Author Topic: Pontiac: Funeral Monday? (Read 7707 times)

G0dspd · « **on:** April 23, 2009, 08:33:36 pm »

REPORT: General Motors to kill Pontiac on Monday

According to a report from InsideLine, General Motors could axe Pontiac as early as this Monday. Although IL isn't citing its source within GM, it did contact the General's PR man, Tom Wilkinson, who said, "There's nothing I can share with you at this time... Officially, nothing has changed with Pontiac's niche-brand status, until you hear differently." Not very clear, but not particularly positive either.

The line about Pontiac's "niche-brand status" has been floating around since last December, when GM began to focus on its four core brands – Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC – while readying the rest (Saab, Saturn and Hummer) for execution or extradition.

Pontiac's focus has been ill-defined (at best) over the decade, with solid products like the G8 coming to market alongside other less-than-stellar offerings (cough, G3). There was talk of reigniting Pontiac's performance heritage or even refocusing the brand as a Scion competitor. Regardless of past plans or intentions, there was no doubt that Pontiac was in the cross-hairs, and come Monday, we might know it's final fate.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/report-general-motors-to-kill-pontiac-monday/

I wouldn't be surprised if it was true but I doubt it. So long G8

RunsinLight · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2009, 08:41:48 pm »

That would officially end my GM relationship at 3 marriages. V DUB it is!

airbalancer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2009, 08:44:20 pm »

So long G8
I do not think it would be hard to put a bow tie on a G8

Thinking Out Loud · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2009, 08:45:36 pm »

Most of their product is of course duplicated in Chevy. The 'Performance Division' has been a has-been as the standardbearer for GM for some time....

The G8, if GM is serious, could readily be rebranded as an Impala (God knows GM knows how to do that). G3, 5, 6, Solstice, Torrent, etc etc I believe are all otherwise redundant.

vdk · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2009, 08:48:25 pm »

Arguably the only good car in the Pontiac lineup is the G8. I'd hate to see it get the axe. Rebrand it for god's sake.

sailor723 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2009, 09:08:24 pm »

I never understood how Pontiac was considered the "performance" division when the Corvette is a Chevy

G0dspd · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2009, 09:37:37 pm »

I guess Pontiac is relatively easy to dispose of. You can't sell it since it's so integrated in the GM family and its line-up is far from unique. I would "transfer" the G8 and the Vibe (Matrix) to Chevy. Do they actually have Pontiac-only dealerships in the US? Even the Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealerships here are going to have a hard time keeping the lights on without Pontiacs in the lot. (if Pontiac's death becomes a reality)

Quote from: airbalancer on April 23, 2009, 08:44:20 pm

I do not think it would be hard to put a bow tie on a G8

Just send a box of Chevy badges to Australia. Looks like a big Cobalt.

mmret · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2009, 09:45:11 pm »

Save the G8!

TopGun · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2009, 09:55:41 pm »

I am scheduling a drive in a G8 GXP...due to arrive by months end they tell me.

carcrazy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2009, 11:57:41 pm »

Pontiac has no identity at this time so it makes perfect sense to kill it. Transfer the only worth to save cars - G8 and Vibe, to Chevy and call it a day.
GMC should be the next on the chopping block and this should be done ASAP as well. I hope the Feds would impose this on GM as the brand doesn't make any sense at all.
The new, lean and mean GM should only have Chevy, Caddy and Buick. Period.

Thinking Out Loud · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2009, 07:30:50 am »

Quote from: carcrazy on April 23, 2009, 11:57:41 pm

The new, lean and mean GM should only have Chevy, Caddy and Buick. Period.

The only justification for keeping GMC around - as their 'truck division' - would have to mean the death of Chevy trucks.

One or the either, not both.

inco · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2009, 07:54:11 am »

Quote from: Thinking Out Loud on April 24, 2009, 07:30:50 am

Quote from: carcrazy on April 23, 2009, 11:57:41 pm
The new, lean and mean GM should only have Chevy, Caddy and Buick. Period.

The only justification for keeping GMC around - as their 'truck division' - would have to mean the death of Chevy trucks.

One or the either, not both.

Making the truck division GMC only would be their best move. Chevy for cars at the lower price points, Buick in the middle and Cadillac at the top. Corvette is the only misfit, but since 1953 it has always been a Chevy, so I believe they should leave that alone.

Think of how much money could be saved by eliminating duplicate models to satisfy different dealer alignments. Acadia,Traverse, Outlook and Enclave - three too many there. And Cadillac trucks - gone one would hope. Escalades were created for only one thing - more profit from people who did not want the normal fully functioning Suburban's or Avalanches.

Even Buick could be toast. There has been some talk about just the two brands - both starting with the letter "C". Not sure that could work well. Spin Doctors would be working overtime.

However when GM does go under it frees up the current franchise problems and health care liabilities and would give GM a clean slate to hopefully choose dealers that are worthy and drop those who were legends in their own minds and not with the program. Regardless this is History in the making and we are here to witness it. Lucky us.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2009, 08:13:37 am »

WOnder if this is another "Saturn get rid of dealers play"?

Most dealers are pontiac Buick GMC right? Buick is lowest selling of all major GM brands (excepting Hummer and Saab which are both on the way out). If you take away all the G5,G6, Vibe sales from a dealer can any dealer survive? Doubt it. What will happen to Pontiac sales if this is announced? They will tank. So sales tank and your future looks dim with you loading the majority of your top selling models? What do you do? You either go bankrupt can close your doors or you close your doors in anticipation before going bankrupt. Either way GM is able to force the closure of 100s of dealers with no cost to them or legal battles. its the office space separation model. Don't fire them. Stop their paycheck and move em to the basement they will eventually go away on their own

tpl · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2009, 08:17:52 am »

This would free up one chunk of the Guelph Golden Mile. The Chev/Caddy/GMC dealer would stay and 3 doors down the Pontiac/Buick one would be freed up for a Subaru dealer or something...

inco · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2009, 09:16:28 am »

This week I was talking with a friend who lives in Peterborough - they have two GM dealers and both are struggling. Only one will survive. He also mentioned that Lindsay has two Ford Dealers. Go figure.

If they (GM) merged all of the brands under one roof that would still be a huge umprovement over the system they now have. Call it the General's Store or whatever and let them duke it out. Drop the duplicity and keep it simple.

airbalancer · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2009, 10:01:57 am »

Quote from: inco on April 24, 2009, 09:16:28 am

This week I was talking with a friend who lives in Peterborough - they have two GM dealers and both are struggling. Only one will survive. He also mentioned that Lindsay has two Ford Dealers. Go figure.

If they (GM) merged all of the brands under one roof that would still be a huge umprovement over the system they now have. Call it the General's Store or whatever and let them duke it out. Drop the duplicity and keep it simple.

Between Cobourg Port Hope and Colbourne ( it is about 40 km between PH & Colbourne) there is 5 dealers
and a POP of 50,000 maybe
Some dealers will loss a lot of money

safristi · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2009, 10:17:20 am »

KILL PONTIAC"...Michigan?.... wot with free CRACK or a stimulus package................poor ol Detroit is a basket case...........listen in to their Council meetings.....

......coming to a CITY near U.............................

Erik · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2009, 07:44:43 pm »

Bloomberg is saying it is a done deal:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSzU5bt90cWM&refer=home

So will the G8 become the new Chevy Chevelle? Definitely a product worth saving. The Solstice too. But I guess that is about it.

G0dspd · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2009, 12:05:50 am »

Hopefully, closing down Pontiac will get the ball rolling. They need to scrap Hummer/Saab/Saturn and stop talking about their strategic reviews. Maybe they're waiting for Chapter 11 to do it for them.

If they would only sell trucks and SUVs under the GMC brand, would Chevy loyalists follow or go to another brand?

barrie1 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2009, 12:59:02 am »

Saf Pontiac Michigan went bust about 20-25 years ago now when the Pontiac division was moved out by the Roger Smith Moron who ran the show into the ground the 1st time. Michal Moores movie was all about it at the time frame shortly after. Louis Chevelet was a race driver before he built cars in the early days so they do have a long line of racing heritage as well. I can understand savings some models but not all of the Pontiacs at this time. They can always bring them back down the road someday if they wish to.