What were they thinking...?

GTO- $32,495
Grand Prix- $22,800
Grand Am- $17,695
Vibe- $17,475
Sunfire- $11,460
Bonneville- $27,690

*All of the above are base model prices.

To put things in perspective, a base model Mustang costs only

18,775


There's absolutely NOTHING that has a little styling, and a little kick that's actually affordable in Pontiac's lineup. Some have two of the three, but that just doesn't cut it.

The Firebird let people with little funds (ME) have a neat car to show off. When I can actually afford a new car (SEE: After college), I'll check out an 02' WS6.

If you don't agree, or do, please, let me know. I'm just throwing my idea out here. Lay off the flames if possible. Thanks.

 

uh... are you kidding me?

 

This post assumes you're saying "are you kidding me" to the GTO and not the Civic. And considering that's all you had to say, that's going out on a limb.

To answer your very short and oh-so-off-question:
No. I'm sure not kidding you. Because, 1) one day my little v6 won't be a v6 anymore.... and 2) it will never, ever look like a GTO. It's a matter of taste; I'l take a six banger f-body anyday over a GTO.

And if you're going to flame on my car or my tastes, you could at least reply to the actual post.

 

Styling is very subjective. IMO,why should I want a 4th gen Fbody when for about the same price new, I get a much better car from the GTO? It looks very good, just not cladded with plastic then desired. The lines are very smooth, and it everyone I drive, I enjoy the power from it. Pontiac didnt bring the GTO over here to be the drag strip burner or stripper Muscle car people think it was. The GTO is Pontiacs first attempt to crack into the higher end market, and physicly they did a great job. Sales arent showing it, which is very sad to say the least.

 

Hey, I'm all for Pontiac doing well. I just don't like the car myself. You like it, and I respect that. I think that they should've named it something else... the GTO name gives people a set of expectations, and Pontiac (IMO) didn't meet those.

I just don't see why Pontiac won't get back in the low/mid range market anytime soon.

 

Because Pontiac isn't gonna be BMW and people don't want them to be. I ask, what's wrong with Pontiac being Pontiac?

I agree.

 

Thanks for putting my frustration with the GTO in words.

 

N/p.

 

Well, thats valid as many people on this site, and other sites dont seem to like the car. But I will say that 90% of the people that dont like it drive a Firebird or Trans Am.
The GTO does give people a set of expactations. I will ask you, have you ever driven an older GTO? I will also ask you, have you driven the new GTO? You will see that the new GTO lives up to, and in some cases, surpases the old GTO. The FbodyFather said it best in the other post, and Im paraphrasing that you cant re-paint the mona lisa meaning you cant take a design that was so good looking back then, and expect to re-design it today. I think the new GTO lives up to its name.
As for Pontiac getting back into the market of low-mid range cars, it depends on your deffinition of that? FWD or RWD? GMI.com recently had an exclusive that Pontiac is looking at another Kappa car to fill in for the Sunfire. Then there is also the original Kappa, the Solstice that is coming to market next year I belive. Now talk about style! It is gunna be tight, but the Solstice and the C6 are about equal in the "ooh thats sexy" department right now for me. If everything is dead on with what Lutz says, will hit the market at $20k. Im sure that there are performance models already in the works.
As for another Firebird, I doubt it. The Firebird has given birth to a whole slew of other cars from the GTO, to the G6 coupe, to the Solstice.

 

who said it had to be BMW? Who said it cant offer performance sedans and coupes for Americans, just like BMW offers? Im not saying be like BMW, but having a company that can offer a sportier performance car as supposed to the regular FWD stuff from Chevy is the best idea for Pontiac to go to. They dont have to be priced at 80k, but having a group of cars designed for driving performance is a GREAT idea, and the GTO is the first car to show this off. Pontiac is going to be more Pontiac in the future then it ever was in the 90's. If a group of FWD, V6 Bonnies, GP's, and GA's is being "Pontiac" to you, thats cool. Thats not what Pontiac means to me. Pontiac should mean performance cars with a sence of luxury, and the GTO gives that very impression, and does it very well.

 

Never thought of it that way. You're probably right.

My mistake... when I said low-mid cars, I mean low-mid cars that have a little kick, something that's priced/powered like a Bird or T/A. I should have specified.

Yeah. The solstice does look nice. If it ends of driving right, I'll be all over it.

My baby's dead... but it's offspring live on. What ugly babies though! Just kiddin'.... in some cases.

 

Well, I dont think the GTO is ugly, just not very exciting to look at, and I will agree with that. But what most people get caught up in, and what usualy happens in GTO bashing threads, is that people have this mythological idea of what the GTO was, when it really just was another Pontiac with a hood scoop. All of the Pontiacs had pretty much the same look, i.e. vertical head lights, dual port grill, "coke bottle" lines and I yes all the older Pontiacs look very good over all, and a hell of a lot better then they do today. I am in that middle group that does like the GTO's design, and would buy a GTO based on the fact that it is a VERY nice car, much better then anything else out there in its range, but I also dont want this design to carry over to teh next generation of Zeta-GTO's. I do hope that Pontiac does redo it for at least a more agressive deisgin, which doesnt have to mean retro or adding plastic body cladding.

As for the Solstice, this car is gunna be a hit for GM. Id be surprised if it wasnt. The G6 is actualy a very attractive car, and steps up the entry level sedan and coupe market for Pontiac to the likes of the sportier cars such as the Accord V6, Altima, and Mazda 6 and if you ask me, looks worls better then the 3 imports.

 

I didn't say it had to be, Pontiac or B.L. did! And it's not like Pontiac won't have FWD stuff and Chevy won't have RWD stuff, so what's to make them truely different, price and looks? They'll both have basically all the same options and tech advancements. Kinda sounds like before.

I agree that it will be a little more like Pontiac should be, but I don't remember Pontiac being a little value for too much money, which is what the GTO's impression is. (or at least this years GTO) But really, what performance Pontiac's used to have a sense of luxury? The only real performance cars they ever had were the GTO and the Firebird, I don't think they were quite about luxury. The biggest variety of performance came from Chevy. How about returning Chevrolet back to Chevrolet since were talking about changing up divisions?! How about great values for good prices? How about exciting cars? How about nice looking cars, no matter what model or what's on the window sticker? How about overachieving class-leading cars? How about performance options that mean something on each car for decent deals? Chevy's performance should = value. I think THIS is where GM needs to focus, not into making Pontiac a division that trys to, so far, unsucessfully be "luxury performance."

 

I think I'm going to shoot myself.

 

And take away attitude-filled one liners from the board? Come on now.