Living with a G8 GT

Gas Price Inequality

I understand the concept of suply and demand, but what is the deal with the extremely different gas prices from state to state?

Gasbuddy.com

Just look at California! Isn’t there a big refinery (large supply) in Benicia? So why are most prices are over $2.94/gal… where even closely neighboring states are $0.50/gal less expensive? Maybe some of this is because of state/local taxes places on the gas sales, or maybe special formulations to deal with environmental concerns, but still… it is annoying.

On a note about gas… I have been consistantly been getting around 19 mpg in the G8 GT with my commute to work (13 miles, 85% highway at ~75 mph). I’m happy with this, considering I was getting about the same fuel economy with my ’02 Grand Prix that only had a 3.8L V6.

If I’m all highway I’ve been getting up to the 25 mph that the window sticker claimed. I have noticed that the more I drive in manual shifting mode the lower the gas milage, but that has to be connected with the more spirited nature of that driving. Still, the lowest full-tank average I’ve done so far was 15.6 mpg.

Missing the G8 GT

I’ve been on travel for the past week and I’m really missing the G8 GT. I was hoping to get something like a G6 for a rental car, but I got stuck with a 2008 Toyota Carolla S. It’s small, under powered, and sounds like a fart blowing out of a coffee can when you put your foot into it.

Going from a 6.0L V8 to a 1.8L 4-cyl is just depressing… where is the other half of the engine!

‘Sigh… oh well, when I get home I’ll be going on a nice long drive to Tahoe with the NorCal GOATS.

Pontiac G8 GXP: Last Drive

Over the past three days there has been a multi-part story playing out on Jalopnik about the Pontiac G8 GXP… and it’s ‘Last Drive’.

Besides being a little harsh on the interior at times, he does a good job describing the attitude associated with the G8 (especially the GXP trim). A few good quotes…

From a dead stop, at highway passing speeds, and on beyond what’s really practical… the GXP will definitely and unmistakably accelerate. Anecdotally, I found that when I got tired of leaning forward in my seat and fetching my music player from its perch atop the dash, I was able to drop down two gears, nail the throttle, and pluck my trusty iPod out of the air as it shot past my shoulder. Please note that this somehow fails to impress women.

Who Should Buy a G8 GXP:
• You like the idea of a four-door Corvette with a gigantic backseat and a capacious trunk.
• You think a combination of power and practicality will attract the opposite sex and you like that the power part can at least be hidden from them if necessary.

Who Shouldn’t Buy a G8 GXP:
• You know the thread count of your sheets by heart.
• You believe fast four-doors should be made by stoic sausage-gnashing umlaut junkies and no one can convince you otherwise.

Some of the commentary is quite entertaining as well:

A four-door Corvette with a gigantic backseat and a capacious trunk.
How capacious? Are we talking 1 dead hooker or 3? Dry or wet? Metric or English?

Overall the impressions were right on track. Many of the points brought-up were those that enticed me to the G8 GT: More than adequate power on-tap, Large trunk (for hookers… oops, photography equipment), Subtle but aggressive looks, Etc.

For a fan of the G8, it’s required reading:
• 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP: Last Drive, Part One
• 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP: Last Drive, Part Two
• 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP: Last Drive, Part Three

NorCal GOATs Sonic Drive-In

Some of the NorCal GTOs gathered tonight in Stockton for a drive-in at Sonics. There was talk of having many non-Pontiacs (LSx meet type of thing), but for the most part it was the GTOs. I decided to take a longer drive, taking back roads rather than the freeway, and it was enjoyable. I washed the G8 last night, but after driving through the countryside there were many bugs stuck to the front-end… oh well!

I arrived at the meet a little early (the drive over didn’t take as long as Google suggested it would), but it allowed me to get gas. Cars started to arrive and we lined-up and started talking shop.

There was one other G8 GT, which was awesome! It had a Corsa exhaust, giving it a mean sound… something that could be interesting in the future. I learned a bunch about the mods done, just in case I want to get more invasive with the G8.

Like always the conversation was really great. There was lots of talk about suspension upgrades (and the trade-offs they may cause), power-adders (superchargers, intakes, headers, etc.). It’s really dangerous hanging out with these guys (and gals) as it makes me more and more interested in moding my G8!

NorCal GOATs Santa Cruz Cruise

I am really spending a bunch of time on the road lately. This weekend I went out with the NorCal GTO boys again, and had a blast.

This meet has been on the calender for a while, but the weather decided not to cooperate this weekend. The forecast called for rain and it scared a few people away (they missed-out though). Dublin was rain free, but I checked the radar before leaving home and there was some moisture heading into Santa Cruz. I guess we’ll have to keep things a little slower…

On the way to the meet I had to stop at FedEx to pick-up my Valentine One (Radar Detector). I didn’t want to mount/use it yet, as I figured it would be best to read the manual first. Also, I wanted to enjoy the drive and focus on the road.

We started to meet up at the Santana Row Back Parking Lot. It was raining, but we were able to talk about cars for a little while. We were hoping for a bigger turn-out, but the rain killed that. There was a total of 5 of us… 4 GTOs and my G8. After waiting around to catch any stranglers, we headed out on the cruise.

Total Distance: 124 miles
Driving Time: 4 hours 1 min

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We started out down CA-17 towards and then took CA-9 to Saratoga. Nothing too exciting, but it’s really nice to be on the road with a group of people rather than just by myself. It’s also cool to see a trail of GTOs in the rear view mirror!

The rain was falling, not too hard, but it made the roads wet. We kept the pace on the slower side, which made for a more scenic drive… although the fog did steal most of the views. Then again, it was cool to see the fog rolling in-between the trees and up the hills.

CA-9 was great, a very nice two-lane road that winds around/through the redwood trees. I kept enough space between me and the lead car to allow for some more spirited corners, without encroaching too much. For sure this was a lot of fun.

For the most part the first half of the drive was not interrupted with many slow vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, this was not the case for the whole day… but more on that later.

When you are trailing someone who ‘tests the waters’ for you, it’s much more relaxing going around blind corners. There were a few sections of the route that narrowed down to one-lane. Not that they were bad roads, actually the opposite, but I probably would cut those out if I do this drive on my own.

I spent quite some time playing with the Manual Shift mode this trip. One of my criticisms of the auto in G8 is that it likes to go high gears way too soon (like 45mph in 6th gear). Sports Mode helps this a little (keeps things in 5th), but there are many times when going through hills that a lower gear is desired. I found that when going up hills 3rd gear was perfect, but the car will not stay in 3rd when cruising at 40mph. Going downhill the car was riding on the transmission a little more than I desired (not bad for slowing down into corners), so I’d bump it up to 4th.

I do have to remember that I am in Manual Mode though… the car is smart enough to shift to 2nd when I come to a stop… but being use to an Automatic can be a little embarrassing when the car doesn’t up-shift when you expect it to.

Oh yeah… and a note on the Manual Shifting… who’s idea was it to push forward to up-shift? I’ve always thought you pulled-back to up-shift… Oh well, I’m learning (fast) not to go the wrong way!

We reached Santa Cruz and parked for lunch at 99 Bottles. Lunch was good and the talk was great… lots of talk about mods, track days, crazy street action, etc. I learned quite a few things about preparing for a track day (what to bring, what type of work needs to be done at the track, etc.). I’m sure it would be something I’d really enjoy (Grand Turismo meets real life!), but putting that much wear-and-tear (brakes, tires, etc.) on my daily driver is really a worry for me.

After lunch we headed up the coast on CA-1. The weather was better (little rain), but the view was spoiled by fog. The road was also spoiled by many slow cars. Being in a group of people who want to move quickly… having a handful of cars going slowly makes things tricky.

CA-1 does a great job providing passing lanes and marking the roads with passing zones (not just a double-yellow ling for miles on end). If the traffic on the road would pay attention to the “Slower Traffic Keep Right” signs, it would have been simple.

I have to be honest, I don’t like passing slower drivers when it requires speeding, but when you are trying to keep-up with the front runners (and there are people behind you waiting as well) it becomes a necessity. The G8 GT handled every passing situation very well. The auto transmission (even in Sports Mode) still has some lag when downshifting to make a pass, but I started getting ‘smart’ and going into manual (4th gear) before making a pass. I must admit, the G8 GT handles great at higher speeds… seriously, if I didn’t have a speedometer I wouldn’t have been able to tell how fast I was going.

A note to (poor?) drivers in California (maybe they were a tourist?)… when someone is heading towards you on a two lane road… making a pass… there is no reason to honk your horn and pull-off the road… a 1/4-mile before the car reaches you! It did make for a funny story though…

Speaking of funny things… while driving on CA-1 we passed a line of maybe a dozen PT Cruisers. Many of them were all tricked-out with extra (plastic) bodywork. While it’s great that there were other people out enjoying the roads, it was kinda funny to see.

The group stopped in Pescadero (to pick-up some fresh baked bread) and then headed back out on the road. At this point I found myself farther back in the line of cars (#4 of 5 rather than #2) which made it a little more difficult keeping up with the front runners. I was also following someone who was driving a little slower (which is fine). The drive was very enjoyable… another great choice of roads winding through the redwood trees.

Before leaving Pescadero the group discussed their plans for break-off. I decided that I would just keep on CA-84 all the way home. The rest of the group broke-off at I-280 N. The rest of my drive was less than exciting… lots of city driving and traffic. The trip over the Dumbarton Bridge was nice. Niles Canyon was full of traffic (although I did pass one slow car to get some clear road). I debated if I should take Palomares Rd., but I thought I would just head home.

The day was a great one. If the rain had cleared-up it would have been a little nicer, but no reason not to attend the meet. It was nice to have a small group, but a few more cars would have been great too. I’d have liked to stop for a few photographs (even if the views weren’t spectacular), but I didn’t make a point of it (next time I will).

I think this cruise is going to be done again when the weather is a little better… hopefully soon!

Radar Detector Dilemma

I finally broke down today and ordered a radar detector. I’ve been considering the idea of getting a radar detector for quite a while, but have been concerned with the idea that if you have a radar detector you are planning on speeding. It’s kinda like being guilty without even doing anything…

Will I be speeding? Yes, I can guarantee that… but I would like to think that I’m different than most speeders (even if no one believes me). When I picture most speeders/radar detector users, I see someone who wants to constantly drive over the speed limit and use the radar detector to stop them from getting a ticket. I’m talking about the people driving 90mph on the freeway (in a 65mph zone). This is FAR from who I am.

I have actually found myself driving slower for the vast majority of the time behind the wheel of the G8 than I was in my previous cars. It is probably because of the large digital speedo (that I’m always looking at), but I’m sure it’s also because I know that I CAN go fast… therefore don’t HAVE to go fast. Maybe I’m the only one that makes sense to, but whatever!

I want to drive above the speed limit (technically speeding) while I’m on my ‘spirited’ drives. Often times I find myself driving over the speed limit in the twisty stuff. Some roads (Mines Rd. comes to mind) have a speed limit posted above the speed you could actually drive the road safely (Mines Rd is a 45mph speed limit the whole length, including the single lane super curvy parts). Then there are other roads (Redwood for example) that are 25mph… despite the ability to drive 45mph through all the corners…

I want a little insurance that while I’m out in the middle of nowhere, with no one else on the road, I can enjoy the twisty stuff… regardless of the posted speed limits.

After reading many reviews about radar detectors I kept coming back to the Valentine One. Yes, it was a bit pricey… but so is a speeding ticket. The V1 also has several really great features that other detectors on the market do not.

The first feature is a set of arrows that display the direction in which the radar is being transmitted from. So, if there is a LEO (law enforcement officer) ahead of you… the forward arrow will light, if they are behind you … the rear will light.

The second feature is a display that shows the number of bogeys (radar signals) that it detects. This is very helpful in determining if the alert is a LEO or just some other radar signal (like an automatic door opener at a shopping center). This, in combination with the directional arrows, will alert you to a LEO in front of you and one behind you… something that other detector would just ‘Beep’ at (no different then a single bogey).

I will be hard wiring in the V1 to the rear view mirror (well, the power that goes to the rear view mirror) using an invisacord. With the detector mounted above the rear view mirror, and no cords hanging all over the place, it should result in a semi-hidden install.

I am a little concerned about using suction cups to mount the V1, as it’s illegal in California to have anything stuck to your windshield (other than your rear view mirror or a FasTrak). Where it is going I don’t think it would be a big deal (it doesn’t obstruct my view, which is the basis of the law), but I’m sure people have been ticketed for it in the past. Worst case I could get something like a BlendMount to have the V1 mount under the rear view mirror.

I’m new to this stuff, so I’m sure I’ll be posting more about the V1 as I learn to use it.

RIP Pontiac

Today it became official. Pontiac is no more…

As part of the revised Viability Plan and the need to move faster and further, GM in the U.S. will focus its resources on four core brands, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. The Pontiac brand will be phased out by the end of 2010. GM will offer a total of 34 nameplates in 2010, a reduction of 29 percent from 48 nameplates in 2008, reflecting both the reduction in brands and continued emphasis on fewer and stronger entries. This four-brand strategy will enable GM to better focus its new product development programs and provide more competitive levels of market support.

It’s really sad to see this happen. As a Pontiac owner I’m not really afraid of what this means for me. Yes, I’m just barely scratching the 5 year/100,000 mile warranty, but GM is still around to honor it. What about G8 parts? Holden is alive and kicking, so Commodore parts shouldn’t be going anywhere.

My Grandfather owned one of the last Oldsmobile modles… and I’ll own one of the last Pontiacs. Sad, yes, but the death of Pontiac will not lessen the enjoyment that I receive when I’m driving the G8. I’m just glad that I have the opportunity to own the last v8 RWD to stand proudly alongside the other iconic Pontiac models like the Trans-AM and GTO.

April G8 Meet

Having only seen a few G8s on the road, I’ve really been looking forward to meeting a few other owners. The route for the drive was one that I’d made several times before, so I had a feeling that I would be leading (the GPS shouting out directions probably doesn’t hurt either).

The group meeting place was set for the McDonald’s parking lot just off the freeway in Castro Valley. Unfortunately, the lot was closed-off for construction. I didn’t see any other G8s around (I was 30min early), so just posted-up in the neighboring parking lot and kept an eye-out for other G8s.

Three other G8’s (MGM, Liquid Red, and Maverick Silver) eventually gathered for the cruise. Most of us were relatively stock, but the Liquid Red had a supercharger and Pedder’s Track II mods (and maybe more). The In-Dash GPS, Back-up Camera, and Smoker’s Package did get some nice attention.

At noon we headed out for the cruise…

Part 1: Group Drive

Total Distance: 24.5 miles
Driving Time: 1 hours 2 min

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As expected, I was the leader (yikes!)… we headed out in our convoy. After a short wait (we sent someone back to double-check there was no one in the McDonald’s parking lot) the four of us set-off for Redwood Rd.

My biggest concern about leading was the speed… what is too fast or too slow? Well, for the most part I think it went well.

The first delima was a slow car that wouldn’t move over to let us by (this will be come a reoccurring theme). Rather than trying to force our way by, we decided to pull over… which happened to result in a good location for some photos.

After some photos, we got back on the road. There was some nice clear road and we were able to stretch the legs of the G8s a little. I didn’t expect it, but there were very few bicycles on Redwood Rd.

Unfortunately, there was another slow car in the way. This time (and the first time in all my drives) I decided I couldn’t wait any longer. After several miles of going 20mph in a 25mph zone, I saw my chance and crossed-over the double-yellow line and passed the slow car. This is where having radios came in really handy… I was able to radio back to the other cars telling them that the road ahead was free from oncoming traffic.

After the slow car, things were very nice for a while. Once into the Berkeley hills the roads became a little more crowded with cars and bicycles. It didn’t make for the most ‘spirited’ driving, but the roads are fun and the views are nice.

Towards the end of Grizzly Peak Rd. the group pulled-off to take a few more photos.

At this point, it was time to get to lunch as people were getting hungry. One of the group members needed to take-off, so… then there were three. We headed off towards CA-24, but I made a wrong turn. So, after going West on CA-24… then back East… we eventually made it to Orinda for lunch.

We ate lunch at the Europa Hofbrau Deli & Pub. The food was good, but the conversation was better. Good to discus things like oil changes and gas mileage. The comment also came up about modified suspensions… the last car in the pack noticed that the Track II equipped car had much less body roll. They also noticed that it didn’t bottom-out like I did (D’oh!) going over a big dip… really makes me want to do the Xa coilover Street II upgrade! After eating we all headed-off our separate ways.

It was really great to meet everyone… I can’t wait for the next cruise!

Part 2: Solo

After lunch, rather than just driving home on the freeway, I wanted to take some back roads. Nothing that I’ve not driven on before, but it was much better than the alternative.

Total Distance: 87.2 miles
Driving Time: 3 hours 23 min

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The drive home was uneventful, but quite enjoyable. The hills are starting to turn brown, but the flowers are starting to bloom. It’s nice to see something other than just brown… not that it doesn’t have it’s own beauty.

When I was driving through the Altamont Pass I decided to stop again and grab a few photos with the windmills in the background.

All-in-all it was a really great day of driving!

1st Oil Change

The odometer on the G8 GT hit 3000 miles, so it’s time to get her in for an oil change. I decided to switch over to Mobil 1 Full Synthetic.

I also had the service department check for any ‘updates’ that should be done to the car (specifically relating to shifting), but none were found. After the service, I decide to take a non-direct route home. It was a fun drive and puts me in a great pace for tomorrow’s G8 Meet and Cruise.

92 Octane?

I filled-up this morning at my local Shell station and noticed that the ‘Premium’ fuel on my pump was labeled as 92 octane!

I’ve filled up at this station several times before (even on that pump) and never noticed the 92 octane. I checked several of the other pumps and they all seemed to be 91. The price for ‘Premium’ is the same for the 91 and 92 octane, making me believe that it was just the wrong sticker. I went into the service station (mini-mart?) and asked the attendant if they knew if the gas was really 92 octane. She came out to the pump, but really didn’t know the answer (she said she would talk to her manager). I’ll have to go in and ask again the next time I fill-up.

Update: The pump has since been switch to a 91 octane sticker… so much for good gas!