I got interested in cars in the 1998-2001 era. Nissan was ... off the radar then. Now, they're on in a big way, but that Dead Zone really hurt them in terms of how I and a lot of other people have felt about Nissan. Nice cars, but you didn't notice them at all. Now, they're bold, brash, and desireable in big ways.

That's how you remember an automaker; the last time you were actively in the market, they either made an impression or didn't.

For many, Pontiac hasn't made an impression, or if they did, it wasn't so great.