[Playdrv4me]

Just as the title states, Edmunds usually won't publish anything like this unless they've got good reason to believe it (they are usually way behind Autoblog and Jalopnik on EVERYTHING)... so consider it done.

Story: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=146706

 

[MauiV]

I still cant figure out why GMC and Chevy sell the same damn product. Dump one or the other.

 

[hueterm]

It's still idiotic, if they're going to keep Buick and GMC. The dealerships are already there -- the niche strategy had a chance to work. In fact, Pontiac, Buick, and GMC all should have become niche brands.

 

[gary88]

I still cant figure out why GMC and Chevy sell the same damn product. Dump one or the other.

Dump everything except Chevrolet and Cadillac IMO.

 

[gdwriter]

It's still idiotic, if they're going to keep Buick and GMC. The dealerships are already there -- the niche strategy had a chance to work. In fact, Pontiac, Buick, and GMC all should have become niche brands.

I agree. I don't get why GMC remains a niche brand since they're virtually identical to the Chevy versions. No reason why there could be a Tahoe or Suburban Denali if GMC were axed.

It's really a shame considering the distinctive and powerful cars Pontiac built in the 60s. I guess GM brass determined the G8 was the only winner Pontiac had, and that wasn't enough for even a niche brand.

If GM is smart — and I don't know if they are — they will bring the tooling for the G8 here from Australia, do a minor redesign inside and out, and use the platform for an Impala SS. As good as the G8 was, it might have been much more succesful as an Impala SS, a car that has tremendous brand equity and an existing group of enthusiasts.

 

[hueterm]

Oh, they won't stop using whatever Holden platform the G8 is based on. I'm sure there will be an Impala SS and probably a Buick version.

 

[Jesda]

GMC costs almost nothing to market and develop, and its profitable.

 

[Submariner409]

QUICK !!!!! Beginning in 1945, at the end of WW II, name every American automobile name or manufacturer which no longer exists..................

The "gone" list is longer than the "survivors"...........

"GMC" is merely a play on "Jimmy" or vice versa, the "Caterpillar Division" of GM: "I have a Jimmy - heavy duty". Yeah, right. Remember the window sticker on the Ford F-250 Super Duty Diesel: "Real trucks don't have spark plugs".

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Oh, they won't stop using whatever Holden platform the G8 is based on. I'm sure there will be an Impala SS and probably a Buick version.

I hope so. The G8 was the brightest star in GM's mainstream automotive lineup. If it was available in AWD for the snowbelt, and had an interior that was a bit less bland and monotone, it would have been dang near perfect.

It's really a shame considering the distinctive and powerful cars Pontiac built in the 60s. I guess GM brass determined the G8 was the only winner Pontiac had, and that wasn't enough for even a niche brand.

Well, all things considered, the G8 was really the only car that Pontiac offered that was "anything special". The G6 was a nice car when it came out, but that was four or five years ago now, and it's not as much of a contender as it was when it came out, and it had the disctinction of being GM's only midsize vehicle that was available in coupe and convertible version too. The G5 is just a rebadged Cobalt, no reason for that, and the G3 (lol) was just a rebadged version of the Aveo, and there's DEFINITELY no reason for that. The Solstice was nice, but they had the Sky too, so it's not like it was brand unique like the G8 was.

The Solstice/Sky could be easily made into a Chevrolet. It would be something more affordable, smaller and more economical than a Corvette, but still have the same feel.

It's still idiotic, if they're going to keep Buick and GMC. The dealerships are already there -- the niche strategy had a chance to work. In fact, Pontiac, Buick, and GMC all should have become niche brands.

Agreed. Pontiac would be sports cars. Nothing else. No more rebadged Chevrolets or Toyotas. Buick would be a quieter, softer Cadillac. Kinda like comparing BMW to Lexus, and GMC would offer heavy duty full size over the road trucks, just like they did in the '70s with the General, Brigadier and Topkick (I learned on Tuesday that back then GMC used military designations for their heavy duty names and Chevrolet used species of bears for their names....Bruin, Kodiak, etc etc). Chevrolet would stop production of their Kodiak and make nothing larger than a 3500, and GMC would make nothing smaller than a Topkick.

 

[LS1Mike]

Should be Chevy, Buick and Cadillac.
Cadillac should not be lumped with any OTHER GM delearship.

 

[Playdrv4me]

Should be Chevy, Buick and Cadillac.
Cadillac should not be lumped with any OTHER GM delearship.

Fully agree with you here.

The defense behind GMC, that it "doesn't cost alot" to run for example, doesn't hold much water with me. There are still HUGE advertising costs in national promotions for that brand that could be better invested into new product development for the other three core brands above. Not to mention the fact that Chevrolet can either fully absorb the GMC Super Heavy Duty divisions under the Chevrolet brand, OR MAINTAIN GMC as *only* a Super Heavy Duty brand as Ford does with Sterling Trucks. There is absolutely ZERO reason to keep GMC Light and Medium duty around as far as I'm concerned.

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

I think Sterling was sold or was discontinued. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[billc83]

QUICK !!!!! Beginning in 1945, at the end of WW II, name every American automobile name or manufacturer which no longer exists..................

Let's kick this pig! (strictly from memory - so I'm sure some will be omitted)

Studebaker, Packard, Nash, Hudson, AMC (if you want to count them separately from Nash-Hudson), Willys (though the Jeep lives on), Rambler, Imperial (Chrysler), Desoto (Chrysler), Plymouth (Chrysler), Kaiser, Frazer, Henry J (if you count that separately from Kaiser), Kurtis, Muntz, Geo (GM), Oldsmobile (GM), Crosley, Edsel (Ford), Merkur (Ford), Stutz (if you count their 'revival' in the 70s), Bricklin (formed and died), DeLorean (ditto).

 

[billc83]

Honestly, I think GM really shot themselves in the foot by killing Oldsmobile in 2000 (sour grapes, I know). Buick should have gotten the axe - the brand had far less equity, and Oldsmobile had just began a revival campaign five years earlier! A General Motors anchored with Chevrolet - Oldsmobile - Cadillac, IMHO, could have been excellent.

As it stands today, Chevrolet and Cadillac should be the only two left standing. Buick is too damaged; GMC is nothing more than rebadges. I just pray a Chevrolet - Cadillac GM doesn't devolve into a bunch of rebadged Cadillacs.

 

[iowasevillests]

I agree that there are too many brands in the GM garage, personally I think GMC should die completely, move the HD truck line to Chevy and be done with GMC. If they think there are still profits in trying to sell spiffed up Chevy products, throw another trim level on those items, give the option of leather everything and built in NAV etc...but keep the model name the same and sell it with a bowtie on the grill.

I hate to see Pontiac go with the major improvements they've made in their cars since Lutz took over, however I do like the suggestion of bringing the G8 over and turning it into an Impala SS, of all the cars they've got I think they did a pretty good job on that one, though I personally like the Solstice as well. Or I also like the idea of moving the G8 to Buick if it lives on, it would juice up their lineup, help continue to bring the average age of a Buick owner down, and still provide some differentiation from the cars that Chevy would be selling, though if Buick does live I'm not sure what the target is for that brand and how well a G8 would fit into their focus.

 

[MauiV]

Buick is the largest selling import in China and they actually build some very nice cars and have some beautiful prototypes in the works.

I do believe Buick just surpassed Lexus for #1 in customer satisfaction, they are the one division actually doing something.

 

[Playdrv4me]

Buick is the largest selling import in China and they actually build some very nice cars and have some beautiful prototypes in the works.

I do believe Buick just surpassed Lexus for #1 in customer satisfaction, they are the one division actually doing something.

Yes... Much as it PAINS me to agree with that, it's true. Buick sells GOBS of cars over there. There was a time when I was HUGELY anti-Buick, but I can't argue with success.

 

[Aron9000]

Yes... Much as it PAINS me to agree with that, it's true. Buick sells GOBS of cars over there. There was a time when I was HUGELY anti-Buick, but I can't argue with success.

They also sell different and better Buicks in China than they do here.

 

[Red_October_7000]

I think Chevy should take the G8 as a platform for Impalas, Caprices, and Monte Carlos. The Solstice should become the Monza. I don't think Pontiac has anything else to offer, really.

 

[dkozloski]

Let's kick this pig! (strictly from memory - so I'm sure some will be omitted)

Studebaker, Packard, Nash, Hudson, AMC (if you want to count them separately from Nash-Hudson), Willys (though the Jeep lives on), Rambler, Imperial (Chrysler), Desoto (Chrysler), Plymouth (Chrysler), Kaiser, Frazer, Henry J (if you count that separately from Kaiser), Kurtis, Muntz, Geo (GM), Oldsmobile (GM), Crosley, Edsel (Ford), Merkur (Ford), Stutz (if you count their 'revival' in the 70s), Bricklin (formed and died), DeLorean (ditto).

Tucker, Sears Allstate, Avanti.