One feature worth mentioning is skip shift, which GM has abused us with since the '90s. This electronic gremlin won't allow you to put the car into Second or Third under mild acceleration and the shifter goes straight into Fourth, locking out the aforementioned gates. If your complaining children in the backseat weren't already getting on your nerves, this surely will. Thankfully, it's easy to tune out and some websites sell a quick-disconnect solution.
Out at Gainesville Raceway, the GXP performed fairly well. Down the quarter-mile, it needed some coaxing to produce impressive times, but it was quicker than our previously tested GT. The Florida summer heat took a beating on our horsepower numbers, as reflected by our 105-mph trap speed, and I'm certain a low 13-second pass is in there.
Around the skidpad, we found the GXP to be very easy to drive. Admittedly, there is more bodyroll than I would have expected from this "GM Performance Division" model. Regardless, we were on Goodyear all-season tires, which I'm sure had some impact on our testing, but that didn't seem to stop it from laying down good numbers.
Once we set up our 600-foot slalom, the GXP felt a little nervous going through. It seemed very comfortable at 56 mph, but beyond that it started to yell back at us and break loose. It would be nice to see if the summer tires would have helped.
The GXP is well appointed and feels very comfortable inside. The trunk is larger than you'll need, the back seat has abundant room, and the fit and finish are fantastic. Sure, it's no BMW, but neither is the price. What you're getting is, in this author's opinion, more car for the money.
You can also rest easy if you ever plan to modify it, too. The G8 aftermarket has become rather large and there are plenty of hop-ups that can be made to the LS3. Just look into some of the numbers being pumped out of a bolt-on and cammed LS3-they are over 500 rwhp. That's absolutely stunning.
This is the last performance Pontiac to ever be produced. Before you judge a book by its cover, take one for a drive and get your own impressions. This is one of the best Pontiacs ever made and it's a shame more of them won't make it to the road. Scoop yours up now or regret it when you start seeing what they're capable of.