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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  Dependable transportaion - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Mr. Jones - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Purchased new in May 98. delivered with zero defects. a couple of minor problems in first 5000 miles,(cruise control switch and a plugged injector) both fixed right the first time under warranty. No further problems until 40000 miles, fuel rail was leaking and replaced. Replaced front brake pads at 42000 miles (lot of city driving) but other than than no problems, a fun to drive car that give good fuel economy and good road handling. A strict maintenance schedule is adhered to and car is always kept in good mechanical condition.Nothing fancy but just good wife car.

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  GTO the way to go. - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Delton - February 7 - 9:36 am

  I have had this GTO for about 7 months and I drive it daily. It is still a joy to drive. I cant say that for a lot of vehicles I bought that became stale afterwards.

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  06 GTO best one ever - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By GTOJeff - February 6 - 7:20 pm

  I have owned 6 GTOs over the years (1965-1971) and I was sceptical when I first drove the 2006 version but after only a short distance I could tell that this car was NOT a 60s musclecar it was better...more power and torque better brakes and superior handling The build quality of this GTO is superb and the interior is the nicest I have seen in all the cars I test drove (Mustang GT ,Mazda RX8, Dodge Charger) I seriously doubt you could get a better car in the 30K range with its 400hp,6 spd trans and independent rear This car is a pure blast to drive and not every boyracer in town has one

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  Gxp, Pontiacs best - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By AL - February 6 - 5:56 pm

  Have had this car for a year now, the only repair we have had was a flat tire. They best car we have owned! For someone who is big, comfort is excellent. Power is enough too put down most cars. Why they axed Pontiac is a crime.

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  A wonderful car - 2008 Pontiac Solstice
  By Rojo-GXP - February 6 - 3:50 pm

  Im proud to say that I have had my red GXP for almost 2 years and have had 29000 trouble free miles. I have the GMPP 290HP tune, a cold air intake, and Solo Performance catback exhaust and it makes for a VERY quick car (0-60 in 4.9sec) and its a very sexy ride. Parked beside BMW, Porshe or Mercedes cars and it will ALWAYS generate more nice comments and turned- heads. Sad that 2010 ends the run of this little car. GM got it right at the end. Maybe someone else will continue the line. If you want a great- looking fun-to-drive car with the most bang for the buck, this is it.

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  The happy family - 2005 Pontiac Montana
  By Becky - February 5 - 3:26 pm

  We traded in our Aztec for a nicely equipped Montana SV6 with 1SB package. The standard OnStar is not only a nice feature, but helped to lower my auto insurance because it is considered an anti-theft device. The optional rear parking assist, optional power sliding doors, and standard DVD player help to keep us all happy and our 18 month old content). While some might find the 200 horses lacking, I find it to be plenty after driving the 185 hp Aztec for 3 years. I miss the heads up display and fog lights from the Aztec, but otherwise am very happy with the purchase. The body styling is MUCH more appealing than the OLD Montana too.

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  Excellent reliable economical vehicle - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By DrGreg - February 4 - 8:26 pm

  The Vibe is an excellent car for a small family that needs room and economy. The rear seat folds flat and is hard plastic so you can easily slide your stuff in and out. The cargo mat (or carpet) is a good option to keep stuff from sliding around, and it also quiets it down a bit. The performance is adequate, the Toyota engine revs freely if you ever need to pass. The only problem Ive had is when the oil was changed, someone put the windshield washer tube out of its clip so it was kinked and no fluid came out. This was quickly fixed and adjusted correctly at the dealer. It gets excellent mileage and is fun to drive. I recommend it for someone not needing the space of a minivan.

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  Good Car, Some Faults - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By davyd - February 4 - 3:00 am

  I got an 05 Sunfire with roughly 117000 miles on it, its still going strong! Except the gauges... Im not sure if it has something to do with the heat, but everything works at night and in the mornings. But everyday after school, after my car has been sitting in the sun for 8 hours, the gauges like to "stick". I dont know if this is happenign to everyone or just me. I think its a very nice first car, its got a nice accelation, and gass isnt too terrible on it. But my only problem with it is the Gauges. Im not sure if its electrical and can be fixed manually, but if anyone knows anything, please tell me.

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  Pontaic Montanna SV6 2006 opinion - 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6
  By Will - February 3 - 7:26 pm

  Short base van. 47K Kms. Blue colour. The good: Comfortable. large, smart looking, takes 2 kids and a dog easily. Long rides are easy to drive. Very practical. Cons: Build quality is questionable. SW problem (fuel cap is open message) took 3 weeks to diagnose and repair). Now have a horrible creaking noise when turning wheel and front end is very noisy when going over bumps.. suspect stabilizer bars. Engine. Very powerful in cruising, reasonably fuel efficient. Starting power is lacking. Stereo system and DVD players are reasonably good. Included cordless headphones are a nice touch.

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  Ryans GTP - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Ryan - February 3 - 12:43 am

  Amazing vehicle all around. From the handling to the style, this car is impressive. The response of the supercharger is instant and more than adequate for highway passing. Driving the 4-door sedan still feels like your driving a sport coupe. The powerplant not only outperforms most, but is also easily accessible for the backyard mechanic. Its also nice looking. All around suspension is sporty, so avoid those construction zones. When you hit a bump you feel it. I cut out the resonator and replaced it with 2" pipe. It has a growl to it now that isnt too loud, but sounds great. My 100% thumbs up for this ride.