According to CarGurus, there are only two manual Holden Commodore Pontiac G8 GXPs for sale nationwide. One has three accidents reported, and the other costs $28,000. Compare to the also Holden Commodore Chevy SS, where there are 8 manual-equipped specimens for sale nationally.
But wait: it gets worse.
Manual was not an option — AT ALL — on the base G8, nor the G8 GT. Yes, the only way to get a stick is to get the G8 GXP, many of which were of course automatics. They only sold 1,829 GXPs. I suspect very few were manual... I was very disappointed to learn that no G8 GTs came from Australia the factory with a stick for the Pontiac brand.
Who cares?
I do. The Pontiac G8 GXP 6MT was sold with the 6.2L LS3 V8 making 415 horsepower, paired to a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission.
But finally offering something interesting was all too little, too late for Pontiac. Heap on the recession and *poof* down goes the brand.
But still... pretty cool car, I’ll be happy if I ever see one in the wild.
Oh — and did you know GM was thinking about bringing over the Ute and possible a wagon based on the Commodore under the Pontiac name? Hurts, don’t it...