GM got it right!

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: NHSilverado
Originally Posted By: badtlc
I dont really have any say on this whole thing, but......

I have a very vocal coworker who had an Suburban pre DOD days and last year got a new suburban with the DOD. He hates the DOD. He "says" he got noticeably better MPGs with the older suburban.

Take that with a grain of salt. He is an engineer and pretty meticulous about everything. So I don't doubt that he is seeing worse MPGs, but I have no idea of his driving style or if anything else has changed in his driving world.


Same experience I had. My non AFM 05 5.3L Silverado got substantially better MPG than the AFM 07 Silverado EC w/ 5.3L. Very disappointed in the MPG out of the new truck until I sold it. "Most" people that have had the two versions of the 5.3L to compare to have found the AFM gets worse MPG. Not all but most. At least on the Chevy truck sites I belong to.


Maybe the old guy isn't as looney as I thought, then.

 

[LAGA]

Originally Posted By: NHSilverado
Originally Posted By: LAGA
I have a 07 NBS Silverado with the 6.0 and it has both AFM and DOD. Both work very good. I tend to do a lot of short trips with the truck so mileage sucks in the city until engine warms up and mileage goes up, 12 to 13 cold and 14 to 15 warm. On the highway, if I keep it under 70, it will get 20mpg. What I don`t like about the truck is the torque management and abuse mode programmed into the ecm and tcm. Anything under 40 mph when you hit the gas, nothing happens for 3 seconds.


AFM( active fuel management )and DOD( displacement on demand )are the same thing just different name for it. DOD was the old name and AFM is the new.

You are right. I meant to say it has Variable Valve timing and DOD.

 

[wapacz]

I haven't driven the 5.3 with afm enough to really know how it does over all. Though the little bit I did drive it showed me that keeping between 65 and 67 would keep it in 4 cylinder mode and get 21 to 22 mpg.

 

[MrCritical]

The new Suburban with DOD is heavier and bigger.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Just read in the latest Road and Track that there will be a V8 with a manual called GXP or something like that. They also reviewed the GT and took an issue with not so great handling... hopefully the GT Sport with stiffer suspension fixes at least some of that.

 

[Win]

They must be selling well around here, I see a new one every few days, and the dealer has 4 on his lot - two V8's and two V6's.

I'd like to have one and when the GXP comes out, I may park the GTO and get a GXP.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
hopefully the GT Sport with stiffer suspension fixes at least some of that.

Correction... checking GM's website, it doesn't look like the "sport" gets a different suspension. It's sad when "sport" only means visual upgrades. In reality, heavier rims and tires that come with it probably reduce performance.

 

[rjundi]

The GT version is fine with its V8 and great package.

However they need to find a decent smaller/economy minded V6 to fit that gets reasonable fuel mileage at least 20 MPG in the city. People will get on walking when they see that 18/25MPG sticker and fuel prices nearing $4/gallon.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I don't think a typical buyer for this is someone that cares that much about fuel economy, although with the recent gas price hikes, I guess most of us care to some extent. Most people buying this car are looking for a relatively inexpensive yet powerful toy car, and for that reason, they will probably not even look at the V6 and go straight for the V8 since the mpg isn't much different between the two.

At close to 4000 lbs, it won't be easy to get much better mpg out of the G8. Besides, I don't think GM's point was to make the G8 a slow and economical vehicle. It is supposed to be a less expensive alternative to sporty german sedans. I'm sure GM has other vehicles in their lineup that are better suited for economy-conscious drivers.

 

[rjundi]

BMW 528 gets 18MPG/28MPG, obviously more expensive but the standard lease car that makes many BMW owners happy and sells a decent amount....

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
hopefully the GT Sport with stiffer suspension fixes at least some of that.

Correction... checking GM's website, it doesn't look like the "sport" gets a different suspension. It's sad when "sport" only means visual upgrades. In reality, heavier rims and tires that come with it probably reduce performance.


That is the first I've heard about a complaint with the handling. Most seem to love it. Mainly the complaints (if any) have centered around the programming of the transmission and lack of navigation.

I think you've misunderstood what Pontiac is offering as far as suspensions. I'm sure the website doesn't say but they tuned the GT suspension first and decided to give the same suspension to the base model. You act like they tuned the base model for a nice ride and then didn't bother to upgrade the suspension for the GT. I'm glad they offer the same suspension on the base V6 model because that is likely the model I would buy if I ever get one and I would want the better suspension. Most reviews have said it has great handling with a good ride as well. I wouldn't doubt the GXP gets a step up however, they might be willing to sacrfice the ride more for that setup.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: WishIhadatruck
I think you've misunderstood what Pontiac is offering as far as suspensions. I'm sure the website doesn't say but they tuned the GT suspension first and decided to give the same suspension to the base model. You act like they tuned the base model for a nice ride and then didn't bother to upgrade the suspension for the GT.

That's not what I meant. I was trying to find the difference between GT and GT Sport. I thought the GT Sport, as a result of having the sport package, also includes more performance-oriented suspension. I was wrong. The sport package only adds eye candy.

I do realize that the base GT already has a somewhat sport-tuned suspension, but reading that R&T review it made it seem like it wasn't particulary good when pushed hard. Then again, in most street driving situations you will probably not push it to its limits so it may be a non-issue. Magazines often tend to find flaws just to show that something is not perfect and try to justify spending more money on some other alternative.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
BMW 528 gets 18MPG/28MPG, obviously more expensive but the standard lease car that makes many BMW owners happy and sells a decent amount....

The 2008 528i automatic is rated at 18/27 and requres premium gas. It is also about 300 lbs lighter than the V6 G8. From the size/interior room perspective, I think the G8 is closer to a BMW 7-series.

The 5-series is closer in size and weight to the G6. And the 2008 3.5L V6 G6 is rated at 18/29 mpg, using regular gas.

 

[Quattro Pete]

FYI, here's that R&T review.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=6692

Quote:

But while a solid handler up to around the 7/10ths mark, our experience during more aggressive track testing like the slalom and the skidpad tells a different tale. While the suspension eats up the relatively light loading on city streets and freeway onramps, harder loading gives all four corners compliance indigestion. The slalom and skidpad numbers are respectable at 64.3 mph and 0.85g, but they are not as good as we expected. Plus, we had to work the car pretty hard in these exercises to achieve these numbers.

Test Notes:
Handling
The G8 lacks finesse in the handling department. It has quick turn-in but with an odd steering feel and unsettled suspension. Our slalom test highlighted these faults resulting in excessive body roll and a rear end that can get loose.



Overall it's a rather positive review though. The above tidbits seems more like nitpicking than anything else. Doesn't sound like a disqualifying factor, in any case.

 

[Warlord]

I doubt anyone buying this car will take it to the track and push it to the limit. It's more of a power cruiser than an all out sports car.

 

[Ed_T]

Originally Posted By: Warlord
I doubt anyone buying this car will take it to the track and push it to the limit. It's more of a power cruiser than an all out sports car.


You said it.

Catalina 2+2

 

[Matt_S]

There's one thing that really disappoints me with this car: the windows rattle like crazy if they're down when you shut the door. They seriously need to fix that. Besides that, I like the car, but the doors don't sound solid with the windows down.

Gas prices are going to hurt sales of this car, too.