Last Friday'* Wall Street Journal showed a statistic that 70% of Pontiac owners, when replacing their Pontiac, are not buying any GM made vehicle.

This is a surprising statistic- but is it really? We have wanted to replace the Bonneville for years, but could not find a GM vehicle to replace it. The only vehicle that came close was the Cadillac CTS. Two of our friends (both much older) have CTSs and discovered they break down often, but worse is that Cadillac dealers seem to struggle with fixing CTSs on their first attempt- like the Caddy techs are not good, motivated, trained or kept to a high standard..... No way to really know.

GM got out of the vehicle business in the 1980s. They became a money moving business for Wall Street, using vehicles as the main tool to move money. GM did make a few good vehicles since the 80s, the Bonneville being one of them. For the most part GM went through the motions when it came to vehicle research and design, while GM executives lived the high life and made millions.

GM is now led by..... a Wall Street Banker, not a Car guru. How I wish GM would of paid any randsome to get someone of the likes of a BMW CEO to lead the way.

I speculate, GM will see BK again before the end of this decade. I am glad they are investing in a updated Vette...... but that is the least of GMs worries, they need to have great small cars and then cars for the small car buyers to upgrade to. Simple formula.....

im not surprised, i got a 13 yr old car with almost 160k on it now and gm doesnt make anything like it anymore. best i could do is find a new sle or something that someone took care of and didnt rackup alot of miles

I agree. My next Bonny will hopefully be from some older person- that lives in Arizona, New Mexico or California.

i wouldnt blame them, never liked any of the other GM cars anyways.
only stuff that used to catch my eyes were pontiacs and cadillacs, cant deny the fact that Buicks are starting to kick in somehow

Yup, my next car will be some 1996-200something Pontiac. It'* certainly cheaper than making regular car payments, and I know how to fix a 3800 decently enough.

Though, for what it'* worth, my '97 has barely any rust, despite having spent five years (if not its whole life) in the snowy, salty northeast. (Meanwhile, my friend with the '96 Ford Explorer is complaining about his gas tank and subframe wanting to fall off, and if I can fix it.)

regardless of the brand of the car it all depends on where it was before we owned it

if you run it through the wash a few times a month even in salt country it slows down quite a bit

It'* sad! I wish they'd bring back Pontiac......there trade mark brand, and stop catering to the maybe .5 percent that could actually afford a new corvette, and start thinking if us little guys (and gals) who have just enough money to by a $20 - 30k car! You start soaking all your time and money into a vett that cost more than most people'* houses, and you're gonna sink!

Pontiac was GM'* "sport" brand. They took it away, so GM doesn't have 'tech' anymore. At least, not for the price. Sure, Camaros and Vettes are sporty and muscle enough. But they are getting pricy. And they have to revert to 1- a retro look to revive the line or 2- simple variations on a same theme. At least Pontiac would come up with some edgy designs that had flair and spunk. And except for Camaros & Corvettes it seems everyone either loves or hates a Chevy right now. I'm one of the latter as well, i'll never drive another bowtie if i can help it. At least until they start making some things that look a little less like cookie cutter people movers. Buick seemed like they were trying to shed that 'grampa/old codger' car stigma they had, but are now trying to win it back like they're the new Oldsmobile or something. Cadillac. . . Yeesh. I dunno. They're trying to be edgy but are WAAAY to overpriced for everyman. In any case, i'm not sayin' Ford is any better either. But i've had a fondness for the Mustang since my mom had her '65 when i was 4, and it seems people have latched onto their ideas better than GMs. GM keeps tagging new cars with old badges that younger and younger generations don't remember (at least the GOOD ones anyway).

Damn that was a ramble. Sorry. To summarize - in the Ford vs GM rivalry i believe i'd buy a Dodge.

I agree, Stadawim.

Growing up in the 1990'*, as a young lad who didn't know GM from the back of his hand, from the dirt on the back of said hand:

• Buick = old people (full disclosure: my grandparents owned a Roadmaster before buying a Century)
• Pontiac = the sporty, shiny things that were fun to look at out the back windows
• Chevrolet = everything else

I appreciate GM trying to downsize and make better use of what they have (even if the Treasury didn't own a huge share), and while fiscally responsible, but there'* a hole in the lineup for the lower- to middle-class people who want a new car that will growl and who emphasize fun over fuel economy. Now, I see:

• Buick = cheap luxury, aimed at older people but reaching for an appreciative younger crowd (like Bonneville owners)
• Cadillac = expensive luxury, and trying to reclaim what'* lost to Lexus
• GMC = trucks
• Chevrolet = (still) everything else

What'* a current Pontiac owner to do? I sat in a newer Cobalt last year, and it felt sporty and fun to drive, but my knees were touching something no matter how I sat.

Kudos to GM for leaving a catch-all and not trying to pigeon-hole every person in America into a single brand, but seriously, how much money does it cost to make (x) less Chevy badges and instead make (x) Pontiac badges? New GM bought Pontiac from Motors Liquidation, and I'd like to think they did it for a reason. Time will tell.