Pontiac G5 GT: First Drive

Pontiac dealers are happy they now have an entry-level car offering in the G5, and early sales have been brisk.

[M Barron]

I never see or hear any advertisements on this model. No wonder sales are somewhat sluggish. I don't recall hearing even one ad however, I can recall hearing tons of Toyota and Honda ads.

I only became aware of this model by actually seeing it in a hotel parking lot. I noticed something attractive and noticed it that was not a Honda, Toyota or a Nissan.

Come on GM, I think you are on the right track, but you need to get the word out more:)

[Joey M]

I have heard a lot of shit from people, saying the G5 is just a copy of the cobalt. First, yes it is, ha, but I recently bought a G5 understanding that, and my friend has a cobalt, the G5 has a little bit different of a body style all together, its more then the front end, and I have to say my driving experience in it has been unique, no one else on the road with a G5 where I live and I love it

[Swing Yang]

I think that it's really nice to have the G5 even though it's a copy of the Cobalt. Still I can't complain since it's an excellent drive. I don't mind driveing that baby around!

-Swing Yang (Tulare,CA)

[B woodruff]

I bought my G5 GT 4 months ago. I drive 80 miles a day in Phoenix Arizona. I have yet to see another....

[njjb00]

yeah i didnt hear alot of stink about the g5's. i might have gone for the g5 instead of the cobalt too, because i am definitely a pontiac enthusiast, my last car was a grand am gt. anyways, i was wondering if it has alot of the same problems as the cobalt? if not the i might just trade mine in or something because the trouble is just getting rediculous!!!

[GERMAINE BOLBER]

I NEVER SEE ANY ADS FOR THE G,5. I OWN ONE.
IS THERE A RECALL ON THEM?

i HAVE A PROBLEM FOR A CLEAR VIEW THRU THE BACK WINDOW. THE SPOILER INTERFERS. IT IS PLACED TOO HIGH. THE SHOCKS ABSORBERS ARE WEAKS. YOU CAN FEEL EVERY BUMPS.
IT DOES NOT COMES WITH RAIL GUARDS. WHICH I THINK IS A MISTAKE.
HOWEVER IT DRIVES WELL.

[GERMAINE BOLBER]

I NEVER SEE ANY ADDS FOR THE G5 MODEL. I WN ONE. IS THERE A RECALL ON THEM?
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SPOILER IN THE BACK. IT IS PLACED TOO HIGH AND INTERFER WITH MY SEING CLEARLY.
THE SHOCKS ABSORBERS ARE WEAKS AND YOU CAN FELL ANY BUMPS ON THE ROAD.
IT DOES NOT COME WITH RAILGUARDS AND I THINK ITS A MISTAKE.
HOWEVER IT DRIVES WELL

[njjb00]

i don't know, because i haven't driven one but do you think the ride is stiff because pontiac was going for a more sportier feel? just a thought? my fiance's hyundai tiberon is real stiff but it has the sport suspension so maybe thats what it is...i could be wrong

[T-MONEY]

I bought a performince red g5 gt and it has the high wing in the back it sometimes gives me broblems also it has the performince air intake and chriome door handls.I love my chrome 18" rims and I don't know what the air intake adds to the (173hp). also I have the cool peddal covers.

[cga110]

i own one too. a performance red tintcoat G5 GT. fully loaded. great price for everything thats in it. i love it to death. its acceleration could be better but its still great! i like the fact that its considered a compact instead of a sports car on my insurance. and the pioneer system is sooo damn nice! and the handeling is damn fine too! the pirelli tires have a nice grip on the road. i want to add a turbo in the future. and another kool thing about it is not many people know what it is. i've only seen two on the road where i live. I LOVE BEING AN OUTCAST! i can go on and on about this car but im tired of typing, so i'll stop.

[T-MONEY]

any body-kit accesories for the G5 GT like the grill or under the side door? it would look cool if it was lower to the ground and RED strobe lights under it. Defenitly should have a turbo so it wont be just looks but be realy fast & louder.

[Joel]

I'm ordering a G5 GT today, i'm hoping i get the advertized 30+ MPG with a manual tranny. i have been researching buying a new driver and it's the only one that is still inexpencive and looks great with over 32 mpg (rated)
yes a base model civic but only the Si looks good to me, the ion and cobalt = bleh, and i want a coupe so that knocks out anything from ford, nissan, or toyota.

anyone who has had one for a while please let me know what kind of fuel economy you are geting. thanks

[Suez]

T-MONEY wrote:

I bought a performince red g5 gt and it has the high wing in the back it sometimes gives me broblems also it has the performince air intake and chriome door handls.I love my chrome 18" rims and I don't know what the air intake adds to the (173hp). also I have the cool peddal covers.

We have a g5 gt also...i know what you mean about the high wing in the back... we too have the chrome door handles and the air intake. besides eating up the gas, it sounds good.. LOL The chrome does get the looks...great minds think alike. And it ticks me off when someone says it's like a Cobolt..the difference is, come on..the Cobolt is a CHEVY..POS

[oliver]

I got a G5 GT sedan, it handles very nice and it has good power with the 2.4L ecotec engine. It will do 15.8 in the 1/4 mile stock. I'm probably gonna add intake and exhaust later on down the road once I break the engine in.

M Barron wrote:

I never see or hear any advertisements on this model. No wonder sales are somewhat sluggish. I don't recall hearing even one ad however, I can recall hearing tons of Toyota and Honda ads.
I only became aware of this model by actually seeing it in a hotel parking lot. I noticed something attractive and noticed it that was not a Honda, Toyota or a Nissan.
Come on GM, I think you are on the right track, but you need to get the word out more:)

[BigAl01]

I bought my blue streak metallic Pontiac G5 GT a few weeks ago in Woodbridge, VA. I have been a Pontiac fan for almost 20 years, starting with the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix, followed by the 1992 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi, then another Pontiac Grand Prix GTP in 1997. This new G5 is a small car that's good on gas and a blast to drive. I'm getting 25-27 MPG (auto trans) in mostly work traffic (northern Virginia has been a tough commute that isn't getting any better), where my Pontiac Grand Prix GTP was getting 20 MPG for the same commute. The ride isn't harsh at all. The wing in the back doesn't bother me, as this is something you need to accept when you want the good looks of such a device. I have the 17" wheels and the Pirelli tires really grip. My only upgrade so far is replacing that long antenna with a short rubber one (needed the whole mount, so it was $100 installed).

One question I have is regarding oil changes. The owner's manual says nothing about the steps necessary to do this job, and I learned at the auto parts store that the 2.4L engine has an oil canister assembly (you buy a filter insert). Has anybody done an oil change yet? Do you make a mess taking off the oil filter can, and is it a pain to replace the filter element?

[pontiac]

i have an orange g5 and i couldn't love the ride more... i wanted a cobalt at first but then my girlfriend got one... then my dad... then my sister's boyfriend... so screw that... it's the same in every mechanical way except for the body... i love the rear end more than the cobalt's... anyway... i'm contiplating getting leds underneath it... white or blue?

[T-MONEY]

the G5 GT I own would look kool with a dark black tint and red strobe lights under it,one of my friends told me he can get aftermarkit parts for my car that arnt even out yet,im getting a free performince chip hes going to install himself....red touch up paint is good for small scratches or for the trunk and hood struts.also to paint the breaks too.

[kayla]

After having my first car, 2000 Volkswagen Beetle, for about a year and a half my dad helped me buy my white G5. I have to say it is SO much nicer and runs so much better than my beetle. The only thing i don't like about it is that there aren't any body kits out for it yet... or i just haven't been able to find them. I also noticed that it has some bad blind spots, i'm so used to the beetle being SO OPEN in the back, because of the spoiler but you get used to it. Overall, i really love it and wouldn't have picked any other car to get.

[Juan]

grrrrrr...all of you are making me mad and sad :(

i own the sunfire, and i really want the G5 GT but i cant afford it at 6.15/hour and being a 10th grader, but for the guy who had the question about the oil filter, if its anything like the 2.2L ecotech, it should be up top near the power steering if i recall. you will need a pretty good wrench for that since it uses a big nut. but other than that, its fairly easy plus you save maybe 10 or 20 bucks (gas money for me)

but yea, you guys are making me sad with all the talking of the GT model, why didnt pontiac make a GT model of the sunfire, damn cheapos...nothing wrong with my 2004 sunfire cept its an auto tranny and there was no GT model availble.

[gregory]

i was work downtown l.a. and pontiac was shooting a Commercial were i was work and they was shooting it on the ten flood went i saw the g5gt and i fell in love with it. i will be coming in to some money so and my first new car will be the pontiac.