Or they could bring Pontiac back to it's former glory and make a new Firebird based off the new Camaro but styled like the 3rd Gen...Hatchback, T-Tops...I'd buy one...I don't think I'd be the only one...

They killed the whole line with this stupid G# thing...you would've thought they learned their lesson not naming the Cobalt, Cavalier...It would have sold then...G5 would probably sell if they simply named it Sunfire or Sunbird. Then again, the Sunfire is really the last really sporty looking Pontiac they made, other than the Solstice. The GTO looked more like a Cavalier than anything else, they could've at least made it look as sporty as the Sunfire. Solstice is alright, but it still would've sold better if they called it a Fiero, and made it look less plain.

If people want a BMW, they'll buy a BMW, they won't buy a Pontiac...if they want a Firebird, or a Fiero, or some practical car that is still sporty looking, they'll but a Pontiac. GM broke what wasn't broken...they did the same thing to Oldsmobile earlier...the Cutlass line sold really well, especially the Ciera...so what do they do...drop it and start selling cars that don't look like Oldsmobiles. Some people liked big boxy Oldsmobiles, they'd still be selling Oldsmobiles today if they didn't drop the Cutlass Ciera. Change for change's sake is dumb.

 

Biggest problem with the "niche brand" idea is that none of their niche products sold all that well.

 

No enigma.

It's only an enigma to whishful thinkers and internet rumor makers.

Pontiac won't be here this time next year, if not alot sooner.

 

I think the "niche brand" idea was idiotic from the 1st time I heard it.

Take a high volume brand, GM's 2nd largest car brand, and make it a "niche" brand selling 2 or 3 models in a showroom of another brand whose combined sales of all it's cars didn't equal the sales of this now "niche" brand's current best selling model.

The issue wasn't their niche products didn't sell well. Solstice simply flattened Miata in sales, and the G8 sales alone was double then triple the entire Saab line. The issue is that they were taking a volume brand and destroyed it as a volume brand (and related forfeited market share) and expected things to work out.

 

I think we've pretty much established that. And I'm not starting any rumors, look at the bankruptcy articles and see for yourself.

The enigma part comes as a part of CH 11. What happens when the brand is sold?

(Because according to virtually ALL reports, it will be packaged with "Bad GM" to be liquidated to pay off bondholders.)

What I would like to see happen is some small company pick up the name for cheap and build something under it. Maybe even as a co-op with GM.

Something like (but not exactly -- naturally, I'd like it to be something more than a body kit) this: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/07/a...vrolet-camaro/

 

Think about the consequences of someone buying the rights to Pontiac and Oldsmobile and perhaps a few soon to be closed GM plants as part of a package deal in bankruptcy proceedings.

 

That's true. Pontiac had a huge footprint with 2500 dealers or so. Even if they were selling every G8 and Solstice they could produce, that's only about 1-2 sales per dealer per month. Not sustainable.

Of course as you point out, Buick has the exact same problem. They're just as 'niche', if not more, so than Pontiac was.

That's why I'm highly skeptical that Buick-GMC will remain an independent channel for long. Once this blows over, it's very likely that all GM brands will be in the same dealership.

 

The "Bad GM" to be sold isn't the Pontiac name. It's plants that GM will liquidate & it's Hummer & Saturn that's to be sold.

If someone wants to give GM money so they can take Chevrolets, rivet or glue on cheap aftermarket addons, and sticker on a Pontiac badge then I'm sure GM will be glad to take their money the way Chrysler would be glad to take money to anyone wanting to put Plymouth stickers on a Dodge.

But, like the Plymouth name and all those supposed Cuda-based-on-Challenger internet news, the best case scenario is going to be the same. An aftermarket manufacturer will step in for those people with far more money to spend than the average person, who will buy that $31K Camaro SS or Challenger R/T, then take it to ASC or some other aftermarket customizing shop and plop down another $20,000 or so to make their SS or R/T look vaguely like a Firebird or a Barracuda.

Thinking that someone is going to buy the Pontiac name, and create a Pontiac brand off of Chevrolets is, cutting to the chase, is far fantasy at best. But if someone wants to take a $30,000 car and spend $50,000 or more on it, then there will always be someone to take their money.

If someone is so emotionally hurt they're willing to spend ridiculous amounts of money to have a fake Pontiac, give me your car and a really big wad of cash.... I can get out a blow torch, a hammer, and glue and make your Chevy look like a Pontiac. It will be as much of a Pontiac as anyone else's.

 

Everything I've read so far says that Pontiac will be liquidated. It is ENTIRELY possible for someone like Saleen to pick the name up for cheap.

I never said the potential sell of Pontiac would be a good thing. I merely said it appeared possible. Hence "enigma" or interesting.

*shrugs*