I am convinced it is impossible to fail if you have a stylish, practical, nice handling(for what it is), powerful, and well built product at a reasonable price. If GM does Zeta right, then it will be a home run for Pontiac and Buick. Its not about percieved images of the brand, people are lining out the door to buy a 300. Chrysler still has nagging perceptions about quality, but people are buying them as fast as they can.

 

I guess if people want the bling bling, they will spend whatever they can to get it.

I think Caddy's prices are great and right exactly where they should be. Lade sales are still going strong.

Guy, good way of putting it. They are going back to where they came from.

 

GM needs to play into the same thinking as what was offered in the 300C.

You can get a low end version in the mid 20's and have many different options up to the mid 30k AWD V8 300C..

The 300C targets more than one segment, with only one vehicle with many different options.. Very smart planning. That is why it is a success. GM needs to get AWD as an option on more cars, while still offering a base car at lower end pricing. .

 

I think it's neat that Honda is pursuing FWD strategy. Everyone seems to be moving to RWD by now, but Honda's/Acura's FWD cars can hold their own. They essentially created FWD performance in the 90's, and their FWD cars can whip a number of RWD in handling and performance.

FWD are still popular here, possibly due to winter conditions. It just MIGHT be a mistake to do what everyone else is doing. IMO, they perfected FWD and they should not stop offering their products even from the Acura brand in FWD form. TSX is one good handling sporty sedan.

 

You hit the nail on the head. We will have to wait and see how Buick will style their cars, and hopefully Allure/LaCrosse is no indication.

Will Buick's cars be priced right? Much depends on the styling, but at present some of their offerings seem overwhelmingly overpriced.

 

I'd like to see Pontiac come out to the level of Mazda. Nothing flashy, yet nicely executed and sporty.

 

Pick up the March 05' volume .23 high performance pontiac and flip to page 13 there you'll see that Pontiac sales are on fire!! and that disappointed GXP makes up for is a good reason why. and pontiac can't move 35,000-40,000 car? how about 42,920 in september alone!! the Gto had it's best sales since it's launch in sept. I think your looking at the brand of the car to much! If Pontiac can make a car that is really worth $45-$50,000 and something i wanted i,d buy it. how cares about the name it's the quality that count.

 

Despite the hype, the "Poor Man's BMW" division is shaping up as a Mazda competitor. Just where a $35-40K full-sized sedan and coupe fit into a Mazda-like lineup is beyond me.

 

Yeah, and how many of those 42,920 September sales were for $35,000-40,000 vehicles. I rest my case. Pontiac can't more GTOs and Bonny GXPs, but they think that upscale success is right around the corner.

 

This is a bit of a loaded question, don't you think?

The only vehicle that Pontiac sells that can get into the $35000-$40000 range right now is Bonneville... and even it starts well south of $35k!

With one vehicle currently ieven capable of reaching that price range (MSRP anyway... if you want to totally dismiss rebates, which is also a bit unfair), it's hard to expect a ton of sales in this pricing range.

 

It isn't a loaded question because the failure of the Bonneville, despite the "performance" SSEi and GXP models, speaks volumes about the weakness of the Pontiac brand in the upper reaches of the market.


Yes, I would like to dismiss rebates.

 

So, one model... and an older one at that... in the whole Pontiac lineup is enough representation for you to declare the whole line incapable of doing something?

This is just a ridiculous and foolish statement.

The ONLY Pontiac's that can reach the price range you are talking about are the SSEi and GXP Bonnevilles...

You're whole arguement is pointless and useless.

Please remember that if you ever purchase a new vehicle that is offering a rebate. Just kindly refuse it...

I mean, obviously... they must not be real or anything...

 

I think any car company can sell a 35-40k car in large numbers, if they build what the public wants.. Pontiac can easily sell a car liek this if they build one deserving..That is the real question..IF Pontiac can build one deserving of that price range..

 

The sales performance of the "new" and sub-$35K 2004 Pontiac GTO wasn't too encouraging, was it?



Actually, my last buying decision wasn't influenced by the rebate. I could afford the vehicle with-or-without discounts, incentives, rebates, bribery, shame money, etc.

 

This has been discussed time and time again... there are a lot of reasons why GTO didnt sell to it's full 18,000 unit capacity.

Even so, it was, from the begining, meant to be a limited production model.


Congratulations. So can I. Just keep it in mind... refuse your "shame money" on the next car that you buy that may have one.

PS, I'd still really really really love to see a picture of your Armada.

PPS: Even almighty Nissan is offering rebates on many of their vehicles... including Armada.