u/jgera5

This video--yes it uses AI but its one of the better ones, and has a full human narrator--did a "what-if scenario" if Pontiac had survived GM's bankruptcy. Overall, not a bad video, but wanted to point out a few things:

1. Pontiac had ZERO chance of survival. The Obama Administration pretty much forced GM's hand with regards to their bankruptcy: eliminate brands. Barack Obama told Rick Wagoner personally that they weren't getting a bailout unless they dropped Pontiac. Before we get into a political discussion, I should add that this would have happened regardless of who was President at the time.

2. The video suggested that NUMMI would have stayed open. I still think NUMMI would have closed in 2010. In the 1980s it was mutually beneficial because Toyota needed to learn American tendencies due to tariffs importing cars from Japan (and especially pickup trucks that to this day are still subject to the 25% "chicken tax") while GM wanted to learn the "Toyota Way" and implement it in their corporate culture. Of course, in typical GM fashion, GM learned nothing from it while Toyota was able to implement its processes to other American plants and without the UAW. By the time it closed it was clear GM needed Toyota more than Toyota needed GM.

3. BECAUSE this video assumed that NUMMI stays open and doesn't get sold to Elon Musk to build Tesla's, it predicted that the Pontiac Vibe continues to be a Toyota clone of some sort to this day, whether it be the Toyota Matrix or the current Corolla hatchback. If Pontiac had survived I believe the Vibe would have become a Chevy Trax clone by 2013. Maybe take a brief hiatus--build an extended run of 2010 models before NUMMI closes, then skip the 2011 and 2012 model years altogether before bringing back the Vibe as an early 2013 model. They could have also simply moved production to Toyota's plant in Canada where they made the Matrix until the completely-in-house, GM-designed replacement was ready.

Why the Trax? The Vibe and Trax are pretty similar-sized vehicles with similar attributes. And because Pontiac already had an established history with the Vibe and shared dealership showrooms with Buick, it would be the Vibe and not the Buick Encore that is initially sold here. For those who recall, GM initially had no plans to sell the Trax in the US until the unexpected sales success of the Encore prompted them to change their minds. In this scenario, the Trax-based Vibe takes off enough for GM to introduce the Trax and Encore to the US market.

4. Even if Pontiac had survived GM's bankruptcy, it would still eventually be killed off. The culprit? SUVs and crossovers. Again, Pontiac shared showrooms with Buick as well as GMC. Would GM, say, sell three versions of the exact same vehicle in the same showroom? Imagine the Pontiac Torrent, GMC Terrain, and Buick Envision in the same showroom, all as Chevy Equinox clones. Even now with just the Terrain and Envision, you can only justify the Terrain, especially with Chinese tarriffs on the Envision. Hell, I've been seeing a lot of Buick-GMC dealerships now just going down to GMC or, if they also sell Chevrolet or Cadillac, dropping Buick while keeping the rest. Makes me wonder if Buick becomes a China-only brand and is dropped here.

Thoughts?

Well Gray has officially confirmed it is receiving ABC programming in St. Louis, but nothing else was mentioned on any other potential swaps. Has anyone else heard anything?

Toledo seems to be logical, I could see Gray getting WNWO. But what is Sinclair getting in return? My guess here is that in some form it involes Cox.

Either A. Gray and Sinclair are buying Cox together and dividing up the stations, or B. Sinclair is getting WANF/WPCH so that Gray can pursue Cox and get WSB.

Thoughts?

With the new sod being recently installed at Heinz Field (yes, I still call it that), Art Rooney II has said publicly that if it doesn't hold up the Steelers would seriously consider replacing its natural grass surface with artificial turf, presumably FieldTurf.

What are yinz thoughts on that? I'm old enough to remember Three Rivers Stadium and its AstroTurf (though not quite old enough to remember the Tartan Turf, which was replaced in 1983, two years before I was born). On one hand, I prefer the natural grass as it reduces injuries. It also gives the Steelers a competitive advantage in cold weather since the Browns are moving into a translucent roof stadium in 2029 and will have artifical turf. The Bengals and Ravens already have artifical turf.

On the other hand, the field would be more consistent both in the texture and the design--I would assume like the last five years of Three Rivers, the Steelers would have gold end zones year round and no more "plain diagonal white lines" in the south end zone while Pitt is in season. (Oddly enough I like the "plain" south end zone.) Pitt would also have their own unique end zone designs, too.

Native Yinzer here living near Columbus.

My guess here is yes with Wawa, especially with Sheetz moving into Philadelphia. Wawa is already popping up like weeds in Cincinnati and has a location each in Dayton & Lima. My guess is Columbus is next, followed by Cleveland. I'm sure Wawa wants to "circle" core Sheetz territory before making their move.

As for QT, they've popped up like weeds around Dayton and Cincinnati. I was at their store in Jeffersonville, Ohio the other day near Washington Court House (technically Columbus market, but that and Springfield is about as close as they're going to CBus right now) and they told me they're working on a move into Youngstown right now. My guess is, its likely along the I-80 or Ohio Turnpike corridors due to heavy truck traffic and maybe in suburbs like Boardman, Canfield, Girard, Hubbard, Austintown, and Niles, maybe Warren. (I would not expect Youngstown proper to get a QT for obvious reasons.) Being right there, its obvious QT has its sights set on PA.