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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  The good and the bad - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Melissa - July 29 - 12:26 am

  My parents bought this car and they love it once it was given to me about a year and a 1/2 after they bought it the water pump started to leak fluids. When it leaks it makse a shrilly squeak! Ive replaced the battery twice since ive had it! Fuel economy isnt bad. It takes about 35 dollars to fill up and it last about a week or so! The display died on the stereo but the sound is great! The fuse box is hard to open and oil filter leaks when new! Motorized drivers seat broke a year ago and the passenger no longer straightens or lays back

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  ranting aztek - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By pugs - July 22 - 10:00 am

  overall vechile is nice.

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  unsatisfied - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By unsatisfied - July 9 - 12:26 am

  Since i bought my car in Dec. 2007 it has been in the shop multiple times for almost every reason possible. I Do NOT believe that Pontiac took time to make sure the quality was up to par before putting it on the market. My seat has broken so when i drive i sit sideways, my fuel pump has gone out, had to get new smart start software, you name it Ive had it replaced or fixed!

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  Lumpy quality - 2005 Pontiac Montana
  By Marky61 - July 7 - 3:26 pm

  The good news is the Montana is a well designed minivan that eats up the miles comfortably and returns good gas mileage. The bad news is the van is built with cheap plastic inside that readily falls apart. The rear hatch pull strap broke in my wifes hand after only a few months. The transmission hesitates a little and I fear it will break down sooner than later. Wind caught the drivers door last week and yanked it hard against the hinges (fully open) and bent the top hinge. Talk about cheaply made! Now the door whistles on the highway. Looking for a good bodyshop that can fix it properly. These vans are very cheaply made!

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  All right, I suppose. - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By KNOFAC - June 27 - 8:36 pm

  This was my 2nd car, and it was average. Got it used in 07, with about 79,000 miles. The interior is a little cramped despite being a larger coupe. The exterior is sporty and attractive. However, the car never ran too great. It didnt have much kick in terms of acceleration. Its not a very good shock-absorbing car; you can feel every bump. The nagging issue: no matter how many times I reset it, the check oil and ABS lights would not stay off. I took care of it, got routine maintenance, and didnt put a whole of of wear and tear on the car, but I dont think it wouldve lasted long if I was putting 10,000+ miles on it.

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  Buyer BEWARE - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By nono - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Let me name them all if I can remember them all. The driver side window motor had to be replaced, all the door panels had to be replaced because the weather stripping was bubbling, one panel had to be replaced twice the dash board has the same problem. The driver side seat broke twice. The alternator had to be replaced. The serpentine belt has been replaced five times and still squeks. The water pump had to be replaced. The breaks in the front had to be replaced after only 24,000 miles because the caliper stuck. The automatic trunk button broke. The glove box broke. The cooling and heating system now makes funny noises when turned on high.

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  Buy and it will die - 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport
  By dklofta - June 19 - 10:00 am

  "Stinks" is the rating. Nothing but problems and no support from Pontiac. Added adjusters to front wheels to get aligned, 1st year. Problems with the paint sticking on the hood, year 3. Replaced air shock, 2nd year. Tires went 14,000 miles. Rotors went, year 2. I need a new engine! Letters on the internet indicate the car has issues with coolant leaking into the oil. BOOM -- No engine! Extended warranty covered $0! Bubbling paint was not rust related. Engine had too many miles (94,000)! Tires, rooters, air shock excluded. Condensation in exterior lights is normal?

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  Just bought one - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By mrmackdaddyfl - June 8 - 12:03 pm

  Man I have done a lot of research on this and found it to be a great car for the price. It has plent of space in it for a tall guy such as myself (im 6-0") and even my friends have plenty of leg room in the back. I would recommend one to anyone loooking for a good car with good gas mileage as prices rise.

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  I like my car but...... - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By lowlovesu - June 7 - 2:02 pm

  I purchased my grand prix gt a few years ago at auction. It had 101tho. miles. The car looked good and ran well at first but then many big issues began coming up. It seems each time it breaks down its at least 300 in repairs, it makes a gosh awful sequel.The belt was replaced twice and it still squeals? Also my gas gauge quit working awhile back . It also has some electrical glitches because random lights on the panel go on for example the low fuel light goes on all the time as well as the oil and coolant lights (even when all these things are changed) and the open trunk light doesnt work at all. Also the car is rusting pretty bad underneath But for 12 yrs old and counting its a decent car!

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  Sad BUT true :-/ - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By True Voice - May 22 - 6:23 am

  Good gas mileage, handling, acceleration, and sharp looking black. HOWEVER, AFTER 60k miles "GM" has poor quality parts!!....GM customer service WILL NOT help or assist in repairs!!... 3 window motors broke, 2 out of 4 select switches broke for AC fan , transmission slips on cornering! Paint on hood and roof wore off!! Seats are hard. IF enough people complain about this the NEWS will get out over the networks and then our US CAR builders WILL WAKE UP.