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 G5 - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Frank Forehand - June 6 - 3:30 pm

  Very pleased with G5. Nice size, fun to drive. Wish gas mileage was closer to 30 around town.

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  Piece of junk - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Crapcar - June 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had to have it towed to the dealership 5 times for various things breaking down(alternator, the oxygen sensor, computer, among other things). The starter went 2 times, the water pump failed, and the radiator had a leak. The paint started pealing off the car. The fog light have been replace 2 times because they keep collecting water. The interior is falling apart. The seams on the driver’s seat let go and all the padding fell out. The door panels are starting to fall apart. The CD player died. The tilt steering wheel lever broke off leaving the steering wheel to move up and down freely. Overall this is the worse car I have ever owned.

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  Sporty wagon - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By Indybill41 - June 6 - 2:10 am

  I have enjoyed driving it comfortable highway cruiser.We took it on a long trip to Virginia and got 31mpg on average.I was really impressed with the mileage I had a 2003 vibe 1.8 auto. that only got 28.5 on the exact same trip. It handled the mountains with ease the 03 vibe struggled in the mountains. I didnt get as tired in this car on this trip versus all others I have owned. I have had 80 vehicles since 1979. Traded a 07 Pontiac solstice GXP in on this car no regrets. Glad I made the purchase.

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  The best of both worlds! - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By kymc - June 5 - 5:50 pm

  I am the proud owner of a 2007 Grand Prix GT in gorgeous crimson red. This car has unbelievable power, a smooth ride and a luxurious interior. Drove a 2000 GT for six years before this one and loved it, but GM has built an awesome vehicle with this new model. Roomy interior for families and good gas mileage make this car an unbeatable buy for the price. I love the crystal clear view out of the front and rear windows....amazing.

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  A fun car to drive - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By wayne - June 5 - 6:13 am

  fun to drive, not bad on gas at 30 mpg turnpike speed. Wide track is good but even better with a plus 1 tire package.

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  Luv my weekend toy - 2001 Pontiac Firebird
  By crazygrrrl - June 4 - 5:00 am

  At 45,000 miles, this is the only car Ive ever bought new that Ive never regretted buying. I would buy one again in a heartbeat if GM sells them again. The v6 may be an old design but it is strong and reliable, and my car has never left me stranded. I get compliments all the time. I love the fact that you can see the engine and all hoses, belts, etc. newer cars have that awful plastic cover that hides everything. This car is easy to work on, aftermarket parts are readily available even after GM killed Pontiac. This is definitely an enthusiasts car. Its fun to drive and comfortable too! I love this car. Im going to keep it until I get too old to drive.

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  Unique in all the right ways - 1999 Pontiac Firebird
  By AufMitterSpiel - June 3 - 2:00 pm

  I had a choice between this car and a 964 Porsche and chose this because of its raw nature. It demands a great level of skill and respect to drive fast, and I felt up to the challenge. The Borg-Warner T-56 is a beast of a shift and the live rear axle keeps me focused in mid-apex. But it all makes sense once you have kept up with a Ferrari 360 down the PCH and he pulls up next to you in disbelief...priceless.

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  04 Grand Prix review - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By MikieB - June 2 - 10:00 am

  Nice car, comparible to my 00 Bonneville in ride, comfort, and handling. Im quite impressed with the redesign of the 04 models. My wife had an 00 Grand Prix - theres a world of difference between the model years. The 04 handles better, rides smoother and quieter, and has more standard features.

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  Great Mid Size SUV - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Jessica Evilsizor - June 1 - 5:03 am

  I have owned my Pontiac Torrent for 6 weeks and love to drive it! The interior is amazing with the sun and sand package, 6 disc cd changer, numerous speakers, and of course sun roof, and the gas mileage is not too bad either. I drive in downtown Indianapolis everyday and still get 22 miles to the gallon.

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  Been good since 140K - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By cwitty - May 31 - 1:07 pm

  Great car. Ive owned for a couple years and havent had too many issues. Currently at 181K miles and I may need some new belts, but other than that, the engine is a haus. Feels like I couldnt do anything other than crash it to stop this thing from running. Best car for the money if you dont mind riding in a pontiac. Took it on a 3k roadtrip in the 170K range, and it made it there and back with only a wheel bearing that needed replaced. Regular problems/maintenance with this car, bearings, brakes (better than most cars), rear windows, some sensor problems, and from my experience and noting others, usually tranny needs to get rebuilt at some point during the life of the car.