Comments on: Pontiac G3 an early disappointment for GM

By: murphy1

murphy1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:23:14 +0000

in case if noone has looked, the aveo isnt exactly shaking up the world in sales either. the whole aveo line should be dumped…

By: injunraiv

injunraiv — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:54:42 +0000

Well, at least 1 pontiac dealer (me) didn’t agree with bringing a frigging Keoren built POS onto the lot. There is and never was a need for this in the Pontiac lineup. They are the Honda of the GM family. What a POS toaster!

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:30:12 +0000

How Pontiac can save the G3:
1. Bring over the 3-door model, leave the 5-door for the Aveo
2. Give it the 2.2L ECOTEC XFE engine. 155HP / 150FtLbs should move it along very nicely. Put in the 1.4L turbo when it’s ready
3. Tweak the suspension. The Cobalt SS show’s what’s possible with a lowly rear-beam setup
4. Upgrade the interior with sportier trim levels. Make carbon-fiber or brushed aluminium optional themes
5. Give it the Solstice’s color selection and make the Screaming Chicken hood decal a dealer option.

6. Sit back and stick it to Scion and Mazda. Unfortunately this means GM would actually have to invest money in the G3, which we know would never happen.

By: ktulu

ktulu — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:25:08 +0000

this car swas not a hit?
whoda thunk it?
The Obamster RULES!

By: tastyorange

tastyorange — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:20:31 +0000

maybe because there are already many other cheap POS available that are better looking?

By: Lyndongolden

Lyndongolden — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:42:01 +0000

The G3 may have been a short-term success if it were brought to market 18 months ago, when rising gas prices spurred sales of little cars. But to come into the market NOW with the G3 in this flaccid (performance) form is really pointless. If the G3 is representative of what Pontiac wants to be…then yikes…lets pull the plug on the brand and save some dignity. But….if the G3 were a turbocharged, beefed-up version of the Aveo, its mission may be more clear. It could be a delightful, inexpensive pocket rocket …and would serve as an image booster for the Pontiac name and a traffic booster for Pontiac dealers.

By: bdizzlefizzle

bdizzlefizzle — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:04:17 +0000

The G3 won’t sell better if gas gets more expensive because it’s average MPG is like 26. Same for the Aveo. I don’t understand an econobox that gets such poor mileage. How can that compete with a Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio or, better yet, a Honda Fit or Nissan Versa?

By: MercMark

MercMark — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:00:26 +0000

WHAT?!? No one wants a golf cart turd bucket?!?!?

By: doctrsnoop

doctrsnoop — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:52:07 +0000

This is clearly “old” GM thinking, the old Zarella “brand management” P&G kind.

Cue the sad trombone music

By: SHOspeed

SHOspeed — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:35:13 +0000

I LOVE the g8, thats about it from Pontiac. Its the only true “performance” vehicle. They should turn the G8 into the chevy Impala!

By: teahead

teahead — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:13:55 +0000

Well…it’s better looking IMHO than the Toyota Yaris.

Pontiac shouldn’t be selling cheap cars; leave that to Chevy.

By: ricky_b

ricky_b — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:11:52 +0000

Pontiac should have stood for Sport. The G3 and the G5 are clearly rebadged Chevy’s without any enhancements. The G6 is acutally eclipsed in sportiness by GMs out Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura. This proves that GM needs to shed divisions. They can’t even convince themselves of which markets their brands should be competing in.

By: Barry Obama

Barry Obama — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:57:18 +0000

This car meant to compete against the Japs, Fiat or VW? LOL….

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:54:33 +0000

Kanucko, if I had to chose between the G3 or the Aveo, I would chose suicide.

By: MurcieMe

MurcieMe — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:39:59 +0000

I agree on that count. I’d pick a G3 over an Aveo any day. Same for the G5 over the Cobalt! Both cars look much better as Pontiacs.

By: Kanucko

Kanucko — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:50:35 +0000

The G3 is better looking than the piss poor styling of virtually every chevy with their big split chin grill.

If I had to pick…it’d be G3 every time between the two to keep.

By: sprockkets

sprockkets — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:16:37 +0000

OK, I think they make a roadster, the Solstice. Nope, it is an Opel GT. In fact, if you swap its logo for the Saturn one, you get a Sky. I guess that explains why it is a half-way decent vehicle, and the turbo version is actually nice.

GM’s “American” brands could die off and about 90% of their line up could still exist!

By: sprockkets

sprockkets — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:10:21 +0000

It’s so sad. I think the only vehicle that GM makes for Pontiac is the G6. G8? Rebadged Holden. Vibe? Rebadged Toyota Matrix (and perhaps the only one with good reliability). Sunfire or whatever it is now called? Rebadged Cobalt.

Oh wait, the G6 is a rebadged Opel. Darn, no wonder it doesn’t have the obligatory crappy plastic dashboard but actually has some decent parts to it.

By: MurcieMe

MurcieMe — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:29:19 +0000

It’s true, Pontiac did not need this vehicle.
However it probably would have sold better had anyone heard of it. I haven’t ever seen an advertisement for it, nor has anyone reviewed it or ever mentioned it’s existence in automotive publications.

By: jdasch1

jdasch1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:58:27 +0000

Pontiac is and always has been a lost cause….rental car brand…totally. Performance??? WTF

By: PontiacNick

PontiacNick — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:50:02 +0000

Pontiac did not need this vehicle. Chevrolet already has a version of this car. Only one of its kind for the entire GM lineup is necessary.

Also, the lack of interest in this vehicle proves that this is not a Pontiac people want. The brains at GM and Pontiac need to consider this when they chart the future of this brand. The future lies in cars like the G8 and not econoboxes like the G3. Pontiac is about performance and handling and all around driving FUN! The G3 is an econobox that is not fun to drive. It is a transportation appliance. This is not the kind of vehicle that Pontiac buyers want or will consider when making their decision to purchase.

By: jimbocardude2

jimbocardude2 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:48:35 +0000

141 cars total? this car will sell for six figures at Barrett Jackson in future years

By: Bimmer

Bimmer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:38:15 +0000

What’s next? A Buick and Saturn version of the same car or replacement by GMC? Seems that all Garbage Motors are good for lately is re-badging existing vehicles. Go bankrupt already, GM!

By: SlowCarsFast

SlowCarsFast — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:30:08 +0000

It’s the last LeMans all over again, except, well, nobody’s bought any yet. Probably more of those little turds still on the road than all the G3’s they’ll ever sell. It was a Daewoo then, too, and indicentally seemed to have been the design they based the styling of the Aztek on (really, compare the 5-door Lemans and Aztek point-by-point, it gets really dumb).

By: kingston

kingston — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:28:22 +0000

I mentioned this a couple of other blogs on LLN. RE-BADGING is just plain stupid!!!

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:21:06 +0000

Well blow me
down

By: save saab

save saab — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:47:35 +0000

I knew it was bad when they revealed it. Just sat in one at the New York Auto Show. Then sat in an Aveo, it’s the same car! My friend were trying to find anything different but nothing, except the Pontiac badge.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:24:53 +0000

You mean those fancy fender vents are selling the cars?

By: Jim S.

Jim S. — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:19:39 +0000

I’m so suprised. There is only one economy car that belongs in a Pontiac Showroom, and that is the Fiero. And this POS Aveo, Daewoo, Chevy crap is no Fiero.

By: zoomzoomer

zoomzoomer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:32 +0000

Perhaps if they had something different to offer, say, the 3-door version sold EVERYWHERE else in the world except your local Chevy dealer, then maybe there was a sliver of a chance for it to make an impact.. but this rebadge is as desperate and disingenuous as the new Lincoln Mark LT for the Mexico market!

By: NRG

NRG — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:49:32 +0000

This car was failed from the start. A perfect example of why GM is in the mess it is in now. I can see a lot of R&D went into the car. NOT. If GM can’t get it right by now, considering everything they are going through, then they never will. Go bankrupt already GM.

By: datboy

datboy — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:45:56 +0000

It was a bad idea from the start. The person at gm who thought of this should be kicked in the nuts

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:33:29 +0000

Translation:
If you’re thinking about buying an Aveo as a daily beater, teen’s first car, or simply setting it on fire; go down to your local BPG dealer and buy this flamer for pocket change. I’d buy one, don’t even bother changing the oil, and drive it until the engine freezes.

By: Ring-Taxi

Ring-Taxi — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:20:53 +0000

And you wonder why people don’t take Pontiac’s claim as a performance brand seriously.

By: Nobody Important

Nobody Important — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:02:34 +0000

Heck, if BPG dealers were wrong about being able to sell the G3, maybe they’re wrong about shooting down plans for a rear-wheel drive Buick.