Savingpontiac.org

FireSol · 01-21-2010, 04:54 AM

I went to a meeting of the North Coast Pontiac Chapter of the Pontiac - Oakland Club International last night. An interesting topic came up where a group of auto executives are trying to save Pontiac. They have a web site that explains their goals. Go to Home Save Pontiac Now to sign their petition.

Canuck Sol · 01-21-2010, 05:19 AM

Make too much sense, it would never fly...

This is the government we're talking about.

NormSky · 01-21-2010, 05:24 AM

Pontiac was never for sale. Nor were there anyone who showed interest unfortunately.

Norm

wspohn · 01-21-2010, 05:56 AM

I would not be surprised to see Pontiac again, but I doubt it will be resurrected until the government is out of the company.

rlhammon · 01-21-2010, 06:52 AM

Out of fear of opening a political nightmare in this thread... I can't support this group or their efforts.

I've stated many times before (and it's been stated *way* too many times in the "news") that this in an industry problem, and not solely a GM problem. What is that problem... over capacity. Selling a brand to another company who simply plans to continue producing those vehicles does nothing to solve the issue, it just moves it around among the various players and does nothing to sure up any of the players in the industry.

Been there, done that, left the bankrupt company in another industry prior to being in automotive.

The best thing that can happen is for a company to shed it's excess, make a profitable saleable product, and return to a strong company.

As for Pontiac, as a brand... it will remain in GM's ownership, and as I said recently in an interview in Detroit... I hope they get to a point down the road where Pontiac is back, and is the performance division it is meant to be.

HUH · 01-21-2010, 08:55 AM

Waldron Pontiac a Michigan dealer along with some investors made an offer to buy the Pontiac name and was turned down. See:
Why Is Everything Up For Sale Except Pontiac? - The Car Connection

Jim

mmccraw · 01-21-2010, 09:13 AM

As an ex- Pontiac employee, I understand the trademark protectionism that GM corporate would have, especially where product liability would be a concern. I am cynical enough to question the decision-making on stopping kappa production and the quick sale of the assembly plant. Additionally, kappa's are expensive to produce, but I still believe that profitability was there. Over production is definitely a concern for the entire automotive industry. Just a point for all to ponder. If you close a Ford and GM assembly plant in GA and a Kia plant opens in GA and VW in nearby TN, is it overproduction or wrong products.

NormSky · 01-21-2010, 04:11 PM

Or the shedding of the dealership networks?

Norm

rsrider · 01-21-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wspohn

I would not be surprised to see Pontiac again, but I doubt it will be resurrected until the government is out of the company.

I sometimes get the same vibe, that Pontiac will be bringing the wide track back, but then I look around at all the other marque comebacks and realize that 99% of the time, it's a BIG, FAT, FAIL. I do think that the Solstice will one day achieve some dubious status as the last American roadster.

I1ULUZ · 01-22-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsrider

I do think that the Solstice will one day achieve some dubious status as the last American roadster.

<cough> Corvette <cough> 53 year head start and 1 MY lead after Kappa production ended.

But the good news is Toyota is taking another hit: 2.3M Toyotas recalled for possible sticky gas pedals -

rsrider · 01-22-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I1ULUZ

<cough> Corvette <cough> 53 year head start and 1 MY lead after Kappa production ended.

I don't see the 'vette as a roadster, it's a sports car. It may have started out as a roadster, but it's not that anymore. It may end up a roadster if the economy and gas prices continue the way they're going, finally ending up as something like an Opet GT, a minicar shell of it's former self.

wspohn · 01-22-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsrider

I don't see the 'vette as a roadster, it's a sports car. It may have started out as a roadster, but it's not that anymore.

The Corvette is not a roadster, but neither is the Kappa. A roadsteris a car with side curtains instead of roll up windows. They persisted into the early 1960s (MGA, AC Cobra) but other than one later TVR, have not been seen since. Any car with roll up windows is by definition a convertible.

Both Solstice and Corvette are (sports) convertibles.

I1ULUZ · 01-22-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsrider

I don't see the 'vette as a roadster, it's a sports car. It may have started out as a roadster, but it's not that anymore. It may end up a roadster if the economy and gas prices continue the way they're going, finally ending up as something like an Opet GT, a minicar shell of it's former self.

Roadster - Definition and More from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Main Entry: road·ster
Pronunciation: \ˈrōd-stər\
Function: noun
Date: circa 1812
1 a : a horse suitable for riding or driving on roads b : a utility saddle horse of the hackney type
2 a : a light carriage : buggy b : an automobile with an open body that seats two and has a folding fabric top and often a luggage compartment or rumble seat in the rear

Vette and Solstice vert: Open body that seats two, check. Folding fabric top, check. Luggage compartment, Vette check, Solstice, well..... rumble seat, it's been a few years since the last time a car came with a rumble seat.

rsrider · 01-22-2010, 10:41 AM

I considered my MGB's as roadsters, not sports cars. Although the journos seemed as confused as us, interchanging sports-car and roadster, when describing the car. But it's all semantics. I think the vette is a sports car, I think the miata is a roadster. And I think the Solstice is more in the category of the miata than the vette.