2008 Pontiac G8: Ride and Roll Part 2

Vehicles include BMW 5-Series, Infiniti G35 and M models.

I could definitely feel it. From our first stop to the second (a coffeeshop), I drove over 13 miles of twisting mountain roads. The G8, with its RWD and near 50/50 weight distribution, handle it well, giving me confidence to handle greater and greater speed.

For the second time, though, while on the road, I overshot a turn and had to backtrack. No biggie making a U-turn. Chris explains during the turn that the G8's turn radius is comparable to compact cars. I'll have to check that claim latter against the official specs.

The G8, like most GM cars, are equipped with OnStar. I've been curious about what I call a "wireless monitoring and tracking" system for some time. The G8 GT's equipped with the top-of-the line account, of course, which includes the new Turn-By-Turn system.

Colour me impressed. After we established a link to OnStar's headquarters (Texas?) and downloaded our route, voice cues kept me on the right road. Arrows and simple diagrams on the dash monitor provided an easy-to-follow visual guide. My big fear -- the voice prompts notifying distance constantly -- proved unfounded, shutting off after a couple of miles or so of unrelenting twists-and-turns.

And speaking of twist-and-turns, the G8 GT handled them with aplomb. Like my RL and its AWD system, the sedan went where I steered it. I love the manumatic thought GM states a manual is in the works for the 2009 G8.

More detail to come.