RIP Pontiac

[DRS]

General Motors Corp. said it will eliminate 21,000 jobs by next year and phase out its Pontiac line as part of a last-ditch restructuring effort to keep the company afloat and win additional government aid.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042700872.html?wprss=rss_business

[curtis123]

In my opinion, the best line they have. I've owned several Pontiacs, and I loved 'em.

[johnrocks]

I remember when Plymouth was phased out a few years ago, I was in the business then, we survived. Those companies have to find a way to get more efficient and competitive if they are to survive at all,imho.

[WhiteHatBobby]

This is the Obammy at work, and as I said, this is political correctness at its worst.

An Indian name goes out the door, and I wonder how much of this is to appease the PC Police.

Sadly, NASCAR legend Richard Petty's legacy is shrinking. How many of you know that most of Petty's wins came in brands that no longer exist, all of which were killed since the Clintons came over? And now the Obammy finishes off Petty's big legacy (Win #200, the only brand of car Adam won before his death, Kyle's big money wins at The Rock).

[ArmyMAJretired]

Never owned one, probably never would.

[DRS]

With all the competition now car makers should specialize

North American automakers seem to do truck, minivans and muscles cars really well, stick with it

[sironin]

Names come and go. Many of GM's vehicles share a common platform for a given model year. I'm sure you'll see more Pontiacs in the future, as it is extremely unlikely GM would ever completely abandon a Brand name.

[WhiteHatBobby]

With all the competition now car makers should specialize

North American automakers seem to do truck, minivans and muscles cars really well, stick with it

Exactly. That's why GM and Bob Lutz focused on the Silverado, Commodore (G8/Camaro/and the planned Impala that Pelosi killed), and Corvette. But the liberals went after GM for big cars. They want every automaker like Ford (focusing on the Fiesta micro) or Toyota (Prius, Yaris, iQ), or Smart (fortwo).

Pelosi Lied, Automakers Died.

[notluzn]

There should only be to names. Chevy and GMC for GM.

[johnrocks]

Had GM not been loaded down with so much in legacy and labor costs, those 23000 jobs might not be going away, just a thought, I could be wrong though.

[notluzn]

Had GM not been loaded down with so much in legacy and labor costs, those 23000 jobs might not be going away, just a thought, I could be wrong though.
I own nothing but GM cars and I can say that they did it to themselves.

[johnrocks]

I own nothing but GM cars and I can say that they did it to themselves.

I love GM and Chrysler, I think both makers build good products however paying for hundreds of thousands of non producing retirees health insurance takes it's toll.

[WhiteHatBobby]

I own nothing but GM cars and I can say that they did it to themselves.

The union bosses are so powerful that they've taken over too many companies. Personally, I'd love GM to hire Mitt Romney.

Unions are the demise of too many firms. I've never owned a Pontiac (my aunt had two), but had two Olds, a Buick, and two Chevys, and plan for another.

[DRS]

I love how it is always the unions fault and no one blames the managment for their short views when setting up contracts

[DRS]

Exactly. That's why GM and Bob Lutz focused on the Silverado, Commodore (G8/Camaro/and the planned Impala that Pelosi killed), and Corvette. But the liberals went after GM for big cars. They want every automaker like Ford (focusing on the Fiesta micro) or Toyota (Prius, Yaris, iQ), or Smart (fortwo).

Pelosi Lied, Automakers Died.

They should have ran their business smarter and not been in a position to have to take money from the government and then take input from them

[johnrocks]

I love how it is always the unions fault and no one blames the managment for their short views when setting up contracts

They were stupid (short sighted)too and now those contracts need to be renegotiated, Chrysler's future is looking looking a bit brighter today because of just that taking place.

[ArmyMAJretired]

I love how it is always the unions fault and no one blames the managment for their short views when setting up contracts

That's like blaming someone for signing a document with a gun to theiur head.

Can you say strike?

Even if you win your conract points, the cost is devistating for any down production days.

[DRS]

That's like blaming someone for signing a document with a gun to theiur head.

Can you say strike?

Even if you win your conract points, the cost is devistating for any down production days.

The short term cost is to both sides, all that happened is both sides opted our of the short damage and instead are now suffering longterm damage

[WhiteHatBobby]

That's like blaming someone for signing a document with a gun to theiur head.

Can you say strike?

Even if you win your contract points, the cost is devistating for any down production days.

Good point. The worst part is the Department of Labour is pro-union now. Until the 1980's, the Labour Department was always in favour of the unions. When Democrats control Congress since the 1970's, they have crafted anti-automaker rules to favour smaller cars.

[ArmyMAJretired]

The short term cost is to both sides, all that happened is both sides opted our of the short damage and instead are now suffering longterm damage

In other words, the union got too greedy.

Their main goal is to get the best deal possible for their members.

Great in the short term and now they are paying the price.

[DRS]

In other words, the union got too greedy.

Their main goal is to get the best deal possible for their members.

Great in the short term and now they are paying the price.

The union got greedy management, got greedy and stock holders get greedy

And now everyone pays the price

[notluzn]

greedy people suck

[sgdp]

I was promised the Fiero by my dad.

Stillllllll waitinggggggggggg. :rolleyes:

[chip]

I love how it is always the unions fault and no one blames the managment for their short views when setting up contracts

LOL who else do you blame when the parasite kills its host?

[DRS]

LOL who else do you blame when the parasite kills its host?

So people who work for a living are parasites interesting

[GA_LP]

So people who work for a living are parasites interesting
No, people who demand that they be compensated at a rate higher than their labor is reasonably worth are parasites, not "working for a living".

[angelicmadrigal]

An Indian name goes out the door, and I wonder how much of this is to appease the PC Police.


Or maybe Pontiacs were more expensive to make then some of thier other cars. Lovely how you jump to the most out there conclusion you can find.

[JimGP20]

Names come and go. Many of GM's vehicles share a common platform for a given model year. I'm sure you'll see more Pontiacs in the future, as it is extremely unlikely GM would ever completely abandon a Brand name.

Tell that to Oldsmobile.

[JimGP20]

This is sad news for me, as I have always been a Pontiac man. The "GP" in my name stands for the Pontiac "Grand Prix". The world is changing for the worst... not the better. Thanks Barack.

[smyrna]

Names come and go. Many of GM's vehicles share a common platform for a given model year. I'm sure you'll see more Pontiacs in the future, as it is extremely unlikely GM would ever completely abandon a Brand name.

Tell that to Oldsmobile

[smyrna]

They should have ran their business smarter and not been in a position to have to take money from the government and then take input from them

What was the government incentive to buy a GM vehicle? That's right...they put it on the hybrids that were offered by Toyota and Honda. Another nail in GM's coffin.

[Wilhelm Scream]

General Motors Corp. said it will eliminate 21,000 jobs by next year and phase out its Pontiac line as part of a last-ditch restructuring effort to keep the company afloat and win additional government aid.

Bummer. My first car was a GrandAM.

[wayoverthehill]

Back in '66 I had a '63 Pontiac Bonneville convertible. Dark blue with a white top. I think I had the top down exactly once. Living in Chicago and convertibles don't exactly mix :D

So I traded it in on a '66 Malibu.

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

They better find a way to be profitable or Pontiac won't be the only line they discontinue.

[WhiteHatBobby]

This is sad news for me, as I have always been a Pontiac man. The "GP" in my name stands for the Pontiac "Grand Prix". The world is changing for the worst... not the better. Thanks Barack.

Good point. The Obammy hates anything with an Indian name, anything of American heritage, because liberals hate America.

And I may be the only one to catch the "tongue tied" case of political correctness. (Pontiac is an Indian name, and the logo is an Indian spear, with the nickname "Tin Indian".

And yes, the government put incentives to buy Toyotas and Hondas through "green" energy policy. Now we have in Porkulus government incentives to buy Toyotas and Hondas that fit the green policy. GM and Chrysler don't have enough green cars to appease the Obammy, so the feds stepped in; Ford has enough to appease the Obammy (Mazda Atenza-based Fusion, and also the 2011 Fiesta).

Federal Government - Political Correctness is IN, sense and performance is OUT.

[GoBucks]

Maybe I should have kept that '76 Firebird...

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

The Obammy hates anything with an Indian name

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[notluzn]

If you got your G8 GT you're in the doe

[chip]

So people who work for a living are parasites interesting

You really suck at reading comprehension, the unions are the parasites. But then you knew who I was speaking of since I replied directly to your post that specifically mentioned unions.

[angelicmadrigal]

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I know it's a ridiculous assertion.

[WhiteHatBobby]

If you got your G8 GT you're in the doe

Those are rebadged Holden Commodores, so Holden (GM's Australian arm) has now lost its import market for the popular Aussie V8 Supercar racer that even Dale Earnhardt Jr did a test drive in 2007.

[curtis123]

Maybe I should have kept that '76 Firebird...

Had a '77 Hurst Trans Am myself. Damn, what a car. I'd still have it today, but some drunk rear-ended me about 10 years ago and totalled it.

He hit so hard the back of the drivers seat broke and my hand bent the steering wheel back, the whole back of the car heaved the roof forward and broke the windshield out, but I drove away from the accident :D

[Old_Mil]

Names come and go. Many of GM's vehicles share a common platform for a given model year. I'm sure you'll see more Pontiacs in the future, as it is extremely unlikely GM would ever completely abandon a Brand name.

They already abandoned Oldsmobile.

Pontiac's history next year.

Saturn after that (though for the life of me I don't know why they would kill that line in this new era of shopping below your means for fuel efficient cars...).

[FoxGranadaChuck]

in my opinion, the best line they have. I've owned several pontiacs, and i loved 'em.


+1

[FREE DON]

To everyone who is mad about GM for dropping Pontiac brand. This co. is owned by Obama.But look at the big picture I think 5 out of the 7 people who are to help the car makers fix this don't even own an AMERICAN CAR. How in gods name can they help when they won't even buy AMERICAN ! JUST MORE SPIN TO THE LEFT !

[DRS]

No, people who demand that they be compensated at a rate higher than their labor is reasonably worth are parasites, not "working for a living".

I wonder what we call those stupid enough to over pay

[DRS]

What was the government incentive to buy a GM vehicle? That's right...they put it on the hybrids that were offered by Toyota and Honda. Another nail in GM's coffin.

So you just proved the GM was a day late and a dollar short in reading the writing on the wall.

[GA_LP]

I wonder what we call those stupid enough to over pay
You mean when the DOL favors the unions over the business owners? When they have to balance the costs of a strike vs the added burden of the new demands? They aren't stupid but essentially have their hands tied.

[mboncher]

Owned a Pontiac. Was an okay car. Own a Saturn now (which I've heard rumors is ALSO going away with Hummer and a few others). Probably won't buy GM anymore. You're gonna enable the nationalization of this industry, you deserve to go down without anymore of my money.

Too bad too. I really like my Saturn.

[WhiteHatBobby]

One rumour I am hearing is a group of GM dealers will buy Saturn. If the dealers do that, GM is in big trouble; the Obamaoids will regret it when Saturn starts to turn profits, and they pull off a Southwestern Bell.

That's my hope -- the Saturn dealers also buy the Pontiac brand, and then the new company turns a profit. They do that, then they will see GM die on the branch of the Obammy, and when Obama's out in 2013 (Mitt Romney, anyone?), Saturn Auto Corporation (the dealers that bought the firm) will just buy General Motors.

And you should know your history; when the Baby Bells broke up thanks to a government request, Southwestern Bell about 20 years later bought Ma Bell.

[mboncher]

One rumour I am hearing is a group of GM dealers will buy Saturn. If the dealers do that, GM is in big trouble; the Obamaoids will regret it when Saturn starts to turn profits, and they pull off a Southwestern Bell.

That's my hope -- the Saturn dealers also buy the Pontiac brand, and then the new company turns a profit. They do that, then they will see GM die on the branch of the Obammy, and when Obama's out in 2013 (Mitt Romney, anyone?), Saturn Auto Corporation (the dealers that bought the firm) will just buy General Motors.

And you should know your history; when the Baby Bells broke up thanks to a government request, Southwestern Bell about 20 years later bought Ma Bell.
Since I love my Saturn Vue, and would look into other Saturns, I hope you're right. If that happened I'd be very interested, so consider my previous statement amended.