Hummer got sold

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

 

[Matthew Currie]

I'm still unsure of why they're completely killing Pontiac. I liked the idea they had of making Pontiac a niche brand selling just a few vehicles like the Solstice and G8.

I think GM is reserving the "niche brand selling just a few vehicles like the Solstice and G8" role GM itself. Pontiac was probably too popular, so they figured to dump them before they ran the risk of actually selling some cars.

We have to trust that the business geniuses know what they're doing, right?

GM exec: we have fifty million cars sitting on lots that we can't sell. Consumers won't cross the street to pick up a new Chevy for grocery money. What should we do?

Consultant: I know! Let's close the dealerships so that people who won't cross the street to buy one will have do go fifty miles for one, and so they know they'll never be able to find service. They'll break down the doors to get their hands on such rare and exotic cars.

GM exec. chorus: GENIUS! All hail the Grand Business Model!

 

[Z06guy]

I think GM is reserving the "niche brand selling just a few vehicles like the Solstice and G8" role GM itself. Pontiac was probably too popular, so they figured to dump them before they ran the risk of actually selling some cars.

We have to trust that the Obama Administration know what they're doing, right?

GM exec: we have fifty million cars sitting on lots that we can't sell. Consumers won't cross the street to pick up a new Chevy for grocery money. What should we do?

Obama Admin: I know! Let's close the dealerships so that people who won't cross the street to buy one will have do go fifty miles for one, and so they know they'll never be able to find service. They'll break down the doors to get their hands on such rare and exotic cars.

Obama: GENIUS! All hail the Communist Business Model!

Fixt. GM execs insisted it made business sense to keep Pontiac and GMC. It was the Obama Adin that pressured them into canceling Pontiac. Excitement and performance have no place in the enviro friendly

Government
Motors.

 

[Darky]

It makes no sense to keep GMC if you ask me. Why would you want to companies under one manufacturer selling the exact same trucks in a market that is unfriendly to large SUVs and trucks? If anything kill Chevy's HD models and restrict the Silverado to just the 1500, kill GMCs 1500 model and restrict the Sierra to 2500 and larger. Kill the Chevy Suburban, produce only the GMC Suburban (renamed back from Yukon XL which was stupid but less stupid than two Suburbans) kill the Yukon and produce just the Tahoe. Just a little brand differentiation if you insist on keeping a separate company alive solely for producing the same trucks you already have through Chevy. Plus, this way, GMC would actually live up to the motto "Professional Grade".

 

[heyhar]

GM finally comes up with a breath of fresh air (at least for them) with the Solstice/Sky, and those are the two marques slated for the gallows. In the near future, I'll be in the position (and in need of) purchasing a new vehicle, and I was seriously considering a Sky- good looks, fuel economy, etc. Looks like I'll be nursing the fleet of XJs a little longer.

 

[Darky]

There were rumors not too long ago about selling the Sky and Solstice like how Dodge is trying to sell the Viper to someone. That way those two would live on but not under GM's bills...

 

[heyhar]

In the same way selling Hummer would literally kill it, selling Solstice/Sky would mean the end. No vehicle line is independent of its siblings. Who could build an H2 or H3 without GM powertains? If your gonna put your parts underneath, put your own name on it. Why spend millions to buy a 'name', and then only make an imitation of it? If I bought the name Solstice, and put my own drivetrain in it, would you buy a 'Ray's Little Two Seater Sporty Car', or take your 25k and buy a Miata? It's a shame that it's come to this.

 

[fscrig75]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Opel_GT-03.jpg
You could move to Europe and buy the original.



Personally I never thought they looked that good. I think Car & Driver/Motor Trend, one of the two, took the Soltice and put a Vette engine in it. That was pretty cool.

 

[heyhar]

I think it was C&D testing a Solstice with a Lingenfelter small block Chevy in it, IIRC. Certainly that would be the one to lust after, but probably not the one to get 30MPG.

 

[Darky]

In the same way selling Hummer would literally kill it, selling Solstice/Sky would mean the end. No vehicle line is independent of its siblings. Who could build an H2 or H3 without GM powertains? If your gonna put your parts underneath, put your own name on it. Why spend millions to buy a 'name', and then only make an imitation of it? If I bought the name Solstice, and put my own drivetrain in it, would you buy a 'Ray's Little Two Seater Sporty Car', or take your 25k and buy a Miata? It's a shame that it's come to this.

Just because GM doesn't own the company anymore doesn't mean they aren't going to provide support to the new owners. Who would buy the name Hummer only to have immediately invest millions into their own drivetrain, chassis, etc? More likely than not, the new owners of Hummer will continue selling the current models under an agreement with GM to continue supplying chassis/engine/transmission, etc through the end of the current model cycles at the least. Same deal would be made for the buyer of the Sky/Solstice "brand". IIRC Hummer came with it's factories, Solstice/Sky likely would as well. Dodge is trying to sell the Viper off as its own brand, it would include the factory where they assembled as well as Dodge continuing to sell them the engines for them until the end of this model's cycle.

As far as consumers buying the new Solstice after you bought it vs the Miata? If they liked the Solstice before you bought it, they would buy it still after you owned it. That's why a company like Rolls Royce or Aston Martin, or Bentley sells for so much when offered on the open market. Buyers know the name and reputation of the brand and will continue to put their faith and trust in it even after sold. Rolls is now owned by BMW, Bentley by VW (who subsequently is owned by Porsche and also owns Lamborghini).

 

[Sir Charles]

Well, Government Motors (GM) just sold Saturn to Penske Automotive Group.