fzanetti Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/24/autos/pontiac_obit/index.htm?postversion=2009042415 GM to pull the plug on Pontiac The brand credited with originating the muscle car will no longer be part of GM's future, according to a source. http://i.l.cnn.net/money/2009/04/24/autos/pontiac_obit/pontiac_g8.03.jpgThe Pontiac G8 performance sedan has been a hit with critics but it hasn't caught on with customers. .cc10 { font:normal 11px Arial; padding:3px;} .cc11 { font:normal 11px Arial; padding:3px;} .sm10 { font-size: 10px; } 2008 GM Vehicle Sales Chevrolet 1,801,131 GMC 376,996 Pontiac 267,348 Saturn 188,004 Cadillac 161,159 Buick 137,197 Hummer 27,485 Saab 21,368 Total 2,980,688 Source:General Motor NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors is preparing to announce that the Pontiac car brand, once marketed as GM's "Excitement division," will be killed off, according to a source familiar with the decision. An official announcement is expected Monday. GM spokesman Jim Hopson declined to comment on Pontiac's fate, saying the automaker has no announcements to make at this time. In its most recent "viability plan" - which will be updated to reflect this new brand cut - Pontiac was not named as one of GM's four "core brands." Those are Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. But Pontiac was also not to be killed or sold off, as were Saturn, Saab and Hummer. Instead Pontiac was to continue on as a "niche brand" focusing on just a few models. That was already a step down for Pontiac which in 2008 was the third-best selling brand behind Chevrolet and GMC. That year the brand sold more than Cadillac and twice as many vehicles as Buick. Cadillac is a high-profile - and high profit - luxury brand while Buick is a hugely popular brand in China and is seen as resurgent in the United States. In 2005, GM (GM, Fortune 500) vice-chairman Bob Lutz referred to Buick and Pontiac as "damaged brands" during a conference at the New York Auto Show. That set off speculation that one or both of these brands was doomed. With a focus on affordable luxury, Buick's hopes have been revived by models like the popular Enclave crossover SUV. Improvements in Buick Quality, which earned a top ranking in a recent J.D. Power dependability survey and a public acknowledgement by President Obama, have also helped Buick keep its place in the shrinking pantheon of GM names. Pontiac performance Pontiac's association with performance dates back to the late 1950s and early 1960s. Pontiac cars were designed with wider bodies for cosmetic reasons and the wheels were pushed out to match. This "wide-track" design became a selling point and was advertised as giving Pontiac cars a distinct cornering advantage over other cars. But the idea of Pontiac as a performance brand was solidified in 1964 with the creation of the Pontiac Tempest LeMans GTO. That car quickly evolved into, simply, the GTO and is often credited with creating a new class of American car, the muscle car. Under Lutz, plans were formed to bring back some actual excitement to the Pontiac brand, which hadn't seen much since the Firebird - a flashier Pontiac version of the Chevrolet Camaro - ended production in 2002. One strategy floated for Pontiac was to sell only, or mostly, rear-wheel-drive cars. That would set it apart from other GM divisions, and most cars sold in America. Rear-wheel-drive is associated with performance brands like BMW. Unfortunately, the re-introduction of the Pontiac GTO name on a performance coupe imported from Australia didn't result in big sales. So far, the Pontiac G8, a rear-wheel-drive four-door sedan also imported from GM's Australian Holden division, hasn't been a sales success either, despite good reviews. Pontiac's most popular products remain the G6, a decent but unexciting midsize car available as a sedan, coupe or convertible, and the Vibe, a small wagon shared with Toyota, which sells it as the Matrix. Any plans to return Pontiac to the heavy-horsepower days of the '70s ended as gas prices rose and Congress prepared stricter fuel economy rules for the industry. Those pressures resulted in GM quietly introducing the Pontiac G3, which had been sold in Canada only. Once again, Pontiac was selling a rebadged Chevrolet product, this time the Korean-built Aveo subcompact car. Pontiac's current role in GM seems mostly to be to support GMC and Buick by providing a brand under which Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealers could sell non-luxury cars, filling out what then becomes a full-line showroom. The brand-channel strategy now makes it easier for GM to phase out the brand because it would cause less harm to dealers, independent business protected by strong state franchise laws. When GM phased out Oldsmobile in the early 2000's, it cost GM more than $1 billion to buy out the contracts of Oldsmobile dealers who were left with nothing to sell. This time, most Pontiac dealers will have other products to sell. http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/images/bug.gif Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05GT Guru Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Even though the government does own GM now its sad to see brands that i have grown up with and have owned 3 pontiacs(all of which were great to me) go. Its a sad sad day on the lsx forums for sure and for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight705 Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 only reason g8 doesn't sell is because they introduced it right during a gasoline price hike, and the beginning of this economic downturn. i would of loved to get a G8, if i had the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fzanetti Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 only reason g8 doesn't sell is because they introduced it right during a gasoline price hike, and the beginning of this economic downturn. i would of loved to get a G8, if i had the money. +1 They still sell, just not as many as Honda Civics... Categorized | Facts, Pontiac Tags : 2008 pontiac g8, cars.com, KickingTires, Pontiac, Toyota 2008 Pontiac G8 - 2nd Fastest Selling Sedan in April Posted on 26 May 2008 http://www.g8nation.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/2008-pontiac-g8-2nd-fastest-selling-sedan-in-april-1.jpg Cars.com blog, “KickingTires” recently reported on their monthly “Movers & Losers” for the month of April. For the sedan category, the Pontiac G8 is the 2nd fastest selling sedan in the U.S. just slightly behind the uber green tree-hugging Toyota Prius. On average the Pontiac G8 lasts on dealer lots for approximately 16 days before the title is signed over to some lucky unknown citizen of the “G8 Nation”. Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05GT Guru Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 only reason g8 doesn't sell is because they introduced it right during a gasoline price hike, and the beginning of this economic downturn. i would of loved to get a G8, if i had the money. The sad thing is though that the g8 gt with cylidner shut off people are seeing 30mpg freeway, thats better than alot of v6 sedans out there and its a v8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTTuner Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Another stupid move by GM. Pontiac has been the enthusiast division as far back as I can remember. In fact, it was the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am that hooked me into being a car nut. Just like Guru said, "sad sad". Buick should go, IMO. John, remember the 25th edition Trans Am with the Buick GNX motor? I'd LOVE to get my hands on one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrok Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I am not sure its a stupid move. Financially it might be a smart one, i dont know I dont have the numbers but I can't imagine they would shut down the brand if it was bringing in massive profits. GTtuner don't you have a g8? I know someone with a name similiar to yours bought one last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05GT Guru Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Another stupid move by GM. Pontiac has been the enthusiast division as far back as I can remember. In fact, it was the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am that hooked me into being a car nut. Just like Guru said, "sad sad". Buick should go, IMO. John, remember the 25th edition Trans Am with the Buick GNX motor? I'd LOVE to get my hands on one of those. Yes i do but it was 20th not 25th, in 81 there was also a 4.9liter v8 turbo trans am they are rare. They had the boost guage in the cowl part of the hood, it was just 3 colors green, yellow and red, red being max boost lol. And they wont get rid of buick, its the number 1 selling car in china which happens to have the number 1 economy right now. I miss the hell out of my 96 formula and 2000 trans am. Im trying to pick up another 6 speed ls1 car soon. Say what you want about the bland interior and live axle suspension i have never had a more fun car than my T/A. Not a stage 2 legacy, not a 79 malibu with a built 355, not a 517rwhp supra none were as fun to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05GT Guru Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I am not sure its a stupid move. Financially it might be a smart one, i dont know I dont have the numbers but I can't imagine they would shut down the brand if it was bringing in massive profits. GTtuner don't you have a g8? I know someone with a name similiar to yours bought one last year. Pontiac was number 3 in 08 sales for GM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neelnug Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 267,000 cars... how many cars does Subaru sell in the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fzanetti Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 The sad thing is though that the g8 gt with cylidner shut off people are seeing 30mpg freeway, thats better than alot of v6 sedans out there and its a v8. Better than my 4 cyl LGT!! :lol: Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_KT Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 only reason g8 doesn't sell is because they introduced it right during a gasoline price hike, and the beginning of this economic downturn. i would of loved to get a G8, if i had the money. +1 I love the G8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05GT Guru Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Better than my 4 cyl LGT!! :lol: Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA I know, i have seen 28mpg all freeway in my LGT and my ls1 T/A 6 speed that didnt have cylinder shut off got 31mpg a couple times when it still had stock fuel system and made 400 crank hp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05GT Guru Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 267,000 cars... How many cars does subaru sell in the us? 187,699 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underpowerd Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 John, remember the 25th edition Trans Am with the Buick GNX motor? I'd LOVE to get my hands on one of those. it's a pipe dream, but i'd like to see something of the inverse. my experience with both brands unquestionably indicated that buick was simply a better quality car in just about every way. i think a a serious and determined resurgence of buick performance would do more than the the sincere (and i will say brilliant) effort we've seen from pontiac of late...rather than being something surprising, interesting, that many must still almost involuntarily regard with a reserve of skepticism, i think anyone formerly familiar with buick would have very little reservation to just get up and get their ass to the dealership. really, if pontiac fell off the earth, and buick showed up with a revived gnx the next day, i know i wouldn't be lamenting. ...i'd kind of be a bit more proud to be an american. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 267,000 cars... how many cars does Subaru sell in the US? Number of cars doesn't matter - it's what you make per car that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight705 Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 i wonder if this means a closeout deal on all remaining G8 Gt's...... hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Either that or "collectors edition" and a higher price! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fzanetti Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Pontiac will be gone by 2010.... http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090427/CARNEWS/904279997 Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTGT Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Well, I guess its time to buy a new gen. GTO or G8 GXP then store it in garage, wait 35 years and put it on Barret Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fzanetti Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Well, I guess its time to buy a new gen. GTO or G8 GXP then store it in garage, wait 35 years and put it on Barret Jackson For 80k.... ;-) Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05GT Guru Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Well, I guess its time to buy a new gen. GTO or G8 GXP then store it in garage, wait 35 years and put it on Barret Jackson Alot of low miles WS6 cars are going to be bought by collectors now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTlegacy06 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 "nah nah nah nah... nah nah nah nah, hey hey goodbye!" Finally.. it may look painful but this is the only way GM is going to redeem itself. Way too many "niche" brands that just overlap with each other and compete with one another rather than fighting off foreign models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Time to kill the rest of the stupid brands. Chevrolet and Cadillac - all that should stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTTuner Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I am not sure its a stupid move. Financially it might be a smart one, i dont know I dont have the numbers but I can't imagine they would shut down the brand if it was bringing in massive profits. GTtuner don't you have a g8? I know someone with a name similiar to yours bought one last year. Nahh, wasn't me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.