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The End Of Pontiac.....

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  • The End Of Pontiac.....

    I have owned several Pontiacs in my lifetime. In fact, I still own and will continue to own a red 1998 Pontiac Firebird Formula with a T-top and a Vet engine, which has never seen the snows of the Wisconsin winters. It has less than 50,000 miles and I have put on less than 10,000 miles in the last 5 years. It is my summer time Fun Car.



    For me and many other fans, suppliers, dealers and employees of the Pontiac, it is a very sad day.

    Walt


    http://www.pontiac.com/content/en/PD...ncement_QA.pdf

    Pontiac Statement

    April 27, 2008, 7 am

    Pontiac brand to be phased out as part of GM’s more aggressive restructuring efforts.

    BACKGROUND

    Since its inception in 1926, Pontiac has been known for delivering vehicles with both performance and value. Over the past several years, the brand has been closely associated first with GMC and then with Buick.

    Statement attributable to Susan Docherty, GM North American Vice President, Buick-Pontiac-GMC:

    “Anyone who has been associated with the Pontiac brand knows that this was a difficult decision. Pontiac has had a rich and storied history, but unfortunately, despite the efforts of all concerned, the brand has been unprofitable over the past several years. We had hoped in our February 17
    Viability Plan to convert Pontiac to a niche brand within the Buick-Pontiac-GMC channel.

    However, the Viability Plan as submitted was not acceptable. GM was further challenged to take more significant restructuring actions which would allow the company to be viable even in these unprecedented market conditions and in any future cyclical market downturns. These restructuring actions require further sacrifice by all stakeholders: GM employees, suppliers,
    investors and dealers.

    As part of these renewed restructuring efforts, we spent considerable time formulating Pontiac portfolio scenarios that would allow the brand to be sustainable and profitable long term.

    Unfortunately after careful evaluation, none of these scenarios proved viable.
    Therefore, GM is announcing the phase out of the Pontiac brand by year end 2010. This action will allow General Motors to devote its limited capital and other resources to GM’s four core brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.”

  • #2
    First Olds and now Pontiac.

    Prersonally I think they should have shut down Buick. 1 SUV and 3 Sedans does not a car division make. Everytime I see a Buick, and I don't see many, it is some little old lady with a puff of white hair resembling a Q-Tip or her husband driving it.

    At least Pontiac has the Solstice and Vibe.

    They are also phasing out Saturn which has that cute Sky.
    Lawren
    ------------------------
    There are many wonderful places in the world, but one of my favourite places is on the back of my horse.
    - Rolf Kopfle

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    • #3
      I remember the days. The good old days.

      My mother ordered a 1969 Pontiac Catalina from Atlantic Pontiac in Brooklyn. We had to wait for the factory to build it, and deliver. When we were driving home people would stop and stare at us in awe.

      Over the years my family has owned Bonneville's, and Catalina's. Then it was all down hill from there!

      Oh Well.

      Bye Bye Pontiac. GM management is all to blame. They had over 30 years to remake their lineup and manufacturing processes. They blew it big time. Nobody can convince me that GM management improved quality to the point of the imports. What business do they have making hummers, and fuel sucking SUV's, and trucks.

      Sorry to say they reap what they sow.
      Flying at MACH4 +

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      • #4
        my favorite car was my 1986 Firebird. It was nothing special as far as Firebirds go but it wouldn't quit. I sold it with 140K on the odometer and it lasted another 2 years with a crazy teenager behind the wheel. I heard that it caught on fire while it was rolling down the road in Montana, probably committed suicide over the beating it was taking...

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        • #5
          I had 2 Pontiacs. Blew 3 engines and one transmission. I won't miss them.

          Comment


          • #6
            My parents owned one Pontiac in the 80's.....the biggest piece of junk ever made.....never again.

            We did love our friends moms Bonneville when we were in high school....she let her son (our friend) drive it. Everyone got out of the way of that tank.
            "If a Nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.... If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed."
            -- Thomas Jefferson to Col. Yancey, 1816

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            • #7
              GMC was added to the list as well, only things left will be Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick under the obama motors logo. Peronally I'll buy Honda from now on.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by pyro-1955 View Post
                GMC was added to the list as well, only things left will be Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick under the obama motors logo. Peronally I'll buy Honda from now on.
                Why blame Obama? He's having to try to clean up the mess; he didn't make it.

                sc
                --
                "Because there is good, and there is evil, and evil must be punished. Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this."
                -- Rorschach, Watchmen

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by SteveChapin
                  Why blame Obama? He's having to try to clean up the mess; he didn't make it.

                  sc
                  --
                  I agree GM has been in trouble for a long while now. My heart goes out to the families who lost jobs

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                  • #10
                    I had a Grand Am once. I replaced it with a Honda.

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                    • #11
                      I blame obama for forcing them into bakruptcy and implanting his own puppetts to the board of directors, it won't be long and the only thing they build if anything will be under powered hybrid junk. GM and Chrysler have been in trouble, Chrysler was really raked over the coals with the whole Daimler fiasco. GM was working on making changes, however it's not possible to make a 180 degree turn when steering a super tanker. If it was not for the Banks and the speculators running oil up to almost 150 a barrel last year, we would not see this, yes they would be making changes, but not cutting off their arms to save their legs. With idiots from Washington involved GM will never be allowed to build what we really want. Everyone seems to think Toyota is so great, I drove a rental Camry last weekend, what a piece of junk! obama has NO business experiance yet the arrogant idiot seems to think running everyone into bankruptcy is a great idea. Now that they have forced Chrysler there, just wait and see how many suppliers fold, they will not get a dime from the banks, since they know that they will not get their money back. Now we are no where near the bottom of the Depression.

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                      • #12
                        It's always sad to see a long established marque disappear. The same thing happened to the UK motor industry back in the '60s & '70s. Literally dozens of makes disappeared through takeover, merger and rationalisation. Over here we had the ridiculous situation of physically identical vehicles, with a number of different makers badges and minor trim differences, being marketed in direct competition with each other, despite coming off the same assembly lines.
                        The only result was added production cost, lower profit and eventually closedown.
                        Far better to minimise costs and have a successful smaller operation than to continue a bloated production and shut down completely.

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                        • #13
                          Pyro,

                          As you say, GM has been in trouble for a while now (meaning years). Obama is just over 3 months into office. The people who are culpable here are those who have been in charge at GM for the last 10-20 years (and also the bankers who have screwed up the world economy, and the politicians that helped it happen by removing all restraints) and have steered the supertanker towards the rocks, and refused to change course until the last minute. Now, the only choice may be to break apart the supertanker on the rocks and try to salvage the flotsam while letting the jetsam go. You can't blame the coast guard if the ship sinks.

                          Regards,

                          sc
                          --
                          "Because there is good, and there is evil, and evil must be punished. Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this."
                          -- Rorschach, Watchmen

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Keitht View Post
                            Over here we had the ridiculous situation of physically identical vehicles, with a number of different makers badges and minor trim differences, being marketed in direct competition with each other, despite coming off the same assembly lines.
                            The only result was added production cost, lower profit and eventually closedown.
                            Far better to minimise costs and have a successful smaller operation than to continue a bloated production and shut down completely.
                            Exactly, Keith. Why do we need a Traverse, Outlook, Enclave and Acadia? They're all essentially the same vehicle, but costs GM 4 times the marketing and dealership overhead. GM should consolidate everything under the Chevrolet or GM brands and pare their dealership network. Perhaps if and when they ever return to being a viable company, they could add a 2nd "upscale" line such as Lexus is to Toyota, Acura to Honda, etc.
                            Jim

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by pyro-1955 View Post
                              I blame obama for forcing them into bakruptcy ...
                              If the US government did not step in, GM would have gone into bankruptcy several months ago. Why do you somehow think that Obama is to blame, and not the GM management and labor unions who have been driving that company into the ground for decades?

                              I personally think the government should have stayed out of the whole mess -- then they could have gone into bankruptcy and either dissolved or come back much leaner, without the labor contracts as a noose around their necks.

                              Kurt

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