REPORT: General Motors to kill Pontiac on Monday

[mikeyb]

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.

 

[mikeyb]

So give the G8 to Chevy.

 

[1sty]

I think pontiac could be saved but they have to stop raping its ideology.
THe Cobalt Ss should have only been the G5, the G6 should be a performance minded sedan/coupe, not a POS
G8 me likely.
Throw a turbo on the vibe already.

 

[Kymerik]

nana na na...

nana na na...

Hey hey hey...


GOOOOODBYYYYYEEEE

Sorry, pontiac's gone to hell since they killed the WS6

Badge engineering has killed this once proud moniker

 

[jred321]

i think it was actually worse when they had the WS6 than it is now



and when do the clearance G8 GXPs start?

 

[mikeyb]

and when do the clearance G8 GXPs start?

Who knows. There is not one G8 GXP on a lot in my area.

 

[jred321]

there are none within 25 miles of me but 23 within 100 miles. even a few blue ones which is what i would want

 

[1sty]

I read last night that there is a 6month supply of G5s and a 5 month supply of G6s. Way to miss the production mark again GM.

 

[mp3-79bronco]

theres like 20 g8s at this one dealership by my house..they make me temped to commit GTA

 

[GoFast]

this is crazy

 

[genericuser]

I can't say I'm terribly surprised. It's a shame for all the pontiac dealers out there, but I'm not surprised.

 

[jred321]

I read last night that there is a 6month supply of G5s and a 5 month supply of G6s. Way to miss the production mark again GM.

there was an article on autoblog (i think) a few weeks ago that said they have like a 2.5 year supply of G3s

 

[TinmanMS6]

and when do the clearance G8 GXPs start?

First thing I thought of as well. There are 3 in my area, but they're all automatics.

 

[nealric]

Even though I have little love for Pontiac, it does represent the end of an era (and likely the loss of some good jobs). Hope GM can ride this one out and become better company for it.

 

[Saskatchewan17]

Pontiac is just a fleet of cloned cars, save the Solstice... Chevy should have took the G8 from Holden in the first place... the fact that Pontiac came out with the G8 seemed like a desperate "last gasp." I remember when it came out thinking, "Cool a rebadged Holden Commadore (or whatever it was) but why did they give it to Pontiac?" I also think they should axe Buick and maybe introduce an Lacrosse based entry level Caddilac for about 27-30 grand... Also it was in the news that Hummer, Saturn, and Saab were all on the chopping block.

 

[Suspect987]

There is word that a private group of investors is looking to buy the Saturn brand and bring back it's Independent roots. Truthfully, GM needs to shutdown it's GM brand and just stick with Chevy. They are competing against themselves way to much as it is, and to have people decide between GM or Chevy when they are the exact same vehicle is to much overhead and a waste of time. Good ridence to Pontiac and any other GM brand for being morons. They ran their company into the ground, as did Chrysler and Ford to it's own extent.

 

[coolmazda5]

So making it a niche brand didn't fly huh?

Even though I have little love for Pontiac, it does represent the end of an era

+1

Chevy should have took the G8 from Holden in the first place...

It almost made it as a Chevy Lumina SS, sigh

 

[probin94]

they already started clearancing them out. got mine for 20 bucks lol.

actually its my buddies car. i hate him. and as for them being automatic. who cares drive one and you wont. and the gxps are supposed to have manuals.

 

[jred321]

psh that's one of the weak ones. they haven't been able to give those away since they came out. GXP or nothing

 

[probin94]

psh that's one of the weak ones. they haven't been able to give those away since they came out. GXP or nothing

lmao. yeah i would not want the 361 horse it puts out over my 130 horse p5 at all. (butt)