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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  What a drop in value - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By Ann - November 29 - 4:00 am

  We bought this car new and there is no way to get out of it because the value continues to dive each year. Had to have lots of little repairs under warranty. I like the roominess of the car in general. We have a yellow sport package (spoiler) and I honestly think its eye catching. I never have a problem spotting my car in the lots. Taking trips with this car has been easy. No major isssues with the engine after 60K

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  Love this GTP - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By michael - November 29 - 12:10 am

  Have had this car 2.5 years, ordered it to my tastes and I love it. Have not had a days worth of trouble. Love the 6 speed manual, it really goes. Decent in the snow. The heated seats are awesome in the winter. Cavernous room for my two teenage boys in the back seats and all my friends think this car looks hot. Maybe because it`s in my favorite flavor-red. Sound system is sweet, tho it could use some automatic sound leveling and a mute button, but why be picky. I am deploying to Iraq next summer and I am thinking I may sell it and get a new one, but I love the 6 speed manual that isn`t made anymore, not sure I can bring myself to let it go. Might let the wife go before the car.

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  Awesome 4 door performance car - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Doug - November 28 - 11:23 pm

  The GT performance package provides the best of both worlds I was looking for ... a quiet and refined 26mpg freeway ride to work and 0-60 in 5.3s performance car with exceptional handling on the 19" wheel package. Corners at 30-40 are a blast, not to mention highway ramps. I love how the vehicles manual mode really lets the car perform. Its balancing is exceptional. Its ashame GM didnt come out earlier with this vehicle and even more so that it will not be rebadged over to Chevy. Having driven BMW 5 series, Ill take this car straight up. At 25K less, its not even close...

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  G6 a winner - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By umamough - November 28 - 10:10 pm

  I have nothing but great things to say about this car. It gets reasonable gas mileage for a car its size (24/31). It is very comfortable on long drives, rides extremely well, is deceptively roomy and has lots of storage (trunk) space.

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  Excellent choice - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Siryj - November 27 - 6:26 pm

  I purchased my 03 G-A V6 from a Avis rental company over a year ago. I have not had 1 problem yet! The take off of this car is its best feature. From a light, be prepared to leave other cars in the dust if you press the gas down too hard.

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  old reliable - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Logan G - November 26 - 8:40 pm

  this was my first new car, sorta. it was a 2 year lease with 16,000 ish on it. my car now has over 148,000 on it and I have never had to do any repairs. Just oil, brakes, a few old coolant hoses, (after 11 years the rubber starts to crack and rot) and a new set of o2 sensors at 120,000. gets good mpg concerding its 3000 pound weight and its punchy 3800 II V6. Its so fun constantly blowing the doors off of other V6 cars (ford mustang, honda accord ect...) and i get about 19-23 mpg city depenging on if im driving in stop and go or not. I get between 27-32 on the highway, it depends on how fast you go, 70mph = 31-32, 90= 26-27. stock brakes rock!

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  oh that intake manifold leak - 1999 Pontiac Montana
  By atpIOWA - November 26 - 7:43 pm

  First 70,000 miles were heaven, the most favorite vehicle we have owned. Great to drive, wonderfully comfortable on long trips with kids and dogs, dependable. Did have one event with the brakes not working one night but nobody ever found anything wrong, we may have boiled the fluid by having the parking brake on, which is easy to do on this van. First major problems were the seat belt-airbag interlock going (very expensive), then the manifold leak that caused loss of heat in the winter-$500, now the wiring harness is corroded and they want to replace it and the airbag! My wife, an original Mini driver, still loves driving it, but with the kids almost grown, it may be time to move it on.

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  Awesome Car - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Teresa - November 25 - 1:13 am

  Looking at buying a BMW & saw this car (only on one commercial). Thought I would give it a look, after a test drive I was sold. It is an awesome car. Totally fun to drive. I have had many people ask "what car is that". Many heads have turned. I purchased the white G8 and had the windows tinted. I love this car even my husband wants to drive it all the time. Great car for the money, lot of room inside & in the trunk. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  I LOVE this animal! - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Sexy Tina - November 25 - 12:10 am

  Way too cool. Im single and 27 and this is my first real car. I LOVE IT!!! I can whoooooosh past anyone on the road and it drives very nicely in the snow and it has the remote start, which I LOVE on cold mornings. LOVE the onstar, love the seats, love the way I can push on the gas and say buh-bye! to all the boys trying to catch me. This car is sleek and TIGHT!

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  Wheel Bearings Again? - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Dave - November 24 - 1:46 am

  Bought the torrent because its American made. Have all my 26 years of driving. But this torrent has been fixed 5 times for all of the wheel bearings. Ignition cylinder as well. Bought brand new tires at 55k, had loud vibrating sound coming from front and back, thought it was the bad tires. Not. The rear wheel bearings are once again going bad! Gm builds a quality product, but they need to concentrate on their brakes. This gm vehicle is really getting me down. Good thing I purchased a 100k warranty!