Pontiac Grand Prix GXP

MazdaTom · Postby **MazdaTom** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:14

So my mom is out here from Iowa visiting the grandkids and got a rental so we don't have to worry about the car situation. Anyway, it's a new Pontiac Grand Prix GXP with a 5.3L V8 with the drilled brake rotors, Blistein struts, the steering wheel mounted "tap shift" thingy for the auto trans, Bridgestone summer rubber, heads-up display, leather seats and a sunroof.

What I like: The power! OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH, the power. That 303 hp 5.3L V8 comes on fast and hard. It's not that sudden surge that you get with a turbo. Instead it's a smooth punch from low rpm all the way up to red line. We took it up over Loveland Pass today and it never even thought about struggling- even at high altitude.

The suspension is set up nice. Those Blisteins really control the wheels. I haven't been able to really lean on it since the audience in the car wouldn't really approve.

There is an information display on the dashboard that you can cycle through and display lots of good stuff: engine running time in hours, transmission temp, coolant temp, average speed, 2 trip computers that don't roll over at 999.9 miles (unlike my Mazda), trip time, and the COOLEST: max lateral G's, max accel G's and max decel G's (which cannot be displayed while moving). And again, I wasn't able to try to improve on the already stored info with the people in the car.

High speed cruising (80ish or more) is very smooth and quiet. My car lets you know you're going fast. Those triple digits on the speedo were very tempting- but again......

Big, fat meaty steering wheel.

What I don't like: my head was hitting the headliner ALOT while driving. I'm about 6'-6'1" and I couldn't get the seat to go low enough.

Climing in and out of it is kind of a pain.

The Tap-Shift buttons are on the steering wheel. While entering I-70 up in Silverthorne, I wanted to down shift but the wheel was turned and I had to go hunting from the button. PLUS, the buttons are backwards from what I would like. To upshift, you press forward with your thumb. To downshift, you press back with your middle finger. I would like that reversed.

Torque steer. Well, what do you expect with all that HP and FWD?

Foot operated parking brake. How are you suppose to kick the back end out without a hand brake?

The HUD is useless with polarized sunglasses.

Well anyway, pretty cool car. Doubt I'd ever buy one with my own money though. It is just another GM afterall. I'm not buying GM again.

Nick Leone · Postby **Nick Leone** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:14

Sweet that sounds awesome

METHLAB · Postby **METHLAB** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MazdaTom @ Mar 24 2008, 08:34 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=35198]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Foot operated parking brake. How are you suppose to kick the back end out without a hand brake?

Well anyway, pretty cool car. Doubt I'd ever buy one with my own money though. It is just another GM afterall. I'm not buying GM again.[/b]

You crack me up Tom!

Colombia28 · Postby **Colombia28** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:14

Where heck are the pics!

MS3_Mafia · Postby **MS3_Mafia** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:14

Nice!

tsx_guy · Postby **tsx_guy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

nice write up tom...but this is a mazda club....

tell your mom I said hi...

Huzer21 · Postby **Huzer21** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

With all the chatter about the G8, I even forgot they still made the Grand Prix!

tsx_guy · Postby **tsx_guy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

so Tom what kinda mileage are you getting on this v8?

dommo_g · Postby **dommo_g** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

The higher end Grand Prix was always an underrated performer for such a large car.

ZoomPrincess · Postby **ZoomPrincess** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

I had a couple Grand Prix GTP's for rental when my Vdumb Bug was in the shop. Not bad cars, those were the only cars I had during that time that I enjoyed driving except the Grand AM GT.
The GM version of the Matrix was HORRIBLE (can't think of what it is called all of a sudden) I always liked the look of them until I had it as a rental, one of the worst cars I have ever driven.

turbo99jetta · Postby **turbo99jetta** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

ZoomPrincess · Postby **ZoomPrincess** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

Thank you... that's the one.. :lol:

MazdaTom · Postby **MazdaTom** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (6i_guy @ Mar 25 2008, 09:09 AM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=35379]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

so Tom what kinda mileage are you getting on this v8?[/b]

According to the indash computer thingy, I think it said about 22.5 mpgs. I don't know when/if that has been reset. The car only has like 6500 miles on it. You can set the computer to display instantaneous mileage and I got it as high as 90 mpgs while coasting. But a typical easy red light acceleration would put it in the mid teens. Put your foot to the firewall and you're in the low single digits! WWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

tsx_guy · Postby **tsx_guy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MazdaTom @ Mar 25 2008, 07:16 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=35539]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

According to the indash computer thingy, I think it said about 22.5 mpgs. I don't know when/if that has been reset. The car only has like 6500 miles on it. You can set the computer to display instantaneous mileage and I got it as high as 90 mpgs while coasting. But a typical easy red light acceleration would put it in the mid teens. Put your foot to the firewall and you're in the low single digits! WWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!![/b]

single digits...might as well get me a suv then...

dommo_g · Postby **dommo_g** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:14

My Speed3 does the same thing with the MPG indicator. Any car would. Floor it, you'll get single digits. Coast, you'll get 99.99. The only way to tell is to check the average over a pretty good amount of time. I'd say 22 or so MPG is about right for that car. Since it's a rental, I bet it sees a lot of city driving.

Pontiac Grand Prix GXP

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