Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

[davey g-force]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

Not sure how that will work, since it is a rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia.

Very bad car indeed. They have one in red (top model) in a mall nearby and I have to check it out and drool every time we go by.

It's a Holden Commodore actually.

The real question is... what happens to the G8? That's a SICK car. Easily the sweetest Pontiac in a LONG time. I'm guessing Chevy will pick it up...

The G8 is re-branded to begin with. It’s a "badge-engineered" Holden Commodore. (Holden is GM’s Australian division.)

I own a Holden Commodore SSV (Pontiac G8 GTO) and yes it is a sweet car. I just hope that Chevy picks up the G8 and runs with it. After all, the G8 is already exported to countries such as the middle east and South Africa with a Chevy badge, so it makes sense...

[saturn2]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

I don't mean to make a political statement either. By I'm just saying the most overlooked fact about transplant foreign manufacturers. They are being payed by the states just to come over and make the cars and trucks. This isn't welfare?

Sen Sen Shelby I'm calling you out to the wood shed

http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/11/sen-shelby-how-sweet-is-the-auto-business-in-alabama-not-very.html

Airplanes too hello Airbus

http://beaglescout.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/keep-the-kc-45-tanker-in-mobile-alabama-katrina-country/

All GM needs a Road Warrior when this is done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4TdPxOXuYw

[termigator69]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

I still remember back in the 80's when I drooled over the Camaro IROC-Z and the Firebird Trans Am, but I always wondered why the T/A's hp was always lower than the IROC. Then I read an article about the T/A in Car & Driver and found out that it was all about internal politics. Guess we all knew which division had more clout. I think the only time the Firebird had more horses than the Camaro was when they came out with the 25th Anniversary Edition. I remember it getting the Grand National's turbocharged V-6. Talk about fast!

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

It's always sad to see any brand go away, but I honestly never saw much of a difference between Pontiac and Chevy. Sure, Pontiac had a few vehicles Chevy didn't have (e.g. Solstice, G8. I'm sure these can always be rebranded into Chevy products), but most of Pontiac's cars seem to actually compete against Chevy for the same demographics.
I always wondered how the Camaro would have done sales wise against the Mustang if the Firebird wasn't around to compete against it also. I'm guessing I'll be finding out in the next year or two.

It was always brand loyalty even though the sister divisions offered the same makes and models. Up through the 50's the GM divisions still sold unique offerings, but that started to go away in the mid to late 60's. Brand loyalty started to fall away too, until this point now when shuttering Oldsmobile and now Pontiac is met with little resistance.

[termigator69]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

It's always sad to see any brand go away, but I honestly never saw much of a difference between Pontiac and Chevy. Sure, Pontiac had a few vehicles Chevy didn't have (e.g. Solstice, G8. I'm sure these can always be rebranded into Chevy products), but most of Pontiac's cars seem to actually compete against Chevy for the same demographics.
I always wondered how the Camaro would have done sales wise against the Mustang if the Firebird wasn't around to compete against it also. I'm guessing I'll be finding out in the next year or two.

[Zuke]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

Just think, The way things are going with the Bailouts to GM. The new company name will be:

Government Motors. Just kidding. Not making a political statement at all.

[new2detailing]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

It is a shame that Pontiac will be lost. However, I feel for the people losing their jobs in an already rough economy. However, froma business standpoint I understand the decision. Essentially, GM had too many brands competing for a smaller market share of buyers. Ultimately, Pontiac had no vehicles (G9 notwithstanding) that really distinguished themselves from other GM lines. Couple that with mismanagment of the brand itself, Pontiac was on the business end of the chopping block.

What I think the leaner GM will be?
1)Chevrolet: volume sellers
2)Cadillac: luxury
3)GMC: commercial truck lines, the light duty trucks will be phased out
4)Buick: international near luxury, China primary market
5) Pontiac name maybe for select enthusiast vehicles within Chevy.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

Just think, The way things are going with the Bailouts to GM. The new company name will be:

Government Motors. Just kidding. Not making a political statement at all.

[the other pc]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

I would have thought for sure they were going to drop Buick. What kind of niche does buick have anyway? Chevy is the family brand. Saturn is the alternative family brand. Cadillac is the luxury brand. GMC is the truck brand. Hummer is the adventure brand. Havent seen a Saab in years anyway. Pontiac WAS the sporty brand. But what exactly is Buick? I would have dropped the Buick.

You’re thinking like a car enthusiast. GM’s management thinks like accountants.

Whatever Buick’s image may be it’s apparently working for them, they’ve actually been selling cars. And they’re sales have been growing in new markets.

...I really don't like the civilian version of the Hummer....or HMMWV as it's called in the military. ...

Understandable, they have nothing in common.

The HMMWV was designed by AM General to meet the Pentagon’s demanding operational requirements. They’re built in AM General’s plant in Mishawaka, Ind.

GM bought exclusive rights to the Hummer brand name from AM General, which at the time was selling a civilianized version of the HMMWV under that name. GM renamed AM General’s civilian vehicle the Hummer H1.

GM then came up with the Hummer H2 and later H3, which are entirely GM designs. They’re basically styling packages applied to existing Chevy/GMC trucks.

Then GM canned the H1 in 2006.

And if anybody was worrying how the HMMWV would be affected by GM’s problems, here’s what AM General has to say:

“Although GM acquired the HUMMER brand, they do not own any part of AM General.”

...the g8 is supposibly going to be rebranded the Chevy Commodore. And maybe the G6 another model as well...

The G8 is re-branded to begin with. It’s a "badge-engineered" Holden Commodore. (Holden is GM’s Australian division.)

The G6 is built on GM’s generic Epsilon platform, also used for the Chevy Malibu, Saab 9-3, Opel Vectra, Saturn Aura, ...



pc.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

I was thinking of a PT Cruiser.

For those that are surprised GM isn't cutting Buick -- if I remember correctly Buick recently dethroned Lexus from the top of the JD Power & Associates reliability rankings. And yes, seniors love them.

And it would just make GM look silly to supply Chevys for the Buick Invitational!

[Kooz]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

What brand are you going to buy next?

I was thinking of a PT Cruiser.

For those that are surprised GM isn't cutting Buick -- if I remember correctly Buick recently dethroned Lexus from the top of the JD Power & Associates reliability rankings. And yes, seniors love them.

[Fischer]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

Buicks sales are actually doing great in China, thats why they havent cut them

I found out that the g8 is supposibly going to be rebranded the Chevy Commodore. And maybe the G6 another model as well...

[Underdawg736]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

I think Buick was/is more toward the retired folk market. Don't beat me up but everytime I see a Buick, it's usually driven by someone who is of senior age.
Saturn was/is more towards the family on a budget type. I've had two of them and I'll be sad to see them go away.
I really don't like the civilian version of the Hummer....or HMMWV as it's called in the military.

Ahhh yes SAAB was the one I couldn't recall. I thought they were apart of Ford but wasn't sure....Thanks CieraSL

I'd say get rid of Hummer and SAAB, Pontiac has too much history behind it to just simply write it off and have the same fate as Oldsmobile. Keep Saturn too, they started out being very innovative and affordable.
All I want to do is get my hands on a Sky Redline!

[Murr1525]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

What brand are you going to buy next?

Yeah, so I stay away from it....

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Sad day. GM to end Pontiac Brand

Guess we should have seen it coming. Chevy is all set to re-introduce the Camaro very soon, yet GM never raised the possibility of bringing back the Camaro's stablemate, the Firebird. Seemed like a natural pairing, given the resurgence of popularity with classic American muscle cars.