.. That didn't happen.

I found a Pontiac dealer near work and went there during lunch. They had one, red, G8 GXP. They have about 20 GT's/base models. I went inside to SEARCH for a sales person and found one; told him I wanted to drive the GXP and he said "we don't allow test drives on that car, it's the only one we've got, and someone who buys it isn't going to want any miles on it".


He politely offered to "let" me drive a GT, which I then noted was essentially a different car (engine, brakes, suspension, wheels, tires) and he acknowledged. He said there was nothing he can do, it was a mandate from management. I politely parted ways at that point.
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Uhm...... yeah... okay, Lexus doing this with the -F when the market was still semi stable was one thing, but pontiac doing it with the $43K maxed out G8 GXP, whilst simultaneously going out of business is another...

Touche.

I think it's got the potential to be a good (great?) car for the money...

I can understand why they wouldn't let you drive it because it drives up the miles.  However, you would think they would have a demo car for you to test drive,

When Acura first came out with the previous TL, they had a couple demo's for folks to drive. But this was when times were better

thats complete crap.  I really have no tolerance for stuff like that.

When i was buying my car i couldnt test drive one either
But then again, not even one car was available at the dealers, all were sold out, even demos
I ended up looking online for used cars and test drive a few

Oz, why did you even go to Pontiac dealership?

I did test drive the new 07 MDX, but I ended up buying the FX.  I had no problems with my local Acura dealer, they even offered me to test drive one with the sport transmission package, which I did.  Did not even came close to the FX.

In retrospect, though, if I had bought the MDX in 07, I could postpone buying a larger SUV and wouldn't have bought the Sequoia - and would still have my M.  The MDX have the 3rd row which the FX hasn't, and that was important for us.    I'm happy with the Sequoia though, it's faster than the MDX will ever be, and I'll probably keep it for at least 10 years.

Now I've seen rave reviews from European mags for the equivalent of the Australian made GXP.  They say it's a bargain for what it delivers, and I believe them.  Get me a convertible for 15K off, and I would buy one, maybe it will be a collector item by the time my girls graduate.

Same here.   

Looks like that is the case.  AP has a report out that the Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealers that got cut off are having fire sales.  Chrysler told the dealers that the inventory is their problem and since they are pretty much out of business without the franchise, they are just dumping cars.  Now if they only made anything worth buying.