[mgarblik]

I try to follow this stuff pretty carefully and I don't recall Buick EVER mentioned as a division to cancel or go out of business. It seems Chevrolet and Buick are untouchable, as long as Obama and his cronies are willing to give GM handouts anyway. Cadillac was rumored to be on the chopping block back in the early 90's right before the "Northstar" conference which really changed their direction and launched a new engine platform. Similarly, the Corvette was possibly going to be dropped after the C4 series, but Chevrolet got much more serious about building a truly great sports car and the model was saved. Pontiac had a few murmurs of being axed prior to it actually happening, but the strong sales of Grans Ams, Grand Prix and Bonnevilles probably kept them alive longer than some thought. Then GM discontinued all their strong sellers and gave them the Aztek. That pretty much finished things up for them. Buick just continues to plod along, boring cars, with styling that at best is generic, at worst a Hyundai copy. I understand the Chinese love them, they can have them.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Pontiac had a few murmurs of being axed prior to it actually happening, but the strong sales of Grans Ams, Grand Prix and Bonnevilles probably kept them alive longer than some thought. Then GM discontinued all their strong sellers and gave them the Aztek.

I think you have your info wrong.

The Aztek had a brief run (2000 - 2005), but was discontinued at the same time as the Bonneville and the Grand Am. The Grand Prix was still being produced through 2008.

The G3, G5, G6, G8, Solstice, Torrent and Vibe were the vehicles in production at the end in 2009 - and Pontiac was still a pretty vibrant brand with models that were desirable.

Pontiac, in 2006 (without the Aztek, Bonneville and Grand Am) sold 410,000 vehicles compared to Buick's 240,000 in the United States.

In 2008, in the midst of all the turmoil in the auto industry, Pontiac (without the Aztek, Bonneville and Grand Am) sold 267,000 vehicles compared to Buick's 137,000.

Buick biggest seller for Buick was the Enclave in 2008 - a vehicle that already had the GMC and Chevy clones. Buick had nothing the American public wanted. Nearly 45,000 of the total 137,000 Buicks in 2008 were Enclaves.

Our thanks to the current administration for the forced elimination of the Pontiac brand.

[johnta1]

GM and Pontiac

Who was in office when Olds went away?
Who was in office when Firebirds went away?

Don't blame current admin. for GM's (Lutz) problems.

I think Lutz used prez as a convenient escape goat.

Lutz was already planning to get rid of Pontiac (and the others) but didn't have the balls to straighten GM out.
Had to have someone else do his job.