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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  Nice, but not really a sports car - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Grandamgt33 - March 1 - 10:00 am

  I really like this car. I had a 4 cylinder Grand Am SE. The upgrade was well worth the expense. Nice acceleration, great sound system. Firm ride. Comfortable front seats. Had only three problems in 3 years. Battery, fan speed control and cruise control. After driving my SUV all week, I get in my GT on the weekend and feel like I am almost driving a sports car. The car is louder than it is fast. Considering market value now is aroung 9 grand, I cant even consider trading it in. Looks like I am sticking with this one for the duration.

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  Great Car - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By dkrii - February 27 - 6:10 am

  It doesnt look perfect, but I love the car. Put together really well, and very fast. Best car I have ever owned. I bought it as a weekend car, but I cant not drive it. It is my daily driver now. I will never sell this car.

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  Pocket rocket - 1997 Pontiac Sunfire
  By pocket rocket - February 26 - 2:00 am

  Fun car to drive...dependable and loaded with safety features standard. Power convertible top has always worked great with no leaks. Maintenance is affordable and the car still has lots of value and fun left.

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  Pontiac Aztek - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By Jackee - February 26 - 2:00 am

  The 2001 exterior design was an improvement over the 2000 model. It is sporty and fun. The mileage surpassed all expectations. I was getting over 27 miles to the gallon while on vacation. The slide-out cargo tray is wonderful when loading and unloading packages, no aching backs. The back is spacious and will handle lots of packages. I had done a lot of research regarding this vehicle and it is living up to everything I had read, and in some respects it is even better.

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  Nice - 2005 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Charlie - February 26 - 12:56 am

  This car is awesome. It exceeded my expections. It has good power and great traction. The car inside and out look great. The Ram Air system is great with this car. A bigger engine like a small V8 would be nicer addition with the Ram Air system.

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  Loin It ! - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Heather Anthony - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I totally love these cars !!!!

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  Killer 2000 T/A WS6 - 2000 Pontiac Firebird
  By stringer - February 24 - 2:20 am

  Third trans am Ive owned, and the fastest. Love the racey exterior, and interior. Handles great around corners, passes with ease. A definite looker. A very fun car to drive.

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  Best Value Around - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By RLT - February 21 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Bonneville. I did have to replace the water pump, but that has been the only unscheduled maintenance on the 2 cars. This car looks good, is fun to drive, is very comfortable and extremely practical given all the space it offers. I wont buy my third Bonneville because of the redesign in 2000.

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  The best Pontiac has out there - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Keaton - February 19 - 1:46 am

  Basically a $30,000 BMW 5 series. This is the nicest car Pontiac has ever put out. People keep asking me if it is the new designed. It is nothing like it. Pontiac built it differently from the ground up. Almost a perfect 50/50 weight distribution makes this car handle better than most. And the styling is very up to date, but does not resemble any other car out there. I would suggest at least a test drive from anybody. If you look at this car like any other old Pontiac you will definitely sell yourself short!

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  GTO Got To gO - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By jake - February 18 - 10:06 am

  This was the most fun I have ever had driving a car. The sensation when you push the throttle is mind blowing. The steering is crisp and responsive, you definitely feel in control even when your slinging around a corner. Inside is roomy for a sports car (it maybe hard to get in/out the rear but its comfortable once inside). All in all the only complaint I have is there is a defect in the ignition that causes it to seize (mine was fixed by the dealership in an afternoon).