Silly Pontiac car dealerships...

[d4m.test]

So lets just say it has been a long long time since I owned an American branded car. I like my Asian and German cars.
BUT I thought given the fact that Pontiac seems to be going away, I would see what deals were to be had. I have liked the Solstice for awhile, and thought that given the fact that the convertible starts at $24k I might be able to get one for around $20k.
So I go down to the Pontiac dealership today and see what they have. They have the about ten of them on the lot, starting at the basic engine with cloth interior and going up the the bigger engine with leather and navigation.
Starting price... get this... $26.5k. No deal, no negotiations, no sale.
When I asked why the car was priced higher than MSRP the salesman actually had the nerve to tell me it was because they were "hard to get". (as he he nearly 10 of them...)
I called the only other Pontiac dealer in my area and they gave the same price over the phone. Again, no deals and no negotiations. SO, I called the Saturn dealer (Saturn Sky is the same damn car...) and again, $27.8 was the best price.
WTF???? I hope that GM has to crush these things when they shut down the rest of the Pontiac and Saturn dealers!
Oh well, I guess I will stick with my Nissans!

 

[fakemaster]

Sad sad sad. Cars used to be fun.

 

[d4m.test]

I am amazed... the guy from the second dealership just called me back to explain why there were no deals. He said, and this is nearly a quote..." There are only about 1100 of them in the US right now and they will not be making them any longer. So they are a limited production vehicle that will most likely become collectible."
GOOD GOD... Sounds like this salesman works for some of the rep dealers!

 

[KBH]

Yeah, my wife's last car was an Olds Alero. Biggest piece of crap we ever owned. They deserve to go under.
As much as I'd like to, I won't buy an American car until they are as least as good as the Japanese. She's now driving a new Nissan Altima and it's a HUGE improvement.. That 3.5 liter is like a race car, by the way.

 

[Spiccato]

Aaaah.
Like DeSotos.
And Oldsmobiles. Everyone's clamoring for those.

 

[butch6393]

Q. What do you call a car salesman at the bottom of the ocean?

 

[fakemaster]

Like the PT Cruiser right?

 

[Spiccato]

I thought Consumer Reports said the PT Cruiser was the best Mopar made, due to better than average build quality.

Worst car I ever had....'84 New Yorker.
Best car...'02 Mazda 626.

 

[watchbuff]

Don't get the solstice . A young lady friend of mine has one, the big motor+ nav. She likes it and it's not a bad little go cart, but it's not even a year old and I hear rattles and squeeks. The interior is american cheapo plastic.
What I would have said to the dealer when he said these cars are hard to come by is "and so is my money to you."
Give him the bottom line and walk away.
It worked for me when I got the M3 when fuel was 5.00$ per gallon.
I work too hard for some car dealer shill to baboozle me.

 

[phillycheez]

well... i think he saved you from making a huge mistake anyways. they are going out of business for a reason.

 

[watchman1]

Q. What do you call a car salesman at the bottom of the ocean?

A. A good start

 

[Nickyd]

You guys know watchs I know cars, I buy and sell 20+ - cars a month and have done so since I was a teenager. I bought 2 saturns redlines at auction and sold both to car collecters, same with 4 crossfires. Hot cars that were limited production and under 35k new are the really selling very well and they are NOT making them anymore ( unless Penske really does buy Saturn) If you look hard enough somone will cut u a deal, just buy the loaded one, costs more now worth more later.

I LOVE the crossfires EXACT MB drive train as SLK for 25k less I have bought 4 of them with less than 5k for around 15K and 3 SRT versions for 18500avg and SOLD every 1 of them but one I got for my son and made $$ on each and every 1 to guys who think they will be the next collectiable..
Heres a retail link just 2 give u a idea.

http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/overvi ... gtype=used

The Pontiacs and Saturns will be sold out..the hotter 1's will go fast, mark my words.

You may have to go online to get a deal but thats not a bigdeal.

 

[carnut]

The Solstice is a horrible pile of crap. I rented one and tried living with it for 3 days... so many reasons it blows.

For $20k get a 03-04 M3 convertable and forget about it.

 

[Dreadnought]

T- I hate to see what they were asking for a new G8...

I might be selling my Trans Am, but that doesn't mean I'm going for another Pontiac!

 

[horologie_unitas]

The Solstice is a horrible pile of crap. I rented one and tried living with it for 3 days... so many reasons it blows.

For $20k get a 03-04 M3 convertable and forget about it.

====================================================
i agree !!

i have read nothing but nightmare stories about the solstice. Piece of sheit !

i must admitt....looks good.....but terrible quality / handling / reliability.

buy a Honda, Mazda or Toyota.......they offer something for the money.

 

[fakemaster]

I couldn't even fit in it. My knees were banging against the steering column.

 

[watchman1]

You guys know watchs I know cars, I buy and sell 20+ - cars a month and have done so since I was a teenager. I bought 2 saturns redlines at auction and sold both to car collecters, same with 4 crossfires. Hot cars that were limited production and under 35k new are the really selling very well and they are NOT making them anymore ( unless Penske really does buy Saturn) If you look hard enough somone will cut u a deal, just buy the loaded one, costs more now worth more later.

I LOVE the crossfires EXACT MB drive train as SLK for 25k less I have bought 4 of them with less than 5k for around 15K and 3 SRT versions for 18500avg and SOLD every 1 of them but one I got for my son and made $$ on each and every 1 to guys who think they will be the next collectiable..
Heres a retail link just 2 give u a idea.

http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/overvi ... gtype=used

The Pontiacs and Saturns will be sold out..the hotter 1's will go fast, mark my words.

You may have to go online to get a deal but thats not a bigdeal.

Well, well, well..... I've got an '05 Pontiac G6 GT in MINT condition and I just might have to hold on to it. I was thinking about selling it because I primarily drive it only when I want to drive kinda fast (every other weekend or so...). I was just at the Lexus dealer on Friday thinking about trading it in and putting another Lexus in the garage....but not now....no wonder they wanted the trade in so badly!!

 

[trailboss99]

T- I hate to see what they were asking for a new G8...

I might be selling my Trans Am, but that doesn't mean I'm going for another Pontiac!

OI! One thing to remember my friend. The G8 may be branded Pontiac but it's a Holden thru and thru. I think you may find the build quality of your average Aussie car just a tad higher than the domestic ones. For starters, they sell these in Saudi and UAE so they have to be good, they won't buy crap there.
GM should just stick Chev badges on it but it doesn't look likely. You were suposed to tget the Storm ute as well:

Info here: http://www.autocult.com.au/NewsDetail.aspx?id=1002 Looks like that's unlikely now too. Your loss, Road and track loved it.


Col.

 

[amptor]

I dunno man, that Pontiac looks pretty and all, but it's a GM and they are also having money problems. Also for $26k-$27k plus taxes, you are well into Ford Mustang GT money (or possibly even a Camaro with a V8 if you must buy from that sinking company). And either of those cars will not only torch the living hell out of a Solstace, but will turn a great deal more heads and will probably be a lot more fun to drive. But I guess you may be looking at fuel economy since is why you're looking at a 4 banger. Just my words... I might be a little off but I don't believe that a car with 4 cylinders should cost over $20k.

 

[R2D4]

Col.

I love/loved the El Camino. I wish Chevy would bring them back. :wink: