Holes in the dream

Chat about all things Bonneville (and related cars). Off-topic stuff should be in the lounge, and all mechanical problems should be posted in the proper forum.
User avatar
spoiledred94
Posts like a Northstar
Posts like a Northstar
Posts: 1844
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 8:52 pm
Year and Trim: Black 2001 Bonneville SSEi
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by spoiledred94 »

I agree. Trusted and familiar. I love my bonnie. Its the first car of mine that really caught me. Maybe it won't be the last but I/m not ready to throw in the towel. Betty screams. I wish I could put pipes on her and tediously keep her healthy forever. Is there any real chance Pontiac might be resurrected?
2001 Bonneville SSEi. 1598xx mi.
great car. Wrecked

ImageImage
Burnt Bonny.

Note if you pull the injectors to obserbe fuel delivery...make sure you leave the plugs in and disconnect the ign. Believe me
User avatar
nos4blood70
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 9522
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by nos4blood70 »

Honestly, I doubt we'll ever see Pontiac again.
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 250k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 101k miles
Image
1oldman
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 3975
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 11:21 pm
Year and Trim: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Location: Lone Star State

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by 1oldman »

spoiledred94 wrote: Is there any real chance Pontiac might be resurrected?
I hope I'm wrong, but I'll have to agree with Carl. It's a shame too. I would have canned Buick before Pontiac, but I'm not the captain of the ship. I believe that Buick sales in China kept that division from getting unplugged. - BC
In Memory of Brad - 1/21/1977 .. 10/23/2013 ...... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 .....
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321
Jrs3800
Retired Admin/Techinfo Admin
Retired Admin/Techinfo Admin
Posts: 26009
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 2:08 pm
Year and Trim: 03 SLE, 95 SE, 95 TS SE
Location: Space Coast, or at least it used to be

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by Jrs3800 »

It was both Buick and the Government that ultimately caused Pontiac to get the Axe... Not so sure we will ever see another pontiac either... Its a shame..
User avatar
CMNTMXR57
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5841
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
Location: CHICAGO

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

You need to separate emotional viewpoints from business viewpoints. Yea, it's nice when being a gearhead and having a passion synergize with those business cases, but more oft than not, they don't.

Fact of the matter is, China is quickly becoming the most explosive automotive growth market on the planet. It has been for some time, but recently is REALLY exploding. This isn't just a GM thing. Ford is trying to quickly catch up (as they have been well behind the curve), and is investing heavily in China, as are other manufacturers (american and other). One particularly strong demo of the that market that is a segment leader is luxury cars. That is where Buick comes in. Over there, it has a near fanatical status. It's like kids shooting other kids over Air Jordan's years back. Darn near the same is happening over there with Buick!

So it makes absolutely no financial sense to keep a brand that is floundering (Pontiac), in a market that isn't poised for market growth anywhere near those rates being seen in China (North America). Yea, we are all preferable to it but again, we're enthusiasts and we're blinded by our emotional attachment. Some could safely say that much like Oldsmobile, they (Pontiac) finally got some great products a little too late (Solstice, GTO, G8...), coupled with piss poor marketing, but lets face facts, most people laughed at Pontiac of recent and it really became a Chevy with tacked on body cladding and other visible adornments.

There will never be another Pontiac division within GM. Period. Get over it. Enjoy what you have, and when it comes time, enjoy some of the current GM products. Namely Cadillac (I REALLY can't wait to see the future of this now that Johan de Nysschen is revamping things and bringing new things to market). But even Chevy (the SS, Camaro, Corvette), and even domestic Buick's. The new Regal's, LaCrosse's, etc, are all pretty *dang* nice products. You'll find that sporting brands are being phased out in favor of near luxury and luxury marque's. Even freaking Kia and Hyundai are encroaching luxury cars with the Genesis and K900! As such, Pontiac really didn't have a strong position anyway and would've probably been rendered obsolete.
Image

Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
User avatar
MattStrike
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 4760
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
Location: SE Michigan

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by MattStrike »

I for one hate badge engineering.. What they should have done with so many brands was dedicated body for each brand, make it the brand flagship, and maybe have one or two models share a platform cross-brand.

Did you know Chevy has 18 models now? What makes Chevy so popular? Answer that, and I can point out 12 models that don't belong to the Chevy badge..
Boost addict
Image

The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67
User avatar
CMNTMXR57
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5841
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
Location: CHICAGO

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

I agree and because they're trying to be everything to everyone. Being the "affordable" brand, gotta have a screwdriver for every need.
Image

Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
User avatar
spoiledred94
Posts like a Northstar
Posts like a Northstar
Posts: 1844
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 8:52 pm
Year and Trim: Black 2001 Bonneville SSEi
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: Holes in the dream

Post by spoiledred94 »

Or an elctro GTO with great 1/4 mi marks. I'd buy new tools to work on that.
2001 Bonneville SSEi. 1598xx mi.
great car. Wrecked

ImageImage
Burnt Bonny.

Note if you pull the injectors to obserbe fuel delivery...make sure you leave the plugs in and disconnect the ign. Believe me
Post Reply