A 5th gen based Firebird would have been a great model.... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

The_Driver · 01-24-2016, 12:58 AM

Does anyone here wish that GM kept Pontiac instead of Buick?

I have always been a Firebird fan and I think a 5th gen based Firebird Trans Am/Formula would have been a great model to have along with the Camaro. I love my 5th gen Camaro and most Camaros of almost every generation.

I know there is an custom aftermarket Firebird conversion floating out there on the web, but an in-house GM designed effort would have been much better and I have always wondered what that might have looked like.

Does anyone else feel that GM made a big mistake when they got rid of the Pontiac brand?

GMTool · 01-24-2016, 01:11 AM

I would rather see Pontiac than Buick. I read somewhere that it's got something to do with foreign sales. For us here in the good old USA, who needs both Cadillac and Buick. I would have bought a Firebird.

chasmanian · 01-24-2016, 01:52 AM

I would have bought a firebird. Most of my previous cars were Pontiac and I had a third gen firebird for years. Loved it. I'll be honest, if I had the money to burn, I'd even do one of the conversion kits.

songsj · 01-24-2016, 03:01 AM

I've had both and if they made them I would have bought the Firebird

Mr. Stacy · 01-24-2016, 03:15 AM

I was thinking the same thing... No more Firebird. Shame...

erickangulo · 01-24-2016, 03:57 AM

It would be awesome, but I think they may have feared competition on the Camaro. But now that they aren't making 5th gens anymore... Maybe they should experiment with making an "inferior/lower cost" Firebird.

Pontiacs had terrible reliability though :(

Buicks were second in the 2015 JD Power's list of most reliable car makes.

ChrisBlair · 01-24-2016, 05:54 AM

Driver, this has been a common topic of discussion for a long time here. Buick, worldwide, is a money maker. Pontiac was not. What most people also don't know is that Buick should mean a whole lot more to GM (if GM Corporate actually cared) than Pontiac. Buick was used as the major financial base to found General Motors.

Speaking personally, I had the last hurrah from Pontiac and mine was quite reliable and nothing but fun. We talk of 'permagrin' here on this forum, and it was a term in use by Solstice owners before the 5Gen was even for sale.

But think for a minute: Poncho died in 2009. GM had let it slowly die for a long, long time. No identity at all for years, bloated uninspiring cars, even the (quite good and fun) 2006 GTO looked like a Grand Am that had an aftermarket body kit. By the time the Solstice had rolled around, they had tried to help the identity with a sportscar, in a corporate atmosphere that did not want the Corvette to have competition. That was never going to save Pontiac, even if the car had been the modern equivalent of the first Mustang, and what other notable model had Pontiac created in recent memory? The Aztek? That's not the kind of resume that saves the brand.

Pontiac's demise was a long time coming.

zr1chris · 01-24-2016, 06:41 AM

Absolutely!

jos3ywales · 01-24-2016, 06:53 AM

you can get the Firebird Bandit car Kit on the 5th Gen Camaro I have seen them in many colors comapany in Cali makes em

hesster · 01-24-2016, 06:56 AM

Being a GM employee and going through the Bankruptcy was not pretty. Something had to go that was not a big contributor to the bottom line, and so went Hummer, Saab, Pontiac and the like. The real money makers are the trucks, far surpassing any car lines. I truly loved the Pontiacs, and being a owner of one, always will. Back when I bought my '77, I wouldn't even think of buying the Camaro, it was bordering on "pathetic", but just an opinion. I think any of these conversions in the Pics would have sold in today's market, but certainly does not justify the rest of the Pontiac brands. (Bottom one is my T/A). I really liked the Z T/A and was considering buying the conversion kit, but sadly they are not in business. I called them recently and they lost their building or something, and said they may fire up again this year if there is any demand. For around $5K you could get the full kit, and panel fit was about as good as most of the other aftermarket stuff out there, except maybe the carbon fiber stuff like Siebon. Sure, you can still have someone like the Hurst conversion do it for you, but why on earth spend that kind of $$ when you could buy a blower, cam, full chassis/suspension mods, and body kit stuff for the same investment?

motorhead · 01-24-2016, 07:07 AM

For me, Pontiac was always my favorite line in GM's family of cars. There was always something more special about the Pontiac version of a model than the Chevy version to me. Do I miss Firebird? Deeply.

Smarter people than me have decided it had to go. Now we are forced to buy the lower tier. Oh well.
Life goes on.

punk5150 · 01-24-2016, 09:03 AM

Firebirds weren't reliable. I had 3 and the only issue I had was a leaking T Top. I prefer Pontiac over Chevy. I still don't understand why GM couldn't make a retro Firebird and sell it under the GMC brand. If it looks anything like the ones in the pictures it would have sold.
There are a lot of people that weren't old to own/drive a bandit TA when they came out. That market is now in their 30' & 40's and can actually buy one.
Oh well. Happy with my SS but refuse to put on an aftermarket kit and change the car.

Bulldog3071 · 01-24-2016, 10:17 AM

Would have also bought a Pontiac

BMR Sales · 01-25-2016, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisBlair

Driver, this has been a common topic of discussion for a long time here. Buick, worldwide, is a money maker. Pontiac was not. What most people also don't know is that Buick should mean a whole lot more to GM (if GM Corporate actually cared) than Pontiac. Buick was used as the major financial base to found General Motors.

But think for a minute: Poncho died in 2009. GM had let it slowly die for a long, long time. No identity at all for years, bloated uninspiring cars, even the (quite good and fun) 2006 GTO looked like a Grand Am that had an aftermarket body kit. By the time the Solstice had rolled around, they had tried to help the identity with a sportscar, in a corporate atmosphere that did not want the Corvette to have competition. That was never going to save Pontiac, even if the car had been the modern equivalent of the first Mustang, and what other notable model had Pontiac created in recent memory? The Aztek? That's not the kind of resume that saves the brand.

Pontiac's demise was a long time coming.

I both agree & disagree.

Buick is huge in China and that is what saved them. Pontiac was not.

However, in the end Pontiac had a Nice Line-up. The GTO (actually looked like a big Cobalt) was a Great Car. The G-8 I think was a fantastic looking sedan and with the Ls Motor was a screamer. The New Chevy SS is basically an upgraded G-8. Pontiac even had the Holden Ute slated to be in the lineup. Then they had the Solstice ( even made a Hardtop Version).

When the economy took a crap, something had to give. GM had already killed off Oldsmobile so Pontiac, Hummer, Saab and Saturn got the Axe. Should have been GMC in my opinion!

01-24-2016, 12:58 AM	#1
The_Driver Banned Drives: 2015 Camaro 1LS M6 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: U.S. Posts: 272	A 5th gen based Firebird would have been a great model.... Does anyone here wish that GM kept Pontiac instead of Buick? I have always been a Firebird fan and I think a 5th gen based Firebird Trans Am/Formula would have been a great model to have along with the Camaro. I love my 5th gen Camaro and most Camaros of almost every generation. I know there is an custom aftermarket Firebird conversion floating out there on the web, but an in-house GM designed effort would have been much better and I have always wondered what that might have looked like. Does anyone else feel that GM made a big mistake when they got rid of the Pontiac brand?

01-24-2016, 01:11 AM	#2
GMTool MY SS is SOLD Drives: AGM 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southwest Illinois Posts: 1,838	I would rather see Pontiac than Buick. I read somewhere that it's got something to do with foreign sales. For us here in the good old USA, who needs both Cadillac and Buick. I would have bought a Firebird. __________________ CAI, Dynatech Headers, HF Cats, JRE Tuned, Corsa Cat Back, Strut Tower Brace.

01-24-2016, 05:54 AM	#7
ChrisBlair Buick 455 Fan Drives: 1970 Buick, 2012 1SS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Boston MA Posts: 5,957	Driver, this has been a common topic of discussion for a long time here. Buick, worldwide, is a money maker. Pontiac was not. What most people also don't know is that Buick should mean a whole lot more to GM (if GM Corporate actually cared) than Pontiac. Buick was used as the major financial base to found General Motors. Speaking personally, I had the last hurrah from Pontiac and mine was quite reliable and nothing but fun. We talk of 'permagrin' here on this forum, and it was a term in use by Solstice owners before the 5Gen was even for sale. But think for a minute: Poncho died in 2009. GM had let it slowly die for a long, long time. No identity at all for years, bloated uninspiring cars, even the (quite good and fun) 2006 GTO looked like a Grand Am that had an aftermarket body kit. By the time the Solstice had rolled around, they had tried to help the identity with a sportscar, in a corporate atmosphere that did not want the Corvette to have competition. That was never going to save Pontiac, even if the car had been the modern equivalent of the first Mustang, and what other notable model had Pontiac created in recent memory? The Aztek? That's not the kind of resume that saves the brand. Pontiac's demise was a long time coming. __________________

01-24-2016, 06:53 AM	#9
jos3ywales Drives: 2010 2SS Camaro Black Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Norris Dam TN Posts: 115	you can get the Firebird Bandit car Kit on the 5th Gen Camaro I have seen them in many colors comapany in Cali makes em __________________ 2010 2SS 14K original Miles Dove Tail pure Stock right now but Saving money

01-24-2016, 10:17 AM	#13
Bulldog3071 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 931 View My Garage	Would have also bought a Pontiac __________________ Hurst Short Throw Shifter, K&N CAI, SRP Racing Pedals, GM Performance Exhaust, GM GFX Package Lakewood Strut Tower Brace, JBA Shorty Headers, JBA 8 MM Wires, Airaid TB Spacer, Phastek CAI Scoop, Washer Bottle Relocation Kit, Stainlees Steel Brake Lines, Brake Performance Slotted and Drilled Rotors, BMR Tunnel Brace, BMR Trailing Arms, BMR Subframe Connectors, Borla ATAK Muffelers, Z28 Wickerbill Spoiler, VTC, Bow Tie Delete, BMR Adjustable Front Swaybar, BMR End Link Kit, BMR Extreme Rear Anti-Roll Kit, Diablo I1000 "InTune"

01-24-2016, 01:52 AM	#3
chasmanian Drives: 2015 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 291 View My Garage	I would have bought a firebird. Most of my previous cars were Pontiac and I had a third gen firebird for years. Loved it. I'll be honest, if I had the money to burn, I'd even do one of the conversion kits.

01-24-2016, 03:01 AM	#4
songsj Drives: 2015 2SS/RS Summit White Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: MPLS Posts: 804	I've had both and if they made them I would have bought the Firebird

01-24-2016, 03:15 AM	#5
Mr. Stacy El Duderino Drives: 2011 2LTRS Convertible Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,194 View My Garage	I was thinking the same thing... No more Firebird. Shame...

01-24-2016, 03:57 AM	#6
erickangulo Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Valley Center Posts: 186	It would be awesome, but I think they may have feared competition on the Camaro. But now that they aren't making 5th gens anymore... Maybe they should experiment with making an "inferior/lower cost" Firebird. Pontiacs had terrible reliability though :( Buicks were second in the 2015 JD Power's list of most reliable car makes.

01-24-2016, 06:41 AM	#8
zr1chris Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS/1LE Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Port Saint Lucie FL Posts: 1,224	Absolutely!

01-24-2016, 06:56 AM	#10
hesster Drives: '10 C5 SS, '77 Bandit T/A Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 638 View My Garage	Being a GM employee and going through the Bankruptcy was not pretty. Something had to go that was not a big contributor to the bottom line, and so went Hummer, Saab, Pontiac and the like. The real money makers are the trucks, far surpassing any car lines. I truly loved the Pontiacs, and being a owner of one, always will. Back when I bought my '77, I wouldn't even think of buying the Camaro, it was bordering on "pathetic", but just an opinion. I think any of these conversions in the Pics would have sold in today's market, but certainly does not justify the rest of the Pontiac brands. (Bottom one is my T/A). I really liked the Z T/A and was considering buying the conversion kit, but sadly they are not in business. I called them recently and they lost their building or something, and said they may fire up again this year if there is any demand. For around $5K you could get the full kit, and panel fit was about as good as most of the other aftermarket stuff out there, except maybe the carbon fiber stuff like Siebon. Sure, you can still have someone like the Hurst conversion do it for you, but why on earth spend that kind of $$ when you could buy a blower, cam, full chassis/suspension mods, and body kit stuff for the same investment?

01-24-2016, 07:07 AM	#11
motorhead Drives: Love the one you're with Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Downtown Charlie Brown Posts: 11,850	For me, Pontiac was always my favorite line in GM's family of cars. There was always something more special about the Pontiac version of a model than the Chevy version to me. Do I miss Firebird? Deeply. Smarter people than me have decided it had to go. Now we are forced to buy the lower tier. Oh well. Life goes on.

01-24-2016, 09:03 AM	#12
punk5150 Drives: 2014 SS/RS CRT Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Jersey Posts: 339	Firebirds weren't reliable. I had 3 and the only issue I had was a leaking T Top. I prefer Pontiac over Chevy. I still don't understand why GM couldn't make a retro Firebird and sell it under the GMC brand. If it looks anything like the ones in the pictures it would have sold. There are a lot of people that weren't old to own/drive a bandit TA when they came out. That market is now in their 30' & 40's and can actually buy one. Oh well. Happy with my SS but refuse to put on an aftermarket kit and change the car.