On those gear ratios - whatever induced Pontiac to go from 2.26 (2nd) to 1.37 (3rd) to 1.00 (4th) on the base model in the first place? Even on paper anyone could see that 3rd and 4th were too close for a 5 speed, and that the gap between 2nd and 3rd was an abyss.... At least they have fixed the goofup for the GXP.

My guess is that was all they had in the parts bin and didn't have the time or want to spend the money on a new one.