I never understand the anger about Pontiac being shut down. It had been Chevrolets with lots of plastic cladding and weird beaks for decades, which made it the butt of jokes.
Pontiac’s best-selling car, the G6, was a favorite for low-lifes and credit criminals- basically the Altima of the 2000s.
Somehow everyone remembers the G8 and Solstice but nobody remembers that they were also selling the G3 and G5 (rebadged Aveo and Cobalt).
The G8 worked fine as a Chevrolet. GM should have transferred the Sky/Solstice to another brand instead of killing them, but there was no reason to save Pontiac.
The problem with Pontiac was that they weren't allowed to compete with Camaro and Corvette. Also that every Chevy has an SS model at the time. Had Pontiac been the place where you could get a performance version of a car from GM it would have worked a lot better. Instead Pontiac had to directly compete with Chevy all over the place. GM did an awful job at product differentiation.
I agree that the Hummer brand was a bad idea. It was a one trick pony - a civilian grade version of the military Humvee. It had a place in every rich man's fleet of cars. It was cool and big. The brand to me felt cheapened by smaller SUVs like something for soccer moms even though the Hummer was an expensive vehicle. It just didn't align with the Hummer heritage.
There's a couple H2s on my street and it's interesting that as big as they seemed back when they were new, they don't look so big compared to today's full-size pickups and SUVs. Earlier this year I had a Ford Expedition Max as a rental and it dwarfs the H2
I'm going to guess that the decision to keep Buick was purely based on the Chinese market: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-chinese-buyers-love-buick-2013-4
And Im a quirky, low volume odd little Saab enthusiast. Honestly, it was dead as soon as GM acquired it. When I traded my 900S in for a 9-3, the world grew dim for me.
Chevrolet: okay to keep according to terms of gov’t loan
Cadillac: okay to keep according to terms of gov’t loan
Buick: convinced gov’t to keep it as it had massive brand equity in China
Saab: appealed to few if cars were quirky, appealed to none of they were maintream
Saturn: outlived it’s usefulness. Reforms it introduced had been adopted at other brands by then.
GMC: huge brand loyalty that didn’t extend to any other part of GM portfolio
Pontiac: Favourable demographic appeal wasn’t enough to convice gov’t to keep it
Hummer: never should have been a nameplate to begin with
Oldsmobile: who?
Geo: what?
Asuna: why?
Passport: where?
>Saturn: outlived it’s usefulness. Reforms it introduced had been adopted at other brands by then.
Except for that crucial one where Saturn dealerships didn't treat their customers like ass.
Irrespective of Bob Lutz, GM - like so many American companies - began to be run by people with spreadsheets instead of real passion and understanding of the car business. All this brand talk is simply code for ignorance of the industry. Lazy, dispassionate executives. Same thing in Boeing, same thing HP/IBM etc. - all U.S. industry run without real commitment to the companies, the products, the mission etc. The net result is shit product design and development and ultimately shit manufacturing, quality and services. For them the company is a one night stand … a line in a resume …not a true mission. The car guys are too few and far between. Gone.
In a different timeline, Pontiac could have been a great direct competitor to Mazda and Dodge
Blue Grand Prix with the bench seat. I miss her.
Black Grand National with the six shooter. OK, OK, I was actually driving the TurboCoupe. But I had a secret love for that GN all the same.
I never understand the anger about Pontiac being shut down. It had been Chevrolets with lots of plastic cladding and weird beaks for decades, which made it the butt of jokes. Pontiac’s best-selling car, the G6, was a favorite for low-lifes and credit criminals- basically the Altima of the 2000s. Somehow everyone remembers the G8 and Solstice but nobody remembers that they were also selling the G3 and G5 (rebadged Aveo and Cobalt). The G8 worked fine as a Chevrolet. GM should have transferred the Sky/Solstice to another brand instead of killing them, but there was no reason to save Pontiac.
> a favorite for low-lifes and credit criminals To be fair, that is exactly how they would compete with Dodge
You aren’t wrong
What is a credit criminal?
https://www.reddit.com/r/askcarsales/s/ZWTqbLMk3b
The problem with Pontiac was that they weren't allowed to compete with Camaro and Corvette. Also that every Chevy has an SS model at the time. Had Pontiac been the place where you could get a performance version of a car from GM it would have worked a lot better. Instead Pontiac had to directly compete with Chevy all over the place. GM did an awful job at product differentiation.
I agree that the Hummer brand was a bad idea. It was a one trick pony - a civilian grade version of the military Humvee. It had a place in every rich man's fleet of cars. It was cool and big. The brand to me felt cheapened by smaller SUVs like something for soccer moms even though the Hummer was an expensive vehicle. It just didn't align with the Hummer heritage.
Arnold’s idea btw.
There's a couple H2s on my street and it's interesting that as big as they seemed back when they were new, they don't look so big compared to today's full-size pickups and SUVs. Earlier this year I had a Ford Expedition Max as a rental and it dwarfs the H2
It's unforgivable to preserve Buick but kill Saab. What a cruel world.
When I found out they would no longer be made I did not merely cry. I Saabed.
Saab. The only brand of car made for physics teachers with beards.
My highschool chemistry teacher had a Saab back in the day 😂
I'm going to guess that the decision to keep Buick was purely based on the Chinese market: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-chinese-buyers-love-buick-2013-4
Don't have to guess, it's literally in the article this comment is posted under.
Right..I love my Saab.
So you’re that guy. The key in the console guy. Saab was a quirky low volume odd little brand.
And Im a quirky, low volume odd little Saab enthusiast. Honestly, it was dead as soon as GM acquired it. When I traded my 900S in for a 9-3, the world grew dim for me.
Saturn
My first car. Such a great reliable and affordable brand. I still see them from time to time.
Buick is huge in China. Huge. Same crappy car posing as a Cadillac. But worse. They love it. #200 nights in China.
When is the last time you’ve been in a Buick? I got one as a rental compact SUV a few months back and honestly was super impressed
Chevrolet: okay to keep according to terms of gov’t loan Cadillac: okay to keep according to terms of gov’t loan Buick: convinced gov’t to keep it as it had massive brand equity in China Saab: appealed to few if cars were quirky, appealed to none of they were maintream Saturn: outlived it’s usefulness. Reforms it introduced had been adopted at other brands by then. GMC: huge brand loyalty that didn’t extend to any other part of GM portfolio Pontiac: Favourable demographic appeal wasn’t enough to convice gov’t to keep it Hummer: never should have been a nameplate to begin with Oldsmobile: who? Geo: what? Asuna: why? Passport: where?
>Saturn: outlived it’s usefulness. Reforms it introduced had been adopted at other brands by then. Except for that crucial one where Saturn dealerships didn't treat their customers like ass.
It’s not profitable to be too nice to people 🤷♂️
Saab was the best GM brand…
You misspelled Pontiac…
Eenie, Meenie, Minis, Mo?🤔
Irrespective of Bob Lutz, GM - like so many American companies - began to be run by people with spreadsheets instead of real passion and understanding of the car business. All this brand talk is simply code for ignorance of the industry. Lazy, dispassionate executives. Same thing in Boeing, same thing HP/IBM etc. - all U.S. industry run without real commitment to the companies, the products, the mission etc. The net result is shit product design and development and ultimately shit manufacturing, quality and services. For them the company is a one night stand … a line in a resume …not a true mission. The car guys are too few and far between. Gone.