Test Driver Falls Asleep At The Wheel: Has Pontiac Really Gotten This Boring?

Test Driver Falls Asleep At The Wheel: Has Pontiac Really Gotten This Boring?
Apparently a Pontiac isn't always driving excitement, even if it's the as yet unreleased 2008 G8: a "performance sedan for the truly power hungry."

The last test driver in a convoy of G8s dozed off at the wheel of one of the "muscular" new cars and drifted off Highway 82 near Independence Pass late Thursday morning, rolling about 100 feet down a steep embankment.

The driver, 41-year-old Australian General Motors engineer Rolf Glenk, was treated for minor injuries at Aspen Valley Hospital and released later that day, according to the Colorado State Patrol.


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00Vegas00Vegas - 9/28/2007 4:41:48 PM
-2 Boost
Nothing like "Life Imitating Art!"


nybimmernybimmer - 9/28/2007 4:45:03 PM
+12 Boost
Please cut Pontiac and this poor person some slack. The article said that the '....Australian test driver fell asleep at the wheel....'

The poor guy was probably jet lagged after taking the 'red-eye' flight and/or adjusting to the new time zone and the altiude there. This is gratuitous 009.


Agent004Agent004 - 9/28/2007 7:03:07 PM
+8 Boost
I dunno, I'm pretty sleepy after sex, and if you had a Veyron, you know you would be having a LOT more sex...


w209w114w209w114 - 9/28/2007 5:09:18 PM
+5 Boost
Keep him away from Lexus!!!


EL34EL34 - 9/28/2007 5:36:21 PM
+1 Boost
Maybe it's time for people you put down the bottle of booze, the glass of wine and the joint!

Get some sleep before driving next time!!!


dumpstydumpsty - 9/28/2007 5:38:18 PM
+4 Boost
Maybe the guy had been driving the G8 day & night (without rest/proper sleep) because the car is just that exciting!

He's been rippin-and-runnin every since they put the keys in his hands.


Need4SpeedNeed4Speed - 9/28/2007 5:49:28 PM
+1 Boost
All is not lost...at least they can inspect the car and maybe learn something from the crash! Glad to know the engineer got out okay!


HyundaiHyundai - 9/28/2007 7:22:05 PM
+1 Boost
Like how to get proper sleep?


HyundaiHyundai - 9/28/2007 7:22:46 PM
+3 Boost
Here-here!


Fan1234Fan1234 - 9/28/2007 7:02:11 PM
-8 Boost
this wouldn't happen with a lexus, it is too exciting.


Jagexpert2Jagexpert2 - 9/28/2007 7:52:06 PM
+6 Boost
UR kidding right. Like no one has ever fallen asleep at the wheel of a Lexus?If you do does it park itself?


dumpstydumpsty - 9/29/2007 9:51:06 AM
+3 Boost
Jag, that was the best comment of the year! Excellent response.


tecnopolistecnopolis - 9/28/2007 7:19:37 PM
+4 Boost
Glad he wasn't hurt.


Jagexpert2Jagexpert2 - 9/28/2007 7:50:49 PM
+6 Boost
Sounds like a safe car to me!



golfer38golfer38 - 9/29/2007 10:00:46 AM
+1 Boost
Especially judging by the pictures.


Caddyman07Caddyman07 - 9/29/2007 12:27:16 PM
+3 Boost
Ditto (jagexpert2) Judging by this: "The driver, 41-year-old Australian General Motors engineer Rolf Glenk, was treated for minor injuries at Aspen Valley Hospital and released later that day, according to the Colorado State Patrol." and considering the condition of the vehicle, I'd say it sounds like a safe car. NOT: "The vehicle is not exciting"... WTF A(ss)gent009, who does that???


DustbusterDustbuster - 9/29/2007 1:15:29 AM
-3 Boost
I think it was done intentionally - the front of the car is so ugly, the engineer/test driver couldn't stand it any longer. Of course he couldn't say he crashed on purpose and therefore claimed to have fallen asleep. Serious, though, I think it's a cool car but the Holden version looks better (and doesn't the Holden offer engines with more power?).


gsh23gsh23 - 9/29/2007 7:11:11 PM
+1 Boost
i love rubbernecking


M53RM53R - 9/29/2007 2:34:24 AM
+1 Boost
Its not a bad car. I testdrove a Lumina SS (we dont get the pontiac, but its basically the same car) and trust me its very thrilling to drive. The power is amazing and its RWD so it was fun.

He just should have slept better....


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 9/30/2007 4:35:25 PM
+1 Boost
I just can't connect "Lumina" with "fun." It doesn't happen. The Lumina we had here in the last decade was just terrible.

Here it is:

http://www.lewisusedcars.com/images/s6705.jpg

That's from 2001.


dumpstydumpsty - 9/29/2007 9:55:32 AM
+3 Boost
Improptu crash testing/survivability....I can't imaging the headlines if the guy was seriously hurt or even died in the accident. GM should be proud of its engineering team for producing a rather safe vehicle.


LarryLarry - 9/29/2007 9:50:17 PM
+1 Boost
pontiac lost it when gm switched to fwd platforms in the early 80's.
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