R.I.P. Pontiac
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Agree or not that was the answer they gave us at the Pontiac meet and I know several Pontiac history books that also point out the 1960 as the only true American Pontiac that was split grill less.
Pontiac did make it very low key on some models but in the interpritation of Pontiac it was there.
Doing trivia was better than dwelling on the demise!
Senior Member
Joined: 04-12-2008
Posts: 527
From: Cedarburg, WI
Hearing more of this in the news today reminded me I still had not posted on this one. I think it is because it is such a sad day for me... 
I thought it was bad when the discontinued the Firebird, but this really is unreal...
I have owned more Pontiacs than any other make car. It was my first car as well. My favorite is my 70 Formula of course. This gives me all that much more incentive to get cracking on that project!
I'll list 'em here in the order that I bought them- (with descriptions!)
'71 Lemans T-37 350 2bbl
(1st car, $150 from local farmer!)
'70 Catalina 400 4bbl
(this car was a total sleeper, top-end aprox 140mph!)
'73 Firebird Formula 350 2bbl (great fun till she rusted apart, still have it as a parts car)
'69 Executive 400 4bbl
(huge car, great for road trips! The racoon tail on the antenna was so cool!)
'82 Trans Am 5.0L 
(man, did I love driving this car and it was mint!)
'80 Formula 5.0L
(looked nice when wet, paint was Florida baked!)
'87 6000 SE Wagon 2.8L
(the family truckster, with woodgrain sides!)
'70 Formula 400 4bbl
(stole this one at just $2,500! It is a real tire-baker for sure!)
'95 Grand Am 2.5L
(rear-end crash totalled by day-dreaming idiot...)
'93 Grand Am 2.4L
(bought this one for son, lots of problems...)
'96 Grand Prix 3.1L (bought this one for daughter, she totalled it in 6mo.)
'00 Grand Prix 3.1L
(nice looking car, but had it share of problems also)
Ahh yes... lotsa memories for sure!
I thought it was bad when the discontinued the Firebird, but this really is unreal...I have owned more Pontiacs than any other make car. It was my first car as well. My favorite is my 70 Formula of course. This gives me all that much more incentive to get cracking on that project!
I'll list 'em here in the order that I bought them- (with descriptions!)
'71 Lemans T-37 350 2bbl
(1st car, $150 from local farmer!)'70 Catalina 400 4bbl
(this car was a total sleeper, top-end aprox 140mph!)'73 Firebird Formula 350 2bbl
(great fun till she rusted apart, still have it as a parts car)'69 Executive 400 4bbl
(huge car, great for road trips! The racoon tail on the antenna was so cool!)'82 Trans Am 5.0L
(man, did I love driving this car and it was mint!)'80 Formula 5.0L
(looked nice when wet, paint was Florida baked!)'87 6000 SE Wagon 2.8L
(the family truckster, with woodgrain sides!)'70 Formula 400 4bbl
(stole this one at just $2,500! It is a real tire-baker for sure!) '95 Grand Am 2.5L
(rear-end crash totalled by day-dreaming idiot...)'93 Grand Am 2.4L
(bought this one for son, lots of problems...)'96 Grand Prix 3.1L
(bought this one for daughter, she totalled it in 6mo.)'00 Grand Prix 3.1L
(nice looking car, but had it share of problems also)Ahh yes... lotsa memories for sure!
Senior Member
Joined: 06-09-2008
Posts: 354
From: Seattle, WA
Already dead.
And I bleed Chevy Orange. It hurts.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-29-2009
Posts: 1,097
From: Quebec City
As much as it hurts to admit, its true. The only two Pontiacs I'd consider spending money on. And frankly, these two cars can be sold under the Chevrolet/Bucik/Cadillac brand. After all, isn't that what many of our beloved marques have become over the years? Badges on the same car?
Already dead.
And I bleed Chevy Orange. It hurts.
Already dead.
And I bleed Chevy Orange. It hurts.
Remove two doors, and the G8 could be rebadged as a Buick Riviera.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-09-2008
Posts: 354
From: Seattle, WA
Oh and now I miss my 95 Riviera. I swear the 3.8L V6 with a supercharger was a match made in heaven....
OH, and my idea for the week, a Solstice with the GM truck Inline 6. For the people who are afraid of turbos...
</end of day dreaming>
OH, and my idea for the week, a Solstice with the GM truck Inline 6. For the people who are afraid of turbos...
</end of day dreaming>
New Member
Joined: 02-14-2009
Posts: 26
From: Georgia
I am bewildered as to why GM would kill Pontiac but spare Buick. Is the market for boring old people cars (and I'm 51 by the way) that superior to performance vehicles?
They are approaching this entirely wrong in my opinion. Instead of having four or five versions of the same vehicle from each division, just offer the vehicle in one format. Why do we need the Acadia in addition to the Traverse, along with whatever the Buick and Saturn versions (their names escape me at the moment - you can tell those versions have not made much of an impression on me.) Why does Chevy need the Equinox, the Traverse and the TrailBlazer. To me they are half-steps up from one another and you don't need that much diversity among similar vehicles produced by the same division. Why do you need the redundancy between Chevy Trucks and GMC trucks? To me the only difference is the grilles and tail-lights.
Chevy ought to build the Corvette, Camaro, Malibu, HHR and TrailBlazer.
If GMC was not eliminated, it should build the full size Pickups and SUVs. Otherwise, let Chevy build them. Also, GMC could build the Acadia. If not, the Traverse from Chevy should be the only offering of that platform.
Buick should build the Lucerne and Lacrosse. Nothing more.
Pontiac should build the Soltice and (import) the G8. Nothing more.
Cadillac should build the CTS and STS. Nothing more.
If Saturn survives, it should only build the Aura and perhaps the Sky.
That's my opinion on the subject of GM's management.
They are approaching this entirely wrong in my opinion. Instead of having four or five versions of the same vehicle from each division, just offer the vehicle in one format. Why do we need the Acadia in addition to the Traverse, along with whatever the Buick and Saturn versions (their names escape me at the moment - you can tell those versions have not made much of an impression on me.) Why does Chevy need the Equinox, the Traverse and the TrailBlazer. To me they are half-steps up from one another and you don't need that much diversity among similar vehicles produced by the same division. Why do you need the redundancy between Chevy Trucks and GMC trucks? To me the only difference is the grilles and tail-lights.
Chevy ought to build the Corvette, Camaro, Malibu, HHR and TrailBlazer.
If GMC was not eliminated, it should build the full size Pickups and SUVs. Otherwise, let Chevy build them. Also, GMC could build the Acadia. If not, the Traverse from Chevy should be the only offering of that platform.
Buick should build the Lucerne and Lacrosse. Nothing more.
Pontiac should build the Soltice and (import) the G8. Nothing more.
Cadillac should build the CTS and STS. Nothing more.
If Saturn survives, it should only build the Aura and perhaps the Sky.
That's my opinion on the subject of GM's management.
Member
Joined: 03-15-2009
Posts: 49
From: utah
i get the reasoning... but until this year, buying myself a black trans am convertible was my carrot for after i finished college... albeit thats still a few years out... it was just a plan i made when i saw the new camaro platform...
well that, and I started to hate chrysler after they ruined the new wrangler by not giving it an engine.(that actually works)
this is still so depressing...
if i had a choice, i would keep chevy caddilac and pontiac,
anything that feels like a buick, could feel like a cadillac
anything that feels like a saturn or GMC, could easily be a chevy.
and anything sporty or youthful could be/stay pontiac.
again, i understand where they're coming from...
but, maybe like family guy... one day it could come back?
well that, and I started to hate chrysler after they ruined the new wrangler by not giving it an engine.(that actually works)
this is still so depressing...
if i had a choice, i would keep chevy caddilac and pontiac,
anything that feels like a buick, could feel like a cadillac
anything that feels like a saturn or GMC, could easily be a chevy.
and anything sporty or youthful could be/stay pontiac.
again, i understand where they're coming from...
but, maybe like family guy... one day it could come back?
Senior Member
Joined: 03-29-2009
Posts: 1,097
From: Quebec City
I am bewildered as to why GM would kill Pontiac but spare Buick. Is the market for boring old people cars (and I'm 51 by the way) that superior to performance vehicles?
They are approaching this entirely wrong in my opinion. Instead of having four or five versions of the same vehicle from each division, just offer the vehicle in one format. Why do we need the Acadia in addition to the Traverse, along with whatever the Buick and Saturn versions (their names escape me at the moment - you can tell those versions have not made much of an impression on me.) Why does Chevy need the Equinox, the Traverse and the TrailBlazer. To me they are half-steps up from one another and you don't need that much diversity among similar vehicles produced by the same division. Why do you need the redundancy between Chevy Trucks and GMC trucks? To me the only difference is the grilles and tail-lights.
Chevy ought to build the Corvette, Camaro, Malibu, HHR and TrailBlazer.
If GMC was not eliminated, it should build the full size Pickups and SUVs. Otherwise, let Chevy build them. Also, GMC could build the Acadia. If not, the Traverse from Chevy should be the only offering of that platform.
Buick should build the Lucerne and Lacrosse. Nothing more.
Pontiac should build the Soltice and (import) the G8. Nothing more.
Cadillac should build the CTS and STS. Nothing more.
If Saturn survives, it should only build the Aura and perhaps the Sky.
That's my opinion on the subject of GM's management.
They are approaching this entirely wrong in my opinion. Instead of having four or five versions of the same vehicle from each division, just offer the vehicle in one format. Why do we need the Acadia in addition to the Traverse, along with whatever the Buick and Saturn versions (their names escape me at the moment - you can tell those versions have not made much of an impression on me.) Why does Chevy need the Equinox, the Traverse and the TrailBlazer. To me they are half-steps up from one another and you don't need that much diversity among similar vehicles produced by the same division. Why do you need the redundancy between Chevy Trucks and GMC trucks? To me the only difference is the grilles and tail-lights.
Chevy ought to build the Corvette, Camaro, Malibu, HHR and TrailBlazer.
If GMC was not eliminated, it should build the full size Pickups and SUVs. Otherwise, let Chevy build them. Also, GMC could build the Acadia. If not, the Traverse from Chevy should be the only offering of that platform.
Buick should build the Lucerne and Lacrosse. Nothing more.
Pontiac should build the Soltice and (import) the G8. Nothing more.
Cadillac should build the CTS and STS. Nothing more.
If Saturn survives, it should only build the Aura and perhaps the Sky.
That's my opinion on the subject of GM's management.
IMHO, here's what GM will look like when the dust settles (at least here in Canada).
Some GM dealers will sell:
Buick
GMC (will build all GM trucks)
The other GM dealers will sell
Chevrolet
Cadillac
In the end, money $$$$$ will dictate what brands GM will retain, not our personal feelings.
I love my HHR, but, in a 5 minute search, I can still find 5 unsold 2008 HHR SS in a 200 mile area from Quebec city (and one exactly like mine, + remote start but has an all black interior). The dealer where I purchased my HHR has about 20 HHR LS LT 2009 on the lot.
Do I think the HHR will survive the current GM turmoil? Unfortunately, NO.
If only the customers would buy the HHRs, then they would know how cool and useful this Lil truck is.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
I am bewildered as to why GM would kill Pontiac but spare Buick. Is the market for boring old people cars (and I'm 51 by the way) that superior to performance vehicles?
They are approaching this entirely wrong in my opinion. Instead of having four or five versions of the same vehicle from each division, just offer the vehicle in one format. Why do we need the Acadia in addition to the Traverse, along with whatever the Buick and Saturn versions (their names escape me at the moment - you can tell those versions have not made much of an impression on me.) Why does Chevy need the Equinox, the Traverse and the TrailBlazer. To me they are half-steps up from one another and you don't need that much diversity among similar vehicles produced by the same division. Why do you need the redundancy between Chevy Trucks and GMC trucks? To me the only difference is the grilles and tail-lights.
Chevy ought to build the Corvette, Camaro, Malibu, HHR and TrailBlazer.
If GMC was not eliminated, it should build the full size Pickups and SUVs. Otherwise, let Chevy build them. Also, GMC could build the Acadia. If not, the Traverse from Chevy should be the only offering of that platform.
Buick should build the Lucerne and Lacrosse. Nothing more.
Pontiac should build the Soltice and (import) the G8. Nothing more.
Cadillac should build the CTS and STS. Nothing more.
If Saturn survives, it should only build the Aura and perhaps the Sky.
That's my opinion on the subject of GM's management.
They are approaching this entirely wrong in my opinion. Instead of having four or five versions of the same vehicle from each division, just offer the vehicle in one format. Why do we need the Acadia in addition to the Traverse, along with whatever the Buick and Saturn versions (their names escape me at the moment - you can tell those versions have not made much of an impression on me.) Why does Chevy need the Equinox, the Traverse and the TrailBlazer. To me they are half-steps up from one another and you don't need that much diversity among similar vehicles produced by the same division. Why do you need the redundancy between Chevy Trucks and GMC trucks? To me the only difference is the grilles and tail-lights.
Chevy ought to build the Corvette, Camaro, Malibu, HHR and TrailBlazer.
If GMC was not eliminated, it should build the full size Pickups and SUVs. Otherwise, let Chevy build them. Also, GMC could build the Acadia. If not, the Traverse from Chevy should be the only offering of that platform.
Buick should build the Lucerne and Lacrosse. Nothing more.
Pontiac should build the Soltice and (import) the G8. Nothing more.
Cadillac should build the CTS and STS. Nothing more.
If Saturn survives, it should only build the Aura and perhaps the Sky.
That's my opinion on the subject of GM's management.
Caddy will be at least a 3 car divison with SUV of several sizes. RWD will remain as will the AWD option.
Chevy will be the value leader and offer a wide range of cars not just avaiable here but world wide.
Buick will get a lot of new product and it will be in the Lexus/Audi class. The new cars will not be old cars for th boring. The new Lacrosse will offer over 260 HP with AWD in a very classy car. I saw one and it is not like old car in any way. THey will also get sever other models one is planned on the Opel Insignia a very very good car already offered with a 320 twin turbo V6. If Buick fails millions of buyers in China will pick up the slack. That is why they live.
Cars like the G8 can be converted into ta Caprice as it is already sold as in the middle east. Not a big task to change and it can be sold here at a low Volume and make a profit.
The Solstice and Sky ? It could live on in the new Alpha platform but with the sales volume they have and they up and down cycle of the 2 seat market it may not live fast 2012=2014.
The Alpha progeam needs to be watched as the RWD platform could created many cool cars. Time will tell.
Oh GMC will make a profit as follow Chevys lead.