Edmunds Daily
Pontiac
November 4, 2009
GM is recalling some 2006-'07 Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions and Pontiac G5s because a couple crack-prone parts could lead to a fuel leak -- and the wrong kind of ignition when you turn the key.
Here's what NHTSA has to say: "The plastic supply or return port on the modular reservoir assembly may crack. If either of these ports develops a crack, fuel will leak from the area. If the crack becomes large enough, fuel may be observed dripping onto the ground." So what? "Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition, could result in a fire." Yikes.
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- Josh Sadlier November 4, 2009, 11:00 AM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Vehicle Recalls
September 10, 2009
How does a Corvette V8-powered, four-place Grand Touring coupe that can dash to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds, run the quarter in 14 flat and yet get up to 25 mpg on a long trip sound? And what if we told you that there are mint, low mileage examples available for under $20,000?
We're talking about the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO, the made-in-Australia Poncho that had old-school muscle car purists treating it like Rodney Dangerfield ("I tell ya, I get no respect!") and performance car purists dinging it for its less-than-agile handling. Hey, that's their loss and it results in these modern, fast yet comfortable muscle cars being one of the best used car deals of that last couple of decades. Throw a performance set of springs/shocks/bushings and brake pads on it and you're good to go.
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- John DiPietro September 10, 2009, 11:05 AM
- Categories:
- Pontiac, Used Car Corner, Used Cars
July 21, 2009
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Straightline: 2010 Audi A5 2.0T Starts at Under $40,000
It is now slightly less expensive to get into an Audi A5
. Buyers, who opt for the four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission, can get the stylish coupe for $36,825 including the destination fee. Follow the link for more details on the available packages.
Auto Observer: 100,000 Plus Car Shoppers Waiting to Buy, Edmunds.com Calculates
Edmunds.com analysts have been noticing a surge of people whose research hasn't yet translated into vehicle sales. Their data points to a correlation between the unemployment rate and the average trade in mileage. Will the upcoming cash for clunkers program, be the spark that gets these buyers off the fence?
Green Car Observer: Pricing Announced for the 2010 Lexus HS 250h
Lexus' first dedicated hybrid will go on sale this August. Pricing begins at $35,075. This is a $7,055 premium over the top of the line Toyota Prius. Follow the link for more details on the available packages.
Auto Observer: Pontiac G8: The World's Best Car Nobody Was Buying
The Pontiac G8: a car that was simultaneously the high and low point of Pontiac's tumultuous history. Auto Observer's Bill Visnic best summed up the G8's quandary: "Problem was, all the love from this horde of enthusiasts, supporters, cult appreciators and basement bloggers never extended to hitting the showroom and actually buying one."
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- Ron Montoya July 21, 2009, 1:00 PM
- Categories:
- Audi, Car Buying, Edmunds Roundup, Hybrids and Alternative Fuels, Lexus, Pontiac
- Technorati Tags:
- Audi, Lexus, Pontiac G8
July 1, 2009
Holidays mean specials on new cars. And what could be more patriotic during Independence Day weekend than buying an American car? From today through July 6, GM is offering 0 percent financing for up to 72 months for qualified buyers on select 2009 and 2010 vehicles in dealer stock, including Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups; Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL; Chevrolet Impala; and the Pontiac models: Vibe, G3, G5, G6 and G8, Solstice and more.
Most other vehicles, such as the Chevy Malibu Hybrid, will have reduced rate financing of 0 percent for up to 60 months, instead. Note that you have to take delivery by July 6 according to the current offer. For details on all GM offers and models, see here.
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- Joanne Helperin July 1, 2009, 11:30 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Buying, Car Loans and Financing, Chevrolet, Fuel Economy, GMC, General Motors, Pontiac
- Technorati Tags:
- Cash for clunkers, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac
June 1, 2009
In a series of press conferences today, President Obama and GM's CEO Fritz Henderson released details on GM's earlier filing for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection.
Saying, "give us another chance," Henderson promised that the bankruptcy filing would be "the start of a new and better GM." He predicted that the restructuring process would take from 60 to 90 days. GM has launched its own site to help keep the public informed of its latest efforts and promotions.
Henderson was preceded by President Barack Obama who essentially said that Chrysler's apparent reemergence from bankruptcy bodes well for GM's long term success. He noted that after entering Chapter 11, Chrysler sold more cars in May than in April. However, he didn't mention that most of those sales were at fire sale prices.
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- Paul Seredynski June 1, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Advice Articles, Car Buying, Car Loans and Financing, Car Maintenance, Car Warranty, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vehicle Incentives and Rebates
- Technorati Tags:
- Chrysler, closing dealerships, Fritz Henderson, GM Bankruptcy, Hummer, parts and service, Pontiac, Saturn, warranties
May 29, 2009
Faced with imminent bankruptcy and revamped federal fuel economy standards, General Motors will likely be forced to nix many of its niche vehicles in favor of volume-selling, fuel-efficient small and midsize cars. Some won't be missed, but I say the following three deserve a new lease on life, even while the fallen Detroit giant struggles for air.
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- Josh Sadlier May 29, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Weekly Top 3
May 26, 2009
GM announced it is recalling 35,038 Pontiac G8s for model year 2008 - 2009. The issues include a faulty brake pedal position switch that may keep the brake lights illuminated and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) programming error. The brake light issue may result a failure to warn following drivers that the vehicle is braking, resulting in a collision. The TPMS issue may result in underinflated tires, which may lead to tire failure.
Dealers will reprogram the brake pedal position switch and TPMS free of charge starting June 5, 2009. Owners may contact GM Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov. Reference GM recall no. 08411.
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- Mark Takahashi May 26, 2009, 8:14 AM
- Categories:
- Car Safety, Pontiac
- Technorati Tags:
- Brake Lights, GM, Pontiac G8, Recall, TPMS
May 4, 2009
Hyundai cars, such as the Genesis pictured above, outsold Nissan during April while Ford outsold Honda. Go figure.
When oh when will the "pent-up demand" for cars kick in and flood the lots with qualified and, yes, confident buyers?
That happy day is bound to come eventually since four million Americans postponed car buying last year. And as April sales indicated, we are on track to see only about 9.3 million Americans buy a new car.
But will the bubble burst in time to save Chrysler/Fiat? And what about GM?
More important for you, if you are part of that pent-up demand, is this the time to pull the trigger on that new car?
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- Philip Reed May 4, 2009, 2:01 AM
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Car Loans and Financing, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Fuel Economy, Hyundai, Pontiac
- Technorati Tags:
- Bankruptcy, Car sales, Chrysler, Fiat, Hyundai, Nissan, pent up demand, Pontiac
May 1, 2009
You'd have to live way off the grid to not know that Chrysler just declared bankruptcy, and that Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer are in their death throes. But where does it leave consumers?
As Phil Reed noted yesterday, and as we detailed in this article, the immediate impact on consumers should be limited (see the above links for details if you're still worried, but you needn't be unless you work for one of those companies or their dealerships).
Yes, it's a shock to realize that your car's brand may cease to exist -- or be reincarnated as something you don't recognize. But will that change the way you feel about your car?
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- Joanne Helperin May 1, 2009, 11:00 AM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Advice Articles, Chrysler, Dodge, FAQ Friday, Jeep, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn
- Technorati Tags:
- Bankrupt Brands, Chrysler, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn
April 28, 2009
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Auto Observer
Good-Bye Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, Hummer
General Motors' recent announcements may have dealt a coup de grace to Pontiac, but Saturn and Hummer are also on life support unless a buyer is found before the end of this year. Saab's situation is a bit more complicated, since it has already begun a Chapter 11 type restructuring in Sweden. GM will cut ties with Saab by the end of 2009, but is also willing to negotiate its U.S. distribution system.
Straightline
Top 10 Pontiac Muscle Cars of All-Time
If the Pontiac GTO was the car that started the muscle-car era, and the G8 was the last- and possibly best Pontiac ever, what other cars highlighted Pontiac's 83-year history? Straightline takes a stroll down memory lane, to a time when cars had huge engines and cool names like Firebird, The Judge and Trans Am. In his Tuesday Karl on Cars post, Editor-in-Chief Karl Brauer takes a look at Pontiac's decline in When did Pontiac Jump the Shark?
Inside Line
Tundra and Sequoia price hike, Lexus drop-top stickers set
The pricing on the 2010 Toyota Tundra has gone up an average of $557, and the 2010 Sequoia has gone up an average of $3,361 across all models. Toyota attributes these increased to the addition of more standard equipment such as: a redesigned towing hitch, driver and front passenger knee airbags, Bluetooth connectivity, MP3, and height-adjustable headlights.
Pricing for the convertible version of Lexus' IS was announced recently, and is significantly lower than its competitor, BMW's 3 Series. If you compare their base models, the Lexus IS 250C costs approximately $6010 less than a BMW 328i convertible.
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- Ron Montoya April 28, 2009, 1:00 PM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Edmunds Roundup, Lexus, Pontiac, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- Edmunds Roundup, Lexus, Pontiac, Prices, top 10, Toyota
April 27, 2009
GM announced today that it will phase out Pontiac by the end of 2010, leaving countless current owners and prospective buyers wondering what this means for them. For more information about the details announced today, check out our Straightline article.
Current owners will have several concerns such as fears that their warranty won't be honored and questions about the availability of parts and service. GM has promised all along that warranties will be honored at dealerships selling sister brands. A similar situation occurred when Oldsmobile was phased out and repair and service work was picked up by other GM dealerships.
If GM itself goes bankrupt, the U.S. Government has already created a fund to back warranties through a third party agency. The announcement about Pontiac will no doubt create a lot of bargain hunters from shoppers seeking the remaining cars at bargain prices. Depreciation will be steep for these vehicles, however.
For more details on how this situation will be resolved please see "What if My Carmaker, Dealer of Warranty Company Goes under?"
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- Philip Reed April 27, 2009, 6:26 AM
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Pontiac
- Technorati Tags:
- bankruptcy, depreciation, GM, parts and service, Pontiac, warranties
April 24, 2009
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
AutoObserver
Is the Excitement Over?
For anyone even moderately interested in automobiles or the global financial meltdown, it should come as no surprise that GM is likely going to kill-off the Pontiac brand. In an era when most of the models from Pontiac are rebadged vehicles from GM's stable -- save for a few exciting foreign adaptations like the G8 and GTO -- it appears that this satellite brand is simply unsustainable. This "first domino" is rumored to fall on Monday -- as if Monday's weren't hard enough.
Green Car Advisor
2010 Lexus RX 450h Pricing Revealed: A Greener Car Without Spending More Green
Though we don't expect the revamped hybrid crossover in showrooms until this summer, Lexus has revealed pricing for the 2010 RX 450h. Buyers will save about $400 compared to the 2008 base model and about $200 for the AWD model. On top of a couple extra Benjies in their wallets, owners will get more power, better fuel economy, lower emissions and additional features. Who says it isn't easy being green?
Green Car Advisor
Bill Ford Steers the Blue Oval Toward Greener Pastures
Speaking at a Fortune Magazine conference in California, Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. made it clear that the company is embracing emerging technology to power the next generation of Ford vehicles. Rather than declaring one particular technology the victor, Junior hinted that Ford may pursue several different propulsion options. Also notable is the possibility that FoMoCo may purchase advanced batteries from Asia for use in the domestic market, though Mr. Ford cautioned that the U.S. should not allow foreign countries to dominate this field.
Straightline
Audi Changes Its Engine Lineup in a Confusing, Alphabet Soup Mash-Up
Audi has made some significant changes to its U.S. engine and model lineup for 2010. If notated via its alphanumeric script, the changes would look something like: [(2009 TT + A3) - VW VR6, 2.0T] + (A4 - 265hp 3.2 V6 = 2.0T); [(S4 + A6 + (A5 + 2.0T)] = 3.0 SC V6; [S8 = (2010 - V10)] + [5.2 V10 = (S6 + R8)]; 2008 A8 (W12) = 0. For translation, head over to the Straightline blog.
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- Mark Takahashi April 24, 2009, 1:00 PM
- Categories:
- Audi, Automotive Consumer News, Automotive Technology, Edmunds Roundup, Ford, Hybrids and Alternative Fuels, Lexus, Pontiac
- Technorati Tags:
- Audi, Edmunds Roundup, Ford, GM, Green Cars, Lexus RX 450h, Pontiac
April 13, 2009
General Motors is recalling 1,497,516 vehicles equipped with its 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6. The problem involves drops of engine oil that may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire. This recall effects the following vehicles equipped with the aforementioned engine.
Buick Regal (1997-2003)
Chevrolet Impala (2000-2003)
Chevrolet Lumina (1998-1999)
Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1998-2003)
Oldsmobile Intrigue (1998-1999)
Pontiac Grand Prix (1997-2003)
The fix involves dealers removing the spark plug wire retention channel at the front of the engine and install two new spark plug wire retainers. If you happen to own the Intrigue, call 1-800-630-6537 or visit www.gmownercenter.com.
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- James Riswick April 13, 2009, 3:00 PM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Buick, Chevrolet, General Motors, Pontiac
March 21, 2009
This new feature for Edmunds Daily about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America's Car Show on satellite radio. Tom has been in the auto industry for over 35 years and receives numerous questions each week about car maintenance from his listeners. This makes him the perfect expert to show you how to save money while keeping your car in top running condition. His column will appear weekly on Edmunds Daily, but following this entry will move to Wednesday afternoon.
Dear Tom,
I've owned four vehicles and rented three. The common denominator was the presence of a skunk odor, accompanied by facial numbing within 10-20 minutes of driving the vehicles. I have been told the problem is caused by antifreeze leaks. That is the million-dollar question. Give me your knowledge. I am about as far away from being a mechanic as you can get!
-- Lisa from LA
Lisa,
Although the information you provided is vague at best, I will try to "give you my knowledge." I will assume you are talking about a pungent odor inside the car when the HVAC system is activated. Odor from the HVAC system comes from a couple of different sources. Either the heater core is leaking engine coolant into the vehicle cabin when the HVAC system is operating, or there is a clogged condensation drain in the HVAC. A leaking heater core tends to leak a small amount in a fine mist. It gets caught up in the air stream created by the blower motor and blows into the car's cabin. This vapor usually smells sweet and condenses on the inside of the windshield, fogging it up.
On the other hand, a plugged condensation drain results when organic matter gets sucked into the air intake of the HVAC system at the base of the windshield. Leaves, pine needles and other debris get into the HVAC box, mix with condensation from the A/C system, and form an unholy, stenching paste that plugs the water drain. The water from condensation then pools inside the dark, warm box and mold and mildew grows. This results in a pungent smell every time the HVAC system is activated. Sometimes the evaporator core springs a leak and refrigerant oil soaks the outside of the core. When air is drawn across the core, dirt is filtered out and it sticks to the oil on the face of the core. This also results in mold and mildew causing the smell.
Check the condensation drain at the bottom of the HVAC box. If it's plugged then remove the debris and empty a full can of Lysol disinfectant into the air intake at the base of the windshield with the heater set on defrost and high blow. Once the can is emptied, let it sit for a half hour so that the disinfectant has time to kill the mold and mildew.
However, if a refrigerant leak is found in the evaporator core, then the HVAC box will have to come apart and the core replaced. Finally, to check for a leaking heater core, have the cooling system pressure-tested. If coolant is leaking into the car from the passenger's side HVAC, then the core is leaking and must be replaced. Good luck.
-- Tom
More Repair and Maintenance Q&A...
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- Joanne Helperin March 21, 2009, 1:00 AM
- Categories:
- Car Maintenance, Ford, General Motors, Lexus, Pontiac
- Technorati Tags:
- America's Car Show, Catalytic Converter, Tom Torbjornsen
March 18, 2009
Like punishment? Well, you'll love the 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe. If not, read the Edmunds road test to find out why you should skip this disappointing sports car.
Read the 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Edmunds Test Drive
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- James Riswick March 18, 2009, 3:00 PM
- Categories:
- Pontiac, Test Cars and Car Reviews
March 4, 2009
Susan Doherty, vice president for Pontiac, Buick and GMC divisions, announced on the GM Fastlane blog that the Pontiac Torrent crossover SUV would be discontinued. The slow-selling Equinox clone seemed likely for execution given GM's promise to cut models and Pontiac's new designation as a "niche brand."
However, she also announced a small five-passenger GMC crossover SUV, which sounds all-the-world like a 2010 Equinox clone. So much for cutting models.
Doherty also mentioned the continued sale of G5, G6, G8, Solstice and Vibe, plus the introduction of the Aveo-clone G3. Perhaps this is only in the short-term, but that certainly doesn't sound very nichy to me. Other than the G8 and Solstice (both rumored to die after its current generation), Pontiac's lineup is uninspired and hardly the excitement division it's marketed to be. They could disappear tomorrow and the only folks who would notice work at Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealers.
As if reading my mind, Doherty preemptively countered, "we know that we don't have all of the answers right now and that can be very uncomfortable, but we refuse to let media speculation and negativity make up our minds for us." (Is it just me, or does that seem lifted directly from a Sarah Palin sound bite?)
This may be speculative and negative, but it seems that the direction of Pontiac will continue to be in limbo for the foreseeable future.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- James Riswick March 4, 2009, 1:30 PM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Pontiac
