ral1960

With that roof line, it won't have much rear headroom, which is odd, since they were saying Epison II would have more passenger room.

You may have to pay a stiff premium to get one of the early ones.I tried to derail my CTS obsession by buying a 2004 Deville today. I'm calling it a stop-gap car until I can rationalize paying over $35k for a new car, or the 08's (or 09 wagons) are available used, assuming the car will depreciate as it has.

The car looks dead in the press release photos. No gloss at all. Maybe GM does that so we'll be wowed when we see it in real life. Otherwise it's dumb not to put out good photos.Anyone notice the Pontiac emblem on the brake calipers? Doubt we'll see those.

They're coming out with an original Camaro redo, might as well do the Firebird and GTO too. I like it, with or without the scoops, but the pointy snout would never get past the lawyers.

That sounds kind of Socialist to me, but it worked pretty well for the Japanese. Here in the US the politicians hide their payoffs to industries in the massive tax code so it isn't quite as apparent that they've been bought. Of course, the individual states compete with targeted tax incentives and infrastructure upgrades to entice large employers (which the existing employers get to pay for). And then there are the loan guarantees for foreign governments to buy American products. Ok, I'm cynical. Sue me.

I assume you meant "aren't played with", otherwise the Aussies will stomp on you.I'm more interested in a cushy ride without sloppiness. The hard ride on my Intrigue has worn me out.

The side view is very similar to an 06 Altima, including the raised rear. Similar greenhouse, too, but more muscularity around the wheels and a rounded front that looks great in some pictures, not so hot in the head-on at waist level. Same with the CTS, actually. Don't know why GM has abandoned the full width taillights long characteristic of Buicks and Pontiacs. Dumb.

The difference between the press release and real-life photos is night and day. Stupid GM. So the shape is an 06 Altima on steroids--it works. I'll bet they change everything but the greenhouse in 2010. I like the front better than any Commodore's, though I'd rather not have scoops. The sloping nose and rounded front help a lot. It isn't ground-breaking, but it's immediately recognizable as a Pontiac. In every way, the G8 is an improvement over the GP and Bonneville. Except winter traction.

I hadn't heard about Magnaride on the Commodore, and they don't mention it in the G8 press release. They've been slow to offer it in the US and usually combine it in with other expensive options on Cadillacs. They'll wait for me to buy one without it, before it percolates down to an affordable model.

It may look better from a normal viewing angle. After a few drinks.

The contrast between the body and roof curves and the straight window edges are very beautiful to me. Everyone but Chrysler puts a sloping roof/backlight on their sedans, then they curve the side window line, too, so it doesn't stand out and they all look the same. What the new design gives up in unity, it gains in sensuousness and uniqueness. Not that the current car isn't unique, but it isn't sensous, which is probably why Lutz doesn't like it. I love the current car's exterior, except the headlights, but I think the new one is better, but not as ground-breaking (couldn't be). In some ways, it reminds me of the mid-90's Seville and 1970 DeVille, two of my favorite cars. Integration is over-rated. Consider the droopy Taurus and the bangled BMWs. Every drama needs some comic relief. I hope someone who has seen the car can tell me the window switches aren't too low on the door.

SWB is 114.7", LWB is 118.5" Divide millimeters by 10 (move the decimal over 1), then divide by 2.54 to get inches.