For the past few days I have been fooling around NES and SNES emulators in my spare time, reliving childhood memories seeing if my old favorites have stood the test of time. I vaguely remembered playing some sort of strange SNES/Super Famicom Japanese drag racing game at my friend’s house a long time ago, so I hunted around and found the ROM version of the game.
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By Justin Berkowitz
May 3, 2008 - 3,434 Views
The 6.0-liter G8 is a wonderful car. But I was curious about the V6. Supposedly, the smaller engined variant will account for the majority of sales. And RF’s been bugging me for a review of the “entry level” G8 ever since the Aussie-built sedan first hit the showroom floor. Getting a G8 V6 via the GM press fleet is as about as realistic as dividing by zero. So I hit up NY-area dealerships. Two weeks, no joy. A regular check of Pontiac.com eventually revealed two G8 V6s at Cunningham Buick Pontiac GMC in Bayside, NY. Upon arrrival, I discovered they had no G8s or any kind, sort or description. “But give us your number, and we’ll call you this Friday when we get several more delivered– including a V6.” Great. On Saturday morning, a salesperson called. “The V6 G8 is here!” When I got there in the early afternoon… no G8 V6. “Oh, we must have sold it this morning.” Yes, in the course of a morning, a G8 V6 was arrived by a truck, found a buyer, got prepped and left. In four hours. All without the salesman’s knowledge. The G8, in eight-cylinder form at least, is a kick ass car and a great deal. But with dealerships plying the ole’ bait and switch, product excellence doesn’t matter. [NB: this is not the first report of this c’mon down oops no V6 we’ve heard. Has anyone even seen one?]
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Slightly OT but does anyone know why the G8 is so much cheaper in the us than Australia? The aussie dollar has been consistently trading well over 90 us cents.
The V6 starts at about 35k here while pontiac sells the v8 for under 30k?
hokuto:
Slightly OT but does anyone know why the G8 is so much cheaper in the us than Australia? The aussie dollar has been consistently trading well over 90 us cents.
The V6 starts at about 35k here while pontiac sells the v8 for under 30k?
Not OT at all. At least when it comes to the V6, maybe the reason Pontiac can sell it so cheaply in the States is because they don’t. Sell it, I mean.
As for the G8 V8, well, there’s no way GM’s making a dime on this thing. The original plan unveiled by GM Car Czar Bob Lutz: “test the waters” with the Australian version, then build the G8 stateside.
I assume the plan was mooted to soothe the UAW; Maximum Bob’s deal was set before the automotive press before the last union contract was negotiated and, after The Mother of All Bribes (a.k.a. health care VEBA), ratified.
Keep in mind that the UAW stipulated how many Aussie-built GTOs GM could import. In that case, it turned-out that the UAW saved GM millions. In this case, I haven’t heard the Aussie G8 as a warm-up for the US G8 idea ONCE since the union contract was ratified.
Anyway, Pontiac dealers, famous amongst enthusiasts for bilking pistonhads on the early Solstii, seem to be keeping to the bend over and smile retail philosophy.
I have yet to see any variant of the G8 on the streets. And I don’t drive by any Pontiac dealerships routinely so I can’t say I’ve seen any at those hell-holes either, but they may be there–collecting dust.
B-Rad:
And I don’t drive by any Pontiac dealerships routinely so I can’t say I’ve seen any at those hell-holes either, but they may be there–collecting dust.
Point of information. They’re not “Pontiac dealers” any more. They’re BuickPontiacGMC (BPG) dealers, selling your choice of three Buicks, seven Pontiacs and seven GMCs. Plus performance and hybrid variants.
hokuto;
I suspect the G8 is more expensive in Aus. for the same reason it’s also more expensive in Can. That is, profit margin. The US market has always been a vibrant one to compete in as consumers will mortgage their mothers to get the upgraded ICE, so it is potentially much more lucrative than other markets.
That manufacturers are willing to sacrifice their profit margin to compete in the US is illustrated by the fact that the fallen greenback should have caused a steep increase in the price of import vehicles but it hasn’t. Instead, importers are allowing their bottom line to take a hit, as reported earlier on TTAC;
A LOT of dealers are sleazy like this.
EG, when my sister was looking to buy her Fit, and wanted a testdrive, we called around for dealers that had a manual.
One said they did, a good 20 miles away. We went there only to find that they only had automatics, with a sleazy salesman saying “See, paddle shifters, thats a manual” and me pointing to the sticker and going “NO BITCH!”
Needless to say, we tesdrode at a different dealer, and she did NOT buy from the inital dealer either.
So its I don’t think an uncommon tactic.
I’ve seen a G8 V6. The thing that struck me most about it was how negligible the difference was in price between it and the V8 version, something around $2k, IIRC. Since the mpg penalty is minimal, as well, under normal circumstances, I would think it’d be quite difficult for Pontiac to unload the G8 V6 on anyone. But with the current high price of gas, even one mpg better than the V8 is reason enough for many people to forego the V8 and take the V6 instead.
Then someone bought it. Then they prepped it. Then the person took delivery. In four hours.
It hypothetically could happen… A mechanic friend of mine said they could PDI? a Nissan or Kia in 20 minutes, and the mechanic who did it the quickest on average each month got a $300 cash tax-free spiff for doing so. I know he would win every other month because he’d take us drinking when the money came through.
I have not seen a G8 of any kind in my GM town… I’ve starting to see more Malibus, but at least half been rentals. I drove by the Trailblazin’ factory parking lot 4 times this week… could count the number of employee cars there on one hand. Where are the AA axles for the hot sellin’ TB, SAAB 97, Envoy?
Robert Farago:
They’re not “Pontiac dealers” any more. They’re BuickPontiacGMC (BPG) dealers, selling your choice of three Buicks, seven Pontiacs and seven GMCs.
Well, not all of them. The dealership where my dad works is just BP. Apparently they’ve had negotiations to buy out a local GMC franchise (or get bought out by them), but it’s never come to fruition.
Oh, and their site says that they have three V6 G8s on the lot right now. Not sure how accurate that is.
I imagine that GM dealers are pretty desperate for a sale, ANY sale, these days and will stoop to anything to score. These guys have a lot full of metal to move and bills to pay. And while the dealers are stuck with their specific inventory, the consumer can buy a car/truck from just about anywhere in the world. So the dealer feels the need to play games and get the customer on the lot at all costs.
It’s precisely these sleazy dealer tactics that cause so much long term damage in perception with the consumer/customer. But short term, it just might work, so…
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When I was growing up, my father constantly reminded us that his customers put food on our table– both literally and figuratively (he had a weakness for Mercedes). The man who was THE alpha in my life was no such thing in front of his customers. He was polite, attentive, deferential and charming. At the tender age of 48, I think I’ve mastered attentive. But I learned the general lesson well. I never forget that you, dear readers, don’t have to spend your time or talents here. I work hard every day to earn your patronage. I never take it for granted, or assume I know better than you– about anything. I fully consider all your criticisms and do my level best to fix bugs as and when they’re brought to my attention. I’m never too busy to answer your emails. OK, I am. But I do it anyway. Because without you, nothing. And whenever I’m at a bookstore, I introduce myself to buff book readers and discuss their literary and internet habits. I’m constantly asking car owners I meet on the street what they think of their “ownership experience.” If Chrysler thinks that they’re going to be a better company if 300 execs talk to one customer each per day, they deserve to go out of business. And will. It’s as simple as that.Â
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To say motoring-related police enforcement and green-justified taxation has driven a wedge between the average UK citizen subject and Her Majesty’s government would be an excellent example of British understatement. Literally every day we hear news of another “us vs. them” story, whereby motorists face new charges and/or the police punish them for what is, let’s face it, normal behaviour (a.k.a. speeding). To wit: one in three of all licensed UK drivers have points on the license. And the hits keep happening. The Daily Mail reports that “a leaked memo has revealed that rank-and-file officers in the Norfolk force have been told that incidents such as car vandalism should not be classed as an offence when there is ‘no idea how it happened.’” From the memo: “We appear to be making things difficult for ourselves by ‘criming’ things which aren’t actually crimes. One example is where a car window is found to be damaged, no entry to vehicle, no witnesses and no idea how it happened. This has been recorded as criminal damage, even though there is no evidence to suggest it fits the definition. If there is no evidence of someone intending to destroy or be reckless then there is no crime.” In other words, Norfolk crime figures are getting a bit of Shiatsu. I know what you’re thinking. “The Association of British Insurers said claims for criminal damage would not be affected if police refused to issue crime numbers.” So, if a ’scrote pushes a tree onto your car in The New Forest, does your car really exist?Â
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Yet another major manufacturer is jumping into the entry-level segment defined by Tata Motors’ Nano subcompact. Reuters reports that Mitsubishi is developing a low-cost car for the Chinese and Thai markets, based on its Kei-class city car platform. Mitsu Prez Osamu Masuko announced the project at the Beijing Auto Show. “The mini vehicle business in a sense is a weakness because they are only sold in Japan,” Masuko said. “But we can turn this into a strength by building a global car using the platform.” The Japanese government-mandated 660cc engine will be replaced by a one-liter unit for export, with the resulting ride priced at just shy of $10k. With North American sales plummeting, Mitsubishi is joining the industry trend of looking to developing markets for sales, both from entry-level models and as a partner to suppliers of engines for Chinese manufacturers. Mitsubishi’s Chinese engine factory partners will be increasing capacity to some 900k units per year, up from 470k, as Chinese demand booms.
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On April 1st, 2008 significant modifications to road safety regulations in the Canadian provinces of QuĂ©bec and Nova Scotia went into effect. CTV.ca reports that handheld cellular phones are now verboten while at the wheel, though hands free devices are still tolerated. Nova Scotia will begin ticketing the offense immediately, while QuĂ©bec has allowed for a three-month grace periods in which offenders will only receive stern warnings and moralizing sermons. The first offense in Nova Scotia will cost $165, while costing $80-$110 and three demerit points in QuĂ©bec. Still not satisfied, road safety advocate Jean-Marie de Koeninck argues that “[h]ands-free is just as dangerous. (But) by forbidding the hand-held it does send a signal that there is a problem with the cellphone, there’s a problem with concentration”. Meanwhile, the same traffic safety bill in QuĂ©bec also doubled all speeding fines , with new suspension of license provisions for those caught traveling at 40 km/h over the limit in under-60 zones, 50 km/h in 60-90 over zones, and 60 km/h over in 100+ zones. All in the name of safety, presumably.
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Last month, Jonny Lieberman asked if anyone had been hit with a fuel surcharge. And no wonder. News10 says high fuel prices “are being felt particularly hard by small business owners.” San Diego’s delivery business has been particularly hard hit. With gas at an average of $3.73/gal., “some small delivery businesses [are] wondering what to do.” (Deliver packages?) CMF Incorporated’s fuel bill has gone up by $4k in the past year– that’s not including the cost of diesel fuel for their larger delivery trucks. Even Jonny’s dreaded fuel surcharge doesn’t guarantee the main man a profit. What’s a small business to do? Raise rates too high, and they risk losing customers. Keep them static and they lose money. It’s a bummer– for all concerned. “I’m walking into companies where the phone is not ringing and everyone’s in this type of slump or depression emotionally,” owner/driver Ed Bidwell reports with a distinctly California-esque metaphorical shrug. “And that’s what gets to me.”
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Just how far can premium or prestige brands go down the volume road? It was a question that had me thinking after meeting with Jonathan Nash, who’s in charge of Saab and Cadillac sales in the UK. He turns low volume on its head and maintains that it can be an advantage in terms of delivering a more personalised customer experience. There might be a few people out there who snigger at that one, given the way Cadillac has undershot on volume, but I think he has a point.
Does the brand image start to suffer if the brand’s cars are everywhere you look? How far can you take it? I guess if the tide is rising and people have more money to spend, the fact that millions of people can buy formerly exclusive designer clothes and upmarket car brands is a good thing - a simple consequence of rising affluence. BMW 3 Series outsells Ford Mondeo in UK these days; so what? And when these things do become ubiquitous, then the people who formerly wanted exclusivity can move on to something else. In Europe, a Caddy is a pretty exclusive thing, not exactly a cool thing (let’s leave gold wheel Escalades to one side, that’s a hip-hop micro-niche) but maybe that will come?Â
In Motor Industry Magazine, Martin Derrick asks whether BMW can avert the “Burberry risk”.
“Remember Pierre Cardin? Or Ben Sherman? Or Burberry and Stella Artois?
“What they all have in common is that they were premium brands which lost some of their sparkle as a direct result of boosting sales volumes too aggressively. Worse, they started being associated with – how shall I put this? – less than premium customers.”
As sales volume grows, is there a worry that BMW’s nice cars will fall into the wrong hands? Derrick said that growth will continue: “because people are getting more affluent and are living longer so there’s no question of demand for premium cars falling in the short term”.Â
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Via
SABC News
SA suffers from brain drain, low productivity
South Africa has the world’s highest brain drain and worst skills shortages of 55 countries studied and its productivity is plummeting. This is according to Productivity SA and the 2007 World Competitiveness Yearbook.
South Africa also ranked last on infrastructure, internet costs, health problems, availability of qualified engineers and life expectancy. Surprisingly enough, its top rating of number one last year for electricity supply, is likely to plummet this year.
Liza van Wyk, the CEO of major skills training organisation BizTech warns that the situation is worsening and load shedding is exacerbating it. She says managers have failed to find productive work for staff when lights are off. According to Van Wyk, this will cut into profits, see job losses, add to inflationary pressures and see South Africa’s economic ratings fall further.
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Special for today, a Car Disgust twin pack!
When I posted the Yugo GVX Car Disgust a few months ago, a co-worker told me that all the commentary was unnecessary–that simply running the photo would convey all of the horror and derision necessary.
So, it’s in that spirit that I present the Suzuki X-90. Gaze at the photos–nothing else needs to be said.
–Chris H.
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