The I-4 was available with a manual in the wagon? I knew the sedan but the wagon too? I may have to browse online sales now....

Pontiac was going to become GM’s performance brand. The G8 would have continued (which later became the SS), we were going to get the G8 ST Ute, that GTO was coming, G6 was to go RWD on the Alpha platform etc.

Sad as it is, Commodores (G8/Caprice/SS) and Monaros (GTO) were floundering in their home market of Australia and New Zealand, against more benign offerings from Toyota and others, that were cheaper and managed better fuel economy.

Holden, like the more tightly-reigned American cousins, failed for many of the same…

Theoretical Pontiac line up:

Goodness! Is that ever sexy!! Side exhausts and all...what a shame.

The reason they kept Buick and not Pontiac is that Buick is very big in China. It is considered as the first car company to set up in that country and still carries clout. They were betting on selling more Buicks in the long run. 

Indeed, Pontiac would’ve done well as a niche performance-car brand within a combined Pontiac-Buick-GMC-Cadillac sales channel. No brand-diluting crossovers because the dealers would still have them for sales volume, they just wouldn’t be badged Pontiac.

It’s really not that unlikely that this decision is unrelated to Brexit.

But it might not be because of that. They have stated that the UK plant & the Turkey plant is closing - the Turkey plant can’t be because of Brexit.

Honda hasn’t been competitive in Europe for a long time. It’s like they never really tried.

Those 2 charts, in my mind, coupled with the global rise of SUVs, are the big reason why Civics will continue to be made in Indiana and not the UK..  Brexit didn't exactly discourage Honda from pulling the trigger either..

The reason people like the motor is that it’s hardened and tough. Not because of the possible HP they can crank out of it, but rather how much they can put in without it eating itself.

I thought you drove a Honda...

Car companies have nothing to gain from enthusiasts thinking manual versions are cool if said enthusiasts will never buy them anyway.

25K? Tech Savvy? Reliable? Good on long road trips?

I see you’re already trying to push the agenda that nobody has brought up.  Don’t be so paranoid and defensive.

Maybe it’s just me being paranoid, but I always hesitate when I see a car that’s only a couple of years old, with extremely low miles, up for sale. Especially a car with a history of gremlins. Did the owner experience these issues already and is just ready to move on? This a tin foil hat CP for me.

Columbus’ food scene crushes Cleveland. 

One of the best cities in the country, moved here from California a dozen years ago and wouldn’t dream of moving back.  Great food scene.