Pontiac G5 GXP

[PontiacSpeed91]

hey i was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this...Of course a Firebird/ Trans AM would be much cooler. What if GM would of given the G5 a performance option like the SS Cobalt? yeah i thought Pontiac stood for performance too but all it stands for now is an import and a bunch of 4bangers.

G5 GXP... A Turbo coup? or should it have something else under the hood? if they ever decide to release it. (lets be careful, SLP might call it Firehawk LOL)

[Swift_01_z-28]

Well I have an 07 g5 and have just a couple of things done to it. I think that pontiac should have done the g5 in a gxp model with the 2.0L turbo motor in it. It came out of a solstice first anyway.

[PontiacSpeed91]

I agree, being the performance division, they should atleast have something to spice the G5 up! while not just making it a replica of the SS.

[20SS07]

While it would make sense since they made the Ion Redline along side of the S/C Cobalt SS I don't see it happening if it's not already in the plans at this point. The Cobalt is being replaced in a couple years so I doubt they will continue to make the current G5 either.

[1 Bad Ass Formula]

Pontiac should have it's own high performance G5 GXP even if it was side by side with the Cobalt SS. However it's almost time for GM to give the Cobalt a redesign so if Pontiac isn't bringing a G5 GXP they probably won't until after the re-design.

[20SS07]

The Cobalt itself won't be getting a re-design it's getting replaced by the Cruze. Haven't heard anything yet if Pontiac will get a version. They're supposedly going to make the Cobalt along side it for a year or 2 but then the Cobalt is getting discontinued. Perhaps Pontiac will still get a version and keep the name G5, who knows.

[FiredUpZ28]

Ya some people just prefer Pontiac - its a good idea to make one since a lotta people don't want a Cobalt.

[Swift_01_z-28]

Yeah, I agree about the not everyone wants a cobalt thing. I got that g5 a while back and I was offered a cobalt, but I opted for the g5. Don't know why, just didn't want a cobalt. But it is the same damn thing so I don't know.

[Myka]

I think it would be really cool if the little thing was RWD, 5speed and a turbo 4 Direct Injection. Great handling, power and fuel economy for a small price. Of course, it could be argued that the Cobalt SS is all of those things but I think the FWD part drives people away. I know it would keep me from buying one.

[20SS07]

The thing that would keep me from buying one is the fact that their are much better cars in the segment for the money than the Cobalt/G5. Much better.

[avro206]

Originally Posted by 20SS07

The thing that would keep me from buying one is the fact that their are much better cars in the segment for the money than the Cobalt/G5. Much better.

like what?

My wifes Aunt has a Mazda 3--in a few areas its better then my Cobalt---and few its not.

Anyhow--the G5 is such blatant Cobalt with barley any changes....still be rather easy to do but not much of a Pontiac

[LS1LT1]

Originally Posted by 20SS07

The thing that would keep me from buying one is the fact that their are much better cars in the segment for the money than the Cobalt/G5. Much better.

Maybe.
Or at least that's what really good advertising (aka: brainwashing) and some lame reports from some Japan controlled media might have one believe.
Very few vehicles in the same price range can offer the value and content of a Cobalt/G5.

[20SS07]

Meh advertising has nothing to do with it. Hands on experience makes my descisions for me. And talking about value of the Cobalt/G5 sounds like you're talking about the basic entry level versions. I'll agree there, you can get Cobalts for like $14k can't beat that.

But for their performance variants(which is what I was implying there were better cars then), I'd take a Mazdaspeed3 without giving it a second thought. I'd even take a GTI over one and they're alot slower. I have nothing against the Cobalt SS turbo they're cool and all they're just not the best car for the money, IMO of course.

At the end of the day it's an economy car. Crap build quality, crap interior. Just has a better suspension and is fast(will give GM all the credit in the world for the engine though, the 2.0 turbo is a very solid engine). Same problem as those pesky little Neons. They may have been really fast for the money, but at the end of the day it was still a Neon no matter how fast it was. If all you care about is speed then sure the Cobalt is fine, but to me the MS3 is a better car all around, better build quality, better interior, looks better(looks are subjective though), not to mention cost the same as is just as fast.

Obviously GM even know it's a cheap car(even though they sell well) or else they wouldn't be completely scrapping the car and replacing it with a new car, with a new name, that's larger, going to have uncomparable build quality and design, and is going to carry a premium over the Cobalts price.

If you're looking for cheap transportation that's reliable and gets great fuel economy, then yes the Cobalts or a G5 are fine. But since the original topic was about a performance variant, the base versions of these cars aren't really relevant here.

[LS1LT1]

Originally Posted by 20SS07

Obviously GM even know it's a cheap car(even though they sell well) or else they wouldn't be completely scrapping the car and replacing it with a new car, with a new name, that's larger, going to have uncomparable build quality and design, and is going to carry a premium over the Cobalts price.

Well based on that logic I guess even Honda themselves knew that the previous Civic line was a cheap, crappy car as well because they too (or even Mazda with the previous 3 series models) scrapped it and replaced it with a better, more costly model.

ALL carmakers do that, NOT just GM/Chevrolet.

[20SS07]

Yea, but they don't usually ditch the name of the car either. I'm well aware that that's obviously going to happen to any vehicle, redesigns happen, costs often go up, quality increases, etc.

I'm merely saying it seems to me they want to seperate it's replacement from the Cobalt and don't want people to think of it as a cheap economy car that floods the local rental lot. When you take a car that most of which on average sell for around 14k and replace it with a car that's going to on average sell in the 18k range that's a fairly big jump IMO. To me when you get closer to the 20k range that's not quite a cheap economy car anymore. The Cruze that is replacing it is going to be more like a mini version of the Malibu and takes some design cues from it as well.

But I'm not gonna argue over a Cobalts on an LSx forum. To me there are better cars. SS is just a 14k car with a awesome motor in it in to me. Anyone who thinks otherwise we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[06cobaltSS]

Originally Posted by 20SS07

But I'm not gonna argue over a Cobalts on an LSx forum. To me there are better cars. SS is just a 14k car with a awesome motor in it in to me. Anyone who thinks otherwise we'll just have to agree to disagree.

I couldn't disagree more. The SS version of the cobalt is leaps ahead of an entry level ls.

[Formula350]

Originally Posted by avro206

like what?

My wifes Aunt has a Mazda 3--in a few areas its better then my Cobalt---and few its not.

Anyhow--the G5 is such blatant Cobalt with barley any changes....still be rather easy to do but not much of a Pontiac

While at work (auto shop), I was reading a car magazine (shush, I know they're generally biased) and they pitted the Mazda 3 against the latest SS which I think was turbo as well. The SS was a better car almost all around, but only just by a sliver!


I prefer Pontiac over Chevy cars simply because they're nicer looking and more luxurious. Example: Premium sound Camaro, 5 speaker Bose which sucked (even my friend's 94 Vette with Bose "GOLD" sucks compared to mine), Firebird 10 speaker (Monsoon later years). My 93 has 10 speaker and I feel NO need to upgrade the sound system. It's perfect balance of sound and bass. Quality... ehh that COULD probably be improved upon, but I don't need 50-100 extra lbs of subs to get what I need [/rambling]

I'm kinda surprised more Pontiac cars don't get the GXP option, but am more surprised that they don't get the 2.4 Turbo (not used anymore) or 2.3 Turbo (260hp!) that Saab uses... Why not utilize the fact you HAVE a bigger displacement turbo engine at your disposal, and just juice that up a tad more. Or for the V6 available cars, use the V6 (2.8L) Turbo that, again, Saab uses with 255hp, or with 280hp from the "Turbo X" car. Imagine taking that already 260hp 2.3L and doing some of the same tweaks that they implemented on the GXP 2.0. Now, they went from 173hp out of the N/A 2.4L to 260hp in the Turbo 2.0L, figure they gained 50hp from SOMETHING (cam, tune, exhaust?) over the Saab 2.0 Turbo that has 210hp factory, then be fair and say 25hp can be had from the 2.3L Turbo. You have a mean 285hp. If you're generous and figure you can get 50hp from that 2.3, that's 310hp! LS1 F-Body power!

OK, sorry, I rambled again. I just don't understand the thinking of a company who already borrows R&D from one of their companies to use under another company (IE, G8 and vice versa with GEN III motors in Holden cars).

[Blakbird24]

Originally Posted by 20SS07

At the end of the day it's an economy car. Crap build quality, crap interior. Just has a better suspension and is fast(will give GM all the credit in the world for the engine though, the 2.0 turbo is a very solid engine). Same problem as those pesky little Neons. They may have been really fast for the money, but at the end of the day it was still a Neon no matter how fast it was. If all you care about is speed then sure the Cobalt is fine, but to me the MS3 is a better car all around, better build quality, better interior, looks better(looks are subjective though), not to mention cost the same as is just as fast.

Agree to disagree...fine. But I have a hell of a time getting past you saying that a Mazda has better build quality than a...well...anything!!

GM has had all of it's brands in the top 20 in terms of build quality for at least the past four years...Cadillac and Buick are top 5, Chevy has been in the top 10 with pontiac joining last year. Mazda...yeah they haven't been able to break into the TOP 30 (keep in mind that only 37 automakers are actually rated) this century. Also I noticed you mentioned the GTi...hey if you like it, fine man...but just thought you might like to know that VW has ranked second to last or DEAD LAST every year since 2002.

Now if you prefer the style of the Mazda or VW, then that's a different story, but the old build quality complaints just aren't going to fly anymore.

[Formula350]

Originally Posted by Blakbird24

Agree to disagree...fine. But I have a hell of a time getting past you saying that a Mazda has better build quality than a...well...anything!!

GM has had all of it's brands in the top 20 in terms of build quality for at least the past four years...Cadillac and Buick are top 5, Chevy has been in the top 10 with pontiac joining last year. Mazda...yeah they haven't been able to break into the TOP 30 (keep in mind that only 37 automakers are actually rated) this century. Also I noticed you mentioned the GTi...hey if you like it, fine man...but just thought you might like to know that VW has ranked second to last or DEAD LAST every year since 2002.

Now if you prefer the style of the Mazda or VW, then that's a different story, but the old build quality complaints just aren't going to fly anymore.

haha I didn't even notice that post. MX3, what a butt ugly hair dresser car. And to call it fast (even with the bigger V6 TRANSPLANTED) it's slow. My mom's 04 Protege, what a god damn DOG! I thought for SURE it was fly-by-wire throttle body because it was such a damn pooch, and had such piss poor throttle response. Nope! Standard throttle cable driven. Can't even spin the tires w/o the help of water or sand, unless I'm going around a corner on an incline lol Handles pretty good, that's it though, which means squat if it doesn't have the power to compete.

[PontiacSpeed91]

Hey, just wondering if anyone had the answer...Why for the 09' year did they stop releasing G5's with the 2.4??