Reader Review of the Week: 2009 Pontiac G8

“After owning several Pontiacs, I was kind of sad to see the Grand Prix retired until I sat in the 2009 G8 GT that we eventually purchased. The initial research began when we went to an auto show and saw the purple/blue version. We were not impressed. So we put the car on the back burner and started hunting for [other] cars. After driving others by not-allowed-to-mention carmakers, we went to the local neighborhood Pontiac store. From the rumble of the remote start to the way the bucket seats caress you, you realize this is not any of your previous Pontiacs.

“The 6.0 liter V-8 purrs like a kitten that just greeted you after a long day of work. You know you are in for a treat when you switchblade the key and insert it into the ignition to ready her up. The vehicle we ended up with includes the 19-inch summer-only performance tires and all other available features. We took it out to the rural roads that wind and twist like a snake slithers. We drove it in manual mode to allow us to downshift and upshift with every curve. It handled the curves with great grip and agility. Stiff and competent were every maneuver of the car.

“After we returned to the dealership, we looked the car over and liked the massive trunk and reasonably large interior room. The lines are nearly perfect. The honeycomb grille accent on the front and rear remind you of the wheels of a 1977 Trans Am, yet current.

“My only wishes are for rear-seat entertainment and navigation. Even though OnStar offers navigation, it would be nice to have my own. Also, the steering-wheel controls have little functionality. The radio and a/c seem as if you were still in Australia because the power buttons are on the far right of the units. It seems petty, but if this is all I can complain about you should be happy.”