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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  Not impressed - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By trying to dump it - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought the vehicle in a crunch situation, and now wish I wouldve never looked American. The imports (Honda, Toyota) are light years ahead in engine science and quality of interior and paint exterior. The foreign market holds value much better and for the amount of money I paid for the 3100 V6, I would rather buy a 6- cylinder V-tec in the Accord or the V- tec in the Prelude. Much improvement is necessary.

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  A Perfect Fit for Our Family - 2003 Pontiac Montana
  By WmB - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Our second leased Montana. The last, a 99, had some problems with the power sliding door but was otherwise well- designed and very convenient. Our new 03 keeps the convenience and builds on it with new features and very impressive fit & finish. This van seems tighter and very responsive. (My 16-year old son drove it and pronounced it "Cool!" -- not the usual teenage response to a minivan.) The remote lock/power door is a great feature if your hands are full of stuff to put into the car or if youre ferrying kids or grandparents who might otherwise fumble with a sliding door.

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  4 Door Muscle Car. - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Car Guy - January 21 - 9:53 pm

  I have the car 2 weeks and have around 900miles on it. I have always been a car guy and have owned many cars including 5 series BMW, E series Mercedes & an Audi Cabriolet for comparison purposes. This car is unbelievable; in terms of pure off the line speed, it blows the doors off anything I have owned(including a 69 firebird with a 400 engine). Handling compares adequately to my BMW and Audi, a lot better then the Benz. The nice thing about this car is there arent many out there so it is definitely unique, a head turner. The interior is plain but usable, the controls are adequate. In terms of styling, the car has great lines. I am 6ft and there is plenty of leg room front & back, big trunk

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  bad idea - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By kps - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I paid six tousand for the car and put in 4000 worth of engine repair work into the car

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  Nothing but problems - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By minnesotagirl - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This car looks so sporty-sure hope it will help it sell fast!!! Bought it one year ago for 3000.00, have put in over 1500.00 with another 1000.00 needed. AC compressor failed, water pump, power steering lines and hose, intake gasket, plenum gasket, valve cover gaskets and o-rings, alternator all needed replacing. Now has some suspension problems. Need I say more?

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  pontiac gto - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By coins - January 20 - 10:00 am

  One of the BEST cars I have ever owned, except around town gas mileage! I even got 24 mpg driving car home form Iowa! And, that was with the cruise set at 75mph with the air on.

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  Great fun! - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By GTOTina - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Tight handling, very responsive and comfortable seating.

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  Great Car to Have - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Bobo - January 19 - 5:20 pm

  Ive had this car ever since the summer of 2006 and it is a great car to have especailly if it is your first car, i havent yet had anything wrong go with my car with is a huge plus, and I always get complaiments from people saying how nice it looks and how they would love to drive it. I have added some things to the car in which if ur like me and want more horsepower and torque you can easliy get if u replace certain parts like instead of having that ram air i replaced that with a cold air intake to add some horsepower which it did and i have also added many other parts which if u have the money you could do and my i also add this car sounds great with a pair of 12 subs

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  Grand Am Fan - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Grand am fan - January 19 - 4:33 am

  Good Car, reliable, peppy v6, I would buy another for my wife if she needed one

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  Red lights slow us down - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Michael - January 18 - 5:00 pm

  I bought a Black 09 Pontiac G8 GT and could not be happier. I have been to the gas station a couple times and people come right up to me asking me all about the car. I too love when stopping at red lights and having the car rattle slightly from the V8 anxiously waiting to go. I smile every time I go on a drive and glad this was the first new car I have purchased.