Is Pontiac the "American BMW"?

Ouch. But Sanchez has some good points. The Solstice and Sky may be more rough than the Z-cars, but they're not exactly unattractive and they're way less expensive:

http://www.thebmwblog.com/bmw-vs-pontiac-could-it-really-happen/  

I don't think Pontiac will ever really be able to compete with BMW. As much as I hate to say it, there is a large portion of buyers that are buying the BMW for the image. Pontiac will never have that image, no matter how hard they try. Will Pontiac ever have fresh vehicles, or will they keep grabbing cars from foreign markets and rebadging them in the US?
I haven't driven a Sky or Solstice, I will admit they are atractive cars, but I have a hard time believing they have the driving experience of the BMW. I know people who have never driven a BMW are laughing right now, saying that its elitest crap and it doesn't matter what badge is on a car. Having driven BMWs back to back with several other brands, I can tell you they have a quality not easily expressed or duplicated. Go drive one and you will get it.
They mar be able to model some of their cars after BMW, but they will never be BMW. That doesn't mean Pontiac can't be succesful either, I just don't think you can make up heritage, and change your image like that.  

Mike@EC:
I don't think Pontiac will ever really be able to compete with BMW. As much as I hate to say it, there is a large portion of buyers that are buying the BMW for the image. Pontiac will never have that image, no matter how hard they try. Will Pontiac ever have fresh vehicles, or will they keep grabbing cars from foreign markets and rebadging them in the US?
I haven't driven a Sky or Solstice, I will admit they are atractive cars, but I have a hard time believing they have the driving experience of the BMW. I know people who have never driven a BMW are laughing right now, saying that its elitest crap and it doesn't matter what badge is on a car. Having driven BMWs back to back with several other brands, I can tell you they have a quality not easily expressed or duplicated. Go drive one and you will get it.
They mar be able to model some of their cars after BMW, but they will never be BMW. That doesn't mean Pontiac can't be succesful either, I just don't think you can make up heritage, and change your image like that.

Totally agreed. It is really a shame that many people are really buying BMWs for its image instead of its renown handling and performance that they are designed to provide to the drivers.  

I wonder if BMW's pricing strategy has something to do with it. If the car's weren't so expensive, maybe more folks would give it a go for the driving experience instead of rep. Look at Mazda: its vehicles are considered quite sporty at very reasonable prices.  

Pontiac could become the poor man's BMW if the GM Hydra ever figures out which head needs to be doing what. The Solstice is a good start and the GTO was a good attempt(even though they completely botched the execution). If they do decide to turn the Grand Prix into the American Commodore and turn the G6 into a RWD midsize car, they might have some claim to that nickname  

RE: Grand Prix.
Looks like your wish may be coming true. I'd love to see the G6 in RWD.