Is Pontiac / Saturn officially closed down? (2011)??
02-20-09, 05:23 PM
#1
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Is Pontiac / Saturn officially closed down? (2011)??
Just saw on the news they are officially killing Pontiac and Saturn. I remember seeing the rumors, but I believe it is official now. Any link sources? I tried a search and found nothing.
02-20-09, 05:29 PM
#3
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123500373416017943.html
That's as recent as I can find (yesterday), but doesn't seem like direct confirmation to me? I was looking for what the news was quoting which had closing times.
That's as recent as I can find (yesterday), but doesn't seem like direct confirmation to me? I was looking for what the news was quoting which had closing times.
02-20-09, 05:38 PM
#5
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I didn't see anything on the morning news, or the mid day news. I saw the chatter on the evening news. That's why I wanted to look for confirmation since it was a late arrival. IF they did decide this, it would make sense to do it friday evening to hold the market over for the weekend.
02-20-09, 06:16 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
I'm sorry to see it happen, but it doesn't surprise me a bit. I've said for years....and my posts on CL are a matter of public record on this.....that Saturn would be in serious trouble if they didn't return to the customer-friendly ways, unique drivetrains/transmissions, and the plastic-body cars they built in the 1990's. Their downfall actually began in 1999, with the first L-bodies, which were Opel platforms with part-steel/part plastic side panels.....since then, they have moved farther and farther away from the ideal company they were before 1999. I partly blame Saturn management for this, starting with Cynthia Trudell about 10 years ago and continuing till today.....they simply were not forceful enough with GM's upper-level marketers and planners in resisting the de-Saturnization of their division, and more or less sat back and let GM bosses screw things up. So now it has come to this. 
Pontiac is also a sad case, but as a division, it never really had the high customer enthusiasm that Saturn did, and won't be anywhere near a big of a loss. Many of its products were just re-badged Chevys, although the Grand Am sold well for some years, and the Firebird Trans-Am had a small but dedicated core of followers.....they will no doubt be disappointed that there will not be a new Firebird now with the Camaro. The Aztek, though, was a styling joke, and turned off people in droves. The G8 GT held a lot of promise as a performance-sedan bargain, and, IMO, was a good-looking car, but, like the 2004-2007 GTO, never ereally caught on with the public. Pontiac dashes and interiors, especially the American-designed ones (not the Australian-designed Holden GTO/G8 ones) were among the worst GM produced.
I would not be surprised, among GM brands, to see Hummer go next.
Pontiac is also a sad case, but as a division, it never really had the high customer enthusiasm that Saturn did, and won't be anywhere near a big of a loss. Many of its products were just re-badged Chevys, although the Grand Am sold well for some years, and the Firebird Trans-Am had a small but dedicated core of followers.....they will no doubt be disappointed that there will not be a new Firebird now with the Camaro. The Aztek, though, was a styling joke, and turned off people in droves. The G8 GT held a lot of promise as a performance-sedan bargain, and, IMO, was a good-looking car, but, like the 2004-2007 GTO, never ereally caught on with the public. Pontiac dashes and interiors, especially the American-designed ones (not the Australian-designed Holden GTO/G8 ones) were among the worst GM produced.
I would not be surprised, among GM brands, to see Hummer go next.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-20-09 at 06:21 PM.
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02-20-09, 07:13 PM
#8
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I hate to see Pontiac go ,but I don't believe we have seen the last of Saturn. A lot of Chinese automakers have been trying to find a way into the American market and this is probably going to be that way. If that happens, if you thought lead on toys was bad imagine their cars.
02-20-09, 10:36 PM
#9
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gm only needs 3 brands... time to lean up...
02-21-09, 01:02 AM
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Oh I totally agree they should can the duplicate cars and I don't think Pontiac needs a full range, I just happen to like the really badass cars that used to be associated w. Pontiac (ie. Firebird & GTO)
Saturn: like the Sky but that's about it, make a more aggesive Solstice and there you go.
Saturn: like the Sky but that's about it, make a more aggesive Solstice and there you go.
02-21-09, 01:10 AM
#11
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NOOO...not pontiac!!! I actually liked the G6, G8 and GTO...damn, pontiac was the only way to experiencing Holden cars aside from importing one
02-21-09, 12:16 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
No. Pontiac, maybe, but not Saturn. Saturn does not need to be let go. It simply needs to become the Saturn of the past once again...the superb company it was in the 1990's, until GM management screwed it up.
Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise, though. This way, Saturn can (maybe) reorganize as an independent manufacturer (let's hope so), and return to the superb plastic-panel S-series cars it formerly did.
Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise, though. This way, Saturn can (maybe) reorganize as an independent manufacturer (let's hope so), and return to the superb plastic-panel S-series cars it formerly did.
02-21-09, 04:36 PM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
No. Pontiac, maybe, but not Saturn. Saturn does not need to be let go. It simply needs to become the Saturn of the past once again...the superb company it was in the 1990's, until GM management screwed it up.
Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise, though. This way, Saturn can (maybe) reorganize as an independent manufacturer (let's hope so), and return to the superb plastic-panel S-series cars it formerly did.
Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise, though. This way, Saturn can (maybe) reorganize as an independent manufacturer (let's hope so), and return to the superb plastic-panel S-series cars it formerly did.