Today on CNN Newsroom
Pontiac: We're gonna miss you!
Here's what else is on our minds this Friday morning:
The end of an era – well, it seems that way to me anyway. We’re talking all about Chrysler on our show today and let’s not forget GM announced on Monday that they were doing away with the Pontiac. And that’s the part that makes me sad. My first car, you see, was a 1989 Pontiac Grand Am. And I loved that little car. It was white with a silver stripe, and boy, did it get me where I needed to go. I brought this up in our morning meeting today, and no one really seemed to have that much love for Pontiacs. In fact Doug, one of our writers, made a joke about Yugos. And I know my little car wasn’t one – but Pontiacs were the great muscle cars of our time.
I’m glad reporter Brian Todd shares my thoughts – he did a story that is basically an Ode to Pontiac. We’re running it our 9am eastern hour. And we’re also going to tell if you can still repair your car if you own a Chrysler.
From Sara McDonald
Producer
Here's another view ... from one of our resident smart aleck writers (we have quite a few):
Will anyone notice?
General Motors announced this week that they’re cutting Pontiac from their roster, as part of a broad restructuring plan.
This prompted people to think back to Pontiac’s glory days.
The Bandit (Burt Reynolds) driving his Firebird Trans Am.
Jim Rockford driving a Firebird in the Rockford Files.
The Trans Am made a comeback as the car in Knight Rider (it was replaced by a Ford Mustang long after David Hasselhoff moved to the beach).
Other than those high-profile appearances, where has Pontiac been?
Record-setting stock car driver Richard Petty piloted his Pontiac to more than 200 wins.
But there’s no more Pontiac in Nascar.
GM stopped supporting the racing brand in 2003.
Now, we’re left to remember the good ol’ days.
My colleagues wanted to share their memories, with Bev German’s fond recollection of the family’s Bonneville (but they really wanted a Cadillac).
Sara McDonald’s first car was a 1989 Grand Am (not exactly a classic). (See above for Sara's story).
Do you have any personal Pontiac stories to share?
We’d love to hear them.
From Doug Furnad
Writer
On Twitter
With all the talk about the H1N1 and hand washing. I've been teaching my kids about coughing or sneezing in their shirts or coats. This way they can keep their germs to themselves. I think if we cough in our shirts, coats or even in the cuff of their elbows, this would keep down the spread.
Thank God someone finally showed the proper way to wash hands. I have been screaming at the tv when the government speaks, hoping someone would do this. Next, could someone please tell the country that those flimsy masks people are wearing are useless. People need to wear the masks that cup over their chins and can be formed to their noses. Someone please report on this. Thank you, CNN, I watch you all day long, as I am disabled and stay at home with AIDS..
I may not have my 1967 Firebird "400" anymore nor able to get another Pontiac but I still have my wife. http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-252685
Please check out my iReport. This comment goes with this iReport.
Well even with the week long coverage of swine flu or H1N1 it sounds like from your discussion with Elizabeth Cohen people are travelling and going everywhere in public even though we are in the midst of close to pandemic circumstances. Somehow not surprising that people don't want to forego their getaways. That's a good sign though to us out here in viewer land of what the story is at this point on the outbreak.
Maybe some of the actions the President, Sec Napolitano and Sec Sebelius, and the WHO working in close relationship with the CDC have actually worked to stem the spread of this virus.
On Pontiac, with economy as it is, isn't it likely that with an upswing, a sustained rally and recovery auto sales would bounce back. I hope GM isn't scrapping the Pontiac and Saturn production plants. With Chrysler in trouble, we are looking at the very creative part of the
American car market being in peril and maybe in part devastated.