[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Easy Go

The Terrain is awesome, isn't it? If instead of it being badged "GMC" it was an uplevel Chevy with the same appearance, options, materials, etc. - would you be less inclined to buy it?

Pardon the hypothetical, but I see no reason Chevy trucks couldn't excel to be everything GMC trucks are - but GMC exists and therefore Chevy has to be "held back" if you will. You've got a value line and a premium line - I see no reason they can't coexist peacefully under the Chevy brand other than GMC dealer/franchise obligations and the symbiotic relationship of Buick/GMC.

Granted - with massive sales volumes the business case presents itself that there is value in having two separate truck brands - but those days are not currently upon us.

To add, I think that the dissolve of Pontiac makes room for Chevy to "be more" in terms of styling and performance. Not to say that there aren't significant emotional pangs with Pontiac on it's way out and Chevy can't possibly fill that void for some fans.

Couldn't you make the exact same argument for Buick and Cadillac as well?