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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  A car that it just feels right to drive - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Pollus - June 25 - 10:00 am

  So far Ive had an excellent experience with my GT, it performs just as I need it to, its stylish, its comfortable for the 6 and taller crowd, and its fun to drive. It also drives wonderfully, I got up to 105 mph and didnt realize it, I couldnt even feel a difference. Ive only have a few minor problems with my car, in that the driver side window doesnt like to work in really cold weather until the car has warmed up a bit, the trunk light has a tendency to get knocked off when you load larger items into the trunk, and the cup holders are not idealy located because they get in the way of the gear shifter.

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  Nothing NOT to Like About This Great Car - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By PontiacLuvr - June 24 - 5:43 am

  We did a LOT of shopping around before we purchased this preowned Pontiac. This is everything we hoped to find in a preowned Pontiac...and more! It handles beautifully, esp. on ice/snow. Comfort is superb. The same day we bought it we went through a fast-food drive-thru & the lady working at the window was craning her head out to see what kind of car it was. She said "Oh Im sorry; Im just trying to see what kind of car this is." We told her & she said "WOW! This is NICE!" This car has been well-maintained & we see no reason that w/proper care/maintenance that it couldnt easily go to 200K. VERY happy customers here & would purchase another one in the future, no doubt about it.

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  Most Bang for your buck - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By 1st New Car - June 22 - 10:26 am

  This car comes close to a higher end vehicle with the smoothness of ride and quietness. Its a good car, I put every bell and whistle you could put on the 4dr 2.4 liter and still walked away paying 18K.

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  Love My New Car - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By navajofires - June 20 - 2:53 am

  I just bought this car a few weeks ago. I love the look of the car when the top is down. It drives like a gem. The only issue was the CD player didnt work a few days after I purchased it. The dealership ordered me a new one immediately. I would recommend this car to anyone to buy.

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  This is an excellent car, very easy - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By jcpcmex - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I drove from Mexico City to La Paz, Baja California and the car has an excellent behavior, taking in consideration the roads in Mexico, the Pontiac is excellent.

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  Kansas Aztek Owner - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By billgx - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I flew from Kansas to Maryland to pick up an auction purchased Aztek. My test drive was over 1200 miles! It was a great trip. It handles well, giving a smooth, comfortable ride. My family loves to rid in this car!

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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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  03 Vibe GT - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By ladyssg - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy my Vibe GT - it has been very reliable this past "SNOWY" winter - I didnt have any problems in town where all our streets are up one hill and down another - I would go out and buy another Vibe if the occasion would arise. I always have someone make a comment on how "cute" it looks for a small SUV!! They dont believe me when I say its a station wagon!

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  engine revs up and down - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By djc44 - June 20 - 2:00 am

  with the rear window defogger on and the headlights on when you shift the car into gear the lights will dim and the engine will rev up and down all by its self g.m. says that it is designed that way nothing they can do to fix!

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  WOW ! - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By mcabe - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Ive never sent comments in about anything Ive ever purchased until I got behind the wheel of my GTP. My wife drives it also, so we decided against the Comp package because of the stiff ride, but that powers still there. It handles great and I cant beleive the attention it gets. The cool thing is that most of the thumbs up are from the kids driving the little Japanese tuner cars. Its almost as enjoyable as the look on their face when you blow by them off the line in your mid-size sedan. I love it!