- coupe 119,236
- 5,921 fair
- Brentwood, CA
-
- autoshopper.com
- coupe 119,236 white manual
2008 pontiac g5 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Swoopy coupe gets more standard equipment. introductionthe pontiac g5 is a good-looking front-wheel-drive coupe that delivers satisfying straight-line performance and reasonable fuel economy. the g5 comes in a standard version and as a sportier gt. The ride is a bit firm but not uncomfortable. with any coupe, interior space and passenger capacity are compromised for sporty styling and that's the case here. Pontiac describes the g5 as a five-passenger car, but limited rear legroom makes carrying five adults a serious challenge. The back of the cabin is best used for parcels. underneath the g5 are the same mechanical underpinnings from the chevrolet cobalt coupe that was introduced in 2005. Standard equipment has been upgraded: 2008 g5 models come with head-curtain airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, and xm satellite radio. Onstar and stabilitrak are now standard on the gt. lineupthe 2008 pontiac g5 is available only as a coupe, which means slick styling but only two doors and a smallish back seat. Xm satellite radio is standard. The standard suspension, which gm calls fe1, is tuned for a smooth ride. The gt also adds cruise control, foglamps, onstar, a seven-speaker stereo, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel, and a chrome-tipped exhaust. A cigarette lighter and ashtray are also available 35). safety features include frontal air bags, and front seat belts with pretensioners (in a crash these remove the slack). Anti-lock brakes (abs), standard on gt and optional on the base model, can help drivers avoid accidents by allowing them to maintain control of the steering at maximum braking effort. Abs is well worth the price. the onstar service available on the 2008 g5 includes the general motors advanced automatic crash notification (aacn) system, which makes crash data available to participating 911 centers, to help them dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster. Also available is onstar's vehicle diagnostics notification system that allows subscribers to receive free monthly reports via e-mail. Each diagnostic report provides information on the remaining life of the engine oil, as well as tire pressures and checks on the engine and transmission, emissions controls, braking systems, and air bags. walkaroundwith its twin grille nostrils separated by an arrowhead-like divider, there is no mistaking the g5 for anything but a pontiac. Pontiac has steadily and consistently nurtured and developed this design theme since 1961, and now it is surely one of the most, if not the most, recognizable motif in the u. Auto industry. from the front, side or rear the g5 has a cleaner and smoother look than some pontiacs of the recent past, which tended to be cluttered with stick-on body cladding. There is plenty of legroom for two people up front. The driver's seat is adjustable for height. However, it seems to work better for raising short drivers than it does lowering down to add headroom for taller folks. The problem is that when the seat is lowered all the way to accommodate a tall driver, the seat cushion tilts a bit forward. all the controls are easy to find and use but there is a shortage of storage bins and trays. the back seat is barely suitable for a six-foot adult for a short trip across town. It is an excellent location, however, for parcels. like many coupes, which favor a low roof as they go for a streamlined look, the g5 has somewhat narrow windows. Some people like that because it makes them feel as secure as a turtle in a shell. Others find it is slightly confining. One problem is poor visibility over the driver's left shoulder. Big roof pillars and a small rear window combine to make it hard to see vehicles coming up to pass. we applaud pontiac's decision to make side air curtains standard. In a crash these cover the side windows, front and back, to provide head protection in a side-impact. Some studies have shown such head protection greatly increases the chance of survival and, when the national highway traffic safety administration conducted side-impact crash tests on an older g5 without the air curtains, officials noted that serious head injuries for the driver would have been likely. When a second g5 with the air curtains was tested there was a big improvement, although the pontiac still did not fare as well as a 2007 honda civic coupe (which has air curtains as standard equipment). onstar is a nice security blanket. This option combines a global positioning system and a cellular telephone (far more powerful than a hand-held cell phone) to put the driver in contact with an onstar center which is manned 24/7. In case of a crash severe enough to deploy the airbags the system will automatically call the center so help can be sent even if the occupants are incapacitated. we liked the optional sunroof. On some cars the sunroof tends to scoop outside air and funnel it into the vehicle as if attempting to duplicate the tornado from the wizard of oz. That is not the case with the g5. There is so little turbulence it is possible to open the sunroof on a 20-degree day and enjoy the sunlight without freezing, with the heater turned up. the trunk is rated at 13. 9 cubic feet which is competitive in this segment. The rear seat can be folded down for carrying more cargo. driving impressionas with most sporty cars, the ride in the pontiac g5 gt is somewhat firm, but encounters with potholes and tar strips do not result in any serious discomfort. The ride is comfortable enough for day-to-day commuting even in the midwest where the roads are rough. the steering is somewhat heavy and the effort increases during turns. The steering is tight, however. The car begins to respond. The g5 gt feels secure and fairly responsive on gentle or sweeping turns. Major competitors, like the civic, now come with five-speed automatics, and their extra gear means a better chance at providing good acceleration at all times and better fuel economy as well. The best fuel economy comes from the base g5 with a manual, at 24/33 city/highway mpg. the brakes feel great. The pedal was firm, but it was easy to slow the g5 either a little or a lot. Also, the front of the g5 didn't dip too much under hard braking. That gives it a balanced, secure feel. the summer performance tires avail. Cruise Control✔ AM/FM✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning✔ Leather Seats✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Sport Package✔ Aluminum Wheels
5,921 Brentwood, CABrentwood, CA at autoshopper.com