What The Hell Went Through GM's Mind That Made Them Kill Pontiac

[SpeedGrid]

I mean seriously. Besides the G6 and G5, and Torrent being not that popular with consumers, the Sostice, and G8 were great cars. They could have revived the Grand Prix and possibly just redesigned the G6. But of course they decided to dump it in favor of Buick or more importantly GMC. I understand they went through bankruptcy but dont kill off such an ionic and popular brand. I mean Buick was kept since China is a huge market and they are starting to make nicer cars now but still it was a dumb move. Also, I can deal with Saturn, Hummer, and Saab being cut but Pontiac was way too good of a brand.

Personally if they had to cut off a brand to keep Pontiac it should have been GMC. I mean all they do is make trucks which Chevy does offer, and if they did ditch GMC in favor of Pontiac, they could have had the Terrain and Arcadia re-badged with one going to Chevy and the other Pontiac or both going to one. While the pickup trucks going to Chevy.

Its just makes me so pissed when I think about it.

Pontiac could have made a comeback but was ditched for ridiculous reasons.

What do you guys think?

[SlowNA06]

I think it doesn't matter and every single one of us is tired of hearing about it.

[blueguy]

I think I've seen enough of these threads and it's dumb.

The G8 replaced the Grand Prix.

The G6 replaced the Grand Am.

The G5 is a GREAT car, we own one.

A buddy of mine owns a Torrent GXP, great SUV.

The only car that really sucked was the G3, because...it was an Aveo with an Arrowhead.

GMC's truck market pooped on Pontiac sales.

Buick is huge in China, and poops on Pontiac across the world.

Anything else to disprove why GM dropped Pontiac?

Thanks.

[Bio248]

out of all the other 'brands' GM has, what makes you think pontiac was one that was making money? because it wasn't.

[ctracer]

business wise it was smart to discontinue pontiac.
i just wish business was better.

[powerranger262]

Hahaa..get rid of GMC hey?

[stealthee]

What do you guys think?

I think this thread is stupid.

The Grand Prix was dead before Pontiac was dead. The Solstice was a niche car and they didn't sell a lot of them. The G5 was nothing more than a POS Cavalier/Sunfire with a new name.

The only car that had some clout was the G8 and it was in a price bracket that a lot of people could buy a nicer car for.

Yea sure, lets keep the brand that isn't making us any money because a few people on the internet like that brand.

[tod1d]

What if GM sold Holden vehicles in North America now?

[Bio248]

they'd be overpriced and not sell. just like the g8.

[SeanGTP]

I think this thread is stupid.

The Grand Prix was dead before Pontiac was dead. The Solstice was a niche car and they didn't sell a lot of them. The G5 was nothing more than a POS Cavalier/Sunfire with a new name.

The only car that had some clout was the G8 and it was in a price bracket that a lot of people could buy a nicer car for.

Yea sure, lets keep the brand that isn't making us any money because a few people on the internet like that brand.

For what it's worth, the G5 is a Cobalt, but regardless, they replaced the sunflower and crapolier respectively. In any case, all of the above it pretty true. I'd love to have a G8, would not love to pay for one. That probably explains why they're rare as hell here and I've only ever seen 1 GXP.

[tod1d]

A G8 GXP is even more rare in Canada as they were not sold north of the border. I have only ever seen one.

[blueguy]

The G5 was nothing more than a POS Cavalier/Sunfire with a new name

I disagree, strongly. And like Sean said...it is a Cobalt with Pontiac crap slapped on it. But it looks tons better than a Cobalt, IMO.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/kims-...4-a-40627.html

[stealthee]

I know its a Cobalt, but the Cobalt is nothing more than a glorified Cavalier, and they are definitely crap. My sister in law owns one and its been crap since day one. The car screams CHEAP!

[txslow6]

So it was a dumb move to keep Buick which they actually made money off of and not kill Pontiac? Good thing they didn't keep Pontiac and axe Buick. Otherwise this thread would have gone something like..... I can't believe GM actually had to close down.

[SeanGTP]

^^^That^^^

Your car and many other cars run off.... BYURICK POWAAAHHH. If Buick was gone... the world would end. And THAT'S why 2012 apocalypse won't happen.

[RareGMFan]

SpeedGrid - When, if ever, were you going to buy a brand new Pontiac in your life? Some time in the near future? Didn't think so. Don't worry, neither were most enthusiasts who didn't want to see the brand go. So if even the ENTHUSIASTS aren't going to be buying one any time soon (if ever), where are the sales going to come from to keep the brand around? Certainly not the mass public, most of whom feel "Pontiacs are pieces of sh*t".

As others have said (and discussed dozens of times since it happened), it makes pure business sense as to why Pontiac was chosen to get the axe. While the G6 and Torrent sold well initially, they dropped off dramatically in sales their last few years. The G5 was a rebadged Cobalt, so between those that wanted one having already purchased the Chevy version, or the mass public not wanting a GM compact car to begin with due to their poor reputation, those didn't sell well period. The Solstice was too much of a niche car, and also never took off.

The G8s didn't move very well, either. However, I don't think the G8's issue was pricing. If it was, they wouldn't still be holding their value as well as they are (can't get a low mileage GT around here for under $22k still, despite the newest one being almost 3 yrs old already). I think the biggest problem was it never got a legitimate chance. Pontiac was done for before the G8 even had a chance to TRY to save it (GM axed the brand in mid-GXP production, thus why only 1829 were produced). Remember, they only had a 2-year run with a combined total of around 40k being built, so there weren't very many to sell to begin with. It also came out at a time when gas prices had initially soared, causing a sudden demand for econo cars and the demise of anything gas guzzling. Now that people have gotten used to gas prices north of $4, fuel chugger sales have made a slow resurgence (eg. the new Camaros, Challengers, etc). I have no doubt had they come out earlier or later than they did, they would have fared much better. Not to mention when the "first 888" came over from Aussie land, dealers were trying to get anywhere from $1k to $5k OVER sticker price!! That pretty much defeated the whole purpose of the car (decent build, loads or performance, and BMW 5-series ride quality for $31k). All these things conspired against the G8, which is unfortunate, because it was the best car to ever wear a Pontiac (and possibly any GM) badge IMO.

Bottom line is Pontiac sales were very poor, and GM was not going to keep around a poor selling brand just because a small population of enthusiasts, who will likely never actually BUY a new one themselves, didn't want to see it go.

[SeanGTP]

Luckily for all of us the G8 base and GT are back. It's called a Chevy Caprice and the popo drive them. :P

[mechguy]

Chevy, Buick, and Cadillac are more than enough.

[blueguy]

I know its a Cobalt, but the Cobalt is nothing more than a glorified Cavalier, and they are definitely crap. My sister in law owns one and its been crap since day one. The car screams CHEAP!

Well that cheap glorified Cavalier saved my life. I'll take it over a Grand Prix that probably wouldn't have fared as well in an accident.

But what do I know.

[Odi]

i do hate that cheap pontiacy grill on yo G5.


accident wise, ive told you this before: pretty much any car sold in america that was made after ~2000 would do just as well in that crash bro. my buddy survived a 60mph t-bone in a fking grand am without a scratch.