Pontiac G8 reliability

mkaresh · #1 March 15th, 2008, 03:04 PM

Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between models much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so it's possible to provide reliability information on new models very quickly.

For example, the February results included a few 2008s already, including the new Cadillac CTS. I'd like to do the same for the G8, and hopefully get it into the August results. But this will depend on how many owners sign up in the next few months.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a brief one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to help get the G8 into the August results:

Vehicle reliability research

If you don't have a G8 yet, you can simply sign up with your current car. It'll be easy to sub the G8 once you get it.

mkaresh · #2 April 4th, 2008, 11:11 AM

Very few owners signed up so far, unlike a number of other recently introduced models. I'd like to have a result in August, but this can only happen if at least a couple dozen owners sign up to participate in the next month or so.

Vehicle reliability research

**chiefpontiac** · #3 April 7th, 2008, 08:44 AM

What do you expect when only 777 units were registered as sold during the first month of eligible sales? (March 2008). Statistically someone might be able to tell you exactly how many of the 777 are active forum participants at one of the many sites or sub-sites related to the G8. Give it a chance to get out.

mkaresh · #4 April 7th, 2008, 12:45 PM

Good point. People have been excited about the car for so long, I'd forgotten how recently it reached dealers.

With a few other GM intros, the first month seemed a bit tepid, and then sales really picked up after that as vehicles finally reached dealers in real numbers. Hopefully the G8 will be that way.

Though with the U.S. dollar down so much against the Australian dollar, nearly 30% compared to two years ago, GM can't be too eager to sell a ton of them.

mkaresh · #5 April 20th, 2008, 08:08 AM

People seem to be getting cars now. Anyone able to help with this research?

If anyone has suggestions that might make the research more useful, feel free to offer them.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh · #6 April 30th, 2008, 12:24 PM

Got a few now. Thanks, guys. With a few more I'll include the G8 in the May survey.

I've promised the admin that I'll credit this forum on my site and in a press release for making a quick result possible for the G8. But this can only happen if there is a result.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh · #7 May 23rd, 2008, 09:52 AM

I've included the G8 in the survey, but odds of a result in August aren't looking good unless quite a few more owners sign up soon. Otherwise, the earliest I'll have results is November.

Vehicle reliability research

**Nick** · #8 May 23rd, 2008, 05:08 PM

In case anyone is wondering, I gave the okay for this thread in exchange for a backlink.

TrueDelta's links

mkaresh · #9 May 23rd, 2008, 09:49 PM

Thanks for pointing that out, Nick.

There's also a more prominent link on the page for the G8:

Pontiac G8 reliability, prices, and specifications

mkaresh · #10 June 24th, 2008, 09:18 AM

More owners have signed up, but still well short of the minimum.

I'd like to have a result in November, but this can only happen if more owners sign up to participate.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh · #11 July 19th, 2008, 11:32 PM

A result in November is looking more likely now, as a few more owners have signed up recently.

Still need at least a couple dozen more.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh · #12 August 17th, 2008, 12:00 PM

And a few more--for a total of 15.

At this level, every single participant really helps.

To join:

Vehicle reliability research

TomPierce · #13 August 17th, 2008, 02:01 PM

It is considered appropriate to offer something of value when receiving something of value.

The JDPower online survey I took this morning promised a $15 dollar Amazon gift certificate. A few weeks ago I participated in a GM eveing focus group which paid $75. Even some of the surveys I have been dent in the mail contained a $1 bill.

Obviously, our participation is valuable to you. Yet you offer nothing in return for taking our information and presumably reselling it in some form.

Could this be a reason you have had less than 3/month participate?

mkaresh · #14 August 17th, 2008, 03:54 PM

Did JD Power or GM share the results of their research with you?

Unlike them, I'm conducting this research for car owners, not the OEMs. What participants get is full access to the results, something you can't get with JD Power. For good reason: their costs are too high to turn a profit by serving car owners.

I'm not currently earning any direct revenue from the reliability research, and do not plan to have the OEMs as clients to avoid conflicts of interest.

I am surprised JD Power paid $15. Last I heard they were still enclosing a single dollar bill in their main surveys (IQS and VDS). This must have been a special survey with a fairly small sample size. Do you remember the topic?

Now, if you're not interested in the results, there's not much incentive to participate in my research. But I'm happy with my current system, as it means that those who do participate are interested in the results, and thus are more likely to provide complete, accurate information.

One final difference, compared to that focus group and probably the JD Power survey as well: my research requires far less time.

The number of G8 owners participating is small for reasons beyond the lack of payment. Most of all, it's simply not a high volume car. For the 2008 GM Lambdas, nearly 300 owners are signed up to participate, and a number of other models have 100+ owners signed up.

ProStreet · #15 August 19th, 2008, 08:54 AM

I put my G8 in today.

GM_Fan · #16 August 19th, 2008, 02:27 PM

I went ahead and signed up as well.

mkaresh · #17 September 15th, 2008, 10:14 AM

Thanks, guys, I appreciate it. I'd really like to provide a result for the G8.

One thing I might do to get started with the G8 is count the 2008s as 2008.5s, since the car was introduced well into the model year. This way I can combine the sample with the 2009s and get started.

Later on, when there are more owners participating, it will be possible to split the years again. I would like to get to this point as soon as possible, in case the 2009s have a lower repair rate, but that depends on how soon enough owners sign up.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh · #18 October 12th, 2008, 10:00 AM

We might have an initial result for the G8 in November. It's going to be close.

Additional participants would of course help.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh · #19 December 3rd, 2008, 03:14 PM

Got that result. Everyone who helped to make this possible, and especially the forum admin, thanks.

The sample size is small, so the results are asterisked and only visible to participants on the site itself. That said, the Pontiac G8's reported repair rate of 48 successful repair trips per 100 cars per year is about average. (Note: 2008s have been classified as 2008.5s and grouped with the 2009s.)

With more participants, we could provide a more precise result the next time around, in February.

For the full set of results, and to sign up to help:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

mkaresh · #20 January 2nd, 2009, 09:31 AM

We're about to start the last month of data collection before the February results. Additional participants would be very helpful.

For the details, and to sign up:

Car reliability research