Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinjlm
Bringing us back on topic. Especially since I played more than a minor part in spinning us way off topic. What would be the business reason for bringing Pontiac back?
- High demand for moderately priced performance vehicles? Nope. Camaro, Challenger, Charger and 300 are gone. Mustang is still standing but sales have dropped year over year despite having no competition. There is simply not enough demand for performance vehicles to revive an entire brand and support all the expense involved in that.
- A brand to keep the sedan alive? Nope. Malibu just got dropped. Sedans in general are losing volume to compact and mid-size crossover utilities.
There is not a logical business reason to revive Pontiac. Especially if whatever comes out of a Pontiac brand only serves to “borrow” sales from Chevrolet. |
To that point, GM no longer has an excitement division. The $60k Base Corvette that never happened was always priced too high for today's hopeful middle class anyway. Camaro is gone. Anything affordable has a wheezy little 4-cylinder and the coolest it's ever going to get is a RS/RST badge, and that's still pretty nerdy these days.
Would it kill GM to bring back a $30k vehicle with a V8, a vehicle inspired by the Ripsaw, with packages to make angry plebs feel cool again?
An actually secure console lockbox for a firearm.
An optional mount for a holster on the center console?
A keyed door and ignition?
An HVAC vent aimed at the crotch?
Some kind of removable roof panel.
More firearm storage in the rear cargo/trunk area.
Pre-wired for GMRS radio, with a spot for it.
Optional sound system with a large sub under each seat, and an overhead sound bar that can be upgraded with aftermarket speaker sizes.
Colors could be matte olive-drab, sand-tan, black, or stainless-look. I'm sure folks would spring for a digital camo option in green, gray, or blue, too.
Make putting a front license plate on it impossible so people feel like they're subverting the law.
There's this whole market out there for guys who need to look and feel tough and like they're non-conforming, and GM really doesn't touch on that. Probably because there's actually no money there, but still..y'all could try!
It would be a good boost for Ms. Barra too...call it her idea. Instead of being framed as she currently is, maybe she could take on more of a sugar-momma in charge, image. Guys secretly like that too.