Edmunds CarPool

If you've been following this blog (or Straightline, or my Twitter feed) you already know I bought another muscle car several weeks ago. This is a car I've been seriously considering for about 8 years, though I've known of them (and the unique conditions surrounding their development) since I first took an interest in muscle cars over 25 years ago. I still wasn't sure about actually pulling the trigger on one, but a few months ago I found not only the basic model I wanted, but also a truly one-of-a-kind version that I simply couldn't pass up. So here's the story of my 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Super Duty 455.

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Categories: Editors' Personal Cars, Pontiac

Last week, the world lost a true treasure. Yes, Golden Girl Rue McClanahan died and Magrath and I are still in mourning for our beloved Blanche. But in other mortality news, Mercury was finally put out of its misery and for that, we were significantly less broken up.

After perusing countless old Mercury photos and watching quite a few 70s-era commercials on YouTube while cringing most of the time, we got to thinking about the slew of recently deceased car brands. We've already forgotten about Saturn (What are you talking about? That planet is awesome! -Magrath) and Hummer is best left unmentioned, Mercury and Pontiac are the two brands with the most history and therefore mixed emotions.

But which deserved its demise more? Which was more guilty of automotive crimes against humanity? I, James Riswick, shall be prosecuting Pontiac, while Vice Admiral of Vehicle Testing Mike Magrath shall bring the case against Mercury.

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Categories: Face-Off, Mercury, Pontiac

I watched the movie "American Beauty" this past weekend. It was the first time I'd seen it in several years, but it was just as powerful as I remembered after my first viewing.

What was more interesting to me this time, on a personal level, was the specific car Kevin Spacey's character -- "Lester" -- goes out and buys as part of his rebellion against his too-ordinary life: a 1970 Pontiac Firebird (a red one). The scene where his wife first spots the car in the driveway includes one of the best lines from the movie:

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Categories: Cars in Entertainment, Karl on Cars, Pontiac

Bell-bottoms have been back for a while, so have gigantic sunglasses and big collars. When Karl Brauer brought in a stack of 70's-era brochures, I just couldn't resist using one of them for this week's Fun With Press Photos.

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Categories: Fun with Photos, Pontiac

You're looking at a stack of original parts I've saved from my 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. Included in this picture are the original front drum brakes, washer fluid reservoir, points ignition distributor plate, passenger-side taillight, alternator, air cleaner box, carpet and door sill plates. Not in this picture are the original 14-inch road wheels. But trust me, I've got those safely tucked away, too.

Why am I saving all these parts if they've been replaced by superior items? They're taking up valuable garage space and there's no reason to ever put them back on the car, so what's the deal?

For most people these are valid questions. But for the educated carguy the answer is crystal clear.

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Categories: Dodge, Editors' Personal Cars, Karl on Cars, Muscle Car, Pontiac

First, I have to apologize for the lame photo. The original plan after buying this car was to drive it (yes, drive it) from Long Islang to Santa Monica. But the planned 2,800-mile drive ended after 18 miles (you can read more of the details on our Straightline blog). Bottom line, this is the only shot I got of the car with the hood closed. It's now traveling to California in the back of an enclosed trailer, and should be here next week. When it gets here I'll post some proper images that show off that Buccaneer Red paint.

So why did I buy it?

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Categories: Editors' Personal Cars, Karl on Cars, Muscle Car, Pontiac

Fire is an interesting phenomenon. It is the basis for all of man's technology and it's been keeping us warm for several thousand years. Yet an undeniably negative connotation surrounds the word because it is often associated with death and destruction. In truth, fire serves an important purpose, even in it's most destructive form. In nature a fire often clears an area of crowded, older trees to make room for younger, healthier saplings. There are even plants that thrive on fire, using the heat to release seeds for a burst of new growth.

As firestorms go, 2009 saw one of the most destructive infernos engulf the automotive industry since Karl Benz patented his first car in 1886. And we still don't know the full extent of this latest firestorm. Even as I write my blog entry the future of multiple manufacturers remains uncertain.

However, I would argue that much like the cyclical fires consuming old growth forests, the automotive carnage of 2009 isn't something to fear or lament but rather a natural and necessary component of industrial evolution.

Seriously, let's take a look at what we "lost" in 2009 and ask ourselves if the industry is really worse off than it was a year ago.

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Categories: Automotive News, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Talk Back Tuesday

With the death of Pontiac official I'm experiencing the same emotions any nostalgic car guy is feeling. Surprise? Shock? Disbelief?  Hardly. Try relief. Like the kind you feel when you're favorite aunt finally rests in peace after suffering years of painful terminal illness. If you're a remotely functional car guy you've seen this coming since...well, that's the question.

When did the concept of Pontiac going away first strike you as a likely possibility? When did Pontiac jump the shark?

How many of you just shouted "AZTEK" at your screen? That's a reasonable response, but I would suggest the first indications of Pontiac as a "damaged brand" came much earlier.

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Categories: Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Muscle Car, Pontiac, Retro Revivals, Talk Back Tuesday

It doesn't get much more turbulent in the automobile industry than the last 24 hours, and a little birdie told me there's plenty more coming in the next couple weeks, not to mention the next 24 hours...

But for now let's focus on what we know.

We know Rick Wagoner is gone. It doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with how he ran GM. It doesn't matter if you think his dismissal was prudent change or simple posturing (one guess as to what I think). The bottom line is he's viewed as the man at the wheel when GM steered into the sun, and the president's administration wanted a "fresh" approach.

We know Obama wasn't satisfied with either Chrysler or GM's viability plans and has asked for a "do over" from both. The president seems fired up by the idea of a Chrysler/Fiat merger (more fired up than he should be?), but he was nebulous about GM's next steps. It seems "go futher" and "work harder" on restructuring is the only concrete takeaway.

We know the president left open the concept of bankruptcy as a possible pathway to viability in his speech. After the speech GM's new CEO, Fritz Henderson, reiterated the bankruptcy option and spoke of likely government aid to expedite bankruptcy proceedings.

Finally, we know the government is now guaranteeing the warranties on all domestic automobiles. This is good because it means current and potential new domestic car owners can be comfortable knowing the government has backed up their vehicles (versus leaving them "out to dry" on warranty work).

Add these indisputable facts up and I think we all know something else: A GM bankruptcy is inevitable. 

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Categories: Automotive News, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn, Talk Back Tuesday

When I drove the V8 version of the Pontiac G8 a few months ago I was less than thrilled with it. In a nutshell, the protracted looks, bizarre ergonmics and adequate ride/handling balance didn't impress me. Some people were touting it as an inexpensive BMW 5 Series. I wasn't buying then and I'm not buying now. It takes more than cylinder count and drivetrain layout to match BMW's driving dynamics.

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Categories: Honda, Pontiac, Toyota

The 2008 Pontiac G8 is better than the Holden Monaro-based GTO that came before it. But not much better.

It's better looking, but that Aussie-based GTO was no looker, so that's not saying much. It's better handling, but the GTO was blatantly floppy while the G8 is merely tippy. It's got better interior execution than the 21st Century GTO, but it still has "sewn in" rear headrests versus real ones. This move always reminds me of Bob Lutz' famous "We can cut costs where the customer doesn't care" line, in which he specifically referenced adjustable rear headrests. FWIW Bob, I care about real rear headrests in a car badged as a large, passenger-friendly sedan.

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Categories: Pontiac

...we've got a good one going up on Monday about Smokey and the Bandit , a classic car movie that turns 30 this week. If you're of a certain age group this movie likely left an indelible impression on you when it premiered in 1977. It was the second-highest-grossing film of 1977 after Star Wars (another movie that left a large impact crater on my young psyche). The harsh truth of 1977 is that there wasn't a lot to celebrate in the world of automotive enthusiasm. Cars were weak, gas was no longer cheap, and it looked like we'd all be pedaling front-wheel drive hatchbacks before the end of the decade. Bandit was a total departure from this line of thinking, which is probably why it resonated so well across the fruited planes.

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Categories: Cars in Entertainment, Muscle Car, Pontiac

   I just finished driving the 2007 Pontiac G5 GT. This car is a perfect example of where GM (and Chrysler and Ford) often fall short in the face of Japanese competition. First, let's talk price. With sunroof, upgraded audio, automatic (four-speed at that) and side curtain airbags the G5 costs $20,830. Ironically, this is almost exactly $1,000 less than a Honda Civic Si -- with no options. The Si (along with every Civic) comes standard with side curtain airbags, so you don't have to add them. And while the automatic on our G5 test car added $850, I give the Si's standard six-speed manual the advantage over an optional four-speed auto or standard five-speed manual on the G5. In either case, the Honda has the more advanced tranny. Admittedly, the TMV price for an Si is equal to MSRP, while the True Market Value price on a G5 drops about $1000 below MSRP, opening up a $2,000 difference between these cars in the real world.

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Categories: Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Honda, Pontiac

You already know what Edmunds picked as the Most Significant Vehicle for 2006 -- the Pontiac Solstice . And you may have seen our "final call" on the vehicle regarding our ownership experience for the past year . Yeah, we weren't too impressed by Pontiac's Miata killer, primarily because of its weak interior (in both design and material quality), lackluster engine and less-than-thrilling driving dynamics.

But, I stand by the "Most Significant" award for two reasons:

1...

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Categories: Pontiac, Talk Back Tuesday, Vehicle Awards