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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  Ultimate Sleeper - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By John Bruning - December 22 - 8:33 pm

  Okay, so the Monero didnt make it in the U.S. market. Under any other name, it would have been a hit, especially if the price had been competitive with the Mustang GT. Purists didnt like the exterior, non-muscle car styling, so the GTO died after 06. Those of us who own a modern GTO know the truth: this is one of the fastest sleeper cars ever built. The 400 HP V8 sets the Goat on its haunches with a toe-twitch. It handles superbly and the stiff feel of the steering wheel is a huge improvement over the numb and the mundane. Forget the Mustang GT. Forget the Charger RT or SRT8. None of those three muscle cars can touch the all- round performance, handling and power of the 06 GTO.

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  Buy This Car Now!!!! - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By John Bruning - December 21 - 10:06 am

  Just purchased a G8 GT, liquid red. This is a big car with the handling of a tiny European sports car. Turn radius is amazingly tight. Power is incredible-almost as good as my 400 HP GTO. The On-Star system is a tremendous value, as is the hands free phone. Interior is spacious and comfy. This is a car to take on a back road in the hills. It loves curves and turns. It is a joy to drive. Pontiac & Holden have hit a home run with this beast. Im sold on Pontiac, and GM will have my business for years to come.

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  Great Little Car - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By John Garcia - December 21 - 7:40 am

  An excellent choice if youre looking for a fuel efficient sporty sedan that is reasonably priced, has lots of room inside and is a big step forward in build and quality.

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  53 and my new muscle car - 2000 Pontiac Firebird
  By cness05 - December 18 - 6:36 pm

  This car is hot. Red 5.7 V8,6 speed trans with out the skip shift. It has great looks.drives like a dream,and more get up and go than my 72 Camaro had. But this cars ride is much better ,and will set you back in your seat very quickly. As far as fuel mileage it does not matter, what a thrill to drive. To sum this car up GM made a mistake dropping the Firebird and Camaro lines. I love this car and will keep it a long time. This car is priceless.

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  Bought used with 7,000 miles - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By kev924 - December 18 - 6:18 am

  I bought the car used in August of 2012 with 7,000 miles. It was the best bang (horsepower) for the buck I found while car shopping. I use the car as my daily driver. Plenty of power for everyday driving. Passing people is a breeze. No mechanical problems to date.

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  Better Than I Thought - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By ADB - December 18 - 4:23 am

  I have the 6-speed manual. IMO, its the only acceptable form of this car. The 3.9L is sufficiently powerful and the transmission has a wide spread of complementary ratios. However, first gear seems a bit short. You have to up-shift far earlier than one would expect. Overall, this car is great. Onstar, XM and the panaromic roof are neat gee-whiz features. The ride is firm but in no way harsh. The body is free of creaks and rattles (even the sunroof). Fuel economy is at 29mpg right now, which is far higher than expected. The clutch is smooth, if a bit long in travel. The seats are comfortable, rear legroom is impressive, and all the controls are logically placed. A well done car.

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  2004 Grand Am - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By wally - December 17 - 7:26 pm

  Purchased this car new in October of 2004. It may be one of the best cars I have ever had. Has been stone cold reliable, everything seems to last forever. With a V-6, I get 21 mpg in the city, and 27 on the highway. If you can find a clean one used, buy it. Car has original rear brakes and original tires! Unbelievable!

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  The Mighty Vibe - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By CouldaHadaV8 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  This car is great! Weve had it for about 2 1/2 years and its running strong, even being driven by a teenager. We are pleased with the mileage, styling, comfort and power of this car.

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  Love my Grand Am - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Amy - December 15 - 4:03 pm

  I love my 04 Grand Am. This is the 3rd Grand Am Ive owned and Im not disappointed. I wish they would still make them. My first car ever was 93 - SE, my second car was a 95 - GT and my third car is my 04 GT. Its got enough getup to keep me happy, but it keeps me out of trouble. I have a race car for that.

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  Nice Car - of Course GM Quit Making Them - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By kc hillman - December 15 - 1:13 pm

  This bought used 2009 GT would be our second Vibe, also have a 2004 we bought new. The 2009 has the 2.4 engine which makes a lot of power for a car this size. The 5 speed automatic shifts flawlessly. The northeast U.S. has been getting bombarded with massive snow lately, but the Vibe hasnt let us down once! The 18 inch rims are quite sharp looking, the fit and finish appear to be up to par too. All in all a fine little vehicle!