If they want to keep Pontiac they need to follow Toyota’s lead and have Pontiac only models, not re-badged Chevys.
Solstice = Great sporty 2 seater.
G8 = Great sporty large sedan.
G6 = why when you have the Cobalt
G5 = why when you have the Cobalt
G3 = why when you have the Aveo
Torrent = why when you have the Equinox, not even remotely sporty.
There is probably room for a real sporty small sedan in the Pontiac lineup, but only if it’s something that isn’t directly competing with the Cobalt SS.
Really, Scion was a failure for Toyota. They launched the brand to try lowering their age demographic but most of the stuff you read says the majority of Scion owners are the same age as Toyota buyers (read, old). If that’s the case it means Scion is probably competing with Toyota, not drawing in a new youthful demo like they had hoped. C&D mentioned that the average scion buyer is 39, yet the whole point of the brand was to get into the 18-24 market where Toyota was failing.
As a saturn owner, I just wonder how tough it is going to be to get parts for my 2003 Ion. The only good thing it has going for it, is that it is a cobalt with a plastic body.
Scion was started originally as what we know @ Toyota as “Toyota Project Genesis”.
You are correct with regards to the many points you made. It is true that Scion was started to introduce “Generation Y” friendly vehicles. The median age of Scion buyers is 39 years old. However, the median age being 39 is the lowest in the industry. Also, you do not take into account how many 18 - 22 year old’s that had to have their older parents co-sign loans for them. The reason Scion failed (in regards to the reason why it was created) for Toyota is because it was supposed to get the younger crowd interested in Toyota’s when it came to purchase a new vehicle after ownership of their Scion. It didn’t. This is why it failed. Not because of the median age being 39 (which again is the lowest out of any manufacturer), but because the 18-24 year old demographic which is getting out of their Scion’s aren’t purchasing Toyota’s for a replacement vehicle.
It was not just another pretty face! It could be had with a durable 5 speed automatic OR CVT! And a central mount instrument cluster! And the ugliest steering wheel of this decade!
For the buick haters, is there a chance that maybe buick sells better than you think? I have yet to see proof either way but one would hope there is reason behind keeping the brand.
I dont think it buick hating more as the need to cut costs to get back into a profitable state. If buicks sell so well over seas then sell the rights to toyota or someone else, so instead of just axing a department they could possibly sell it to save money and make an immediate profit.
But you are assuming buick doesn’t sell well in the states, yet I see nothing to back that up. Maybe buick sales are better than saturn/pontiac hence they are getting the axe.