2008 Pontiac G8 GT

This Pontiac G8 GT is a smoking deal. For under $30,000 you get a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan with a limited-slip differential that can blast to 60 mph in less than six seconds. The steering is quite good, and the G8 lays down smokey burnouts better than anything I've driven in ages. Our test car came with heated power front seats and leather, and it still cost just over $31,000. On the road, the transmission is a bit slow to downshift and the suspension can be noisy, but the G8 is still a very nice car. There is a ton of room in the rear seats, and the trunk volume is sufficient for a rear-wheel-drive sedan. I wish the exterior design was more aggressive; the interior could also be more special. There are some weird ergonomics inside, and I wonder about the need for a large permanent digital display of voltage and oil pressure in the center stack. If fuel still cost only $2.50 a gallon, this G8 GT would be a huge success for General Motors, but I'm afraid the 15 mpg EPA rating in the city is going to keep this car in the niche market as long as gas prices stay high. -Marc Noordeloos, Road Test Editor