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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  My Beloved Vibe - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By beloved06vibe - October 25 - 3:11 am

  I bought my 2006 Vibe new and would still be driving it had it not been totalled on Memorial Day. That car had 110,000 miles on it and I NEVER had any problems with it. It drove beautifully until its last day. It was comfortable and great on gas, held 3 kids and all their stuff, and I smiled every time I approached it. If you get the chance to get one, take it!!!

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  I love my goat - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Ron - October 24 - 2:30 pm

  I was in the market for a G35 initially, but the performance, style & relative rarity of the GTO was a combination that was hard to beat. I have the red on red M6 with chopped mufflers. I cant tell you how many compliments on the car I have gotten. Shes great on long trips as well.

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  pontiac G6 - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Jessica - October 24 - 2:13 am

  I love this car! There is plenty of storage room in the trunk. I opted for the regular sun roof and there is plenty of room for my 62 husband to sit in the back. The exterior has a sporty look, unlike most other sedans. And it handled great it the snow.

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  2006 G6 - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Chupa Cabra - October 22 - 10:56 am

  I really give the car a lot of credit. My wife runs the hell out of that thing and I just maintain it with the standard maintenance items that I normally do. Oil change, filter, air filter, check tire pressure. Have not checked plugs yet. More than likely they are fine. I believe there are iridium in there and there is not enough miles on it to worry about it. The only thing I get a little scared about is the car likes to continue to try to start after you turn the key to the starting position. Really bizarre. I personally dont like the rear window pillars. I cannot see anything when I go to switch lanes. So take your time switching lanes. ake sure it is clear.

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  Dont Buy New - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By ktsbonnie - October 22 - 12:23 am

  Bought used SE summer of 2004. Avoided some of that massive depreciation. Was a GM buyback because of water leak. Dealer said window seal fixed problem but I took it in twice before they un- clogged door drain holes. Water was coming in at bottom of door seal. Seems to be fixed, but now that warranty is out interior light fuse has blown several times. Concerning complaints about water in trunk, Ive found that this gets in when the car is wet and trunk is opened. Lot of wind noise on drivers side. Firestone Affinity tires need help. Otherwise car is comfy with a great engine and my transmission has worked fine.

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  First gm I owned - 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6
  By mike - October 21 - 11:20 pm

  This van is so good, what a deal I received on this, it is a brand new 2006, 14 miles on it, dealer had 2 of these vans, I owned a Ford windstar, can t compare it, the onstar is great, I would recommend this van to any one, if I could I would buy the other 1, thanks, msg

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  Excellent car - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Grant - October 21 - 1:00 pm

  The 2006 Pontiac G6 GT is an excellent car. I have had mine for 11 months, and have had absolutely no problems. Gets good mileage for a mid-sized sedan. It is also a really fun car to drive.

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  Great Car - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By RavenZ71 - October 21 - 4:46 am

  This is a great car. I recommend it highly! I bought mine about a year ago and since then Ive been really happy with it. Unreal pickup for this "Old Person Car!" (Im 23 yrs. old.) It sounds amazing too. Its got the Eaton Supercharger stock on it, which provides your pickup with that "jet plane" sound when the rpms are racing.

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  2004 Pontiac Vibe 4 door.hatchback - 2008 Pontiac Vibe
  By brenda1951 - October 21 - 1:17 am

  I love my bive, i bought it new with 4 miles on it. I have had it 10 yrs. has been a great car for me, if I had the money and could get another car I would search for another Vibe... I am sadden they dont make them any longer. I dont like sun roofs, but the inside of the 2004 vibe is the style I would search for .. 2004--2008/// Great car in my eyes and heart.. Love my vibe wouldnt get another if I had to and couldnt get a Vibe Id get the same company that made mine a Toyota.. maybe a Matres.. I would have to do some searching...

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  Love my car - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Diane Bancroft - October 20 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It does everything - and does it well. Comfortable. Peppy. Great gas milage. Lots of storage. A perfect car!!!!