You Auto Know	Don't I Know You? by Jim Corbran

The Pontiac G5 was recently introduced to fill a hole in the low end of the Pontiac lineup—a hole that had already been filled for GM by the Chevrolet Cobalt. I suppose some of you are thinking, “Hasn’t General Motors driven down this road before? Didn’t this road help lead to the financial pickle GM now finds itself in?”

I guess I’d be the first to agree with you there. Going back a few decades, GM’s lineup was cut and dry: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac. If you worked hard enough, over time your car purchases rose up this hierarchical ladder. Then someone got the bright idea that just maybe somebody out there might like a Chevrolet with a bit more “glam.” This put the top-end Chevy in direct competition with the low-end Pontiac. So Pontiac upped their top model into Olds territory; ditto Buick going after Cadillac buyers. This also eventually worked backward, perhaps culminating in the dreadful 1982 Cadillac Cimarron, which was basically an overpriced Chevy Cavalier. All five GM divisions sold a version of this J-platform car, with the biggest differences being grilles, taillights and interior trim. Oh yes, and price. The Cimarron sold for around $12,000, the Cavalier for about half that. Any wonder the Cimarron flopped?

So, over the past few years, GM has wised up and not had quite so much overlap. They started off by eliminating the Olds brand altogether. Pontiac was to be the “excitement” division. Chevrolet remained the “everyman’s” car, Cadillac the luxury brand; and Buick was (and still is) one step away from Cadillac. Oh, yeah. Let’s not forget Saturn, which started life as as whole new brand that GM didn’t even acknowledge as a division in its corporate advertising. It started out as a quirky entry-level car with no-haggle pricing. Once sales started falling, new models were found to be kind of dull, and now Saturn seems to be reinventing itself as the American Opel. And where does Saab fit in? Call it the car for people with money who don’t like to show off.

Which brings us back, in a roundabout way, to the Pontiac G5. It’s not exactly what one would expect from GM’s “excitement” division. Although it is a bit better looking than a Cobalt. But why bother? Is GM head Rick Wagoner doubting the corporate strategy? Will we also see Buick, Cadillac and Saab versions of the Cobalt? Let’s hope not, for GM’s sake.

The G5 is definitely a Pontiac from the outside. The trademark grille identifies it as kin to the Grand Prix, G6 and, yes, even the exciting Solstice two-seat sports car. From the rear you can see the G6 influence in the taillight shape. In profile—well, the profile still says Chevy Cobalt. What, besides blind loyalty to the Pontiac nameplate, would make you pick the G5 over the Cobalt? Certainly not the powertrain. The “excitement” division offers the G5 with a choice of two engines: the 2.2-liter, 148-horsepower four on the base model, and a 2.4-liter 173-horsepower four on what Pontiac describes as the “peppier” GT model. You want peppier? Chevy offers a supercharged 2.0-liter four which puts out 205 horsepower. How’d that happen?

Again, why look at the G5? Trying to save money? The Cobalt starts at $13,740 while the cheapest G5 starts at $15,265. And the G5 only comes as a coupe, where the Cobalt also offers a four-door sedan. Oh, there are a few things standard on the G5 which are optional on the Cobalt; you’ve gotta figure you’re not paying an extra $1,500 just to make your Chevy look like a Pontiac. If looks are that important, get yourself a used Cimarron on eBay. You’ll get what you deserve.

More info: pontiac.com.

Questions or Comments for Artvoice? Send e-mail to editorial@artvoice.com • Article last modified 12/20/2006 Issue Navigation> Issue Index > v5n51: Bye-Bye Skyway (12/21/06) > Don't I Know You? This Week's Issue • Artvoice Daily • Events Calendar • Classifieds