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 car, but some defects. - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Taxman207 - November 16 - 10:00 am

  So far, I really enjoy my Grand Prix. The GT with the 200 hp engine has the power I was looking for. One thing does irritate me though. When I hit small bumps in the road at about 25-30 mph, the sound of heavy plastic comes from the front of the car. But overall, I really enjoy this car. I have not had any problems.

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  I love/hate my car - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By My Vibe - November 14 - 11:06 pm

  I love my vibe, love everything about it but recently my car was making noises and when I took it in for its regular maintenance I was informed that the whole motor needed to be replaced, I maintenance this car every 3 months. The valves, timing belt tensioner, and the rod and barrings all needed to be replaced (so the whole motor). Everyone wants $4500.00 up to $6000.00 to replace this Toyota motor. I am highly upset with Pontiac about my car. Because I love everything about my car and now I have these problems, the car has now 92k miles and I till owe $6k on the car. So I am out of a car and have to pay back $6k to the bank! I have 2 kids that I travel wi

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  Nice vehicle - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By Joanne - November 14 - 1:03 am

  I really enjoy this car. I sit up high and it does what I want it to do at about half the price of other similar SUVs. I think its a shame Pontiac stopped production of this model.

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  Deceptively reliable--a handsome highway cockroach - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By thrashette - November 13 - 2:23 am

  So this is the first, and thus far, only car Ive owned for my 3 years of driving. Im the 6th owner, and it was passed down from my dad at 130k miles. Its now at 210k miles, and I can say with pride that this car has never failed me. Aside from when the battery was dead (the battery was 12 years old at the time and an easy jump got me goin), it starts every morning as I begin my commute. Whether its the usual 30, the frequent 100, or the occasional 1000 miles, its always ready to go. Most of my maintenance has been regular, with a few big replacements such as the axles and brakes. The transmission and the engine still feel fantastic, despite the dust and age.

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  A winner too late for Pontiac? - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By kd - November 9 - 9:40 pm

  Reality demanded I spend less than originally planned for a new car. I am very happy to have chosen so much car for the money. The GT looks cool, drives tight and has the most comfortable front seat of my better cars (TL, 300M, Aurora, Legend). I can mention some constructive improvements others have documented, but with research, you know these before you buy, such as the weak sound system, lack of some amenities and weird controls. The only issue after 2 months besides still not having the second set of keys lost by the dealer, is an annoying vibrating noise randomly coming from behind the glove box. We will see if it can be addressed by the dealer before commenting on GM build quality.

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  They got it right this time! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Paul - November 9 - 5:00 am

  Great fun to drive. If you dont need all the cushy stuff and just want the muscle, you cant go wrong with the GTO. Be ready to pay lots more for comparable performance from other makes. Plenty of power and handles superbly. I traded an 04 for an 05. Hood scoops and rear-end redesign is a great style improvement over the 04. More powerful engine and much improved brakes make this one better live up to the GTO name. Minor problems with shifter sticking or not catching (in reverse). Idle pulley seized within the first 30 miles. Accelerator sensor malfunction at 300 miles. Electronic throttle takes some getting used to. Parts still not readily available for repairs.

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  nothing but comfort - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By sonnyphysh - November 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2002 Grand Prix SE. I do alot of long distance road trips, and this seemed to be the ideal car for the bucks.Very comfortable on the long runs, with plenty of cargo room. This SE model has the 3.1 engine, which is pretty sluggish with 3 average persons in the car. Engine noises a month after my puchase( needs pistons ). Thats a bad start, for a car loan. I should have bought the GT with the 3.8L, or just stayed away from Pontiac all together.Stay away from the SE models.

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  Best car yet - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Siryj - November 7 - 4:50 am

  I purchased this car 2003 SE1 with the V6 from a Avis rental fleet. I have had the car for over a year and I have NOT had one problem. The best thing about this car is the Torque. there arent a lot of cars that will beat the Grand Am from a red light. My only complaint with the Grand Am is the limited room in the rear.

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  Competent and looks good. - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By MF - November 4 - 10:00 pm

  This car flat out looks good, and more importantly looks better than most of the competition, save the Altima. The V6 has good enough power for most use outside of drag racing, and the interior looks a lot better in person than it does in pictures. Handling is good for a midsize sedan, and braking is a non-event, which is a good thing. Seat comfort is very good for long trips with just the right amount of hardness in the seats. Backseat legroom is quite good, and without the panoramic sunroof, most 6 footers wont feel like youre subjecting them to torture in the back seat. The stereo on the GT is fantastic- 8 speakers, and some of the best sound in its class.

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  A few problems, but nothing major.... - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Jake - November 2 - 8:26 pm

  I bought this car in May of 2004 and have had no major problems with it. The only thing i have had go wrong is the passanger window broke and now its going to cost $300+ to get it fixed. But other then that I like this car and think its a fun ride! But before you buy, have the windows checked!!!