Nothing to do with each other directly, except for them both being billed (one way or the other) as "stop gap" vehicles...

Having a "stop gap" put into place for MY2004 (GTO) and not even being able to cover until it's replacement is ready (end in MY2006) is somewhat sad, IMO.

Now, here comes the "G5" (or whatever it will be called) which is another "stop gap" product.... of course, we have been hearing how GM wants to scale back Pontiac to 4-5 vehicles that focus on the brand's identity... and trying to eliminate "badge engineering" altogether.

Now, we get just that (presumably)... a badge engineered entry level car that is billed as a "stop gap" vehicle.

How long does it take to settle on 4-5 vehicles that define what Pontiac is supposed to be? By the time this "G5" runs it's course, we'll have had "stop gap" vehicles in Pontiac's line up for 6-8 years

(On the positive side... kudos for eliminating the un-needed, and badge engineered Pontiac minivan.... of course, replacing it with an un-needed, badge engineered entry coupe that isn't all the "entry level" isn't a whole lot better.)

 

I see what you mean now.

I think Pontiac just got the shortest end of the stick in the Caddy revamp, Chevy's American Revolution deal, GMT-900 and whatnot. Of course Olds actually got the brunt of that business decision...

Pontica DID however get to use everyone else's engineering as usual.

 

JG/70Z - You beat me to it dude . LAME LAME LAME .....so much for some much apprieciated exclusivity for the Cobalt SS guys . The car is nothing more than a grill insert , tail lights , rims and different rear valance . The only thing Pontiac red on the dash is the guage cluster , everything else still lights up Chevy white .

I guess the only thing going for Pontiac , is this should be a dirt cheap transaction . The Pursuit uses the identical white faced guage cluster in the Solstice , but Pursuits is in KM . A change to the Solstice cluster in MPH should be the only thing they have to do for the US car . Plus its already buildt at lordtown anyways .

**A little bit wishful thinking here , maybe the G5 is coming to the US to use up excess 2.2/2.4/2.0 powerplants because GM is gonna intoduce a new line of direct injected ecotecs for the Cobalts refresh in my08 . With the SS getting the 2.0 turbo engine . Like I said .....probably wishful thinking by a longshot

Heres a rear shot of the new copycat clone .

 

OMFG, Its gonna suck money away from Cobalt. someone stop this madness.


This pisses me off, but atleast its a sign that GM overlap is alive and well and hopefully a new Firebird on the way

 

This is why people don't buy GM.

 

It depends on how they do it. If the difference was say the same as that between the Civic and RSX, no one would have any issues I do not believe. In all reality, and Pontiac should be better performing than it's Chevy sibling. Having a performance division with no better performing than your run of the mill Chevy is assinaine and why Pontiac is in the mess it is in now.

That and questionable styling. GTO = too bland, G6 has none of the style the Grand Am had, and the Grand Prix is too wierd for some.

Now that I look back....5-6 years ago Pontiac was much better. GP and GA were hot cars. Firebird was sexy...Sunfire looked like a mini Firebird. Man how times change.

 

Such is not the case though . The stopgap is the canadian Pursuit .

 

It's time for GM to quit building "Stop Gap" cars. WTF is their problem? Couldn't they have seen this coming far enough in advance that they could have properly developed a semi-unique model. How many years was the chevy only Cobalt in development for? This type of crap is why they can't grow market share. It's down right frustrating.

 

Word.

Regarding RSX, that is exactly what I was thinking regarding a Cobalt sister car. A slightly more luxurious, sporty hatch.

 

Darth, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Does Pontiac even develop its own models anymore? It is quickly becoming the "hand-me-down" division.

For the love of God, FIX the G6 The car's sales have been stagnant long enough, it needs the hardtop convertible ASAP and the G6 GXP should be packing 300 HP. For crying out loud, if a little **** brick Neon replacement from Dodge can do it why can't GM's "Performance" division do it with their midsize?

The new style Grand Prix has always been horrid. It needs to be re-designed, but if the W-body is going to be gone sooner than the length of time it takes to make a re-design and production run pheasible, get a hot RWD sedan ready, and make darn sure it separates itself from the RWD Chevy sedan.

Band-Aids and hand-me-downs won't fix Pontiac. Spirited new cars will. Solstice is a good step. Why stop there? I just don't see how this is rocket science?

 

It makes me wonder who leads Pontiac and if they ever speak up at GM conference calls or meetings. It's so sad to see Pontiac in the state that it's in. If it weren't for Solstice, Pontiac would be absolutely nothing. Solstices are in such short supply that there's never one at the dealer closest to me and so I still don't have a reason to stop in.

 

Deifnitely. It's actually amazing when you think how nice the '97 Grand Prix was compared to its competition. Now it's 2006, and this same basic car is soldiering on with the major difference being a less attractive exterior (with the exception of the GXP, which is quite impressive).

Grand Am and Bonneville were likewise relatively quick, slick looking vehicles until their last shop of horrors redesign.

That's what so frustrating. Pontiac is so easy to fix, but no one in GM seems to be so inclined. It seems they'd rather call the brand "damaged" (gee, how did that happen?) while wating for it to fall apart.

 

Just like incentives, GM can't seem to kick badge engineering either. So sad. Get on with combining GMC, Pontiac and Buick and offer distinct products. Not rebadged Chevys.

 

So, let me get this right...if the Pontiac "Pursuit-ish" vehicle, shares most of its sheetmetal, platform with Chevy's Cobalt...but has a "Pontiac": interior, grille, and rear + lights, wheels, and trim...that's Bad?
I thought it was good for GM to share platforms and sheetmetal, to save money and be profitable...
Why not turbocharge it, NOT supercharge it, to further differentiate it.
Maybe I don't get the, what IS stop-gap, what is NOT...

 

I think the idea is to share what the customer doesn't see. Engine, chassis etc. Differentiate with sheet metal, interioer etc. Chrysler is a good example with the LX platform, same underpinnings for 300/C, Magnum and Charger (Challenger to come on a shortened version). Ford is a bad example with the Fusion (I Like) and Linclon MK Z and the Mercury watch-a-ma-call-it.

Personally, I'm tired of seeing Chevy's with Pontiac noses pasted on.