Comments on: Pontiac Sedan versus the BMW 5-Series: An Unlikely Fight

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:59:11 +0000

I have owned many poweful BMWs and driven many powerful American cars, but i think you gave a wise comment.

By: 2003m3

2003m3 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:34:57 +0000

“Chevy/GMC dealers will honor the warranty” only if GM emerges from bankruptcy. That outcome is likely, but not certain. Should GM be forced to liquidate, it would not emerge from bankruptcy at all. No more GM dealerships of any kind anywhere. If I were in the market for a GM vehicle, other than Saab or Opel that have found buyers, I would definitely wait until the final outcome of GM’s bankruptcy is clear.

Australia’s Holden will go on as well and this car will continue to be manufactured. I reiterate – this is not a Pontiac design at all. This is a rebadged Holden Commodore V8. Great car, I agree, just not an American car…

By: BMWho

BMWho — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:02:41 +0000

2003m3…The Chevy/GMC dealers will hnor the warranty. All parts will still be available for the G8. Other than the Vette, G8 is hands down best GM car ever built.

By: 2003m3

2003m3 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:35:35 +0000

Considering that GM is in Chapter 11 and that Pontiac is getting the axe, do you really want to buy a car from them? Pontiac dealerships are going to disappear, so the much praised 3-year warranty may not be worth the paper it is written on. Moreover, what if GM creditors force it to liquidate altogether and it never emerges from bankruptcy? Who will make and sell spare parts for this thing?

By: radman

radman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:20:27 +0000

Really??? I can get a 2 year old 550i for only 34K? Wow. What is the depreciation on a 2006 or 2007 M5?

By: JonW

JonW — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:25:55 +0000

The comments above about BMW retaining more value than the Pontiac is moot. I am a licensed auto dealer in the state of Texas. The current wholesale auction price for a 2007 BMW 550i with 35k miles is approximately 34k dollars. This is for a loaded vehicle with navigation and sport package. These cars sell for close to 80k when new with the same options. I have the luxury of driving many different vehicles, generally German, but I can say with authority that there is no better bang for your dollar than a Pontiac G8 GT. The engine is proven (been around for years), and the car is quite simple in comparisson to the 5 series (no iDrive, etc…).

So, you can buy a used 2007 550i on a lot for roughly 38k with 10k left on the warranty, OR you can buy a brand new G8 that drives about 9/10ths for 30k out the door. Factor in the 3/36 bumper to bumper and 5/60 powertrain, and the choice is simple. I love BMWs, always have, always will, but my daily driver by choice is the G8.

By: radman

radman — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:47:08 +0000

Let’s be precise: the G8 is not an American design. It is a Holden Commodore, designed and built in Australia. Therefore there is nothing American about it, except for Holden’s affiliation with GM. And because it not designed in Detroit, it has a chance of being a good car.

I have driven a V8 Commodore in Perth. I have not driven the current generation M5 (have driven an E38 M5), but I have driven countless 5-series (530d, 525d, 523, 535d) in Germany. The Commodore is not bad at all!

By: DanR

DanR — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:51:54 +0000

I think we’re all forgetting something. The bottom line is everything comes down to cost and pride. When BMW can sell their cars for under 30k then this becomes a proper competition. There’s no doubt BMW has the fit and finish, rich history and high resale – but look at those two interiors! For the first time i’ve noticed the BMW looks like its stuck pre-millenium. And the 5-series has only become uglier after since it changed after 2002. Good quality and slightly, maybe, better performance for way to much money and boring looking pile of metal.

By: 08Z06Owner

08Z06Owner — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:22:46 +0000

After living in Germany 12+ years, and owning a few BMWs during that time (with subsequent ability to use my BMWs at autobahn speeds), I have always been impressed with BMW capabilities. I even own an M5 now, too, along with an ‘08 Z06. Great cars!

However, what is odd is the cache effect of BMW on certain American BMW owners, and snobbery that comes with it. I didn’t know any Germans who had the BMW snobbery effect, and they make them!

I test drove a 2009 G8 GT, and ended up buying one. Great car at a great price, no snobbery required.

By: Artmic

Artmic — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:17:05 +0000

hmmm looking at both those cars above, i dislike the look of both, they are plain ugly cars.

The old 5 was awesome looking, the current 5 looks like any other car in my opinion. I hope they re-design the 5 soon, i would never want a 5 looking the way it does now.

By: mel

mel — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:09:48 +0000

I just took delivery of a new 2008 G8-GT in Panther Black Metallic. The car is equipped with the premium package which gives you the upgraded leather interior.

Let me say this: I have never had the pleasure of owning a BMW, but after owning several Corvettes, Cobras and performance cars, I was VERY inpressed with the G8-GT. The combination of ride, handling and power of this 4 door sedan can only be appreciated after a test drive. I make this statement as I currently own 2 other high performance cars – a Viper and a Shelby SC Cobra with 550+ HP.

You owe it to yourself to test drive one of these G8-GT’s……granted, although the BMW may possess more luxury and status, the G8-GT is half the price. You can certainly think of many other ways to spend the extra 30+k.

By: RIX535i

RIX535i — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:26:03 +0000

This is not an American Car!
It is a re-badged Holden Commodore VE, made in Australia,

For the record Holden tried a ‘Better than a Five’ type ad campaign when the VE was first released….

By: Horatiu B.

Horatiu B. — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:17:40 +0000

@tassandre: I think the comparison was based on a video ad that was trying to mock the BMW 5 Series and promote the Pontiac

By: tassandre

tassandre — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:15:03 +0000

I AM VERY OUTRAGED TO SEE PEOPLE COMPARING THE bvmw 5 TO AN AMERICAN CAR.
PLEASE …PLEASE…
I PERSONNALY WOULD PICK A USED BMW OVER ANY NEW AMERICAN CAR.
PLEASE SHOW MORE RESPECT FOR THE DIAMOND ‘BMW”

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:20:31 +0000

You forgot that Pontiac made the GTO (0-60 4.7-4.8 seconds, 1/4 in 13 flat) which is a RWD vehicle and it was/is faster then both the 5 series sedans listed. It may have 2 doors, but the Monaro it was based on came with 4 doors and the 5 series was its competitor overseas. Where you need to compare the different engines is passing speeds on the highway, not 0-60. Thats where the beautifully simple and reliable LS series motors shine. The o-60 numbers dont tell the whole acceleration story and thats why your comparison on engine numbers is flawed. After 60 mph, the G8 will pull away hard because its torque never really deviates much across the band, and its hindered in 0-60 by its inability to put all the power down into forward movement. If you noticed the 0-60 of the two BMW sedans are almost equal despite the 60hp difference which has alot to do with traction–run them both out from 50mph to 100+ and you will see why they bother making the V8 and assuredly, the G8 will cover that ground faster.

The Pontiacs are not BMWs. Pontiac cant match their overall quality evoke the same level of class all for $30k, but if it cost more, people would buy the name brand just because its a known entity. I really cant make a case where the G8=550 sedan for $30k less, but it is a great option for those that dont have the money but still want to be able to beat the richer guy next to him to the next light. He might have to just settle for less supple leather or a sound system thats not as brilliant or maybe a little more road noise

By: rupinder singh

rupinder singh — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:57:30 +0000

i think BMW is a best brand,evokes envy yill u own one

By: Spec Comparison: Mini Cooper S & BMW 135i

Spec Comparison: Mini Cooper S & BMW 135i — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:09:27 +0000

[...] that to me actually makes more sense than most that I have been writing about lately (ie: BMW 550i/Pontiac G8 GT). Even though the Mini and the BMW are cousins they have a lot of similarities, and probably just [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:58:32 +0000

I still say let’s see which of the two retains most of its value after, say, one year…then two years and then three….pretty tough when Pontiac cars loose roughly 50% of their value when they drive off of the lot….

That aside, I wonder of Pontiac has finally learned to out a decent interior in their cars?? NOT plastic and vinyl and chrome….

Cheers,

By: RawAutos

RawAutos — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:58:03 +0000

JRC,

This is true… I actually can’t wait to drive it. You say you could have two for the price of 1 550i… Did you drive the G8 or G8 GT?

After currently owning three BMW’s and driving the new G8, which would you rather have?

By: JRC

JRC — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:51:37 +0000

I think you shouldn’t make any judgements until you drive both. I own 3 current BMW’s, test drove the G8, and came away VERY impressed. I don’t know if I’d buy one but I could have two for the price of my 550.