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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  Used 05 Pontiac G6 - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Char - May 19 - 6:40 pm

  I bought my G6 just 3 days ago. I bought it used I might add and got a really great deal on it. Whomever owned it prior took great care of it. It looks brand new and has 26500 miles on it. I was sad to trade in my beloved Mustang, but as my kids are teens now and my son is almost 6 foot, sadly I had no choice as he was scrunched in the back seat. I also own a 96 Pontiac Sunfire with 145,000 miles on it and still kicking. So I know how good Pontiacs are. They are reliable thats why I bought the G6. It is a sharp looking sedan too and I am thus far glad I bought it, even if it was used. Its got a lot of pep for a sedan which is nice being I owned the Mustang prior. Also handles like a dream

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  Its just as good as Honda or Toyota - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Rob - May 19 - 2:10 pm

  This is my first car and I love it. I did do some window shopping at the Camry or Accord, but those cars are fairly bland. The Grand Am, especially in GT form, can get you anywhere you need. Read any review and you will likely see "piece of crap" and "unreliable" associated with this car. This is not the case. Treat it like gold, and it will last. Since Feb 2007 i have had only two problems. The EGR valve and an exhaust manifold leak. The car runs like a dream and the 3100 V6 is as fast as a V6 powered camry or accord, but for far less money. The car is safe, too, with dual airbags and ABS. I strongly recommend getting one fairly well equipped with the CD player, power equipment, etc.

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  Fun to Drive the Pontiac G6 - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By J.W. Lundgren - May 19 - 1:20 pm

  This car is fun to drive, the instrament panel is great and easy to see and use.The power train is very nice, I feel it is powered with the proper size engine for the size of the vehicle, great pick up and passing. The transmission is very smooth. I find the interior compartment of the car is great. Only thing that is hard to get used to is getting into the drivers seat, as I have driven full size vehicles and SUVs for the last 15 years, and therefore its taking a while to get used to dropping into the car. The back seat is very comfortable and alot of leg room, also the front seat is nice. I have a friend that is 65" tall and he says both the front and back are very comfortable for him.

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  Boooo - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Barry09 - May 18 - 12:40 am

  Fuel pump went out atleast 4 times within first two months of owning car, constant, constant, constant ticking in dash, AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF in wreck when rear ending someone at 35 mph, coolant leaked constantly, tires leaked in cold weather, keyfab did not work, lots of problems. I would not suggest this car to ANYONE.

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  Great Car - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Bryce - May 17 - 9:26 pm

  This is by far better than my 04 vett. I am going to get rid of my BMW and Vett, this is two cars in one, for faction of the price. I was forced to rate Reliabilty, Ive only done 700 miles in it, so how can I rate this.

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Pontiac Montana
  By Gary Roberts - May 17 - 3:50 am

  92000 miles and no repairs, except for broken rear hatch handle (just happened) Great to drive and comfortable to ride in.

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  Questionable Reliability - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By hshepteach - May 16 - 9:40 pm

  I have owned this car for 3 years and have had several problems with it. I drive 80 miles a day and it gets me from here to there, but I am constantly having to have my rotors turned. The car also shakes a lot and I have had it looked at several times and they cant find anything wrong. The computer is always saying something is wrong. The throttle also sticks and it will speed up on its own. Now dont get me wrong I love how the car looks but when it comes down to it I would want something more reliable.

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  Awesome Car, Awesome Price!! - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By JstGusha - May 16 - 9:23 am

  Love it, can not tell you enough good things about it. Drives and handles like a dream. Floats you over the road, yet nimble and quick.

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  Awesome Car - 2005 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Grand_Am - May 14 - 10:40 pm

  This car is fun to drive! It has the look and feel of a sports car. What a performance machine! I feel like Im inside a cockpit when Im driving it! Mine has hoodscoops, RamAir V6, Rear aerowing spoiler, Monsoon Audio system, power sunroof, XM satellite radio, and many extras. Sometimes people try to race me at stop lights. I am extremely impressed with this car. It makes me feel like a new woman. I cant stop admiring it. Grand Am GT.

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  Great Looking Full Size - 2000 Pontiac Bonneville
  By PNA 14 - May 14 - 8:43 pm

  I love the car for its great looks and full size features, yet its still nimble handling and decent power. Also, despite its size, I average almost 25 mpg, and Im not a light pedal pusher either. However, I have had similar issues as other owners. The steering shaft, brake rotors, power windows and flickering lights. I too bought an extended warranty and this helped. However, now that its out of warranty things could get expensive. The steering and brake rotors are my biggest complaint. However, it is a great looking car, definitely fun to drive for a full size vehicle and thus far, reliability really hasnt been an issue, mostly a few modest annoyances.