http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6622...ets/index.html


Ok so I'm up early & bored.

Whoever thought Pontiac would ever be added to a 'Blue light' special

That'* a big incentive. Nothing like sticking it to the little guy.

You think they would offer the incentive to the Public. Wouldn't that in fact increase sales? Just a way to get the Dealers to take these models off the back lot, because unless they sell, they just go back to GM.

Whats sad is, I don't have any like of anything Pontiac had to offer in the end. Except the Solstice. I'd take a G8 GXP, but wouldn't even consider buying it.

Im actually kind of upset with GM right now. Especially as I dive deeper and deeper into different projects with my car and find problems that could have been easily been avoided by simply using an aluminum gasket or a steel pully instead of the rubber/plastic crap these cars came off the line with. And im with you Venom, id def take a g8 gxp, but buying one would be kinda hard to swallow at the moment, given i now know the short cuts GM takes.

The new stuff GM put out actually isn't too bad. I'm a recent owner of both a 07 Avalanche and 06 MC SS. Those were both well built machines. I'd be willing to wager the G8 actually isn't too bad, since its not GM'* "bottom" car.

GM got out of the auto business in the 1980s in exchange for being in the financial services business and using autos simply as a front. GM has been using trickery in most every aspect of its business to post very short term paper profits at the expense of its auto design and manufacturing business. I have been a GM owner everyday since 1981 and am as frustrated as can be. I buy American because I think it is important for national security- but deeply resent what GM executives and board of directors did to GM so they could line their pockets at the expense of the corporation.

Driving through ST Louis my 1997 Bravada froze on the interstate. Had to be towed to a dealer. They could not get to it for 3 days so I had to rent a car, ended up with a Chevy Cobalt. Could not believe what a POS it was. Seemed GM really hadn't changed its small cars since the early 1980'* (when I drove a 1984 Cavelier which itself was a poor performer). How can you sell big cars when you can't sell small cars... today'* entry level Honda Civic will likely be a Acura buyer in 20 years. GM seemed to have not cared. I travel for work weekly and the government makes me get the cheapest compact car. I could not beleive how much nicer the entry level Hyundai'* are over the entry level GM products. Seemed like the Hyundai'* were two or three generations above the GM product. Amazing since Korea is known as copying other products, not innovation. The engine in the Cobalt was brutual. in the Hyundai it was super smooth... and actually fun to drive.

On a positive, I love my Bonny. We are on our third Bonny in 15 years and love them.We actually looked at a new GXP in 2005. If I was the GM BK reorganization team I would have kept Buick as a competitior to Lexus/Acura/Infiniti, made Pontiac the entry level GM auto line and kept GM trucks. WOuld have gutted Chevy and Cadillac. Cadillac makes a few decent products, but overall most people don't want Cadillac nameplate. Chevy is tired and needs to go. Pontiac always had a youthful name and didn't have nearly the perceived baggage of Chevrolet.

Oh well....

You can't get rid of Chevy though because you lose the Avalanche. Unless they want to call it the Yukon EXT.

Mouse,

What is the advantage to the Avalanche over a standard crew cab full size pickup? I understand the back seats folds down for added cargo space and it is sporty... are there other features I am missing?

Avalanche/Escalade EXT is for the person who needs a truck but wants the ride of an SUV.

I loved mine because I could fit 5 people like a standard extended/king cab truck, had a 6 foot bed, but it rode like a damn Cadillac. None of my previous trucks could do that, because of their leaf spring rear suspensions. The Av/EXT has the same rear as a SUV which is coil springs and it rides much much better.

I could also still tow 8k like a regular truck, and if need be I could fold the rear seat out of the way, and whammy...8 ft bed. A lot of my friends loved that feature, especially the ones who work construction. I don't know how many times I went to Lowe'* to pick up a few full sheets of drywall in the rain because I could do it without ruining the drywall.


That'* why they should keep the Avalanche.