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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  falling apart - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By reycor1842 - November 15 - 3:39 am

  i bought this pontiac grand am with 25,000 miles on it in 2004.was a good car until 2010. i started having electrical shorts-cruise control,horn,fog light window switch,dome light. at 90,000 miles the intake manifold gasket went out,while the mechanic was replacing the gasket he also discovered a censor that was not properly clipped down anywhere.the censor wiring was about shredded and in a place not visible unless the intake manifolds and other various parts are off the engine. had the brakes redone multiple times,in heavy rain the brakes make a grinding noise and seem as though the barely function at all when wet.I HATE THIS CAR...DO NOT BUY ONE OF THESE!!!

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  Heroin with Wheels - 2008 Pontiac Solstice
  By John Bruning - November 14 - 11:40 pm

  The 260 HP Solstice is the most addictive driving experience Ive ever had. This car is like mainlining heroin to an auto enthusiast. Quick and agile, but packing plenty of power and kick, the Solstice GXP offers a visceral thrill unseen since the era of the mid-Sixties Corvette roadster. With XM radio, On-Star and enough room in the trunk for an overnight bag, the Solstice is the quintessential date car. Im courting my wife all over again, and were having a blast rolling around the back county roads with the top down and a picnic lunch in the trunk. You cant miss with this Pontiac. Test drive it at your peril. Youll find yourself taking one home with no regrets.

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  Back into a Bonn - 2001 Pontiac Bonneville
  By 2nd Bonne - November 14 - 10:00 am

  The last Bonne that I owned was an 87 SE...and what a change! Having 3 kids, we needed a car with lots of space - and still fun to drive. This car does everying well - but not perfect (not sure anyone does). There is lots of room, but the center rear seat is only good for the smallest child, the front seats are not as comfortable as first thought for a long drive, the auto down windows are a little two easy to activate (I am looking for issues here). Overall though, I am immencely happy with this car, and one year from now, I think I will move from this used SLE, to a new SSEi - just to spice things up even more. Considering a Bonne?? Go for it!

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  Enticed - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By kscot3 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  I was a very happy VW driver but we needed more room without a huge new monthly payment (new dad). The Vibe fit all our stuff and still has room to spare. Better fuel economy was a plus and the little things like a roof rack and storage spaces everywhere helped make this decision easy. Also, safety ratings and recommendations from the web and Consumer Reports were what we wanted to hear. The Vibe handles well and offers a lot of car for a fair price.

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  From a Dodge Ram to a Vibe? Great car! - 2008 Pontiac Vibe
  By 99evo - November 13 - 2:36 pm

  We looked at cars for over a month and decided on the Vibe. It has plenty of room for me(6-2") and my wife(5- 10"). It has good looks, great fuel mileage, and comfort all in one affordable package. Great for weekend trips as it has plenty of room for all our things. Overall a great car.

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  4 door Vette - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By 2009 GXP - November 13 - 2:16 am

  Bought a used 09 GXP for 32.7k with 5600 miles. Hot White with black & red leather. 6 speed manual. Added Corsa exhaust already and sounds great, much deeper and burbly. Love the car! Really fun to drive, and you never see one and I live in Houston. Have had zero issues so far. Car feels solid & unlike some I really like the stereo. Its not as clear as some, but the windows down I can be driving 60 and still hear very clear. No one has messed with me yet. I have people all the time ask me about the car and what it is. They cant believe the engine specs. You pop the hood and tell them the battery is in the trunk and they laugh. At my age 42, wife asked if I was having a mid-life.

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  There are reasons they stopped making it - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Tom - November 11 - 5:46 pm

  Water still leaks into car during heavy rain storms despite 10 trips to different dealers and numerous contacts with the Pontiac folks. Back of front seats had to be replaced-they fell apart on their own, as did the rear window regulator assemblies (both within two days, $530 each). Wires fell down from behind the dash and had to be replaced along with defective lights. Firestone tires stink-two blow outs at lower speeds and Firestone dealers will not honor warranty (similar problems with Saturn I had previously). Then theres the normal irritants such as an ash tray that rattles constantly, and the lug nut caps that keep flying off (the dealers want $6 each, junk yards sometimes are free).

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  Best for the money - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Alan - November 10 - 9:23 pm

  I have been a GM customer for years, owning a number of cars that were primarily just for transportation. The exception was my 1984 Buick Regal T Type (same as the Grand National, only in blue with chrome bumpers). I contemplated the G8 GT for quite some time I and finally purchased the same day that I helped my son buy a new Sierra. With all the GM incentives and my GM card points, I got the 34K car for 25k; how could I go wrong? Even the dealer said I could probably sell it for more than I paid. I think the styling, especially from a distance, is fantastic and the interior is beautiful; so the leather isnt on the doors, who cares? For a large 4 door sedan, it is impossible to beat.

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  One Heck of a Car - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By L. Bowers - November 9 - 5:13 am

  I purchased my 06 vibe as the new 07s were coming to market. So to say the least I got an awesome car for the price. Mine is a 5 speed manual with the 1.8L. It has plenty of pep for a smaller engine and awesome fuel economy. I mostly do city driving and after 7 months my MPG increased from 31 to 34. I love the cargo area and the roomy cockpit what a surprise for such a small car. I car pool with 2 of my hockey buddies and there is more then enough room for our 3 large hockey bags and sticks. The fit and finish is a little on the weak side but what can I expect for a car under 18,000.

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  Fun, Practical & Economical Car!! - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By Carol T - November 7 - 1:26 pm

  The car is not only economical, it is very practical and roomy. The back seat has more leg room than any other small car we looked at. We can comfortably fit 4 adults in the car with room to spare. It is also great for grocery shopping, taking the dogs to the vet, etc. It has good pep and the ride is nice! I would highly recommend the car, especially for the price!