Trouble Ahead For Pontiac?

[Marc]

Pontiac may have fallen on hard times, according to this
article at TCC..................................................................


WJR Auto Report: Pontiac 's Slide

It's trivia time: so can you name the only General Motors division that actually posted a sales decline during the automaker's June blow-out? As TheCarConnection reports in its Daily Edition, the big loser was Pontiac. So far this year, the division's sales are down 16 percent, and there's likely to be no short-term fix, despite the expanding line-up of new G6 models, and the launch of the all-new Solstice roadster. If anything, Pontiac is losing product. The aging Bonneville will soon be dropped, along with the Sunfire and the disastrous Aztek, one of the most reviled cars on the road. There is, however, an all-new small car in the development stage for 2007, something dealers were desperate to get their hands on. It's been a long time since Pontiac could brag that it built excitement. If anything, the brand is struggling for survival. As part of a shake-up at GM, Pontiac will effectively be merged with two other divisions, GMC and Buick.


www.thecarconnection.com/Industry/Daily_Edition/Daily_Edition_Jul_20_2005.S173.A8942.html

[MBowen574]

This is odd timing. I was just thinking about Pontiac as I was performing my duties at Target this evening (namely, pushing carts on the parking lot). Not two hours ago, I saw my first G6 GT Coupe. It's quite a stunning car, though now I can't decide if I like it or not. I've seen pictures and commercials, both for the GTP coupe, but the GT (with smaller wheels and slightly less aggressive styling) is a little different. Of course, most G6 Coupes sold will be GTs and not more expensive, more performance-oriented GTPs. This got me thinking, for every G6 of any trim/model I spot, I also see approximately 97 Grand Ams. Then, I moved to the Grand Prix. For every new GP I see, I can pick out the surrounding 30 older GPs. Then, the Bonneville. I know the numbers for the Bonneville. 20,000 2005s versus 100,000+ 1995s. What has happened at Pontiac? I like their new commercials, and their new product is objectively leagues better than what it is replacing (for the most part), but subjectively, these "new and improved" designs just aren't selling at all. Could Poncho follow Olds into the history books?

[auroralover]

I actually had a 91 and a 94 Grand Prix. Now, I am a GM man, but those cars, while they ran well, just did not feel like they were built well. That impression has stayed with me ever since. Lot of loose interior parts and rattling, which drives me insane. It would take a lot to get me to purchase a Pontiac again, and that would only be the Bonneville GXP.

[oldsauroraman1]

Yup. They seemed cheap to me. Rode in an 02 Bonneville - CHEAP!

[Custom88]

yes. The Bonneville feels extremely cheap when compared to the Aurora. The problem with GM is they design a car, then hold onto that same design for 6+ years. You can't keep that same design for so many years and expect people to keep on buying it.

[oldsauroraman1]

Yeah, they need to hit F5 more often on these models.

[bufo]

I take it no one is going to miss the Bonneville now that it's being phased out?

[JimW]

4000 members at BonnevilleClub may disagree with you.

I think they should have kept it, made it beefier to hang with the 300C's of the world.

[Marc]

Although I am a lifelong Olds fan, I will miss the Bonneville, particularly the Bonneville GXP. If that car had remained in production, I would have bought one
when I retire my 2001 4.0 to collector's item status.

[stevensolds]

I think they shouldve kept the L67 in it, made it more powerful or something or another. They are nice cars...I sort of regret not buying a SSEi we drove. I thought 94k was too much at the time

[oldsauroraman1]

The GMC division is one of the most duplicated, repeated of all that ever existed at GM. Drop it!

[kobalt]

Perhaps the problem with Pontiac is the inferior interior design - yea I know, same interior rethoric again but hear me out: One is hard pressed to name another brand with interior/dash design inferior to Pontiac, either/or material, fit, finish or style wise. Sure their cars look good on the outside and will attract customers good looking contemporary styling. But Pontiac forgot that a potential buyer must sit in the car to test drive it. Now I have to admit that the G6 interior is leaps and bounds ahead of the old Pontiac, but perhaps it is too little too late.

[oldsauroraman1]

Marketing the product is a GM failure of all its divisions, save Saturn.