G8 to Die With Pontiac Because GM Doesn't Like To Rebadge?

Not a fan of re-badging?? That's been GM's motto for ever!!! There have been examples, bad examples but this would be an example of re-badging done right. Call it a Chevy Chevelle!! I would stop looking at pictures of the Camaro and buy this Chevy!! I've also heard Buick Grand National?? Not so bad... I could do that too!!

— Airliner (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 1:54:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

This is what happens when you put a dipshit non car guy in charge of a car company. I thought this itiot said he would not be making decisions on what they sold when they hired him?

— rigid (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 2:06:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

Face facts. American manufacturers have a dysfunctional bent against rear wheel drive sedans. Period.

GM had to be dragged kicking and screaming into bringing RWD sedans to market here.

Ford outright refuses to do it saying it costs too much and weighs to much, yet has no problem putting RWD IRS in trucks and SUV's

Chrylser only brought RWD to market because Daimler owned them and could crib existing platform bits to do it.

It is another mis-guided error of inner-think at American auto manufactuers - the kind that has brought them down.

— SteedPub (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 2:09:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

The G8 won't become a Chevy for a number of reasons but mainly the St. Elizabeth plant doesn't have the capacity to build what Chevy could sell. It is most likely that the next Commodore will be rebadged as a Buick for the US market. Caddy already has the CTS in the size slot so it won't get it. Chevy will sell a less expensive FWD fullsize car in its slot. Buick can charge more for premium options than Chevrolet and will have the right sized sales numbers for the capacity of the plant.

So can we get off the "I hate GM bandwagon" for the moment and look at this logically through a business perspective?

— 91z4me (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 2:13:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

GM is clearly not interested in keeping that car.
The only reason they've decided to import it is because they badly needed it to quickly boost Pontiac's image. Now that Pontiac is no more a concern, they don't need it anymore.

I won't join the conspiracy theory saying they don't want to offer RWD cars, I think that GM's RWD sport sedan is the CTS, and if you want a "cheap" RWD V8 car, the Camaro is there waiting for you.

This car is built in Australia by GM's Holden subsidiary, my feeling is that it's simply not cost effective for GM to bring them over here and sell them at this price.

— MSP6 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 2:24:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Let us not also forget that this new CEO is BRAND NEW with NO Automotive experience. So he probably did not fully understand that this has been GM's motto for the last few decades, to rebadge everything and anything.

As was stated above the G8 design and pinnings are getting close to a new cycle in Australia so it would be likely they would wait for the new car to be made and have it become a Buick or even be presented as GMCs first sedan. They could use the new design towards the aging Impala and sell a Buick or GMC version with the added power.

Who knows, but I could see maybe they are trying to steer away from change the sheet metal and slap a badge on it mentality. Hence the demis of Pontiac and Saturn. In a market like this, why would you want to compete against yourself?

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 2:26:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

They did not market the G8 right and they did not give it a spare tire, or an optional navigation system or XM sat radio, it was at a competitive disadvantage at the start.

— pennfootball (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 2:38:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Stupid.
How clueless is GM management.

The Pontiac G8 is a RE-BADGED Holden.

— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 2:42:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

It should have been a Buick

— ChevyFan100 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 3:28:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I await for the announcement that they are closing GMC then. Fritz is an assclown.

— Dodgeyaussie (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 3:57:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Sad, because the G8 is really the only GM I'd be interested in owning at this point........well maybe a ZR1, but I'm talking realistic here :)

Everytime I see one on the road I always think it's a great looking car that has potential to compete with european makes. They need MORE cars like this in their stable to boost their image. And I do agree with whoever above said that they did not market the G8 well.

— phantom330 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 4:55:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

BOOOO!!! GM YOU F-ING SUCK!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 11:04:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

This is crazy, the G8 was probably the best looking can in GM's lineup.

— Mr4Ring (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 11:31:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

This is crazy, the G8 was probably the best looking can in GM's lineup.

— Mr4Ring (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2009 11:32:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Finally, everyone knows now why the American car industry is sinking...

— Ilyes (View Profile)

Posted on 6/20/2009 11:14:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I do like the G8. If I bought an American sedan, it would be a G8. i am fortunate to own a 335i sedan, but I would highly consider the G8 if the government decides to give huge tax rebates on purchasing american cars.

— 2ndbimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 6/20/2009 6:36:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Oh well, at least in Oz it continues to be the number one seller, and therefore will remain in production as the Commodore for some time.(Interestingly, number one seller to private sales is Mazda3 here). Holden would sell it to the US at any price - the US is a massive market for any Aussie company.

— aaspiridis (View Profile)

Posted on 6/22/2009 2:28:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Bring back the Grand National!!!!

— vman1013 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/22/2009 9:47:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3