FUTURE_OF_GM

I SWEAR...... it wasn't me.

Actually, last I read MOST of the coupes were GXP models which would make the RPO coupe more rare. The final number (on coupes) was supposed to be around 1100-1000 and 750 of those were supposedly GXP-ed.

I think it's about damn time that GM got aggressive with its advertising. I've only been preaching that here for 4-5 years now. It's time for war! (Has been) The ONLY way to get the message out over the default import brands AND the GM hating media is to get aggressive and be the biggest, baddest dog in the pound. If you get my drift. (Then again, if I were in charge, I would've actually been using the same gorilla techniques that Toyota has been using for a decade. If you want to beat a competitor, you must attack the competitor. NOT just defend yourself from an attack, especially if there are multiple attackers)

Looks like Opel stole the original G6 headlight idea... I remember the STS pic and debate. Good times! I'd still like to see something like the ULC in showrooms. I think that sums it up nicely. I really hate Bob Lutz 'blob-ification' of everything (he does it with EVERYTHING he touches) However, I don't think any of these designs (original G6, GP, STS, etc) would've done well in the market.

1) War Ensemble - Slayer 2) Angel of Death - Slayer 3) Expendable Youth - Slayer

Yay for what this country WAS.

VERY nice car! You could make that an EXTREMELY nice car with a little bit of $$$. Re: the crushing. A tow yard here gets classics in pretty regularly. Right now they have a 2 door '59 Impala. It's in rough shape (as were the others) but hopefully they're not stupid enough to crush it.

Pretty much everything, now. But hey, I thrive on confrontation, so I guess I'm in luck.

Glad to hear you're okay. This is why I invest in non-slip boots. I've always had a rather unfounded fear of slipping in some fluid and hitting my head or breaking a bone on the floor.

Excellent post! And I agree 100%. It's hard to see where GM was trying to take Pontiac (If it had any direction at all) 1) They killed the halo car, Firebird/Trans Am with no replacement (And all of this at a supposed "performance" division) 2) Then, along comes the SEVERELY botched new GP. Not only is it cheaper made and uglier than the VERY popular previous generation. It also comes with less options and without a coupe version. ONE VOLUME CAR: DEAD 3) Then we get the G6 which supposedly replaces the Grand Am. Except, it's more expensive (for the same level of car) cheaper built (as is the trend with new Pontiacs) and actually sizes and competes with Pontiacs other supposed volume car, the GP. On top of all of this, it introduces a new, meaningless name and looks like it came straight out of 1992. SECOND VOLUME CAR: DEAD 4) Then the Bonneville, which already received it's awkward replacement, is allowed to wilt and die on the vine while you can buy a same size GP for less. The first GXP (a beautiful show car) hits the roads with a motor that seems to be an afterthought and a through cheapening of all the aesthetic bits that made it a cool package in the first place. 5) After the G6 sedan has suffered for a while, GM *FINALLY* rolls out the coupe and convertible that should've been there from the start. With little to NO marketing. 6) As the Aztek, what many might charge as the beginning of the last dying breath exits, we get a better looking Equinox clone, to ease the pain. 7) GM then decides that Pontiac, it's brand that supposedly had the youngest demographics at the time, DOESN'T NEED AN ENTRY CAR (!!) Then, once the hangover hits, whoever is in charge decides that a clone of the Cobalt will do just fine. Except, it can have no performance hardware (imagine that; from the "performance division") and must be the least practical model (coupe) Because all of the kiddies parents are going to go for that. 8] At the same time, GM decides that Pontiac actually was a bit TOO successful with the first ever Vibe. So they must de-content it and dumb down the styling. Need I even mention the foray into G3dom? What's sad is, the WHOLE time we ALL knew what Pontiac could be and needed to be. We ALL knew about the original GXP show cars... We all knew about the program that the G6 was *supposed* to be (turbos, manuals and all)... We ALL knew what Zeta was supposed to bring (GP & GTO) and what ALPHA had promised (G6 and possible Firebird replacement)... And we all knew that Pontiac COULD BE that again, with very little effort. The Solstice G8, G8 GXP and G8 ST reminded us everyday.

Why? Do you actually have a good business reason or is it just your wish? We ALL knew that 1) Pontiac would die and 2) WHY Pontiac would die. Even if we didn't want to admit it. (I never did, because I wanted to keep the faith until it was pointless) However, there is no good reason to kill GMC. In fact, killing GMC would go directly against what "new GM" is supposed to do. That being, making a profit and being able to be itself again. I still hold out hope for Pontiac... I know that the dealers came to GM with a second offer for the division. I'm not sure that selling it to dealers is the best thing to do for the division. But I do know that, for some reason, GM seems really reluctant to sell. And that makes me at least a little hopeful. PCS, You and I have a lot in common. We BOTH loved Pontiac for what is was and what it could be again, NOT what it has become. We just chose to express ourselves in different ways.

'68 Firebird or a '67 GTO

I say, let them boycott all they want. 1) The republican party seems to be a dying entity anyway. Especially the extremists. 2) The MAJORITY of Gen Y, GM's new target demographic, is not conservative and even anti-conservative in some instances. 3) Whether they like it or not, the fates of GM and this country are even MORE intertwined now. If the new GM fails, then the economy and the stae of the nation will get EVEN worse. (Remember: GM still directly and indirectly employs a lot of people (and a lot of voting people depend on this company) As far as I know, GM is also still 1% of the GDP and still in the top 5 for R&D spenders in this nation. So... Let these people cut their own throats if they want to. GM needs to do whatever it takes to get off the mat.

Awesome! Higher energy costs!

Sad, isn't it? I firmly believe that GM had Saab turned around with the new products. Reminds me of Ford and Jaguar.

Viva, among other things.

Thought about putting flame throwers on my '73... Never did because I don't want to cook the paint on the rear valence.

Yes. I do! (And sorry, I haven't been in the lounge in a long time)

Yeah, but not new. All new purchases have been GM.

I think I will "still consider" GM. But, it's not a sure bet that I will "buy GM" like it would've been a few years ago. The problem is; GM just doesn't have the brands or models that appeal to me anymore. Pontiac is gone, along with the 3 Pontiacs I would've considered. Saturn and all of it's models are gone (which was probably my second choice for basic transportation) Chevrolet is still here... But, the shedding of SS models leaves me with only a few choices: Camaro, Corvette (too pricey and possibly too small) and Malibu (becoming too common, as good as it is) I *like* the direction Buick is going, but 1) I can't afford them and 2) I'm still not 100% convinced. GMC is there, but I'm not much of a truck person. I do like the Terrain and the out-of-my-current-price-range Denalis, though.And then there's Cadillac... Which only has 2 cars I'd be seen in and they're both a bit too plebeian for me style-wise. (I'm reserving judgement on the new SRX until I see it in person) Honestly, if I wanted a sedan right now, it'd be hard not to find myself at a Ford dealership. I LOVE the Fiesta and the Fusion and ESPECIALLY Taurus are really growing on me by the day.

LOL And now you understand why I don't waste my time here anymore.

I went to an upscale area the other night... On one side of the "square" was a new solstice coupe in silver.... On the other side of the square was a Solstice convertible in black.... As I was noticing this, a freshly detailed G6 convertible passed through. It literally changed my mood. *sigh* I've said this a million times, but I'll say it again; I understand why GM did it from a business standpoint. But the car guy in me cannot completely forgive them. Pontiac is just a giant exclamation point on every golden opportunity that GM has squandered in the past 25 years. I'll support the "reinvention of GM" and hope that Pontiac returns someday. However, time is running out for this company. Unless they absolutely have their sh*t together, they WILL fail. And a lot of people are in the shoots just waiting for their opportunity to try and initiate that final fall.

This gives me so much more respect for Dan Neil.

Holden is re-aligning with Chevrolet... I see the logical point to this, but I also think a lot of it has to do with Opel being whored out to the highest bidder.

I still think GM should retain Saab... It's the same story as Ford with LR and Jag. GM had spent A LOT of effort to right Saab (we'll see that if the new vehicles make it to market) and has now squandered a brand with huge potential, especially on a global scale (More than Cadillac IMO) and waisted a buttload of resources. The media loves LR and Jag now that they aren't "mercan" anymore. Maybe this will leave the door open for GM to re-acquire the division down the road.