Pontiac Montana SV6 axed due to slow sales
You've seen them tooling down the street... Montana SV6 minivans, the black sheep of the Pontiac family. It never
really seemed to fit into the performance brand's lineup, and finally, after an 11.5 percent drop in
sales in January over the same period last year (for a paltry 1,450 units sold), General Motors has finally
decided to put the poor beast to rest.
Those really interested in the Montana SV6 needn't despair... there are likely still examples on dealer lots, and buyers can shop what is essentially the same vehicle at their choice of Saturn, Buick, or Chevrolet dealers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason 7:16PM (2/13/2006)
The fact that this vehicle ever existed with a Pontiac badge on it shows exactly why Pontiac is a joke. Everyone at GM, from the cafeteria crew up to the VP's, who think it's ok to put rebadged minivans into your so-called performance devision needs to be fired right damn now.
Don't they screen people for stupidity before they go on the payroll? Just lay out two sets of cards, one with brands, and the other with car types. Chevy, Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, Caddy....and then cards labeled fast coupes with rear drive, minivans and basic sedans, entry-level small cars, luxury barges, and luxury performance.
As soon as the moron slides the minivan over to the Pontiac badge, announce the interview is over and toss the idiot back out onto the street so he can find his way to a job at Burger King.
Argh. I just want to grab these people and shake them.
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Andrew 7:22PM (2/13/2006)
Pontiac is a performance brand? Does any other manufacturer know that? Is their a "Smokey and the Bandit 3" coming out soon?
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nonobeez 7:30PM (2/13/2006)
That montana needed a big eagle sticker on the hood and a tiny turbo underneath to sell more...
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whofan 7:32PM (2/13/2006)
I can`t believe Buick has a version of this vehicle.
GM just can`t build an appealing minivan. I tried to like the Uplander but, the interior looks like hard plastic with a funky texture to it.
Chrysler has the best minivan.
GM builds good cars, but the minivan is just something they can`t nail down
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Tim UF 7:59PM (2/13/2006)
so, having not seen one on the streets... i now never will... ho hum, no skin off my back
the 'excitement' brand got that way by making their toe in on throttle super fast, the same with brakes, and a numb (though fast) steering feel (from my experience driving a g6, grand am, grand prix and sunfire; gotta love rental cars)
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starlightmica 8:08PM (2/13/2006)
#1 - the Pontiac Trans Sport concept from 1986 actually looked (and still looks) pretty slick.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Trans_Sport
Of course, it got translated into the "Dustbuster" production minivan trio along with Silhouette and Lumina APV, and it all went downhill from there.
The question I have is, what took GM so long?
#3 - DCX minivans may be #1 in sales but it's not in my garage - many reasons starting with no available ESC, disappointing offset crash ratings, subpar reliability.
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Domo 8:11PM (2/13/2006)
I agree with #2
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SS3 8:14PM (2/13/2006)
The first Transports with the Montana package sold so well that Pontiac changed the name to Montana. The switch to a butt ugly SV6 version and horror stories about leaky V6 engines, failed ABS sensors, failed accessory motors, etc, etc, killed the Montana.
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donald douglas 8:39PM (2/13/2006)
that link for the concept didnt work, try this one at carstyling.ru a excellent web site for all past concept cars
http://www.carstyling.ru/car.asp?id=2309
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RossL 8:55PM (2/13/2006)
My apologies to those who own one, but the current model has one of the ugliest front ends on the market today. A real shame, because the second-generation Trans Sport Montana was actually quite smart, IMHO. I, uh, owned one at the time - hey, I was in my peak child-raising years, the seating configuration (7 buckets) was handy, and the lease payments were a steal, thanks to GM's decision to inflate the residual. It seems to me that after the introductory year ('97?), GM made the car steadily worse - mushier seats, softer suspension, etc. I tended to assume that GM knew its market better than I, so I eventually concluded that the General just didn't want my type in their showrooms.
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Glen 8:57PM (2/13/2006)
What...axing the Montana SV6?
It's gonna be tuff, but we'll get by...somehow.
Seriously, this vehicle has been a virtual flop from the very beginning. No loss whatsover, and now maybe they'll put some additional development funds towards the next GTO.
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broosewee 9:07PM (2/13/2006)
Never knew it even existed.
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Aaron 9:19PM (2/13/2006)
GM Just needs to Quit. its pitful how they just rebadge their cars. Even though i am a HUGE DCX fan i think Toyota then honda then Chrysler/Dodge buil dthe best ones. The Dodge/Chrysler vans are in desperate need of redesign, espically the interior & they got 5 Stars so what is #6 talking about...
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AR 9:21PM (2/13/2006)
Well, it's about time. If GM really wants Pontiac to be the "American BMW", axing the Montana is a no-brainer. BMW doesn't have a minivan now does it? Also, get rid of the Terazza and Relay. Since Chevy is the volume leader at GM, the Uplander is the only minivan needed.
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Bert 9:45PM (2/13/2006)
Does anyone think that at the 2046 Barrett-Jackson we will see a one-of-1450 minivan, with low milage (garage-queen?) go for 1 Million?
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Jason 9:46PM (2/13/2006)
#6 I've actually driven the '93 version of the Trans Sport...one of my uncles owned one for a while. I can honestly say it was the scariest and most disturbing vehicle I've ever piloted. It only vaguely felt like I was controlling it...the steering wheel felt like it were connected to the vehicle with some sort of Jell-O material. The base of the windshield was like 12 feet in front of me, it seemed. The whole thing was just...wrong.
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Steve B. 10:00PM (2/13/2006)
Axe the Terazza, but not the Relay. Give it plastic body panels, and an alternate engine (I'm sure Honda would sell them some more of those sweet V6's, or even put some type of force-fed 4 banger). And kill the CSV thing with Saturn... A butch SUV-wannabe minivan just doesn't fit saturn's persona.
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Buckus 10:17PM (2/13/2006)
I think the Buick and the Chevrolet are the only ones that make sense. And that's only if they extend the line upscale of the Chevrolet. Don't let brands cross-over and then platform sharing makes sense. See Toyota Camry/Lexus ES330.
And if Pontiac HAD Made a mini-van even close to that concept, It would be among the best-sellers.
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Phydeaux 10:48PM (2/13/2006)
You're right... how can a company market a sporty image and then have a minivan! I mean what if Mazda with their zoom zoom image made a minivan.. oh crap they do.. the MPV. Ok... at least a stalwart sportscar company wouldn't do something like that (Porche Cayenne). If it makes a buck they'll make it... if it doesnt' they'll stop... simple as that.
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minivandriverX 10:55PM (2/13/2006)
Wait - wait - #13. . . "GM really wants Pontiac to be the "American BMW"? Is there a major crack smoking epidemic going on at GM? I hope they really don't think that for thier sake. Hmmm, I'm really leaning towards getting the X5, but maybe I should look at the Montana SV6 too? I mean, who at GM gave the OK to build this thing in the first place? They should all be fired. They won't though because they're union of coarse. . .
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