Holden Commodore SS = Pontiac G8
Pontiac now plans to import the GM Holden Commodore SS, and slap a Pontiac G8 badge on it. I think it’s a fantastic idea. The last time Pontiac snatched a car from down under and put a Pontiac emblem on it, it was a huge sales success.
Wait, this just in. The last time this happened was with the recently departed Pontiac GTO, which was in fact a flop of epic proportions. So Pontiac, maybe it’s time to learn from history, instead of ignoring it and repeating it’s failures?
Via Jalopnik.
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You know, I have to agree with you on this. I hate the current Pontiac grille…. seems very exaggerated and loud for my tastes. If they must bring this car, the current looks are likely better than anything the Pontiac designers might do.
I think it’s even worse with Dodge - the Caliber gets the same grill as the Ram? Please.
And FWIW, I wouldn’t at all mind seeing a Ford Falcon over here in the states - you listening Ford?
And FWIW, many “foreign” brand cars are made here on US soil, while many “US” brand cars are made in Canada and Mexico. Go figure.
ANYWAY ME AND MY PARENTS HAD BAD EXPERINCE WITH FORD, WHEN I WAS BORN MY PARENTS BOUGHT A FORD BRONCO II. WITHIN TWO MONTHS THE AIR WENT OUT, AND THE GEAR MALFUNCTIONED, WHEN YOU PLACE IT IN DRIVE IT GOES IN REVERSE. PUT IT IN VERSE IT GOES FORWARD.
IN 2000 WE DECIDED TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE AND BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2000 FORD RANGER. V6 @ 150HP WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. IT DID WELL FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WE HAD IT. MY MOTHER WAS AT A INTERSECTION GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AT THAT POINT SHE ENGAGE THE CLUCH, IT WOULDN’T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. NO MATTER WE COULDN’T GET IT GOING. SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN OUR HOME TOWN. WE ADDRESS THE SITUTATION TO THEM AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS” WHY DIDN’T YOU TAKE IT BACK WERE YOU GOT IT FROM.” I WAS LIKE WHAT? YOUR KIDDING, YOUR A AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP AND YOU ARE TELLING USE THIS?! ANYWAY THE SUCKER COULDN’T EVEN PULL SMALL UHAL TRAILER BEYOND 60 MPH, AND WITH THE WINDS PROABLY 55MPH. AFTERWARDS WE STRUCK LUCK WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN WAS SELLING A 92 HONDA ACCORD. THAT CAR HAD OVER 100,000 MILES AND WE HAD IT FOR 6 YEARS WITH 260,000MILES. WE NEVER HAD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALSHIP FOR REPAIRS, NOT EVEN ONCE. JUST THE USUAL OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP ALONG WITH REPLACING A TIMING BELT AND IT WAS SET. WE GOT A 04 CIVIC LX AND LOVIN IT. MY POINT I’M TRYING TO MAKE WAS, WE GAVE THEM A CHANCE AND THEY BLEW IT. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD A OLD BUICK, SHE WAITED TO SELL IT BECAUSE OF MECHAINCAL PROBLEMS. I REFFERED HER TO GET A HONDA, NISSAN OR TOYODA, BECAUSE SHE NEEDED A RELIBLE CAR. SHE JUST GOT HER 04 ACCORD, SHE WAS HAPPY AND I WAS EXCITED FOR HER. SHE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MECHAINCAL PROBLEMS FOR A LONG…… TIME.
WHEN YOU WRITE EVERYTHING CAPITALIZED, IT LOOKS BAD AND IS DIFFICULT TO READ. UPPER AND LOWER CASE EXIST FOR A REASON.
There. That’s much better isn’t it.
Oh, and as for the Pontiac GTO (i.e. Holden Monaro) and Pontiac G8, Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear loved the Monaro. I think its failure simply demonstrates that the muscle car is dead in the land-of-the-Camry…. err, sorry, I mean America.
Let’s see how the G8 goes. If it fails, no manufacturer will succeed in selling V8 sedans in the USA.
The new GTO failed here for a few reasons. Driving dynamics and performance weren’t any of those reasons. In those regards, the GTO was a fine car - handing was decent, ride quality was good, and of course it had the power.
The problem was twofold, really. One - price - it cost *way* too much. Two, the big one, was looks. The new GTO redefined the word bland. It looked like a big, fat Chevy Cavalier. That does not make a good muscle car.
Regardless of how the G8 does, many manufacturer’s do well selling V8 sedans in America - look at BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus. They all do quite well. And their target markets can afford to buy all the gas needed to power all 8 cylinders, while the masses are struggling.
YAH WE WILL SEE, I PERSONALLY HAVEN’T SEEN ANYTHING FROM PONTIAC THAT APPEALED TO ME, EVEN WHEN I USED TO BE A GM FAN.
WELL, OUR LAST V8 WAS IN A GMC YUKON BACK IN 97, SINCE THEN IT’S EITHER V6 OR INLINE 4.
WHEN I SEE SOMEONE PULL UP IN A SUV I CAN ONLY FEEL SORRY FOR THEM. I CAN’T IMAGINE HAVING A V8 ANYMORE, TO ME IT’S JUST TOO MUCH FOR JUST DRIVING IN THE CITY.
As for American cars that look good, oh, I don’t know, Corvette, Mustang, Charger, Challenger, Viper, Escalade if you’re into SUV’s, F-350 if you’re a truck guy. Looks are subjective, but I think that most people would agree that I listed a pretty good-looking group of cars.
Yah, everyone has different perspectives of what they call good lookin cars. In my opinion, out of the list of cars maybe the viper looks nice but the interior is ok.