GM pulls the plug on Pontiac
04-27-2009, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by sdg1871' post='860592' date='Apr 27 2009, 03:18 PM
The G8 and especially the 415 bhp G8 GXP is an excellent value for the money. Unfortunately, GM's brand image is so horrific that it just doesn't matter. Too little. Too late. It's very sad. My wife and I love to watch car auctions and you will see the most beautiful American cars from the 1930's-early 1970's. Those cars dominated the world car market. And for good reason. That was when you could be proud to own a Caddy or a Pontiac.
Then the gas crunch of the 1970's hit and American car makers never recovered. They started building crap (the Ford Mustang II, the Pinto, the Aztek, the Caddy 4-6-8 engine that did not work to name a few) and never looked back.
Then BMW, Lexus, MB, Toyota, Nissan and other foreign makers all built much better cars than we here in America did. It is so unfortunate to see the decimation of the American middle class and the evaporation of American manufacturing capacity that is symbolized by the downfall of GM and Chrysler.
Consumer vote with their wallets. I've not bought an American car since I was 19 because the foreign cars, including our beloved BMWs, are just so much better.
But I do not celebrate the failure of the American auto industry because the lost middle-class jobs and manufacturing capacity are lost forever.
Then the gas crunch of the 1970's hit and American car makers never recovered. They started building crap (the Ford Mustang II, the Pinto, the Aztek, the Caddy 4-6-8 engine that did not work to name a few) and never looked back.
Then BMW, Lexus, MB, Toyota, Nissan and other foreign makers all built much better cars than we here in America did. It is so unfortunate to see the decimation of the American middle class and the evaporation of American manufacturing capacity that is symbolized by the downfall of GM and Chrysler.
Consumer vote with their wallets. I've not bought an American car since I was 19 because the foreign cars, including our beloved BMWs, are just so much better.
But I do not celebrate the failure of the American auto industry because the lost middle-class jobs and manufacturing capacity are lost forever.
04-27-2009, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by craigm1841' post='860602' date='Apr 27 2009, 03:25 PM
impressive insight. worded very well. conveys my opinion precisely. all i typed was pontiacs are shit or something moronic like that.
Most Pontiacs are shit, see e.g., the G5 or G6. The G8 is not. And I had to have a 360 bhp V8 and only could spring for under $40K for a new car, I might have bought one. But that kind of image is what Pontiack and GM get for making some of the worst cars in the world. For goodness sake, when Pontiac attempted to revive the GTO 5-6 years ago, they took the wonderful 400 bhp engine from the Vette -- and dropped it in a car that looked like a Chevy Cavalier. Now, the G8, which should be selling like hotcakes, is not selling because consumers will no longer give GM a fiftieth chance. Nor will I.
04-27-2009, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by sdg1871' post='860630' date='Apr 27 2009, 03:57 PM
Craig:
Most Pontiacs are shit, see e.g., the G5 or G6. The G8 is not. And I had to have a 360 bhp V8 and only could spring for under $40K for a new car, I might have bought one. But that kind of image is what Pontiack and GM get for making some of the worst cars in the world. For goodness sake, when Pontiac attempted to revive the GTO 5-6 years ago, they took the wonderful 400 bhp engine from the Vette -- and dropped it in a car that looked like a Chevy Cavalier. Now, the G8, which should be selling like hotcakes, is not selling because consumers will no longer give GM a fiftieth chance. Nor will I.
Most Pontiacs are shit, see e.g., the G5 or G6. The G8 is not. And I had to have a 360 bhp V8 and only could spring for under $40K for a new car, I might have bought one. But that kind of image is what Pontiack and GM get for making some of the worst cars in the world. For goodness sake, when Pontiac attempted to revive the GTO 5-6 years ago, they took the wonderful 400 bhp engine from the Vette -- and dropped it in a car that looked like a Chevy Cavalier. Now, the G8, which should be selling like hotcakes, is not selling because consumers will no longer give GM a fiftieth chance. Nor will I.
04-27-2009, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by craigm1841' post='860662' date='Apr 27 2009, 04:24 PM
well worded again. I would have considered a G8 if i were willing to drive a pontiac or any american car for that matter.
04-27-2009, 11:01 PM
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It's hard to compare older american cars to imports now because the golden age of american built classics had no competition for the most part. You had to buy one but because everyone had such limited choices, more care and process went into making the cars worthwhile.
Imports operate in different markets at different wages and regulations, but they fact remains that at the prices that Americans are willing to pay for a car today, this is what the Big three can produce and still employ American workers who want high wages when profits are falling everyday.
It's a classic case of having your cake and eating it to
Imports operate in different markets at different wages and regulations, but they fact remains that at the prices that Americans are willing to pay for a car today, this is what the Big three can produce and still employ American workers who want high wages when profits are falling everyday.
It's a classic case of having your cake and eating it to
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