What happens when a tech-head reviews a car that was intended for a gear-heard? We’ll find out as we read a summary of CNET’s review of the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT. For those of you who don’t know, CNET.com is a site dedicated to how technology can enhance and enrich your life.
Our hunch is that CNET felt a little duped. According to Wayne Cunningham of CNET, “…we thought we were in for a tech treat because of the big LCD on the stack. But the car doesn’t make good use of that display space, merely showing audio information. Likewise, a voice button on the steering wheel got us looking for Bluetooth or voice command, but then we found the button merely activated OnStar.”
CNET found the cockpit of the G8 GT to be overly wrapped in plastic, yet considered the general design, fit, and finish very good. The massive 6.5″ LCD screen disappointedly was absent of the expected visual navigation and further space wasted by the useless Atari gauges atop the center stack. CNET thought the powerful Blaupunkt stereo produced “good, tight sound”, however disappointment was expressed at the absence of iPod integration and the lack of availability of satellite radio.
All in all, CNET felt a little short changed by the lack of technical treats in the G8. But remember, these guys have high expectations when it comes to tech gadgets. Rather than “just” dive the hell out of the G8 GT, Wayne hooked up a performance computer to get the real numbers on the performance of the GT.
A few runs were planned in both transmission modes, Sport Shift Mode (SSM) and the other in Driver Shift Control (DSC). Run one was in SSM and CNET launched the G8 to 30 mph in 2.17 seconds and to 60 mph in 5.52 seconds. Pushing the shift to the right to enter DSC, they launched to 30 mph a little more quickly at 1.93 seconds and to 60 in just 5.33 seconds.
Underscoring his obsession with gigabytes and not horsepower, Wayne noted the absence of the red line on the speedometer. We’ve never seen a red line on a speedo, so perhaps he meant to say the tachometer.
CNET will be happy to see some of their gripes addressed in the 2009 Pontiac G8:
- useless Atari gauges have been removed
- XM satellite radio is standard
- Bluetooth should be available mid-model year
Read more Pontiac G8 reviews.
[Source: CNET]