Bid for the right to buy one of the first G8s

AMGoff · #1 (**permalink**) 11-27-07, 01:30 PM

So a Pontiac dealer in Ohio started an auction on eBay, see here.

What do you get if you win? Nothing more than the right to buy one of the first 888 Pontiac G8s... The starting bid is $500 and it has a reserve of an unknown amount.

They promise that the winner will be able to buy their only alloted G8 for nothing over MSRP. Now we all know that most dealers are going to be jacking up the markups on these things like crazy, so is this nothing more than a clever way to get their markup or will that one lucky winner actually be able to save some dough versus a traditional dealer markup? What do you guys think?

The G8 is one hot car... I know I'm excited about it, it's one more example that the General is back and is taking no prisoners. If it's as good as we're all expecting, the Japanese should be very worried... very, very worried that they finally woke the sleeping giant.

But still... will all the added expense of this initial frenzy be worth it? The G8 has a very reasonable price point and any level headed person would just wait until production ramps up to buy one. Nonetheless there are those out there who have to be the first to own one... it will be very interesting to see what these first 888 eventually go for..

**Playdrv4me** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-27-07, 01:34 PM

I saw the article for that last week on Edmunds.

The only one that MIGHT be worth a penny over MSRP is number 888... The rest are just cars.

It is a clever way to sell cars at MSRP for sure.

gothicaleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 11-27-07, 01:39 PM

I just noticed somethig that isn't as evident in the GM photos of the G8.
There is a lot of dark grey plastic on the front of that thing. <blech>

I'm sure it's going to be a great car, but I just wish they would have made this Pontiac a little less... well, Pontiac looking.

AMGoff · #4 (**permalink**) 11-27-07, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

I saw the article for that last week on Edmunds.

The only one that MIGHT be worth a penny over MSRP is number 888... The rest are just cars.

It is a clever way to sell cars at MSRP for sure.

But there's a keen difference between what something's worth and what someone is willing to pay to be the first to have one. Personally I find it ridiculous that someone can't wait six-months to buy one... but the fact remains that most, if not all of these first run G8s will go for over MSRP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gothicaleigh

I just noticed somethig that isn't as evident in the GM photos of the G8.
There is a lot of dark grey plastic on the front of that thing. <blech>

I'm sure it's going to be a great car, but I just wish they would have made this Pontiac a little less... well, Pontiac looking.

I'm in total agreement... I'm more interested in the car underneath. I've never been a huge fan of Pontiac styling.

I'm REALLY keeping my fingers crossed that they're going to come out with a Buick variant... please please please GM, come out with a new Roadmaster. I rarely buy brand-new, but I just might make an exception for a Zeta Roadmaster!

**Playdrv4me** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-27-07, 02:31 PM

If they did, the Roadmaster would be the one for the Japanese to worry about. I'd actually say the Germans are more of a target for the G8 GXP.

AMGoff · #6 (**permalink**) 11-27-07, 03:25 PM

The Japanese have a lot to worry about from all sides... First, they poked the big bear out of hibernation in Detroit... it's hungry, it wants some of it's customers back, and shockingly enough it's actually starting to build some cars that just might do it. Secondly, they have even more to worry about from the Koreans... Hyundai is nothing to be laughed at anymore - they are, in essence, the "new" Japanese... So now they have to worry about those with a predisposition for Asian cars as well.