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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  Love my GP - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By kness - April 27 - 8:10 pm

  This is a great car !! I have the 40th anniversary edition and have had zero problems with it. Very reliable, extremely fun to drive.

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  Great car - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By deelisious - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Out of all the cars that Ive purchased this has been one of the best.

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  AMAZING first car. - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By MikeD - April 25 - 5:43 am

  If youre thinking of getting an affordable car, then I would definitely put a Pontiac Grand AM on your list. This car is a speed demon, just to warn, the acceleration takes some getting used to at first, but once youve driven it enough, it gets easier. This car is a champion to me, and Ive only had it for 2 days. If you can find one for a good price tag, then its a steal. This is the perfect first car, it is sharp and not tacky or too sophisticated at all. Runs great, sounds quiet, handles well and easily. Shocks absorb any road divots or potholes, just be on the look-out for them though, never know where you will find one, especially in states with a lot of un-paved streets. A+ car!

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  Ginger - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By amgendude - April 25 - 5:26 am

  Bought the car for $26K right after Xmas when GM was giving $6500 rebate and took advantage of dads discount. Car is an incredible value. Defy anyone to find comparable value. Total shame that Pontiac is gone. Now own two discontinued cars (2002 S2000). Not enamored by the interior, radio has some odd controls, no power seat back adjustment or garage door controls either. Minor complaints. Car accelerates great but agree that the tranny could be smoother. Driving on the turnpike, its not surprising to look down to see Im going 90 and not realizing it. Love the styling and love the attention it gets since you hardly see this car in south Florida. A real gem. Would buy again in a minute.

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  Practical But Fun - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By Paul Crockett - April 23 - 3:46 am

  I bought my Pontiac Vibe GT, the first new car Ive owned, in April of 2008. I cross-shopped it against a Honda Civic and a Mazda3 sedan. I found the Vibe to be more practical than the Mazda and nearly as fun to drive. It handles with confidence, and the 2.4L engine has ample power and a somewhat sporty sound. The appearance and build quality of the interior are nothing special, but the controls are well laid out and there are some useful features, such as the bag hook in the passenger footwell and the rear cargo organizer. Despite some quality control issues, I would recommend the Vibe to anyone looking for a small car that is highly practical, but also offers some driving enjoyment.

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  red rocket - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Paul - April 22 - 11:43 pm

  Bean a great car . had problem with E- Vac sensor. took months to figure out. brakes used to squeak and sounded like scaping backing out of driveway cold in the morning ONLY. Fine when warm. Great sound system. Been a very good car - sharp looking car. very well kept .super clean inside and out. and clean engine.

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  Good Car for the Money - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By Paul Adams - April 22 - 9:16 am

  I bought the GT for the purpose of having a car with adequate power and relatively good gas mileage. I got what I was looking for with 6-speed model; however, Im not thrilled with shifting from 1st gear. I have routinely checked my gas mileage and Im averaging 28.5 which includes some city driving, and I like to move on so that is a great feature. Once you shift from 1st gear the car is fun to drive and it handles well. Keep in mind it is recommended to use premium fuel but sometimes I have used the 89 grade and I didnt notice any running problems. The space is nice in the cargo area, and if you need to haul you will be surprised (in a good way) of the availabe space.

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  Good Little Car - 97 Coupe SE - 1997 Pontiac Sunfire
  By zippy_zion - April 20 - 11:06 pm

  This is a great little car. I was supprised initally by its good gas mileage and even more by its power. Ive only had two problems with it that were easy fixes. 1. The valve cover had a loose bolt and leaked oil 2. I had a leak in my trunk Neither caused any long term problems and didnt cause any ill performance. I have since added a front strut tower bar to help my handling. Im thinking of modifying it further but am reluctant because there is really nothing "wrong" with it; I just want more.

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  Not as bad as I first thought - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Green Meanie - April 20 - 1:30 pm

  I bought this car in February 2008. At first it was in the shop monthly for various electrical problems. We finally found that it was an O2 sensor. Now that its fixed the car is much better. The looks are great and the performance is even better. This is a very fun car to drive and you will get compliments on how nice it looks. I have the GT coupe with heated leather seats, a welcome amenity in the winter. It is a very fast little car hindered some by the TCS (Traction Control System). Other than that, though, If you are tired of Civics passing American cars, buy this car! It can smoke a V8 Chevy truck. It is also pretty comfortable considering the small exterior stature.

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  2001 Pontiac Montana - 2001 Pontiac Montana
  By jwhub88 - April 20 - 6:20 am

  We love this van. The seats are very comfortable, and the folding 3rd seat is a must. Traction control and ABS help in the winters of northern Michigan. The sporty exteroir disign is a plus. Love the interior. Has held up well to the kids. Power is good not great. I pull a camper all summer easily. Would like engine and trans. to be more reliable. Lower intake gaskets and head gaskets are a cronic problem. Also the trans. will go bad on 99% of these vans. Also love the red interior dash lighting. Bought van with 75,000 now have 130,000. Rebuilt trans. around 115,000. Otherwise routine maintenance. Runs great, rides great, drives great