GM to Kill Pontiac Monday?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,958
From: Kansas City, MO
Buick doesn't have to stand for not quite luxury and no real performance. If the new LaCrosse is any indication, they have a chance to really move into the near luxury field (though they need to ditch wheelcovers on ANY Buick, can't believe that the LaCrosse CX has them). It's not like Buicks have never been driver's cars. They just haven't been in far too long.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Detroit, MI
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,958
From: Kansas City, MO
http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...27&docid=53947
"The Pontiac brand will be phased out by the end of 2010."
"The Pontiac brand will be phased out by the end of 2010."
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
60s DeLorean or 80s DeLorean? 
Corollary question. Ask 70s DeLorean whether he'd do better selling the best W-car, economy 2 seater sports car, Holden, and manual trans Epsilon as Chevrolets or as Pontiacs?
Among today's 20-50 year old non-enthusiasts, I think that Chevrolet probably has better brand definition and reputation than Pontiac does. So maybe you give those cars to the dealers that can sell the most of them?
I was listening to NPR WE Sunday, and the host admitted that her impression of Pontiac was that they were "middle aged ... cars that families drove". The Pontiac historian corrected her that they were sporty cars.
Then you have the problem that none of today's Pontiac nameplates were around in 2000. I went to a car show today, and saw lots of great Pontiacs from the 60s and 70s. I didn't see G-anythings, Vibes, Torrents, or Solstices. Outside of enthusiasts, no one knows what the Pontiac models are. It's like a new brand, and it takes a lot of money and time to establish a new brand.
Look at Toyota, still selling Corollas. Camrys date back 25 years. Chevy still has Camaros, Corvettes, Malibus, and Impalas.
Corollary question. Ask 70s DeLorean whether he'd do better selling the best W-car, economy 2 seater sports car, Holden, and manual trans Epsilon as Chevrolets or as Pontiacs?
Among today's 20-50 year old non-enthusiasts, I think that Chevrolet probably has better brand definition and reputation than Pontiac does. So maybe you give those cars to the dealers that can sell the most of them?
I was listening to NPR WE Sunday, and the host admitted that her impression of Pontiac was that they were "middle aged ... cars that families drove". The Pontiac historian corrected her that they were sporty cars.
Then you have the problem that none of today's Pontiac nameplates were around in 2000. I went to a car show today, and saw lots of great Pontiacs from the 60s and 70s. I didn't see G-anythings, Vibes, Torrents, or Solstices. Outside of enthusiasts, no one knows what the Pontiac models are. It's like a new brand, and it takes a lot of money and time to establish a new brand.
Look at Toyota, still selling Corollas. Camrys date back 25 years. Chevy still has Camaros, Corvettes, Malibus, and Impalas.
I would have taken the DeLorean of the '60's, '70's or '80's. The '60's version would have been preferable though. And when you need a Pontiac historian to clarify what the brand is to radio host, someone has failed.
Again, to tell a legendary brand's story, requires leadership, focus, passion and commitment. I think it's safe to say that these qualities were missing from the bridge of the S.S. Pontiac for at least a decade.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,132
From: Santa Clara, CA
-- a little gallows humor.
This is really a sad day, but necessary, I feel. Let's hope that with just Chevy, Buick, and Cadillac, GM will be able to create clear identities and great cars for each division.
I really hope that GM can hold on to Holden and Opel, also, though the latter is looking really iffy. Daewoo (or whatever it's called these days) seems pretty secure.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 929
I would have taken the DeLorean of the '60's, '70's or '80's. The '60's version would have been preferable though. And when you need a Pontiac historian to clarify what the brand is to radio host, someone has failed.
Again, to tell a legendary brand's story, requires leadership, focus, passion and commitment. I think it's safe to say that these qualities were missing from the bridge of the S.S. Pontiac for at least a decade.
Again, to tell a legendary brand's story, requires leadership, focus, passion and commitment. I think it's safe to say that these qualities were missing from the bridge of the S.S. Pontiac for at least a decade.
That about sums it up.
The term "malpractice" comes to mind.
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