I read an autoweek article a few days ago (the one on the coverstory where a new Chrysler 300C is shown).

According to the article, the Hemi 300C starts at the low 30 thousands ( i think it was ~$33,000). It'* supposed to pack quite a punch, autoweek claimed with some basic stop watch tests they clocked 0-60 mph in about 5.9 * (although chrysler claims it to be 6.3s, autoweek thinks chrysler is being modest).

Anyways, since as long as I can remember, the Bonneville has been the real performer in this little class of vehicles (i think the pontiac brochures like to put the Bonnes against the 300m, some lexus, and some other 'big' car, i forget which). But with this 300C coming in packing so much power, the available Hemi, the styling (which I think is great, since it has the classic look of the long hood and cab-backward feel), RWD on the hemi, and the great price tag for the hemi edition, I really think this car would be an unbelievably great alternative to someone in the market for a bonneville.
I hope the guys at GM see this as a wake up call and decide to up the ante on the bonneville, although due to self imposed restrictions where the Bonne can't be made to interfere with Caddy car sales etc, etc, I don't know how much more Pontiac can really do with it.

This brings the question: What does a GM brand do with a car that has reached a self imposed limit but is threatened by competition? Is Pontiac forced to let the bonneville suffer in terms of sales and public opinion until the other GM brands who 'rank' higher make their cars better (thus making more breathing room for Pontiac to enhance the bonneville)? Does GM even care if their politics lead to a car'* (or maybe eventually a brand'*) extinction?

I"m not saying it'* all GM'* politic'* fault, although it seems like I just went off on a rant. I'd be glad to hear people pitchin in against my idea, as well as state their opinion on the GXP vs. 300c deal.

Mike Diaz
'87 Bonneville

i agree... the 300c looks gorgeous!!!

I've heard rumors of the GP line and Bonnie line merging and becoming the G8, while the grand am sufferss a similar change and becomes the G6. It will be a shame if it does because I hate to see all that heritage go away. Pontiac brings back the GTO heritage and then decides (supposedly) to kill off 3 of its major names. Pretty soon everyone will be driving car models that are some sort of alphanumeric nominclature.

yes it would be TERRIBLE for pontiac to kill off names left and right. The grand prix has always been regarded well and the although the bonneville isn't the big flashy flagship it once was for Pontiac back in the 60s, the mode has NEVER really dissappointed the consumer. Pontiac shouldn't merge it and the GP into one model whose name is simply a letter and a number. I won't go into what they "should" do with either model because that sounds like a whole nother thread.

I think GM politics (or whatever you want to call it) will eventually have the terrible side effect of cripling or killing models, names, and entire divisions. I'm not saying that'* what happened to Oldsmobile (i've never looked into why it went down other than that they didn't sell too much which for any company will always be the bottom line). but what I am saying is that with sales always beeing the bottom line, and the GM corporate stuff directly fencing in models and keeping their stats and numbers at bay then this same corporoate nonsense could easily kill off cars and brands.

I guess what worries me most is that there isnothing anyone can do (aside from some miracle happening where a new GM head hancho who loves one of the lower 'ranked' brands (i.e. pontiac) and someohw convinces an entire corporation to move it up in the ranks. Which seems unlikely). Anyway I still love the pontiacs and specifically the bonneville more any other make / model but I would like to see GM sorta loosen up and let the divisions run wild against each other.
Don't think I don't see where GM is coming from with all this corporate business though. I also realize that it would do little good for the divisions to simply compete against each other while the world keeps its notion that imports are 'better cars' in most ways. This is probably' GM management thinking, they simply want to create a coalition consisting of all their numerous makes which is out to offer a better alternative to every possible car the competitors. they probably figure this is better business because in the end the rational consumer will realize the best option is always a GM car.

Oh well sorry for the rant, what do you guys think.

I really hope Pontiac doesn't go to the meaningless number and letter names for their cars.

Sorry Mr. Gearhead... The C6 is already coming out later this year to replace the Grand Am.

The Bonneville is no longer in the same class as the 300c. But if they brought back a Pontiac 400 slapped it in, and took on 300...

Its the G6...altho, GM Canada has replaced the Sunfire sedan with the "Pursuit"

and the G6 is badged as GTP for some reason :?

http://www.highresautoimages.com/chrysler/300c.html


check out the pics of the 300!!! looks beautiful!!!

I love the classy styling, but that grille, just not feelin it

well im not really feelin' the rora grille.... no wait