# Pontiac 1926-2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489 "2009-04-27T12:43:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/21 "2009-04-27T19:09:53Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I haven’t really done any reading on this, but I can’t figure out why this is the brand they kill off. Young people buy them (life-long branding anyone?), they’re smaller vehicles which would seem to be easier to be fuel-effiecient, and they’re more reasonably priced than Cadillac and Buick. > > Kill Buick. The only people buying Buicks these days are old farts who will be dead in 15 years anyway. They won’t kill Buick because it is a leading seller in China. Pontiac and Chevy filled essentially the same niche, but Pontiac was marketed to the more performance minded consumer. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/22 "2009-04-27T19:13:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I think they’ve already done away with [Saturn.](http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-kills-pontiachummer-saab-and-saturn/) > > I was going to buy another Grand Am, dang it. ☹ Saturn is being spun off. The media is making it out to be worse than it is. The Saturn brand is going to come out of this stronger than ever. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/23 "2009-04-27T19:25:00Z")
Used to make what was an essential in a [hot car](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fedrelandsvennen.no/amcar/visitor/bilder/r2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fedrelandsvennen.no/amcar/visitor/roed.html&usg=__bZucd4SW60FASUsI6z7Jj8YbrVc=&h=1019&w=1276&sz=282&hl=en&start=57&um=1&tbnid=iqfvNd12TM_1KM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3D71%2Btrans%2Bam%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS324%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40%26um%3D1) collection. I wonder how many times I’ve dreamt about old 'birds in my sleep. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/24 "2009-04-27T19:30:05Z")
I’m going to need a second car in about a month, when the lease on our Mazda 3 comes up, and I was thinking about a Vibe… Wonder if I can get a really good deal on one now. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/25 "2009-04-27T20:11:33Z")
They might make Buick a China-only brand, though. ---
**Author:** ![Coup\_Fourre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@Coup\_Fourre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coup_Fourre)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/26 "2009-04-27T20:39:37Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > My first car was a '77 T/A in blue with T-tops. > > Not that pukey, aqua blue, but a royal blue, just like [this one.](http://screaminchickenchasers.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/kmcar77nose_Small.125194049_std.jpg) > > 'sniff… Those were my favorite styles of Trans Ams. Love the blue & the big Fire Chicken on the hood! GTO’s were the bomb, too! ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/27 "2009-04-27T20:49:41Z")
I have a 2002 Trans Am and just built a shop for it. [![](https://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u90/ghardester/Beachbird.jpg) ](https://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u90/ghardester/Beachbird.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/28 "2009-04-27T21:01:42Z")
I learned to drive in a 1956 Pontiac Starchief ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/29 "2009-04-27T23:04:07Z")
I had a 1966 GTO for a while. Beautiful styling, IMHO. These were some of my other favorites. 1965 Grand Prix 1970 Trans Am 1967 Firebird 400 1969 “Judge” GTO 1965 Catalina 2+2 428 Tri Power ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/30 "2009-04-27T23:34:09Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Even so, who’s gonna buy more cars over the next 30 years: A 60 year-old, or a 25-year old? My money’s on the 25-year-old. The same 25-year-old who loves her G6 and/or Vibe, and who loved her Sunbird and Grand Prix before that. Now those young people are just going to buy a Honda, Toyota or Ford for the next 30+ years. I asked this question bout 3 or 4 months ago when i first learned that the chief was going. For the most part the twenty something that you are refering to, is mostly brand agnostic. They might be pre-disposed to buy honda or toyata first , but if ford or chevy brings out their ponys again, who knows. While the sixty year old is a lock to buy an american car thats on the luxury end of the scale, so while the younger market is a fertile market place , they probably will realize more sales with the silver set. > [@](#): > > So GM is killing the two main brands that young people actually buy: Pontiac and Saturn. Which is even more proof that GM can’t see past it’s own nose. Isn’t that what got them here in the first place? It probably had more to do with the Majority of the dealerships were chevy, rather than pontiac or saturn, had pontiac had better numbers , the bow tie boys would have been crying in their beer. The best possibility is that a third party buys pontiac and pumps out the pony killer and we can start scaring the bejeebus out of insurance agents again. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/31 "2009-04-28T21:11:49Z")
I used to have a Pontiac station wagon. I have fond memories of my old PonTank. And I’m really pissed about Saturn going away. I bought a new ION in 2007. One of the best cars I’ve ever owned in my life. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/32 "2009-04-28T21:24:57Z")
What’s interesting with Buick is that they’ve lately been the single most reliable car manufacture out of _everyone_ - Honda and Toyota included. GM is just plain silly. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/33 "2009-04-28T21:42:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How did they end up with Saturn? I thought it was employee owned, a super affordable car for the average guy. I obviously don’t pay attention; hope I didn’t miss the test. The confusion is understandable and intentional. Despite originally positioning itself as “a new kind of car company” based in the heartland, Saturn is and always has been a wholly owned subsidiary of GM. > [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > Saturn is being spun off. The media is making it out to be worse than it is. The Saturn brand is going to come out of this stronger than ever. Saturn will be dissolved unless someone comes forward with an acceptable offer to buy it. Do you have inside information you’re not sharing? ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/34 "2009-04-28T22:46:19Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > The confusion is understandable and intentional. Despite originally positioning itself as “a new kind of car company” based in the heartland, Saturn is and always has been a wholly owned subsidiary of GM.Saturn will be dissolved unless someone comes forward with an acceptable offer to buy it. Do you have inside information you’re not sharing? Yes. When I can give more I will. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/35 "2009-04-28T23:10:04Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > The confusion is understandable and intentional. Despite originally positioning itself as “a new kind of car company” based in the heartland, Saturn is and always has been a wholly owned subsidiary of GM. True in itself, but originally it was an autonomous mini-company, with, among other things, its own union agreement that was a total of 3 pages long as I recall. GM head office seized the reins at some point and quickly destroyed the brand. A shame, really. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/36 "2009-04-28T23:19:39Z")
The dealers are attempting to buy Saturn, as I understand it. There is a good, but not certain chance it will survive. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/37 "2009-04-28T23:25:06Z")
Maybe what they should do is make Pontiac a cooler, hipper brand for those crazy young kid people of today. What is called for here is a total makeover of the brand. Add an umlaut and you get … Pöntiac. ---
**Author:** ![ginman999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@ginman999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ginman999)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/38 "2009-04-29T15:07:27Z")
I had a white 70 TA and a Bandit style 78 TA. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/39 "2009-05-02T17:59:17Z")
[US Treasure approves Saturn sale](http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/national_world&id=6789043). I wasn’t allowed to say this before it was officially released. The sale of Saturn has been approved by the Treasury. All of the guidelines have been met, GM going into bankruptcy will not affect Saturn. There are 11 bidders for the brand. As a Saturn team member and a loyal devotee of the brand, I am extremely happy with the direction this is all taking. We langquished for years as GM neglected us, and now we are going to have the opportunity to make the brand all it can be. ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489/40 "2009-05-02T19:27:45Z")
Yay! We just bought an Astra in October, and LOVE it! I’m glad the brand has a chance to stick around. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pontiac-1926-2010/494489.md?page=3)