Pontiac Sunfire expires

ifcar · Moderator

Pontiac Sunfire expires

thewizard16 · V-12

Good. I'm surprise they haven't slopped out a Pontiac rebadge of the Cobalt for the US yet, but I imagine that's what will happen eventually anyway.

ifcar · Moderator

quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
"Good. I'm surprise they haven't slopped out a Pontiac rebadge of the Cobalt for the US yet, but I imagine that's what will happen eventually anyway."

That would certainly sell far better than their current choice.

BTW, here are seom photochops I posted on C/D on how the Pursuit could be slightly more Pontiac-ish:

thewizard16 · V-12

I see you took the G6 front... I think I like the Cobalt a tad better, but it's still a good looking car. I wish they'd do more than just rebadge, though.

ifcar · Moderator

In another Sunfire article, GM said that they weren't going to sell a rebadge as the next Sunfire, which I personally interpreted as saying that there wouldn't be a Sunfire replacement any time in the forseeable future.

thewizard16 · V-12

quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
"In another Sunfire article, GM said that they weren't going to sell a rebadge as the next Sunfire, which I personally interpreted as saying that there wouldn't be a Sunfire replacement any time in the forseeable future. "

That's probably a good interpretation, unless Pontiac is going to have a fully unique lineup in the future (unlikely).

ifcar · Moderator

quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
"
That's probably a good interpretation, unless Pontiac is going to have a fully unique lineup in the future (unlikely)."

It is already know that Pontiac won't have a fully unique lineup any time soon. The Equinox-based Torrent, Malibu/9-3-based G6, and Uplander et al-based Montana SV6 either just arrived and are on the way, and probably will last through 2010. And in 2008 or 2009 the Grand Prix, GTO, and maybe Bonneville will migrate to the Zeta RWD platform, which will be shared through many GM divisions.

Kevin · GMPenguin

hmmm....I never rode in a sunfire, but I like the current looks of them (exterior anyway) and do they even make a sedan model? I've never seen one. I like your chop iffy, but I'm not sure whether I like it better than the Cobalt or not, it is reall nice but too familiar looking.

And does anybody know recent sales figures of the Sunfire?

ifcar · Moderator

quote:
Originally posted by: Kevin
"hmmm....I never rode in a sunfire, but I like the current looks of them (exterior anyway) and do they even make a sedan model? I've never seen one. I like your chop iffy, but I'm not sure whether I like it better than the Cobalt or not, it is reall nice but too familiar looking.
And does anybody know recent sales figures of the Sunfire?"

I think it sold 30,000-40,000 units in 2004. And there was a sedan model until 2003 in the US, and there still is in Canada.

thewizard16 · V-12

quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
" I think it sold 30,000-40,000 units in 2004. And there was a sedan model until 2003 in the US, and there still is in Canada."

That's not too bad. It always amazed me how such unappealing vehicles would sell in good numbers because they are cheap.

Lorinser · V-6

I'm surprised that it hasn't expired earlier.

thewizard16 · V-12

quote:
Originally posted by: Lorinser
"I'm surprised that it hasn't expired earlier."

It was still selling and GM didn't have any better offering, so there was no reason to get rid of it.

ifcar · Moderator

quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
" It was still selling and GM didn't have any better offering, so there was no reason to get rid of it."

There still probably isn't a good reason to get rid of it, considering that they aren't replacing it in the US.

thewizard16 · V-12

quote:
Originally posted by: ifcar
"There still probably isn't a good reason to get rid of it, considering that they aren't replacing it in the US."

I can't imagine any coherent person buying a Sunfire over a Cobalt, if they simply have to buy a GM compact car.

ifcar · Moderator

quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
" I can't imagine any coherent person buying a Sunfire over a Cobalt, if they simply have to buy a GM compact car."

I certainly can, considering how much cheaper the Sunfire is.

The Bartender · 4 Cylinder

quote:
Originally posted by: thewizard16
" It was still selling and GM didn't have any better offering, so there was no reason to get rid of it."

Given that the Sunfire and Cavalier were both J Body platforms, and the Cavalier sold better, the demise of the Cavalier did not bode well for the Sunfire. It's quite possible that the continued sales volume of the Cavalier may have been the only thing keeping the Sunfire production economical enough to allow it to continue.

It is surprising, though, that GM has no plans to make a Pontiac badged version of the Cobalt. Even as poor an overall car as it was, the Sunfire still had it's supporters in the Sport Compact group.

MX793 · V-6

Good riddence. When it first came out back in the early 80s, the J body was somewhat competitive. Two decades later with only aesthetic changes and improved motors, the cars were mediocre, relying on dirt cheap pricing to sell.

Kevin · GMPenguin

They could bring the pursuit down to replace the Sunfire.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=38161&subForumID=89557&action=viewTopic&commentID=2036584&topicPage=

MX793 · V-6

Pontiac apparently doesn't want a badge engineered car to fill the spot left by the Sunfire. Perhaps they could make a hardtop version of the Solstice to fill the slot?

Kevin · GMPenguin

quote:
Originally posted by: MX793
"Pontiac apparently doesn't want a badge engineered car to fill the spot left by the Sunfire. Perhaps they could make a hardtop version of the Solstice to fill the slot?"

That's a good idea, but I think if they did that it'd be out of that price range. (or would it? what's MSRP for Solstice?)