Pontiac is dead

[Reventon]

Despite being the third highest selling brand in the GM line up, GM has officially anounced that it will kill of Pontiac as it wasn't profitable. Too bad. The G8 looked like a really good car.

RIP Pontiac.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/27/autos/pontiac_obit/index.htm?postversion=2009042711

 

[rdowns]

My first car (in 1979) was a 1972 Pontiac Le Mans in burnt orange. How I loved that car.

 

[quagmire]

I will miss the G8, but it might be returning as the next Impala by 2015 or so.

 

[michael.lauden]

pontiac's been dead for a while!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I hate Buick. To me, it summarizes most of what is wrong with GM. The only Buick I ever found interesting was the Grand National. And even that was more an interesting oddity than anything else.

This has been a long time coming though. GM should cut down to just Chevy, Cadillac and GMC IMO, and resurrect the other subdivisions (Olds, Buick, Pontiac, etc.) only for special models.

 

[the vj]

I almost die in a Firebird, too much power and way too inestable, like an ice cube rolling on the kitchen floor.

Bye Pontiac, good exiting memories but I do not believe I'll miss you.

 

[SkyBell]

Wow, that's unexpected. Though it's probably the least known brand that they sell, so I guess I can see why they did it.

 

[velocityg4]

I'm sure the models that sell well will just be rebranded under one of GM's other lines. Some are just renamed chevys with a slight tweak to the exterior appearance anyways.

 

[11800506]

Not really surprising. While the G8 was a nice car, most of Pontiac's more recent models have been severely lacking. Personally though I think GM should kill off even more brands.

 

[Antares]

This is really sad news. I was bummed when I read about it this morning. My first car was a 1988 Pontiac Sunbird. Fond memories. The G series of Pontiacs were actually really nice cars, if we're talking about recent models.

Pontiac was a great brand and I'm sad to see it go. I'm actually shocked as I thought it was one of GM's better brands. At least they still own the trademark and can always bring Pontiac back in the future, should the opportunity arise.

 

[Wiska]

Good riddance! I had a Pontiac. It had the worst build quality ever. Parts failing every other month.

Although, it was really fun to drive.

 

[MacLadybug]

Too bad, the first car I every bought by myself was a 1970 Pontiac LeMans. Red with a black hardtop. So pretty. Hate to say it, especially when we produce less and less in this country... but, I never had any luck with American cars... whereas, German engineering for me, has been reliable, cost effective, efficient and safe.

 

[quagmire]

Not really surprising. While the G8 was a nice car, most of Pontiac's more recent models have been severely lacking. Personally though I think GM should kill off even more brands.

They are. Hummer, Saab, Saturn, and Pontiac are all dead.

 

[Reventon]

They are. Hummer, Saab, Saturn, and Pontiac are all dead.

Not forgetting Oldsmobile too.. with models like the Sunfire, Trans Sport van and the god awful Aztek, I can't say that I'm surprised to see Pontiac die though.

 

[dukebound85]

olsmobile has been dead for a couple years now, almost 5 years to the day of the last produced car

 

[Signal-11]

They are. Hummer, Saab, Saturn, and Pontiac are all dead.

Saab's been soulless since GM bought them.

 

[11800506]

They are. Hummer, Saab, Saturn, and Pontiac are all dead.

Yes I know that. I'm talking about going further and killing off GMC and Buick leaving just Chevy and Cadillac as their focus. That way they could really make them much better. But it's a start at least.

 

[quagmire]

Yes I know that. I'm talking about going further and killing off GMC and Buick leaving just Chevy and Cadillac as their focus. That way they could really make them much better. But it's a start at least.

GMC is profitable and Buick is huge in China.

 

[mondesi43]

GMC is profitable and Buick is huge in China.

Buick is huge with the gray hairs.

Cut it down to Chevy, GM, and Saab. Chevy higher end option cars/trucks. GMC becomes an illegitimate baby of Buick, Saturn, and Olds (more affordable) cars, and fleet trucks. Saab keeps some European styling in the family.

 

[quagmire]

Buick is huge with the gray hairs.

Cut it down to Chevy, GM, and Saab. Chevy higher end option cars/trucks. GMC becomes an illegitimate baby of Buick, Saturn, and Olds (more affordable) cars, and fleet trucks. Saab keeps some European styling in the family.

If Chevy is the higher end option cars where would Saab be positioned at? And what happened to Cadillac? Saab will not be able to fill Cadillac's spot as a true luxury marquee. And who would compete with Toyota and Honda?

Buick is still a premium marquee and will be paired with Opel( to replace Saturn) for products in the US. We will be getting the Opel Insignia as the Buick Regal( which is about to be launched in China).

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Buick is still a premium marquee and will be paired with Opel( to replace Saturn) for products in the US. We will be getting the Opel Insignia as the Buick Regal( which is about to be launched in China).

Chevy will always be the bread & butter brand covering the whole lineup of vehicles, and GMC will always be a trim-level subdivision for trucks. Cadillac will surely remain the luxury brand as well. I think that (with Saturn representing GM global products imported to the States) is the best arrangement.

No real room in there for Buick IMO. I really wish they'd kill it. Buicks will forever be badge-engineered Chevys for old folks, nothing more. They are always big, dumb, front-drivers with incredibly floaty rides and seats tuned for wide, elderly bottoms. Overboosted steering, lazy transmissions as well. Not to mention that Buick's customer base is quite literally dying off as we speak.

 

[iMpathetic]

They are. Hummer, Saab, Saturn, and Pontiac are all dead.

Not SAAB!!!!

 

[quagmire]

Chevy will always be the bread & butter brand covering the whole lineup of vehicles, and GMC will always be a trim-level subdivision for trucks. Cadillac will surely remain the luxury brand as well. I think that (with Saturn representing GM global products imported to the States) is the best arrangement.

No real room in there for Buick IMO. I really wish they'd kill it. Buicks will forever be badge-engineered Chevys for old folks, nothing more. They are always big, dumb, front-drivers with incredibly floaty rides and seats tuned for wide, elderly bottoms. Overboosted steering, lazy transmissions as well. Not to mention that Buick's customer base is quite literally dying off as we speak.

No argument here personally, but Saturn is dead and Buick is big in China. At least now we won't get butchered Opel's.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

No argument here personally, but Saturn is dead and Buick is big in China. At least now we won't get butchered Opel's.

I think that the Chinese have taken to Buick simply because it was the first American brand reintroduced to the country. If we replaced the Buicks with Chevys I dont think it would make a difference. Just my opinion.

As for the Opels, most of the Euro-content (the stuff that makes them desirable) is removed for American consumption, so I couldn't care less about them here. Ford has done the same with the Focus and the Mondeo spinoffs.

 

[quagmire]

I think that the Chinese have taken to Buick simply because it was the first American brand reintroduced to the country. If we replaced the Buicks with Chevys I dont think it would make a difference. Just my opinion.

As for the Opels, most of the Euro-content (the stuff that makes them desirable) is removed for American consumption, so I couldn't care less about them here. Ford has done the same with the Focus and the Mondeo spinoffs.

Ford has nothing here based on the Mondeo or Euro Focus.