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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  2002 pontiac grand am se1 - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By yaddagirl - November 14 - 2:00 am

  This is a great vehicle, I absolutely love it. The only thing I do not like is the fact that it comes in a 4- cyclinder. This vehicle is too big to be offered in a 4-cylinder engine. It seems as if the engine is working too hard to pull the weight and it will pass everything but a gas station. It should only be offered in a 6-cylinder, like the GT. It is definately more cost effective in the longrun.

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  Give me a brake....job! - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By F C - November 13 - 1:40 pm

  BOOO!!! 1st month = broken wipers, passenger visor broke off into my wifes lap (it wasnt even in use at the time), fog light switch burned out & the brake car shakes when the brake pedal is depressed. After complimentary a brake job, the car still vibrated when I pressed the brakes, just a few miles after leaving the dealership. I cannot wait until my lease is over next year to get rid of this problem car. domestic mess! Oh yeah, power steering is ineffective for first few mins of driving after a cold start on winter morning. I dont let my kids in this car. We take the family SUV, due the G6 brake problems. And I thought motorcycles were dangerous!

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  Super charged 05 GTO. - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By jrssr - November 12 - 1:30 am

  I really enjoy driving this car. It is a blast on the track and on the road. It handles very well especially with the right rubber under it. I have super charged the LS2 and it is a beast. The torque and power band is unbelivable. It is a true sleeper as the body style is under stated and there are not many on the road or track. I actually had a guy in a C-5 Corvette that got upset when I passed him and kept pulling ahead of him with 3 people in my car. He could not catch me let alone keep up. This car is the best deal on the market for the package that you get for the price. I have had no problems with it although I only have a little over 13,000 miles on it now. What a car it is!

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  Happy but wont buy American again - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Wyoming Guy - November 11 - 8:33 am

  Have owned my Torrent almost 3 years. Over all I have to admit I have been happy with it. I like the roominess, the stereo, and the power. The problems Ive had are the right front door speaker had to be replaced, twice. I had to replace the windshield in it, twice. Both times no explanation for why the windshield cracked. Too much flex in the body? Also the remote clicker wouldnt always unlock the car. That seems to be working okay now. The car is nearing the end of its warranty and I had planned on trading before it expires but the car has depreciated so much that I owe more than its worth. Now that Pontiac is going away wonder what that will do to the value? My next car will be a Honda

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  I would buy another Vibe - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By bmontgomery - November 9 - 4:40 pm

  I have had my Vibe for over a year now and I am happy with it. I can get 33 mpg on the highway if I keep it below 70 mph. City driving in a Minnesota winter is more like 24 mpg but that story is the same with all my cars. My only complaint is that the cargo area is not wide enough. I bought a station wagon so that I could carry stuff and the Vibe has let me down a few times.

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  Very Nice Car - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Mike&Sandy - November 6 - 12:43 am

  We love the new G6 GT. Weve only put a few hundred miles on it but have a few suggestions, mostly cosmetic. The V-6 needs more guts Dual Exhaust should be standard on the GT I was surprised to find a manual rear view mirror dimmer! With all the whistles and bells why not an auto dimming mirror? The most annoying thing so far...The windshield wipers need new geometry. The passenger side stops right in front of the driver on the upswing and leaves a line of crud/rain/slush right in the center of the drivers view! I love the handling of the car! Over all, If Pontiac continues on this pace they are def headed in the right direction!!!!

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  Dependable, sporty, but a little ho-hum too - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By fnash - November 5 - 11:55 pm

  I bought my GP GT2 used with about 32,000 miles on it and now have 115,000. I have not had to have any major service done on it, ever. I have had to replace normal wear and tear items like brake pads or rotors, and have oddball issues that occur still. The fuel pump seal is bad so when the car sits for a bit the fuel drains down the line. Turn the key to ON a couple of times before going to START and youre fine. Exhaust sound is outstanding, handling is great, and power is nice but a little lacking by todays standards. Fit and finish is OK but kind of bland and cheap looking. Overall though, an excellent purchase. Well worth the money.

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  Love to Hate Pontiac G6 GT Convertible - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Linda - November 5 - 3:13 pm

  Always wanted a convertible, husband pushed me to get hard top retractable for safety reasons. I have really enjoyed the look, the feel, and the convertible. Several draw backs in the build mechanically. Replaced the front rotors twice already, 57,000 miles now replacing the water pump and soon will need to replace the intake manifold. Live in country, roads rough, but not abusive. Had collision with a dear and was amazed at the little damage caused and appreciative of how safe I felt. Cost to fix was very high, front bumper and headlamps, cost 7000. Covered under insurance, however very high. Brake pads seem to go often, every 3-4 months, dont live on big hills like in PA either.

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  Im in love - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By jordanface - October 30 - 8:32 pm

  I dont know much about cars, and from what I hear, Pontiac isnt the greatest kind of car....but I must say that Ive grown to fall in love with my car. I bought it in 2009 when it had 30,000+ miles on it. Since then, Ive put about 20,000+ miles on it and Ive had absolutely no issues with my car. My only issue is that the front end bumper is so low, it end up scraping when I park. Ive also got a minor leak in my oil pan, but thats nothing major. All in all, shes gotten me to numerous states and back with no issues. Its more of a "small person" car, but I dont have issues driving it.

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  I like it - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By grand prix - October 29 - 1:43 am

  excellent vehicle, and one I would recommend to others. I bought the base GP, but it has everything I want. I would like the roof to be a little higher to make it easier to enter and exit. Powerful engine and smooth ride, much better than Focus I traded in. Gas mileage is good, but could be better.