http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/s...cking-with-gm/

 

I wouldn't say "mainly" when almost half of us Pontiac good ol' buyers went somewhere else

As I said in another thread, as new product comes out, I think Pontiac owners are going to be wooed more and more by Dodge. The Charger is a phenomenal Grand Prix/Bonneville replacement. It doesn't take much to replace a Grand Am (ask me, I owned two ), or a G6 for that matter...but I'm not sure if the Avenger will grab Pontiac owners the way it sits now. The inside and drive is vastly improved over the original, but the outside hasn't changed enough to attract people...I don't think.

Give Dodge a couple years to roll out a completely-refreshed Avenger and a new Caliber replacement (normal 4 door sedan that I THINK is due this Fall...not 100% sure though), and I think Dodge will have all the fun and visual excitement Chevy-ota currently lacks

I can't believe I just said that

Anywho, I am happy to see at least half are sticking with GM...but that isn't good enough.

 

They used one MY..2010. The most recent MY. Many Pontiac buyers sure are not going to hold onto a car for 1 year or less and replace it. My last Pontiac I purchased was in 2009. It was a G5 to get me around during the winter when I can't drive my 2006 Solstice.

The "study' fails to mention the number of buyers quizzed, per the quotes up above. I said it once, I'll say it again: I'll never buy a new car if I can't buy a Pontiac.

 

Uh, that's not what it says at all...

It says of all the Pontiac owners who bought a new car in 2010, not Pontiac owners who own a 2010 Pontiac who bought a new car.

It means anyone who owns any Pontiac who bought a new car in 2010. At least that's the way it is written.

 

I agree. I just replaced my GTP with a Charger Daytona R/T. Loads more fun and more interior space. That and gas mileage isn't that bad, maybe 2-3 mpg less.

 

Is this really news? Isn't 50-60% "owner retention" somewhat "normal" for most automakers, except for maybe Toyota and Honda (probably 60-70%???)?

 

Got a pontiac from each decade back to Oakland- bought a charger in 09 and havent looked back. Bought an 03 H2 but that is a work truck ( amazing what happens to resale when you kill a brand).

Actually talked my dad out of a 5th gen- no new GM for me.

 

BAM. But you'd buy one if there were a Pontiac. That's what I'm talking about.

 

Wow, that's a nice list of cars.

 

Exactly. How does this compare to Pontiac's numbers before they were axed? Without that context, the numbers in this article mean almost nothing.

 

I was kinda close for most brands. Found some numbers:

It says for 2009 Pontiac had a 27% owner retention so you're thinking, well people knew they were going down the crapper right? Well for 2008 it was 27.2% and for 2007 it was 27.8%

http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/ne...spx?ID=2009260

http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/ne...spx?ID=2008265

http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/ne...spx?ID=2007292

What it boils down to is that without knowing what the other 70 odd percent of Pontiac buyers were jumping to over the past three to four years, this article is pointless. Maybe they were going with other GM products, maybe not, but the article does appear to be good news for GM given the percentages above. So the sky is not falling. It sounds to me like GM is doing a good job of keeping their old customers (for the most part.)

 

Dodge is the new Pontiac for me too.

 

The cars I have owned are as follows. I am only 28, so I don't have a massive list like some of the guys here

'99 Grand Am GT
'00 Firebird V6 auto
'01 Firehawk (still have it, see sig)
'05 GTO (still have, see sig, it's my DD)

So it looks like I am a loyal Pontiac fan. I have always loved the styling and the decent performance per dollar value. If Pontiac was still around, I may be driving a G8 GXP. My dealer literally got one GXP and then closed down along with the rest of Pontiac. It is a shame.

 

This former Pontiac owner went to Mazda. I probably would have bought another Pontiac if they were still around. I can see Dodge becoming the domestic alternative to Pontiac, but at the time I needed a new car, they didn't have the product I wanted. If I had waited, say, another year, the story might have been different, but that's just how it goes.

The Regal's a nice car, but Buick just isn't in my price range.

 

Like I said, some of the offerings aren't going to appeal to Pontiac's audience. The Caliber is a crappier Vibe, which was crappy in itself. I don't see Vibe customers being "real" Pontiac people, anyway. Most Vibes I sold to people? I had to reassure the customer that "yes, it really is a Toyota Matrix with a nicer looking body and more incentives."

The Regal, in my eyes, is a little expensive for what you get...I imagine its because of the whole exchange rate issue. Maybe that will change a little when its built in the US?

I'm just happy that at least ONE domestic car company doesn't want to be Toyota or Honda. Chevy, other than the Vette and Camaro, looks more and more like Toyota every day. The products are sooo much better...but where's the Cruze Turbo? Or a damn 2 door Cruze? How about a Malibu SS with a turbo 3.0?

SOMETHING...please...besides a Camaro and a Vette.