bubba's type of lot in the summer of 2013. It was way too cheap for it's own good, like $27,500.

Little did I know I'd be moving across the country to within an hour of that particular car lot.

qbeezy > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 12:30

This is something I kinda don't agree with b yeah there are those who have a cult following for V8 manuals, but there isn't that "brand equity" with Pontiac. There's no cult following on Pontiac. Just people looking for a good deal on a car not manufactured anymore. There's no history with the G8. Buying anything that "depreciates normally" at or near full retail? You're not going to make any money. If any at all. What is the point in investing if there's no return? Or high risk?

quarterlifecrisis > For Sweden
10/08/2014 at 12:30

Talk up the 2015 SS all you can. Please. I want people to buy them with the 6 speed and magnetic suspension, and in the new blueish color that I think they'll come in so I can buy one in 2017...

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 12:48

It's a great car, but for the same prices, I can have myself some 09 and 10 CTS-Vs for sale in the same price range. More power.

feather-throttle-not-hair > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 13:15

Counterpoint: My friend has been bitching non-stop about how much value his admittedly very nice low mileage Pontiac GTO has lost in the past couple of years. Granted that was built in much larger numbers...

lorem ipsum > feather-throttle-not-hair
10/08/2014 at 13:20

Yes, but the GTO wasn't a critical success in the way the G8 GXP was. Although in NFS Underground 2 the GTO was my shit

feather-throttle-not-hair > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 13:25

I always just tell him that he "shouldn't have bought a car that looks so much like a suppository" and then point out a passing Grand Am while saying "see, and the GTO isn't as rare as you thought it was, there's another one right now!"

lorem ipsum > feather-throttle-not-hair
10/08/2014 at 13:26

+1 friend points

Bob > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 13:30

Still loving my G8GT, and loving people's reaction to it. So glad I traded my Grand Prix GXP in for it five years ago. This pic was taken Monday.

Kinja'd!!!

Bob > lorem ipsum
10/08/2014 at 13:39

Kinja'd!!!

This is an interesting photo because the "Atari" style gauges you see above the center console vents were discontinued after the 2008 model year, but Pontiac didn't start making GXP's until 2009. It's possible these were added by the owner. All the wiring is still there sitting behind the hastily-installed cubby hole.

PG; the scalpel wielder > lorem ipsum
10/09/2014 at 05:48

this article is kind of hilarious to read from an Australian perspective. Their mainly a redneck car over here, and do not hold up well over the years.

But we live in a country where a basic Camaro or Mustang are over $100K...

anothermiatafanboy > lorem ipsum
10/09/2014 at 10:57

(although 4.5 to 60 and 13.0 through the quarter mile at 129.6 mph isn't shabby)—-Thatd be an interesting run to watch. 13 seconds, trapping at 130?! Probably 13.0@109.6 , amirtite?

eforeal > lorem ipsum
10/10/2014 at 16:26

The problem is....I want to remove that steering wheel and beat the shit out of the person that designed it with his own creation.

Thanks,

lorem ipsum > eforeal
10/10/2014 at 18:59

The entire interior is kind of a shit show, but yeah, that wheel must go. Replace with wood-rimmed Nardi.

Kingy > lorem ipsum
10/11/2014 at 01:25

"rolling lump of American iron"

Designed and built in Australia.

You're welcome.

FireSpittingV12 > lorem ipsum
10/22/2014 at 17:47

You know what's rarer? A Sport Red or Pacific Slate sunroof delete G8 GXP 6 speed. Go find one. I dare you.

jjdasfjdasjf > lorem ipsum
10/22/2014 at 18:42

I believe every element of the second paragraph is gloriously wrong, but as others have pointed out, you write good.