Pontiac is history

[mdrburchette]

I think it's kinda funny that GM's past faults get thrown up all the time but nobody ever brings any attention to Toyota, Honda or Nissans problems, such as crappy transmissions, engine problems or paint delam problems. I was just thinking back the other day, while I was following a late model Honda with all the top surface paint peeling off, about how GM and Ford probably lost their ass refinishing all those vehicles in the early 90s to keep customer satisfaction up while the foreign car manufacturers wouldn't offer any assistance on the same problem.
I must be the luckiest GM owner in the world since my cars and trucks hardly ever give me any problems.

[wengr]

I once had an 86 corvette. by mid 1990 the paint was starting to come off the hood. about 30k on it at this point. It was a disaster mechanically and electricall as well, but I did not notice the paint problem until the warranty was expired due to time. I take the car for an estimate at a local chevy dealer and they write it up saying yeah they get a bunch of them like mine, must have been bad prep at that time. To take the hood down, reprime and paint - $900. While I'm considering wether to put the money in it or just unload the pos, I tell my story to a friend who is a BMW service manager. He suggests calling GM and complaining as sometimes a company will cover the cost of a "good will repair" if they feel it's appropriate. So I call expressing my dissapointment that one of there most expensive products can't hold on to it's own paint for more than four years. I get a runaround, denials, and passed around to various representatives. Finally, a senior rep let's me know I'm in luck - GM appreciates my business and will make a voluntary contribution of 50% of the cost of the work. He goes on to say I need to take the car to Bonner chevrolet at a certain time, and Jack so and so will be waiting to take care of me. I remind him I already have an estimate from one of the other dealers in town. Dosen't matter take it where and when we tell you or no deal. Ok, so I take it to Jack at Bonner chevrolet and guess what - it estimates at exactly $1800. Half of which the benevolent GM will cover due to my loyal patronage. good riddance

[Europa]

You may still be able to buy Pontiac G8 GXP - They're built in Australia based on our Holden Commodore, just like the GTO was a Holden Monaro.

Adrian, I've been watching the Commodores and Monaros for quite some time now. The GTO didn't impress me visually. The G8 GT is an awesome car (355 HP) and the G8 GXP with 415 HP and 6-speed manual is impressive, especially at around US$37,000. I am curious as to how GM plans to provide warranty and service to the Pontiac's. My understanding is that GM won't shut down Pontiac until the end of 2010.

[perthling]

Heard on the radio this morning that there won't be any more G6s or G8s made/exported to the US from Australia. The existing stocks will be sold off (fire sale, anyone?) and that will be the end of it. No word whether the G6/8 may end up being sold under a different badge, but noting the world market for large rear-drive cars is dwindling I doubt it. That won't kill off the Commodore however, as the 30,000-od cars exported to the US was not a huge part of the Australian export program (plenty of Buicks off to the Middle East still).

Interestingly in this month's Top Gear magazine, there was an article about the US looking to replace their Crown Victoria cop cars with G8s and Holden had done a mock-up for a local conference. Guess that's not happening now though...

[Europa]

Interestingly in this month's Top Gear magazine, there was an article about the US looking to replace their Crown Victoria cop cars with G8s and Holden had done a mock-up for a local conference. Guess that's not happening now though...

Could be the next Impala or Caprice from Chevrolet.

[Gunsmith]

No they are going to make all the cop's drive segways since they are not allowed to pursue criminals with their cars most of the times anyways.

[Jazgeek]

as an Escalade owner, I am more than a little miffed at what GM is doing to the resale value of their cards. The more they bitch and moan, the worse my end value is going to be.

as for Chev's, the Impala is an impecable value and I've not heard one bad thing about it from people I know who have one except for one thing..... it's damn uncomfortable. but then again, chev's always were a little hard on your lower back.


Pontaic going away is the end of an era, the consolidation of the car companies in the 70's and 80's produced no inovation, no new technology (they were spending their time rebrading the same car 5 times and trying to cross platform too often) it's not a wonder that Toyota, Honda and now I suspect Hyundai have leapt to the forefront of peoples minds when they think of innovation and reliability.

GM, Ford and Crysler are going to have a hard time competing in today's era of internet searches and opinion blogs, the perceived value of a North American car has declined sharply in the last 20 years. Perhaps this paring off of brands and consolidation business resources will spur the next North American car revolution as it did in the 60's and 70's.

I feel for the workers who's livelyhood is being taken away from them but I overheard a conversation the other day at a donut shop where 7 guys from a local Chrysler plant were exclaiming "we are owed..... we deserve..... we used to....." As a non unioned person, this sort of talk made me rather mad. Of course there are two sides to everyone's story, but has the union really gone too far in this day and age? Is the union necessary anymore? Has the union stiffled innovation?

those are answers I'm not qualified to give, but it's hard not to form opinions.

my 2 Cents (1.68 cents US)

[pope]

The union will now own 40% of General Motors, with the government owning 50%. This came out this morning!

[mdrburchette]

That's way over my head.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009 ... tors80279/

[pope]

So...now the union will strike against themselves? And they will negotiate for pay raises and healthcare with themselves?

[Kevin1]

So...now the union will strike against themselves? And they will negotiate for pay raises and healthcare with themselves?

Since the union will own the company, and the workers control the union, doesn't it look more and more like everyone is self-employed now?

[mbouse]

but wait! the government will own +50%

we have finally gotten the public transportation we've all been clamoring for!! let's go ask the russians how that works for them.

[jimincalif]

but wait! the government will own +50%

we have finally gotten the public transportation we've all been clamoring for!! let's go ask the russians how that works for them.

Well, as I recall, the Russians couldn't develop a decent car, so the came up with the Lada - which was licensed from......

F I A T !

Based on the 124 sedan. Doubt they ever made a Lada spider though, too decadent!

So now we will will have a government owned car company (Chrysler) that can't develop its own products, getting products from Fiat!

Marx & Lenin would be pleased.

[wengr]

So...now the union will strike against themselves? And they will negotiate for pay raises and healthcare with themselves?

Yes they surely will. Just as unionized municipal workers and public school teachers strike against themselves as taxpayers all the time. They will press for the short term gain, you can count on that.