Saturn: Almost FIXED... Next?

[K-1]

Originally Posted by beelzebub

Buick will stay forever. Old folks need comfortable cars to cart them around. That means floaty suspensions and thats a good thing to many of their target customers who have bad backs or kidneys. Combine that with silent cabin, your geriatric ride is like sitting in your favorite couch.

Oh and old people have more money to burn.

Do you really need a silent cabin when you're hard of hearing?

But seriously, Pontiac needs to be ALL RWD. The G5 and Solstic should be in 250+hp trim ONLY (turbo DI 2L Ecotec). The G6 should be in 300+hp trim ONLY (turbo DI 3.6L). The G8 should be in 375+hp trim ONLY (turbo the Northstar). And finally the GTO should be in 400+hp trim ONLY (the legendary small-block of course). And that's it! No minivans, no crossovers, no SUVs, no sub-compacts, just pure visceral power. THAT would put the "performance" back in the Performance Division.

[beelzebub]

Buick needs lots of chrome... Until then it wont be classic american brand. :p

[steve333]

I would axe Pontiac. Their reliability drags down the rest of GM and noone seems to take them seriously.
Buick-I have hope for Buick because of their high reliability ratings and the Lucerne seems to be a hit. They need to work on better styling though.
Chevy is the next brand that needs an overhaul. The malibu needs to be replaced, the Cobalt needs to be improved, and the Impala/Monte Carlo need to be RWD and more expressive style wise. Let the Malibu take over for the Mid-size FWD seller.

[ChevroletRevived]

Excellent article, NSAP. I agree. Pontiac-Buick-GMC need to be next. GMC although it doesn't really need to be revitalized, IS being revitalized. Buick has a future with China, like you said, and of course the Enclave, so I don't expect them to go. You're so right about Pontiac. I'm getting the feeling that if any division is going to get the axe, it will be Pontiac.

[63cat]

With the brands being combined into BPG, there is no need to cut any brands. Buick outsells Acura, Lincoln, Infiniti and others and beats them in reliability surveys.

GM needs to build on that. Buick needs a big convertible, something GM does not have ..amazing considering GM has so many vehicles.

[chevySSfreak88]

i dont think pontiac is going to die just yet....it does have the G6 convert. hardtop and solstice/ solstice GXP to give it some hope. hopefully soon we will get the new GTO and a RWD replacement for the grand prix.

[GM_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by chevySSfreak88

i dont think pontiac is going to die just yet....it does have the G6 convert. hardtop and solstice/ solstice GXP to give it some hope. hopefully soon we will get the new GTO and a RWD replacement for the grand prix.

mmhmm....I don't think either brand will die much earlier then 2015, but we will know by that point if one will die.

[303montecarlo]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

I agree B-P-GMC needs to be next.

This fix was the Honda drive trains in 95,000 Saturns . The fix you think would be 200,000 Honda powertrains a year?

[eaton53]

First, Pontiac needs to get rid of these Cobalt and Equinox rebadges.

They should not be a full line division, they need to focus. Treat B-P-GMC like the single division it is supposed to be.

For Buick, they should be selling near-luxury cars and crossovers. No trucks.

GMC should be selling all trucks. Why they are getting the Acadia is beyond me. It doesn't fit.

Pontiac should be building sports coupes and sedans, no trucks, no crossovers. Leave them to Buick and GMC.

The Solstice is done and it's great. I understand they had to get it out fast, so Kappa may not be the most flexible. But now there is time... modify the platform to produce a sports coupe and especially a compact sports sedan. It would be a big hit.

Build a RWD muscle sedan (G8) and coupe (inspired by the mid-60's GTO).

When the next gen G6 comes, offer high performance AWD. No lame el-cheapo versions... leave the entry level to the Kappa sedans and coupes. There are many people looking for a basic RWD sport compact - if BMW won't build a 2002, Pontiac should do it.

Real performance should be standard on all Pontiacs. That's what will bring them back.

P.S. - No freakin minivans!!! They should build one good minivan and badge it a Chevrolet.

[steverino]

Originally Posted by W.A.F.U.

I'm thinking that the division known as Buick would be helped by a name change. Buick is still seen as something old people drive. As we all know, perception equals reality.

Saturn needs a replacement for the Ion though. Get rid of the center guages and suicide doors this time though.

Why, auto critics claimed the center gages in the Toyota Echo were bold & different. But with GM it's always bad news. Pontiac cladding was criticized, but the Honda Element is OK

I believe there are more older people (age 50+) with more/higher incomes than any other segment of the population. People aren't stupid, they would see right thru a name change

[princecharmless]

Originally Posted by beelzebub

Buick will stay forever. Old folks need comfortable cars to cart them around. That means floaty suspensions and thats a good thing to many of their target customers who have bad backs or kidneys. Combine that with silent cabin, your geriatric ride is like sitting in your favorite couch.

Oh and old people have more money to burn.

i should hurt you.buick doesnt want an old demographic and they really dont need it if they're trying to be an American Lexus.

isnt it a bit soon to be announcing that Saturn is revitalized.none of the new vehicles (except Sky) are even available. we dont know how they will sell.good looks doesnt win good rep.if that were the case Toyota would never be the super company it is today.

[macphisto]

Pontiac needs to get back to its performance/rebel roots. They need aggressive, wider stances, an all RWD lineup, and the most developed performance lineup for GM. A rebadged Cobalt doesn't help, though I believe it to only be a stopgap. A RWD compact car with some kick and aggressive styling would be great. A new RWD G6 would be fantastic as well. They also need to dump the new G? nomenclature. I think it'd be cool to keep the G6 name, but come up with something else for the small sedan and keep the Grand Prix tag on the largest sedan. G6 works on a single badge because of the implication of gravitational force. G6 just sounds like the car can accelerate quite nicely and the GTP certainly can.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Originally Posted by nsap

You're taking a title too seriously. By no means is Saturn fully fixed, but their revitalization is well under way.

agreed...my thoughts also. The saturns are great but ALL GM CARS HAVE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT...NONE OF THEM ARE IMMUNED NOR PERFECT!I wanted to stess that point!

[ghughes]

the problem with b and p is that their heritages dont square with the ass%nine gas prices of today or the cafes- buick was best when their tag line was 'big as a buick' and they had 25 lb chrome grilles - pontiac had little fame until the muscle cars and souped up sedans, laying a patch of rubber- that is what they are id'd with - they should both return to their ways - but would gm make enough tiny cars to reach gas mileage laws? pontiac is furthest now from their heritage, they have just sold total crap since the firebird went bye-bye-

[Rick 2000]

Buick needs a car with the coolnes of Chrysler 300 that would change the
image instantly.