AN: Dealer Sources Say GM Plans To Add G3 To Pontiac Line

[stick076]

Originally Posted by treekiller

??????????
Dosent the ecotec 2.0DI-t stomp a mud hole into the VW 2.0DI-t

the GTI is a tarted up heavyweight Pig of a hatchback.

The euro/Dollar exchange rate is messed up so the VW is overpriced.

so it's
1. Slow
2. Heavy
3. Overpriced

Oh yes, The quintessential formula for a "hot hatch".. Hot hatches need to be small, light , cheap and nimble.

The toyota Yaris 3 door fits the Hot hatch bill better then the Golf has since MK-III and a Coupe G3 is about as close as the US can come with current platforms... as an owner of an original Rabbit GTI and it's whopping 100hp there is somthing magical about a good hot hatch and the current Golf does not posess that magic.

The Golf has gotten slower, heavier and more expensive with each generation, as has the Civic and Corolla, and Sentra. and all the cool little cars we used to turn into snot rockets. and a 100hp 2300lb car, with a twist beam axle IS the formula the GTI used. any idiot can make power. lightness has to be purchased.

Have you drive a new Rabbit? Or the new GTI? Or the 3 door Yaris? I have driven them all and regularly drive my GTI and my girlfriend's 3 door Yaris. The current GTI is amazing to drive for the money. It is also at about the same performance as the MKIV R32...How does that make it slower??? To even say that the Yaris is remotely close to as fun to drive or "magical" as the current GTI is just asinine.

As for the weight, government regulations have changed over the years. Increased safety is mandatory and without the use of expensive, exotic, lightweight materials, the weight will go up. I do agree there is something special about the old GTI and like cars but those days have (unfortunately) past.

As until the GM 2.0T gets into a respectable and useful vehicle, it is just another waste of an amazing motor. I don't understand for the life of me why GM can't make a hatch desirable to the under 30 crowd.

[nsap]

And people wondered why I call for the death of Pontiac...

The dealerships cannot accept a Pontiac in the form that it needs to be!!!!

[HotCarNut]

If they're going to stick Pontiac with the G3, the least they can do is make that beautiful Holden Coupe 60 concept available as a production GTO for the US. In fact, kill the Pontiac Sport Truck (or whatever its' name is today) and bring the coupe instead. Oh, and don't forget the GXP versions of the G8 and the Coupe 60.

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Lets give one to Cadillac (called the WTF) and Hummer (H0) as well to up their fuel economy average!

Lol!! Good ones!!!!

[johnstarnes]

Those mileage ratings strike me as low for SUCH small cars.

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by GMC-70

They have done it before---why not do it again. Anyone remember the Korean Lemans?---now that was a disgrace to the Lemans name.

If this is what they have to do to justify cars like the G8 then it is what it is.

Oh my I had forgotten about that LeMans monstrosity that was a spear to the heart of Pontiac's legacy.

[zabolots]

That's what sucks about having Pontiac being the "low man on the totem pole" in the BPG sales channel. They get all the crap that doesn't fit into the B or G to round out the channel.

An Aveo clone (or Vibe for that matter) has no place in the Pontiac lineup.

[JM9777]

Well, this should be the final nail in Pontiac's coffin.

This is the same company that says they can offer products like the G8 GT, CTS-V and Corvette ZR-1 because a few thousand of such cars each year won't affect their CAFE. Then, they turn around and give Pontiac a G3....now, all of a sudden, a few thousand G3s each year will impact their CAFE.

As much as I've disliked the idea over the past couple of years, I am now fully on board with nsap that they just need get it over with and kill Pontiac.

[goatgary]

As lame as this move is, there will be SOME incremental sales beyond the Aveo and GM is simply looking to move the Corporate MPG average, no matter how miniscule. Every drop counts.

[plane]

Where's the GM $12k subcompact that achieves 30 mpg city, 44 highway?
Maybe something that is slightly competitive with Toyota and Honda's offerings?
No, no worries.
I'll just stand here and wait until you can get one delivered.
WHATDA?
2029?
with a firm "maybe"?
um.
ok then.
Nevermind.

[CharlotteFirebird]

Originally Posted by goatgary

As lame as this move is, there will be SOME incremental sales beyond the Aveo and GM is simply looking to move the Corporate MPG average, no matter how miniscule. Every drop counts.

...but why can't those people buy an Aveo instead? Why does a Pontiac Aveo need to be added?

[windvale]

So they are going to just go ahead and rebadge a non-competitive product?

Now the G3, G5 and G6 are just basically rebadged Chevy's, right? Why not just rebadge the G8 as an Impala, and slap a bowtie on the Solstice - and be done with the whole charade??? Pontiac's a joke...

Sounds like the same old GM to me...

[windvale]

Originally Posted by goatgary

As lame as this move is, there will be SOME incremental sales beyond the Aveo and GM is simply looking to move the Corporate MPG average, no matter how miniscule. Every drop counts.

Yes - but at a cost. The further brand erosion of the Pontiac name.


Once again, GM is sacrificing the future on the altar of the immediate...

Dumb, dumb, dumb!

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by windvale

So they are going to just go ahead and rebadge a non-competitive product?

Now the G3, G5 and G6 are just basically rebadged Chevy's, right? Why not just rebadge the G8 as an Impala, and slap a bowtie on the Solstice - and be done with the whole charade??? Pontiac's a joke...

Sounds like the same old GM to me...

Yup, but in another thread we're going to debate whether or not the market can support all of GM's divisions. See, it's not the market, per se, that's killing GM's brands. It's GM's management. Focused on next quarter, focused on anything but clearly defining brands, GM's gonna go ahead with another rebadge-and as you pointed out, one based on a vehicle that's not especially successful-and then act shocked when the model doesn't work out and when Pontiac continues to suffer image-wise.

Success is staring GM right in the face, yet GM has its eyes closed. Again.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by nsap

And people wondered why I call for the death of Pontiac...

The dealerships cannot accept a Pontiac in the form that it needs to be!!!!

I agree. tgagneguam will say that it's foolish to call for the demise of a brand, as they're assets, but if GM refuses to do anything unique with Pontiac than there's no point in keeping them around. Just as with the G5 (compared to Cobalt), the G3 (compared to Aveo) will offer no additional power or options, and will cost a bit more. They will see around 1000 a month. They could probably use the money they'll waste marketing this to offer incentives on the Aveo and sell as many without reminding people that Pontiac isn't an important brand that deserves unique vehicles.