Tbaum

tdmtaa

et197994

Smells_Homeless

TheTooth

donkeyassman

Chevy:
- I'm totally down with your plan here. Spot on.

Pontiac:
- I think there's definitely a market for a loaded T/A along with a Formula-style stripper.
- I'd go along with the WRX AWD systems if they're available, but I think they may just have a winner with the Ecotec turbo. Just develop that puppy, no reason for a boxer when there are other manufacturers that already do them very well.
- Absolutely on the vibe.
- The two-seather had better be right when it lands or you've got another Fiero. Plus, I really don't see room for this car and the Solstice. It's gonna be one or the other.
- The Solstice can stay until the deathmatch with the car above is settled. I suspect that would end with both of them dead. Sad really.
- I'm not sure about the CTS, I don't think the styling language would work with the Pontiac language.
- The G8 wagon belongs here. Especially if they play up the sportwagon aspects.

Caddy:
Sadly, I just don't care about them. Not quite old enough I guess. I do know this, though, there is no place in my world for the SRX.

After the coup, can I have a job?

Smells_Homeless

- Mid-engined light roadster? Sure... I'd bring over the Opel Speedster.
- Station Wagon? I'd bring over the Holden. G8 wagon, baby, but mine would go to Chevy. Pontiac needs to become a performance division in my world.
- El Camino? Sure... bring over the Holden Ute to the Chevy division.
- Small turbo sedan? Didn't GM get WRX internals for a SAAB or something? Scrap that and use it for a Pontiac.

This is fun... I could spend a ton of time on this. Here's what happens to GM after my hostile takeover:

Only 3 US GM divisions survive: Chevy (family/economy/fleet), Pontiac (performance), and Cadillac (luxury).

Chevy:
- All truck, VAN and SUV lines
- El Camino (Holden Ute)
- Corvette (Too much history for me to move this)
- Full-size RWD sedan
- Mid-sized FWD sedan
- FWD Econo-box
- Camaro (Stripped down to basics and cheap)

Pontiac
- Firebird (Camaro with no "all-show-no-go" packages and unique styling)
- WRX-based AWD Turbo car
- Vibe (AWD and Turbo as options, at least)
- Mid-engined two seater. Probably the Opal Speedster
- Solstice
- CTS and CTS-V

Cadillac
- DTS
- STS
- XLR
- SRX
- Escalade

Stick to these and spend your R&D dollars improving them. I think that might work.

TheTooth

I figured anyway that the next Firebird/TransAM would be based off a Holden platform, given the GTO and G8

rickgrx

NewCarSmellCologne

skulldriveshaft

Anyway, I lie these Trans/Am concept drawings way better than the new Camaro. I do hope someone comes out with a body kit to build them, complete with shaker.

squablow

om nom de plume

om nom de plume

Hmm, a coin blank on one side would be an error coin and worth more to a collector than face value. Something I'm sure will happen with this Camaro...for different reasons.

Nightwing

I am going to make my own Trans Am. I am going to get T-Tops, put the sticker on the hood, Grow a Mullet, buy the matching jacket, and pick up a stranded woman in a wedding dress while outrunning the LAW. I just won't do it in West Hollywood.

hotrodmetal

I often hear the sentiment you mention that GM should have done something new, but rarely hear a suggestion as to what that would be. What would you have ordered had you been in a top floor office in the RenCen? Mid-engined 2-seater maybe? Sexy turbo roadster? Supercharged mid-sized sedan?

(Disclaimer - I waited for the bulgy-hooded LS2 version before I slapped my cash on the counter.)

Smells_Homeless

Its like a BLT without Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato!!!

WAAAAAHHH, MOMMY! ITS OVER!!! :(

CARBONFIBER

You'll find the people there much more accommodating as well as the car companies, who incidentally are actually run by car companies, who build cars people actually want.

LandofMinos,Top Gear Australia sucked, 2 out of 3 hosts MUST DIE

Come&VetteMe

He he he - and, where, exactly, would you find an executive with balls to castrate?

guruscotty

I'm also hard pressed to think of what vintage GM car the Solstice is styled after and it looks quite contemporary.

TriShield

phatnackySS

RoninianHoon

e30 guy

Race7117

TheTooth

POLAЯ

TheTooth

TheTooth

THE BURT IS NOT AMUSED!!!1!!!
.

POLAЯ

I feel like the Trans Am is the thinking man's Camaro, you know? The sports car that refused to end up on blocks on your front lawn. The pony car for the intellectual mustached man who would drive said car in his blue jeans, blue jean shirt, and blue jean jacket.

*sigh*

stos

tanooki2003

The Solstice has styling that sadly continues to try evoking GM cars of old which has a draw to an aging market... the precise market that doesn't embrace small turbo cars. That's what they have the Camaro for. The Solstice should be looking for another market. That's how you expand your business... by appealing to as many people as possible with your options.

The General keeps trying to appeal to the same people with more cars that are very similar to what they already offer. This will bring no new sales. It will just canibalize their other offerings' sales.

TheTooth

Logically, however, I can see how a new Trans Am doesn't make a whole lot of business sense.

One alternative is to rebadge a super-high performance version of the Camaro a Pontiac Trans/Am instead of a Chevy Camaro SS.

@-TheStig-: Teach me, oh master debater.

Bumblebee

Badgineering should be an offense punishable by executive castration.

my favorite car is a motorcycle

What GM did spend time working on was an American GTO to replace the rebadged Holden GTO. This project got as far as a rolling shell before it was completely scrapped. GM is leaving the G8s to wave the Pontiac muscle banner.

Apparently the market for a light little four-cylinder turbo car isn't as good as half you guys make it out to be since there are plenty of Solstice GXPs piling up at Pontiac dealers here in Phoenix.

TriShield

Race7117

Building something different than usual is a great idea, It's the foundation of what originally made these cars great.

The most aerodynamic shape is the torpedo, and everyone is competing to build best looking torpedo.

SpeedWagon

alex94z

Pete D. was on Marketplace this morning talking about how GM's finally bringing back good product. A performance image is not the same as building performance cars.

Blows my mind that they're so short-sighted when it comes to product development. They could hit 35mpg with performance cars if they put their minds to it. Not to mention, there's a decent chance the rules will change between now and then.

So disappointing.

Mad_Science

If they weren't making so much money at it already, I'd almost expect them to bow out of the full-size truck/SUV market now that there are other players.

It confuses me because I don't think they are incapable of making better cars and competing head-to-head with foreign makes... they just don't seem interested in trying.

TheTooth

Rootski

MrSpyder

Maymar the technophobe

MrSpyder

But, when I wanted a second fun car, GM/Ford/Chrysler didn't really have any options for me. I bought a used BMW M Roadster for that.

TheTooth

Pontiac has the Solstice as well as the G8 RWD muscle duo. G8Board confirmed there will be a G8 GXP with a manual transmission and the engine will likely be the LS3 V8. The G8 ST-amino will have a GXP model as well.

As far as Pontiac goes, it is a redundant brand. All of GM's brands are redundant except for Chevrolet, Cadillac and HUMMER.

I can't help but think both G8s would sell better as Chevrolets than Pontiac and that ultimately they are being wasted on a dead brand.

TriShield

TPSreports

SpeedWagon

TheTooth

Mysterious Utility Bento

tanooki2003

tanooki2003

JHJVJR

From what I understand, GM scaled back "Performance" in their "Revenue Division" too.

DustyButt

SpeedWagon

-TheStig-

MZЯ

SpeedWagon

Just build a fun two door, four seat, rear-wheel-drive machine with power and a manual transmission. Don't assume it has to look anything like a Firebird. Don't assume it has to have a V8 (not that it can't or shouldn't, but a turbo 6 or 4 could be good depending on weight, etc...). Be willing to sell a stripped down version with the bigger engine as an option. Basically, try selling what people want rather than what people wanted.

Actually, if they do this they might be better off scrapping that name so some of us don't skewer them for "wrecking the firebird".

TheTooth

ChristianGM

Race7117

TheTooth

The whole "Pontiac may not equal performance" thing is sad news. If that's the case, then Pontiac has to go.

@-TheStig-: Nice attempt at flamewar incitement.

JHJVJR

beercheck

STR8SIX

-TheStig-

Unevolved 8.04

Race7117

SpeedWagon

I hope an OEM quality aftermarket company (is there one?) makes the kit.

no_slushbox

beercheck

corvetterestoration

beercheck

If he's good enough for Lone Wolf McQuade, he's good enough for me. Besides, there's nothing wrong with GM muscle cars or Bimmer fanboys that a good roundhouse kick couldn't fix.

Ben Wade

Just warming up the band for a song I hope we won't sing.

POLAЯ

I dislike huckabee, registered democrat(Hell.. I even figure dout how to register to vote), and can't wait for a camaro... Sorry you don't agree to a mullet(loving not wearing) ways.

reefer

On the other hand the world needs more fun cars, so one less (poorly-made) fun car is a bad thing.

I'd much rather they bother with badge-engineering a Trans Am out of the Camaro, than foist off another truck or sport utility vehicle.

guruscotty

WACKY FLAMING CHICKEN SNAP-ON AFTER MARKET BODY KIT!!

Dr.Danger, Hasta la victoria siempre!

Tachman

Back to the Future or deja vu all over again.

cgarison

Ash78

brandegee

StuPidaso

badco/LoJ

ThnderbltDoherty

Face it folks, if you took a brand new BMW 330 and just stuck a Camaro or Trans Am nameplate on it, it would go from hip and trendy to redneck car instantly. Those nameplates say "Only buy this car if you want Mike Huckabee to be President".

And I think rednecks (for the most part) would rather spend $40K on a Z71 than a Z-28.

I don't think a modern banditmobile would find many buyers.

A few, but not enough to make production profitable.

clinto

So 2020 is 12 years away. They can't put gas guzzlers on the road now and if need be pull them in 2020 or limit quantities, or heaven forbid find a way to make them more fuel efficient. What is the life cycle of a car these days? I think you could probably put out a generation or two of what the hell they want.

No American car company has had to pay a CAFE fine yet. The government is pushovers, test them.

Maybe I am simple when it comes to this stuff and there is a grading period or something. But what ever lose another 39 billion I don't care I like buying my cars heavily discounted.

BLS

I feel like that Indian, atop the hill, looking down upon the freeway.

*Tear*

SpeedWagon

I guess I'll just have to wait for somebody in the aftermarket to release a Firebird kit.

WarShrike