my riviera handles quite well

It'* all relative. I'd like to think my GP handles well with it'* suspension mods. When it was lowered, it handled great ... relatively speaking.

My bro'* GTO, completely stock, weighing a few hundred pounds more, would eat me alive in the corners.

with only alot more torque and alot more hp. and its a holden built product. most rwd cars cant do what the gto does in the corners

I think too much is being placed on the drivetrain orientation. Each setup simply has to be driven different in terms of cornering. I prefer RWD, but that'* just because I dream of some day lifting the front tires off the ground. Can't do that with FWD...

Then look at BMW'*. While we may be able to smoke a 325i in a straight line, it will beat us in the corners. A RWD setup has much a better balance. Our cars are too front heavy.

A BMW and a Bonneville aren't really in the same class though. BWM tends to have more full-sport suspension while the Bonneville is more towards comfort-sport. Comparing like that, I could say that FWD handles better because a Bonneville will out handle a F-150.

But I would agree that 2 vehicles with equal suspension tune, equal wheel base, weight distribution favored for FWD or RWD respectivly, the RWD may out do the FWD by a little bit just because of where the power is being put and the way you can make it work for you. The difference is not as drastic as Bonneville to BMW though, there are just too many other factors in there besides the dive wheels.

Then from a speculation standpoint, do you think that the G8 would do as well if it was FWD?

Here, I fixed the second half of my post for you

Chinkski, how many RWD cars (not trucks) have you driven? It'* a HUGE difference. RWD cars are inherently balanced more naturally then FWD, it'* not a little bit more around corners, it'* a lot more. RWD has better weight transfer for straight launches as well. The "harder" you push it, the more you pull ahead with RWD.

The industry went to FWD for a few reasons.

1) Effeciency ala MPG.
2) Make cars lighter due to less strengthening needed down the entire body
3) More cabin space/Easier packaging of components
4) Customer Perception

If your drive wheels lose grip in RWD it can spin you around (oversteer), in FWD, it'll make you plow ahead instead of turning (understeer). RWD seperates the steering grip from the acceleration grip. RWD was the ONLY way people got around until around the early 80'*, and not everyone died in the snow, 90% or more of the cops in america use RWD every day.

Traction control systems, and Electronic stability management will be part of the new G8 i'm sure. RWD is nothing to be afraid of at all.

And on the motor issue, yes holden'* blocks come from GM, but they're not Vortec truck heads, manifolds, or power curves.

If GM wants to get thier sales back, they should listen to the consumers, they will save GM... I say a Pontiac RWD car is better, mid-engine would be the best, or even an AWD sub-compact, something to compete with the EVOs, and STis would be great too, but for now RWD is good