BigPontiac

Did you intend this to be as ridiculous as it sounds? Lutz and LaNeve sharing confidential GM business plans for the privilege of your approval? You're beginning to sound a lot like Buickman... It'd be great to see the source of your volume numbers. For comparison, the information I have from The Standard Catalog of Pontiac 1926-1995 shows SALES:1958: 235,872 1959: 386,879 1960: 409,932 1961: 380,134 1962: 541,627 1963: 617,536 1964: 693,716 1965: 827,571 1966: 834,843 1967: 836,937 1968: 893,745 1969: 782,513 1970: 540,191 1971: 710,352 1972: 756,521 1973: 807,418 1974: 497,372 1975: 503,857 1976: 753,093 1977: 808,467 1978: 896,980 They certainly weren't always selling that type of volume when they established their dealer network. Number of Pontiac dealers in 1958 was 3,716 vs. 3,242 in 1978. Stats only go up to 1978.

As 100K of those likely go to rental car companies, today's typical Pontiac buyer is Avis. Kia and Hyundai will be happy to fill the rental car niche in Pontiac's absence. Pontiac needs to get back into the retail car business -- targeting buyers who value performance and are willing to pay a premium to get it. RWD differentiates Pontiac from Chevy and Saturn, provides an entry level RWD performance brand to slot under Cadillac which can share platforms with Holden and Cadillac (outside NA). FWD needs to be cleansed from the Pontiac gene pool. If they can swing offering AWD as an option, great. If they can't, it shouldn't hold up offering an all RWD line-up to get an incremental sales volume of 25% from AWD. Sell desirable cars to a focused audience at a profit. You seem to be describing that you want a 2008 Chevy Malibu. GM makes the car you want, just not as a Pontiac.

Um, I think that's a '58 Chevy...Bel Air perhaps?

Ooooh, how much for the '71 Cutlass W-30 clone?

To succeed today, you have to set priorities, decide what you stand for. You can't do all things for all people. -- Lee Iacocca link

There are also a fair amount of Mazda 3s, Mini Coopers and Subaru WRXs running around on black steel wheels and winter tires too. Not to mention the CTS's, GTOs, Mustangs and 2WD Silverados, Sierras, and F150s.

The 3 Series is a compact...not "almost a subcompact." EPA classifications are pretty black and white, even if you don't like the answer. 3340lbs is on par with the other cars that compete with the 3 Series: Saab 9-3, Cadillac CTS, Audi A4, Lexus IS250 and Mercedes Benz C-Class (edmunds.com). All 2WD sedans. The true irony here is that the 3 Series is one of the few RWD sedans which offers optional AWD...a configuration which you deem mandatory for all future GM RWD models...and now you're complaining that it's too heavy! Actually, I find it difficult to follow any point you are trying to make as you drift between your needs and your perception of the needs of every other driver in North America when you voice your opinions. People buy cars for a variety of reasons -- basic transportation, as an investment, to race on weekends, to haul their families or to have fun while traveling from point A to point B. The list is much longer I'm sure and depends on factors such as life stage, income level, geographic location and lifestyle activities. I was making a comparison of the BMW to the Ford to get your attention. You saw fit to gloss over trying to see why I bought a BMW, so I saw fit to extend you the same courtesy. You appear to feel your needs and purchasing decisions should apply to me as well. They do not. Please, enough with the sweeping generalities of "most folks" and "people." Without a verifiable factual reference, its all your opinion. My CPO BMW had no issues, you heard wrong. Hence, I bought another one and I don't make monthly payments.So what you've stated above is that you want a vehicle that provides basic transportation with lots of room to haul your family, styling is minimally important and that price is your top priority. None of your requirements have made reference to styling or the overall driving experience of the car. As Pontiac is trying to return to their performance roots, they are likely not the brand in the GM family that will fulfill your needs. Your needs would be better served by Chevrolet. You also appear to fit the profile of a Toyota buyer as well. The transportation appliance is not consistent with GM's performance role for Pontiac. RWD drive vehicles are intended for buyers who value performance...that does not appear to be you based on your above stated buying preferences. GM offers a variety of other brands with vehicles intended for a mass market, family oriented audience.Discussing the volume of units sold without taking into account the profit/loss per unit is a meaningless discussion. Retail vs. Fleet sales will also have a huge impact on the discussion.

Well, start double checking because you're wrong. The 3 Series has been classified as a compact by the EPA since 1999. Look it up. I don't recall saying Pontiacs would be priced the same as BMWs. Pontiac needs to sell differentiated cars, not necessarily larger cars. And $40,000 - $36,500 = $3,500 (roughly half the amount Pontiac likely had to spend on per vehicle incentives to dispose of Azteks...) Abondoned? Ever consider a spell checker? So, you who WHINE about Pontiac NEEDING to offer AWD on all RWD models because "people" demand it are now saying the BMW with AWD is "porky"?? Waffle much? You BOUGHT an Aztek...the posterchild for WHY Pontiac is viewed as a damaged brand! You're not exactly in a position to criticize any other car on the road. Nice job trying to malign the 3 Series by quoting the curb weight of the AWD wagon with the automatic trans at 3814lbs. Of course the 328i 2WD sedan with 6speed manual also weighs 3340lbs. But I'm sure if you had used the real numbers without trying to "spin" them you wouldn't have listed them. In the combined P-B-GMC dealership channel, GMC can sell the trucks and SUV. This leaves Pontiac to concentrate on cars. I see new Pontiacs competing against CPO BMWs from a price point perspective. My previous BMW, a CPO 2000 323i sedan with 5 speed manual cost me $20,000 at BMW of Manhattan. It was 3 years old (purchased in 2003), with 35K miles on it, had a year left of the factory warranty and the 100K extended as part of the CPO program. And a "chick BMW" is still more engaging to drive than a "grampa" Ford 500.

I call BS. The BMW 3 Series is classified as a compact by the EPA. I paid $36,500 for mine new in 2005. The 3.0 liter inline 6 has 235hp coupled to a 6 speed manual transmission which works just fine in a car that weighs 3285lbs. Real world fuel economy is 23 city, 28 highway (at 75mph)...delivered in a fun to drive RWD configuration with 50.1/49.9 weight distribution. Published 0-60 acceleration is 5.9 seconds. Please learn what you're talking about before you start slamming BMW and RWD. An all RWD Pontiac lineup would compete with Certified Preowned BMWs quite well if they were RWD, had distinctive styling and engineered as a driver's car. Leaving Pontiac as the RWD performance brand leaves the "sporty" mass market to Chevy and Saturn to be covered with predominately FWD. Make a profit first, then add volume.

They did a lot of work on creating the hood and also on "fitting" the bumpers to the car better. If you'd like to rent the DVD to see how they constructed the hood it's Overhaulin': Season 1: Disc 2 -- "Surfer Kid" I found it on NetFlix.

Finally had time to grab some pictures of the Overhaulin' El Camino. They cut and narrowed the rear bumper and the hood center section was from a '69 Chevelle SS. Then of course the Laguna S3 nose... Also, all the molding around the bed were removed and custom cover fabricated. May provide some ideas... El Camino parts car used for test fitting interior...also had a Laguna S3 nose, but with stock paint scheme. Finished car.

How does it sound at 65mph on the highway? The GM Performance duals drone a bit at 65 on the highway... Did you get chrome bars for you grille? They look like chrome in the lift pic.

eBay listing

If you resolve your engine issues, you may want to consider this as your next accessory if you value quiet... Dynamat

Edmunds had an article on a Chevy lamda possibly being called Nomad...could that be the concept? link

The fire truck is now on eBay: GMC Link Price is beyond my toy budget unfortunately...

I think this is the e-mail the article refers to...no idea where they verified their facts. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lou Kaltenstein Tuesday, March 13, 2007 There has been a lot of talk about Toyota Tundra's new ads and how impressive they are. Here are some myths about their spots that I have found and that should be refuted. Also, they are offering a "IVC" type program on Tundra to help with sales. I would guess all of you have seen the ad where the Tundra pulls a trailer up a steep grade (a 'see-saw'), and then barrels down hill and locks the brakes up just before the end of the ramp. Many of you have commented on how well done the spot is visually. However, here are the actual facts to share with people: The V.O. at the beginning of the spot says...."It's tough pushing 10,000 lbs up a steep grade". Myth: Toyota would like the audience to believe the trailer is 10,000 lbs. Fact: It's a 5,000 lb truck pulling a 5,000 lb trailer. A little slight of hand? You bet. Then, on the way down the grade, the camera zooms in on the brakes as the vehicles comes to a screeching halt just prior to the end of ramp. Next time you see the ad....look for the 'mice type'. It indicates the trailer is equipped with electric brakes. Fact....the electric brakes stop the trailer -- not the truck. A little slight of hand? You bet. And why does Toyota have bigger brake pads? They need them....their truck is heavier. Stopping distance between our truck and theirs is virtually identical. And why does Toyota have a 6 speed transmission? To improve their fuel economy....which is still 2 mpg less than ours. And don't forget....their big V8 has one axle ratio -- a 4.3. Suck fuel much? Our trucks offer several axle options to optimize towing and fuel economy. Bottom line: OUR TRUCK IS BETTER! Spread the word.......we can all make a difference. Lou Kaltenstein President Gene Norris Buick-GMC Trucks Inc./Norris Auto Group 18170 Bagley Rd Middleburg Hts., Ohio 44130

Hey Blu, while visiting the GMC dealer today I noticed the new 2007 Sierra 2500HD has a smooth tailgate cap instead of the spoiler type of the 1500s. So, if you haven't gone with an aftermarket type, you should be able to order one at your local dealer now. I want the smooth cap when I get a new Sierra also (like my current truck has). Now I'm waiting for the bed rail caps...

2007 Tundra Falls Short in NHTSA Frontal Crash Test Rating By: Mike Levine Posted: 03-16-07 18:36 PT © 2007 PickupTruck.com Page: [1] In what may turn out to be a significant marketing and sales blow to the biggest vehicle launch in Toyota's history, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released its frontal impact crash test ratings for the new 2007 Tundra full size pickup - only four out of five stars for driver and passenger safety. NHTSA tested the Regular and Double Cab versions of the Tundra, with the same four star results. In the same test, the all new 2007 Chevrolet Silverado scored five out of five stars, matching the same five star scores previously earned by the current Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500 pickups for driver and front passenger safety in a frontal impact. Article continued

You must have a pretty big barn! What are the plans for the wagon? Drop in the drivetrain from the El Camino, pull the exhaust/headers and wheels, give it a Maaco paint job and flip it for crate motor money? I like those wheels for Camino project.

Sounds as though your trying to recreate a Shelby Dakota

Another wheel idea... Says 15 X 7 1971-79 Camaro, Z-28 and El Camino Link to catalog

Bummer no new wheel chops...

What version of Firefox are you running? I'm running version 2.0.0.2 with J2SE 1.5.0 without incident on XP Pro SP2. I have noticed some of the themes can impact performance. Fusion Alternative 2 works well for me.

I found the Overhaulin' episode with that El Camino on NetFlix...once it arrives in a few days, I try to grab some better images of the car before and after which might bring up some more ideas...