Overview & Reviews

The Pontiac brand is part of the General Motors family, and is home to many of the automaker's more performance-oriented vehicles. Currently, the marque offers a broad range of sporty cars and SUVs. However, as part of GM's restructuring plan, the brand is slated to be discontinued by the end of the 2010 model year.

Pontiac originated as the Oakland Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan, in 1907; it was founded by Edward Murphy. Acquired by General Motors in 1909, Oakland introduced the first Pontiac vehicle in 1926. Dubbed the "Chief of the Sixes," the car was powered by a six-cylinder engine and made its debut at that year's New York auto show. It was so successful that the Oakland name was phased out in favor of Pontiac, the name of an 18th-century chief of the Ottawa Indians. Throughout the 1930s and '40s Pontiac made coupes, sedans and wagons in the low-to-mid price ranges. A unique styling cue of Pontiac cars from the mid-'30s to the mid-'50s was known as "Silver Streak," a set of art-deco-inspired chrome "speed lines" that ran up over the length of the hood to the base of the windshield.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the Pontiac Bonneville. The sprawling, stylish cruiser offered equal measures of performance and luxury, and was a breakout hit. But it wasn't until the 1960s that the Pontiac brand truly came into its own. American manufacturers had begun to offer downsized alternatives to the gigantic cruisers that had ruled the highways in previous decades. Pontiac came to market with the compact Tempest. In 1964, Pontiac made its biggest impact yet with the creation of the GTO option for the Tempest. By equipping the car with the powerful 389 cubic-inch V8 from the full-size car line, Pontiac created the first "muscle car." Phenomenally successful, the GTO helped define the burgeoning muscle car category. Pontiac also saw tremendous success during the latter part of this decade with its Firebird and Firebird Trans Am.

The oil crisis of the '70s made fuel efficiency a priority for many car buyers. Following the lead of its GM siblings, Pontiac made compact vehicles like the Ventura and Phoenix a major part of its lineup. The '80s saw the launch of the two-seat Pontiac Fiero. Despite its modest beginnings (it was initially marketed as a "commuter car"), the Fiero eventually blossomed into a credible sports car.

The '90s saw the launch of Pontiacs like the Sunfire and Montana minivan. Pontiac has slowly lost sales due to changing tastes and a lack of differentiation between its models and those of other GM divisions. In hopes of recapturing past glory, the division embarked on a plan to retire aged models and introduce all-new ones with distinctive styling and personality. For a while, the effort seemed to be bearing fruit. New models like the Vibe, Solstice and G8 made Pontiac a brand to consider in many segments. However, GM's financial troubles in 2008 and 2009 have resulted in the company's decision to phase out Pontiac as a brand. It's expected 2010 will be Pontiac's last year for new models.

User Reviews:

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  Great - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Chase413 - September 27 - 1:00 pm

  The car is great, could not have asked for a better vehicle from GM. Had an 07 SS impala before and they improved just about everything i didnt like about the impala. the handling, suspension, rear wheel drive, its just a smooth ride with everything you would need in a car and the ability to get up and go with cars that cost a good deal more. (ex: Taurus sho for 40 something, g8 gt for less than 30)

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  Too many problems - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By eugenemd - September 27 - 10:00 am

  New transmission at 33,000 miles. New head gasket at 50,000 miles and new intake manifold gasket at 65,000 miles, among other less annoying and cheaper failures. Quality lacking in this machine. I wont buy a Pontiac again!

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  No problems and fun to drive - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By frow - September 27 - 10:00 am

  Weve had this van for 3 years now. Neer had a problem. Fun to drive, very responsive. 8-pass seating is really convenient. Great van.

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  Nice Car - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Mo-mobile - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I love to drive this car! Definitely the best handling in its class! I was a little hesitant to buy a car with an automatic transmission but I quickly found the shifts to be very quick and firm. The engine produces enough power to make acceleration exciting and an exhaust note that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The exterior styling is quite nice (Im always afraid someones going to steal my rims theyre so nice) and the interior isnt bad either. The seats are great, theyre comfortable and supportive during spirited cornering. I like this car so much I find I never want to stop driving.

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  An almost perfect car - 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6
  By Ed Harrow - September 26 - 7:50 pm

  We are short people and we can get in and out with ease. I have another GM car and it is a chore getting out because it is so low and I am 75. This is our second Montana and it out performs and rides better or equal to the 3 Cadillacs that I have owned. It is really quiet and free of vibrations just like a big car. I am glad to learn that handicap options are available however, I dont need any yet.

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  where am I and whats around me? - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By KrisT - September 25 - 9:06 am

  Great price for a car/truck/suv mix breed. That is where it stops. ABS is an option on this vehicle (where it was a standard feature on the 2003 model). On wet roads the traction/steering are very weak. A lot of blind spots. Vehicle very awkward shaped and weight distribution to be a front wheel drive. Sometimes I wonder if the thing is going to stop when I hit the brakes--Tires like to lock up or I roll through the stop sign. Overall... If it is a dry summer day on a long straight road with no traffic.. this vehicle is optimal to own.. 22 mpg in town/30mpg hiway. Anything that is offroad, curves, traffic, non asphalt/cement... normal driving conditions...this vehicle has a mind of its own.

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  Love my Red G6 - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Dennis - September 24 - 6:33 pm

  This car is perfect for south Florida. It looks great with the top up or down. Most times its down. A very important consideration when I bought the G-6 was that my elderly mothers wheelchair would fit in the trunk. It fits perfectly. The other convertibles in this class could not accomadate the chair. I bought a Saturn Sky the same day for a "fun car" and find that the G6 gets just as many looks and comments from people and handles nearly as well.

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  Love It - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By xxxx - September 24 - 4:16 pm

  This Car is a lot of fun! Ride is great. Sightlines are poor due to sporty design but large sideview mirrors make up for it. Have not had one problem with car. Headroom is a little short due to sunroof.

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  Sweet Ride - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Sambuda - September 24 - 2:23 pm

  Since I moved to the Tri-State area, i needed to get rid of my gas hog truck. The new G6 caught my eye, so I took it for a test drive and was blown away. The european design, with the audi style design for the interior, this is one sweet ride. Once in, you are molded into the comfortable leather lumbar seats(heated is a plus). With 200 horses and a auto shift stick that you can red-line, this car has some bite. The tight suspension and the nice rubber is a nice touch when going around those bends at excess speeds. Way to go Pontiac, you have just re-invented the American Sport Seden. We just gotta wait now for all the after market parts, to really ignite this car!

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  My first American car and I love it - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By npayton08 - September 23 - 10:46 am

  I returned from a deployment and I was looking for a car with 3 things speed space and style. SUVs was more what I was looking for concerning the last two and very very few cars where on the list, but once I hopped in the Butte it was curtains for everything else, space was the only knock but I cant think of any car that can get close to SUV in that department. But, as you can read, speed is all over the place.