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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  Never again! - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By smithkjw - January 6 - 12:31 pm

  Everything about this car is more difficult than it has to be! This car was a gift from family when our previous car died, but we have spent three times its value fixing it... And every repair leads to way more frustration because of its design. Replacing headlights is a quick and easy repair on every car Ive driven until this one. On this car I had to have help to remove the entire headlight assembly which was no easy task. Replacing radiator hoses reqiures removal of several unrelated things. Fuel line tends to rust at the fuel filter, requiring replacement of the fuel line which is built into the fuel tank! AC vents spin and keep air from coming out.

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  Junk - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By m.j - January 11 - 5:16 pm

  I bought this car with 63000 miles on it and has been nothing but headache. Window motors broke down, brakes, overheats; you name it. It is unreliable and very unsafe car.

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  Great Value Grand Prix - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By CEEZR - November 28 - 1:26 am

  I have driven many cars in my life this car has been a great value. Very reliable, excellent fuel economy 25/31MPG, reg gas, I drive 65-70 mph I bought it new from the dealer and has been a very good car and it is a lot of car for the money. Heck over 30 miles per gallon on the highway thats as good as most compacts. I would buy another one. Why buy a Camry? I drove one before the GP and this has been a much better car.

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  NEVER A PONTIAC AGAIN!!!!!!!! - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By pah75045 - June 23 - 6:30 pm

  This car was a piece of junk!!! I bought this car with only 28,000 mi. The car came with its original bumper to bumper warranty. At 29,000 mi I had grinding in my steering wheel 36,000 mi everything really went to heck. My steering wheel once again stared making the grinding sound again. The car started to loose its power and the car started to get horrible on gas. By the time I traded it in I fill up at least 4 and to some time 4 times a week. At 38,000 I had to replace the brakes and let me tell you it like rocket science to replace those brakes. At 40,000 my struts were out and it was going to cost me 1200 to get them replaced.

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  Dont Like it - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Wade Buchanan - April 25 - 12:50 am

  It may be supercharged but it still didnt do it for me. I test drove one and I would rather have a supercharged Mustang or Camaro. Just my opinion though.

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  My 2002 Pontiac Aztec - 2005 Pontiac Aztek
  By Doug Wilson - November 7 - 4:13 am

  My Aztec is the worst automobile Ive ever owned in my life. 1st Pontiac Grand Am, purchased new, within one years paint bwgan to peel off, Dealer refused to repaint it, said it was because of the High Mileage I put on it. Bought a New Pontiac Grand Prix a few years later. Ran OK but interior buttons began to crack and break, at 63000 mikes its timing belt broke and realy damaged the engine my mechanic told me. Then the Pontaic AZTEC 2002 used, with 28000 miles on it. had nothing but trouble with it electricly, have spent well over $1500 getting elctricsl problems fixed plus lousy gas mileage, Hard suspension. Pontiac Factory refuses to stand behind the car. Good Bye Pontiac fo

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  Unreliable garbage - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
  By cetdas760 - June 12 - 2:23 pm

  I replaced the electric motors in all four windows, the transmission, alternator several times, chews up front brakes and disks every 20,000 miles, fuel injectors clog, no seat supports, noisy, chews up tires, no turning radius, arrghhhhh!!!!