Pontiac an Orphan

this is to bad

 

so gentleman, whats up for the future
the popular trend toward eco friendly vehicles is here to stay and domestic manufacturers will have to deal with this like they did in the 70's to increase gas mileage with less emissions, the result was not great.
i guess our kids will be hoppin up the hybrids, hope they can power up the amplified trunk sound systems the youngsters like.
I imagine more families will be looking at the family vehicle as more of a chore doer and less of a fun activity. People buy BMW and Lexas as a pride thing, not olds and caddys anymore.
At the bottom of the chain like me there will be less and less fun driving machines, like old pontiacs.
I wish we could change the public's taste to a simpler time. They tend to jump on the bandwagon. 15 years ago everyone had to buy a mini van, than everyone needed an SUV, I've seem some gleamer of hope with the new mustangs and chargers, but that is most likely guys like us that happen to have extra money laying around.
As for me I will keep trying to buy american cars, I have the loyalty to put the work in they need to keep running.

 

I think American car companies re-tooling to compete with fuel efficient imports is foolish. Honda and Toyota and the like all are synonymous with that market segment. America has a few markets cornered i.e. trucks, and a couple of others. The more I think of it, the better off I think we'll be without Pontiac. GM can focus more on maybe 3 or 4 specific vehicles and make them high quality and affordable. I'd hate to say it, but it might be time for Ford to can Lincoln or Mercury in the same fashion.

 

The bottom line with GM is that they have too many brands competing with one another. In the old days when the car companies only made one car - a fullsize in several bodystyles, differentiating the cars with branding made sense. But in world of sub-compact, compact, cross-overs, SUV's, etc. having several brands means you are cutting your own throat.

And it didn't help that former bean-counter and GM CEO Roger Smith destroyed each division's brand identity in the 80's with badge engineering. Prior to that at least each nameplate had some character.

It's too bad that Pontiac got the chop because of all the GM brands it seemed to be trying the hardest to create an image. It also built cars and not trucks.

 

least the goverment's still buyin em

 

GM has major problems that have been around for long before our current pres….he gets none of the credit for this great fiasco.

I remember hearing many years ago how the GM pensions was a time bomb waiting to happen. And it is GM’s fault…they agreed to pay more benefits to retirees and less wages. This allowed GM to report higher profits. They were not thinking about the future at all. Now they are paying out billions a year to the pension fund.

And, GM has been pretty boring car wise. Pontiac G6 are horrible cars. My wife leased one because it was the cheapest car on the lot and we barely drive it and trim falls off all the time, it rattles, it is uncomfortable, it has had motor problems. I vowed never to lease/buy a Pontiac again.

GM also has too many over lapping products…why the hell do we need a chevy suv, gmc suv, and Cadillac suv that all are pretty much the same thing? Same thing with trucks. They should thin out the line…either make chevy trucks or gmc trucks…they could have kept the brand names but thinned stuff out. Have GMC be the truck/suv line, chevy be the car line and Cadillac be the luxary line and maybe Saturn be the tiny car line. It may not be perfect but it would be better then what they are doing now.

And what about the camaro…GM should have been all over the throwback design many years ago when the mustang did it with a HUGE success…bring back the camaro, nova, chevelle…do a whole muscle car throwback line. GM is now finally coming out with the camaro…too little too late.

 

maybe we should go back to one size fits all like back in the day. one model, many different trim packages. for example, the chevy 150, 210, and then bel air. maybe that might help. then the olds 88 and 98.

 

GM is really all over the place right now as far marketing. They really don't have a clear vision for the consumer. There are so many different cars from so many manufactures right now (both foreign and domestic). It is easier to buy a used vehicle that has been on the road a few years because it takes that long to sort out what you DON'T want.
Years ago they dropped the Impala and Malibu, then came back with a redone version, no wonder everyone is confused, and most just look like a version of a foreign model that is a knock off of another design. Again there is little carryover, I looked foward to buying another bonneville until they dumped that line, I guess because chevy dropped there big Impala frame.
The new retro mustangs, t-birds and dodge muscle cars are a nice break whether you like em or not. At least it harkins back to a time when you looked foward to buying a car and one that made you somewhat of an individual and not just another buyer that reads consumer reports to check gas mileage figures.

 

pontiac still built cars?

no shit. I thought the last pontiac was 1972.

 

The difference between the 4N auto market and the North American market is this:
The 4N auto makers wait till they get an order and then they build the cars, while the North American auto makers build the cars and try an create a market for them. That is why there is an over surplus of American autos and your used car is worth nothing after a few years.

 

sturn should have been the first to go not olds havent cared for pontiacs sence mid 60s them early tin indians would run

 

rant over? everybody feel better now? Me neither.

But despite all the problems, I am still buying American. I buy dodges now, but I'll buy GM or ford over an import when dodge goes next. I gotta beleive it's the right thing to stick with the US auto industry, and hope they get it straightened out.

 

I see I'm not the only one doing this. Sad ain't it?

 

Excellent idea!

 

The car of the future!

 

Modern cars are appliances..they interest me only in that they transport my family safely..comfortably..and effeicently. The day of wanting unique style..or performance from a daily NEW car..has been gone for me for awhile.

I use my truck..wife drivers her compact..mindless to from work..errands etc.

For excitement..we have our Hot Rods..Customs..Sports Cars from the era that had unique style..unique performance..or customizing excitment.

Gives me more to spend on my hobby..better gas mileage from the appliance..more gas for the toys..

Times are changing.. We may not see another "We build excitement" from Pontiac..but we certainly can build excitement..!

Modern cars..electric..LPG..who cares..just an appliance..to get to swap meets..yards..parts shops..or nasty weather..

It's all good..

 

If I was buying new I would buy American for sure...however, in a couple weeks my wifes Pontiac G6 lease is up and she will start driving her 65 Ford Falcon. She was interested in a new Camaro but between a car payment, insurance payment, and increasing DMV fee's we decided to go old instead. We still have my 06 GMC truck (paid off) on regular insurance so it is dirt cheap to insure the hot rods through Hagerty...so no more monthly car payment, no more smog fee's, cheaper DMV fee's, and cheaper insurance...it is like getting a raise on my paycheck.

 

There's no way I'd buy a GM or Chrysler car now that the unions are going to have a part share of the company. Blame all the CEO's you want but I believe that the ultimate blame lies squarely on the union workers that finally killed the golden goose. "Let 'em eat cake".

 

The last PMD engine was the 1981 301........Rich

 

"wheres the style and fun gone?"

I'll agree that this quote could be the answer.

 

What? That's not only narrow minded (at best), but ignorant as well.

Blaming the Unions for the debacle merely allows those who benefited the most to silently and stealthily sneak away with their millions...get a grip.

Show me one millionaire Union worker, now show me one Automobile executive who's not a millionaire.

...and if you remember well enough, the person famous for that quote got her head handed to her, literally

 

Its too bad GM couldnt get their shit together. My family has NEVER owned a foreign vehicle, always been Chevy and Pontiac. My father owns a 95 suburban with 270,000 miles (bought new) and nothing major has ever been replaced. Same goes for my Bonneville and Trans Am they run fantastic and the Bonneville is great on gas. However Ive heard many stories of replacing engines trannys etc in GM vehicles after a few thousand miles. I guess it just depends on what ya get! I suppose I've been lucky!

 

Exactly.

Picture a WRX with better seats. lol

Then again, I'm not ashamed to have a newer car too. I'm a general automotive enthusiast, not someone trying to be cool cause I refuse to like newer cars. (And yes, that was meant for about a MILLION people in this forum. haha)

 

1986 VW GTI 1.8

1989 VW GTI 2.0 16V Swap

1991 GTI 1.8

1992 GTI 16V 2.0

1979 VW Rabbit




There's a list of just a few of the old imports I've owned, and driven the shit out of for enough to have fun and move onto the next one while selling the first.

Your position is clearly COMPLETELY unfounded and uneducated... there's a HUGE following for a MK1 and MK2 VW's, older Hondas, 80s Porsches, Audi Coupes, etc.

So no, you don't just see the occasional Z or Celica.

 

this what i dont understand ?????how can cryco have new models that are selling like hot cakes ford sold the heckout of the mustang and not just afew
so was gm sleeping or did they ockastraight this mess we are in by not listing to the car buyes

 

English, please.

 

holly shit, & the yanks said the GTO didnt look good enough.

the gto is based on our monaro, like the original monaros from the 60's and 70's the monaro is a 2 door version of the 4 door sedan, the sedan is also the car we use for taxi's, police cars and most company cars.
here in australia like america imported jap cars and euro cars are trendy at the moment

 

I don't think I can read such ingnorant statements about an industry that many outsiders don't truely understand...

Ryan? You may need to close this thread before it gets worse...

 

mpls, I said "I" rarely see any import older than 1990
"1986 VW GTI 1.8

1989 VW GTI 2.0 16V Swap

1991 GTI 1.8

1992 GTI 16V 2.0

1979 VW Rabbit




There's a list of just a few of the old imports I've owned, and driven the shit out of for enough to have fun and move onto the next one while selling the first.

Your position is clearly COMPLETELY unfounded and uneducated... there's a HUGE following for a MK1 and MK2 VW's, older Hondas, 80s Porsches, Audi Coupes, etc.

So no, you don't just see the occasional Z or Celica."

when I drive down thru town, or the highway, anything old catches my eye....and to be honest I dont remember the last time I saw a Rabbit or an older GTI, BUT, I see alot of 80s Firebird/Camaros/Regals/Cutlass/S-10s, and a few Toyota 4Runners/Trucks.....

And I will bet, That if you pulled up to the pump in your Vdub, and I pulled next to you in my 74 GTO, which one of us would gather the most attention...that is, unless theres a VW convention in town, then it might equal out...ofcourse thats just my opinion.

 

So you're seriously going to start doing a penis size comparison based on your muscle car? haha CLASSIC!!! (typical of muscle car owners btw.... even though my 16V GTI had some treats under the hood that would have made you cry.... 300HP in a 1900 pound car is all I will say. Trust me, the only time your GTO would have been at my back bumper is when I let you be there. haha)

As for who would get more attention, here's the answer, I don't care. I like cars, not attention based on cars. lol Sounds like maybe you're prepping for (another?) mid life crisis time?