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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  No complaints, lovely car - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By ibejeph - September 21 - 3:53 pm

  Ive had my G6 four months now and I feel I can be objective. The engine is powerful at 240 HP and can really move. It is docile enough to cruise all day though. The leather seats are comfortable and firm. Plenty of leg room but Im 58 and sometimes I hit my head on the ceiling, messing up my spiky hair. The ride is sporty but not bumpy. The fuel economy isnt great but my lead foot might have something to do with that. The sunroof, horsepower and 8 speaker stereo make it a fun car to drive. My girlfriend telling me to slow down, not so much. The body style is a love child between a 300Z and Solara. The grille is Pontiac but thankfully, no ugly body panels!

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  Cool Car - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Kevin - September 20 - 10:13 pm

  All and all, this is an awesome car. Many are complaining about the fuel economy or the bumpy ride, but guess what, this is a sports car, not a geo! I gave this car a low rating on fuel economy, but I knew that going in. That is not why I bought the car. The fuel economy is not that important to me, but the size of the tank is. Even with the DOD, this car goes through alot of fuel, so why the puny 16 gal tank? Other than that, I love this car, very fun to drive, very comfortable (unless you are over 6 ft, Im 510 so Im good), and tons of cargo area. I put six golf bags in the trunk without folding the seats.

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  I switched from a BMW 545i - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By JSBMWMAN - September 20 - 4:13 pm

  Just purchased a Panther Metalic Black Onix/Red G8 GT. Did a lot of research and test driving prior to buying on 3- 30-09. I am 52 Yrs old and owned/driven nothing but Porsche,BMW, and Mercedes most of my adult life. I am a total Car Fanatic and love to drive. For the overall driver the BMW is by far the best, but it comes at a price. My most recent BMW was a 545i which I purchased new in 05. I started getting tired of the cost of owning these cars and drove the G8 GT two months ago, and was hooked. It is far from a BMW or Mercedes in terms of luxury and overall ride, but for the $ the G8 GT was good enough to convert me. It is a total buyers market, now is a great time to buy.

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  WS6 T/A - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By Breetai - September 20 - 10:00 am

  I love this car.

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  Everything Brakes - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Sosa MKD - September 20 - 10:00 am

  In 6 months I had a power window control regulator brake and brake the window, then a coolant leak ( a whole load in 24 hours, Air Conditioner compressor died and a lot of other small things like that.

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  Great car - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By 2007 base 3.8 engine - September 18 - 5:16 pm

  I owned for 3 years and traveled Miami to New York, Orlando, key west, Washington, several times and has been a pleasant experience in the highway, plenty of power and a quiet ride. Ill keep my Pontiac forever, especially because Pontiacs dont going to be built anymore, sadly.

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  Great car for the price - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By JP - September 18 - 1:16 am

  Have had this car for over 7 years now, and have no major issues or problems with it. It is still fun to drive, and rides great for a 7 year old car. GM did a great job with this one!

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  It gets looks - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By jzone2020 - September 16 - 12:16 pm

  I have the 2 door GTP special edition. The hood scoops and roof racing rails are a nice touch and along with the 4 tailpipe dual exhaust system make the car looks meaner than the 240hp it has. The only problem I had is rain leaked in from the passenger side door, which wet the back carpet. Dealer fixed and everything else has been great. I wonder about the transmission though as I read other reviews here. Thus far all is good. Car rides smooth and the supercharger sure provides awesome pickup. I love the way it looks (unlike the 2004- models) as well as rides.

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  Needs more torque! - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By DJ Miller - September 16 - 10:00 am

  I have the GT model with 6-speed manual gearbox. Either the engine should have more torque or higher ratio first gear. It takes good foot coordination from stop or youll sit embarrased in traffic restarting the engine. Reverse also needs a higher ratio. I have to back up a hill into my garage. I have to do this faster than I care to just to keep from killing the engine. Engine is great if you get it above 4400 RPM. It likes to rev fast, like driving a motorcycle. Above 6000 RPMs is a "kick-in-the-pants". Of course fuel mileage will suffer. Still you can drive quick and fast while still getting 25 mpg. If you drive sensible 32 mpg.

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  Great ride, pricey on gas,,as expected - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By KSLavey - September 16 - 10:00 am

  This car is awesome. I am so happy the car, my only complaint is the price of gas these days, if it was so expensive, I would let the throttle hit the floor all the time and use the car to its fullest capacity...but it is a great riding car and fun and oh yeah FAST AS HELL