What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
Disciple
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,479
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
With sincere apologies to all the Pontiac fans out there ....
Other than the odd exception, the TTA coming to mind first, I've never seen Pontiac as much more than the "look at me" version of Chevy, the T/A and Z28 cousins being a most obvious example. The process of cleaning Pontiac up (decladding, losing ground effects and hood scoops) has taken that identity away, alienating some of the faithful, and apparently not drawing a new audience.
The beef on the GTO is that it looks "too much like a Cavalier" so perhaps the Monaro would have been better received as a Chevelle?
I recall many years ago when Pontiac had the 6000 STE ...a "European style sports sedan" powered by the HO 2.8. Visually it was "the car". Next to it in the dealership was the frumpy looking Century sedan with an available 3.8L V6.
So which was the performance car?
I think Pontiac needs to return to that formula, most, if not all of, the Chevrolet line-up with the "look at me" Pontiac styling option. Avoid any GMC / Pontiac overlap, calling anything unibody a Pontiac and everything on a frame a GMC. This should be enough to keep the dealer body and the Pontiac faithful happy.
Other than the odd exception, the TTA coming to mind first, I've never seen Pontiac as much more than the "look at me" version of Chevy, the T/A and Z28 cousins being a most obvious example. The process of cleaning Pontiac up (decladding, losing ground effects and hood scoops) has taken that identity away, alienating some of the faithful, and apparently not drawing a new audience.
The beef on the GTO is that it looks "too much like a Cavalier" so perhaps the Monaro would have been better received as a Chevelle?
I recall many years ago when Pontiac had the 6000 STE ...a "European style sports sedan" powered by the HO 2.8. Visually it was "the car". Next to it in the dealership was the frumpy looking Century sedan with an available 3.8L V6.
So which was the performance car?I think Pontiac needs to return to that formula, most, if not all of, the Chevrolet line-up with the "look at me" Pontiac styling option. Avoid any GMC / Pontiac overlap, calling anything unibody a Pontiac and everything on a frame a GMC. This should be enough to keep the dealer body and the Pontiac faithful happy.
Last edited by poSSum; Apr 6, 2005 at 10:15 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,000
From: TX Med Ctr
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
And a string of 2nd Gen TA's that were much better than any Camaro...
Different sheet metal is not enough. There needs to be different content, just like in the old days.
Different sheet metal is not enough. There needs to be different content, just like in the old days.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,870
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
Stylish, sophisticated, relatively high-tech (high output motors, Turbo, AWD), and most of all performance. Just some of the core things that i think Pontiac needs now.
They need to make cars that define Pontiac and really set them apart. They need to do stuff the rest of GM hasn't already done.
They need to make cars that define Pontiac and really set them apart. They need to do stuff the rest of GM hasn't already done.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,440
From: five-one-oh/nine-oh-nine
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
Originally Posted by Jason E
It is AMAZING to me how many loyal Pontiac customers I have shoved into Vibes because they simply wanted an SUV-type vehicle, but were not willing to give up driving a Pontiac.
Don't get me wrong though, both of these cars roll off the line at the same plant in Fremont, CA (my home town). And seeing as it's pretty much the ONLY auto plant left in CA, I'm glad both cars are there and doing reasonably well.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,712
From: Ontario
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
Originally Posted by morb|d
Don't get me wrong though, both of these cars roll off the line at the same plant in Fremont, CA (my home town). And seeing as it's pretty much the ONLY auto plant left in CA, I'm glad both cars are there and doing reasonably well.
Thread Starter
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From: Chicagoland IL
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
I'd start with a 300+ hp, awd, six speed manual, G6.
Then, I'd call something other than G6.
Then, I'd call something other than G6.
Last edited by Z284ever; Apr 7, 2005 at 11:40 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
Originally Posted by morb|d
it is equally amazing when you consider that it's a rebadged Toyota Matrix. There are at least 2 things wrong with this picture. 1) even when "sharing technology" outside of the empire, GM happily slaps its mug on the car and calls it a day; 2) talk about sleeping with the enemy if you're such a loyal Pontiac buyer.
Don't get me wrong though, both of these cars roll off the line at the same plant in Fremont, CA (my home town). And seeing as it's pretty much the ONLY auto plant left in CA, I'm glad both cars are there and doing reasonably well.
Don't get me wrong though, both of these cars roll off the line at the same plant in Fremont, CA (my home town). And seeing as it's pretty much the ONLY auto plant left in CA, I'm glad both cars are there and doing reasonably well.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,440
From: five-one-oh/nine-oh-nine
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
Originally Posted by Z28x
GM did the body for the Vibe, so you could really say that the Matrix is more of a rebadged Vibe.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 757
Re: What does Pontiac need to be to survive?
On C&G evok is saying that Pontiac "as we know it" will not be around long term. He essentially said the GM wants to make Pontiac a brand for sub $28,000 vehicles.
Anybody in the know have any thoughts on this?
Anybody in the know have any thoughts on this?
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