Looks like Pontiac may be ready to go back to the bad old days of being a rental lot favorite.
General Motors recently announced that it will introduce *no more rear wheel drive Pontiacs like the G8 and Solstice. Aren’t these the only two really desirable Pontiac products? What’s next?
So, what to do if you are a fan of rear drive and the Pontiac logo? You had better plan on going down to your local Buick/Pontiac/GMC mega-dealer and plunk down a wad of cash on the G8 sedan, upcoming G8 ST mini-truck, or Solstice. We favor the new G8 ST. It looks like a true resurrection of the niche so defined by the classic Ford Ranchero and Chevy El Camino. The concept has made the rounds recently at the auto shows and it looks phenomenal.
In the case of the regular G8 sedan and Solstice convertible, these two never reached their true potential. The G8 sedan should have been a bargain priced V8 BMW 5 series competitor but Pontiac decided not to offer navigation even as an option. What V8 BMW doesn’t come with navigation? That was a huge omission on Pontiac’s part.
As for the Solstice? Simple fact: the Saturn Sky variant was always better looking and the Mazda Miata MX-5 remains far more fun to drive.
Our view? With GM teetering on the edge of oblivion we should be glad that Pontiac even still exists. We are just going to have to accept that all we will get from Pontiac are spiritual successors to the Grand Am and re-badged Chevy Aveos. And that is really a pity.
*Editors' Note: Reports are coming in repudiating GM's drop of RWD. Stay tuned.