Is The Pontiac Firebird To Return?

[JJSoCrazy]

In the article from business week there was a section on the bottom I believe no one pointed out in another thread. I have been waiting for this for too long and I really would love to have this car out and for me to buy!

Proof hopefully that the Firebird will return!!!!

There are a few more surprises coming. In addition to the Camaro—which Wagoner announced would go into production a week ago—GM will build a rear-drive sports car for Pontiac off the same underpinnings.

Now I doubt it will be the GTO because they weren't on the same platform so I truly belive the bird is returning!

http://yahoo.businessweek.com/autos/...816_723585.htm

[FireStorm2k]

that will probably be the GTO

no Firebird...

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462848

here are a few specific posts on the subject:

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...45&postcount=8
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...5&postcount=25
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...9&postcount=27
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=35
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...9&postcount=36
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...3&postcount=39
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=59
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...9&postcount=72
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...5&postcount=73

[igor]

the Camaro and new GTO will be sharing the platform (Zeta), so FireStorm is likely correct.

Igor

[JJSoCrazy]

It makes no sense. The Firebird always looked better, sold better, and stayed in production way longer than the GTO. Why take a chance with something that was out very short period of time, when more people are complaining for a Firebird's return? I mean looked how the GTO came back and did nothing for GM. Make's no sense they bothed shared the same chasis and now a bigger car is going to share the Camaro's, makes absolutely no sense. They should bring back the traditional cars, not a GTO that will fail again. Just look at my avatar and tell me that isn't one of the hottest muscle cars you have seen compared to the mustang and the new camaro.

[civilzues]

The GTO has a better image that the Firebird, so why bring it back?

[igor]

GM does not need 2 full muslecars ... do you simpl want a Camaro with a Pontiac "wedge" on it?

GTO will be a performance coupe that will offer the same performance, but not cannibalize on Camaro sales .. what is so hard to understand - if GM is to get out of this mess, they will stop with pointless rebadges of their core models, that do nothing more than foster in-house competition.

Igor

[darndot]

The GTO and the Camaro should compete for different customers. The firebird and camaro compete against each other.

[BigAls87Z28]

GTO was a top trim off a much larger model.
Firebird was its own model.
If you want to really look at sales numbers, The 2004 V8, RWD, 6/4spd trans, 2+2 GTO outsold all the V8 Firebird Trans Am's in 2002.
GTO never failed btw. There is no Firebird, so get over it. Pontiac should be lucky if they even get a 2dr coupe.

[JJSoCrazy]

Originally Posted by igor

GM does not need 2 full muslecars ... do you simpl want a Camaro with a Pontiac "wedge" on it?

GTO will be a performance coupe that will offer the same performance, but not cannibalize on Camaro sales .. what is so hard to understand - if GM is to get out of this mess, they will stop with pointless rebadges of their core models, that do nothing more than foster in-house competition.

Igor

So you want a rebadged GTO rather than a Firebird. I understand I hate rebadged but you have to admit the Firebird was a better car overall than the GTO. If it was so good than why didn't it last as long as the Bird and Camaro. The Camaro was a good start but they need a hot sports car for Pontiac and that's the Firebird. When I see that I see tradition, muscle, agility, and look looks looks! The GTO was a waste and will be a waste again!

The reason why I am fighting over this is because I have loved the Firebird since I was 4 years old. I knew and still know so many people who loved the car because of its power and looks. The T-tops were fun to take off, the pop up headlights, even the 79 style was very attractive. What I am saying is if they want to bring a product back to sell it should be the Firebird. People will go for that, rather than a GTO. They know the Firebird has been around longer and the last GTO was a flop, so they would rather go for something they know more.

[Xeper]

I think the better question is: Why is this thread in the news ticker area of the main page? It isnt news but just speculation.

In short.
No Firebird
GTO will be back soon.

[igor]

Originally Posted by JJSoCrazy

So you want a rebadged GTO rather than a Firebird. I understand I hate rebadged but you have to admit the Firebird was a better car overall than the GTO. If it was so good than why didn't it last as long as the Bird and Camaro.

I do not understand how it was better - one would never see me in a Camaro or Firebird before the 09 model comes out .... GTO is a completely different story -

But that s just ME ...

Truth is GTO will be used, because it will look like a regular performance coupe, not a muscle car. It will not be a rebadge of anything else sold in US (it might be a rebadge of one of the Commodores), making it a fully unique offering on this market, that will attract different buyers than Camaro will. It will likely be tuned differently, and ride differently (how I do not know).

GM has been on track to provide competitvie complementary, but not overlaping lineups ... offering a competition to Camaro from Firebird would be simply moronic.. It will be enough that Camaro will be late to the game to copete lwith Mustang and Challenger.

Igor

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by JJSoCrazy

It makes no sense. The Firebird always looked better, sold better, and stayed in production way longer than the GTO. Why take a chance with something that was out very short period of time, when more people are complaining for a Firebird's return? I mean looked how the GTO came back and did nothing for GM. Make's no sense they bothed shared the same chasis and now a bigger car is going to share the Camaro's, makes absolutely no sense. They should bring back the traditional cars, not a GTO that will fail again. Just look at my avatar and tell me that isn't one of the hottest muscle cars you have seen compared to the mustang and the new camaro.

What GTO did might not be big now, but speaks volumes for the futures.... it broke through the California market.

Pontiac had something with a stylish, modern, and high quality interior with a ton of horsepower.

Drop that Holden interior into a Pontiac again... and watch that thing sell out in California year after year. With CA... comes the rest of the country. And that's a guarantee.

Plus, you don't want a firebird cannibalizing Camaro sales. COunt me as one person who would love to see the name "Firebird" resurrected. But I'd rather see Camaro stand alone and sell well year after year without a drop (like Mustang) than see Camaro and Firebird/Trans AM decline slowly after a few years.

With Camaro, you get a muscle car brute. With the POntiac, you get a more sophisticated sports car. Slight difference... won't cannibalize sales.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Yea, I would bet GTO. A G8 I'm sure will also follow at some point.

[JJSoCrazy]

Here is how I see it. The Camaro is coming out, GM will wait 1 year for it sales and how the public takes it. If all goes well which I am sure it will with competion and sales, the Firebird should be a solution to a sports car for Pontiac. The GTO to me is more like a cheaper vette more than a muscle car. Also not to be an a**, but my dad works with cadillac, right next door is Pontiac. People who work at GM told him months before the Camaro was confirmed that it will be out without a question. He also told me about a year later the Firebird should return if all goes well. Which is another reason why I am so uptight with the Firebird issue. I am not trying to fight anyone just trying to make a point here.

Originally Posted by mgescuro

What GTO did might not be big now, but speaks volumes for the futures.... it broke through the California market.

Pontiac had something with a stylish, modern, and high quality interior with a ton of horsepower.

Drop that Holden interior into a Pontiac again... and watch that thing sell out in California year after year. With CA... comes the rest of the country. And that's a guarantee.

Plus, you don't want a firebird cannibalizing Camaro sales. COunt me as one person who would love to see the name "Firebird" resurrected. But I'd rather see Camaro stand alone and sell well year after year without a drop (like Mustang) than see Camaro and Firebird/Trans AM decline slowly after a few years.

With Camaro, you get a muscle car brute. With the POntiac, you get a more sophisticated sports car. Slight difference... won't cannibalize sales.

That's just CA we need to sell allover the country! Im not to sure with that though.

[FireStorm2k]

Originally Posted by JJSoCrazy

So you want a rebadged GTO rather than a Firebird.

except the GTO won't be a rebadged camaro like the Firebird was

the GTO will be a different car than the camaro, bigger, heavier, probably with a softer suspension... probably more of a grand touring car (hence the name GT=Grand Touring)

Originally Posted by JJSoCrazy

They know the Firebird has been around longer and the last GTO was a flop, so they would rather go for something they know more.

the 04-06 GTO sold what was expected.. it wasnt a run-off huge hit.. but i'd hardly call it a flop