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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  Most bang for the buck - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By F. Pusl - August 16 - 10:00 am

  Pontiac Excitement is just a buzzword until one gets to own and drive a Pontiac Grand Prix. I bought a 1998 GT for its distinctive and muscular styling. I was immediately surprised with its performance, which led mo to trade in on a 2001 GTP. This cars performance is simply awesome. The horsepower is definitely under rated. I took it to the west coast and loved the smoothness, comfort, handling and power, especially in the mountains, getting an average of 28 miles per gallon. Talk about reliability, in four years of driving the Grand Prixs I never had to take either car back to the dealer. for repair or adjustment.

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  Still runs - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By mememe - August 16 - 9:13 am

  Bought it in 2001 with 17k miles on it. The 6-cylinder engine gives it decent speed pickup. There is no rust except on the underside, which is pretty good after this many years for Minnesota. It had never stalled on me. The numbers of problems Ive run into keeps growing though, even though I dont drive it much. Power windows dying a slow and painful death, one of the fog lights going out periodically due to bad wiring, the cd player display malfunctioning and it wouldnt play cds for about a year (I was about to have it replaced when it magically started working again), fan/ac giving off a high pitch noise, and the all-to-common leak problem.

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  grand am - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Anonymous - August 16 - 2:00 am

  This is the most miserable car Ive ever owned. The same three problems happen every year (window regulator, blower motor, transmission.) I paid $10,000 for it in 04 Ive put approx $6,000 into it in repairs. I will never own another pontiac again based on the performance of this car.

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  Fast and Versatile - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By guy - August 15 - 2:30 am

  So its a low-lifes dream car, so what? It has many assets: Much cheaper than the Volvo S60R I was also looking at, expressive appearance, dark cherry red exterior, cool rims, black leather interior, smooth ride, lots of cargo space, and rumbling 303hp V8 that runs on 4 cylinders for 28 mpg when cruising. And fun to drive, with great acceleration, control and braking. On downside, w/ my ht, drivers seat must be tilted back so I dont hit roof. Also, headrest is fixed parallel w/seat back, so its too far back to be of use even if seat werent tilted. Was car designed for Neanderthals, or should I drive with a racing helmet? I just slouch along, but somehow it works for me.

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  Nice Compact Car - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By Jason - August 15 - 1:16 am

  Coming from a 2004 Malibu V6, the fuel economy on this car is a welcome change. For the engine size, this thing puts out a lot of power. Occasionally, I am left wanting during passing maneuvers, but for the most part, no complaints. The engine does get a little loud when the RPMs get up there, but it is never unwelcome. Interior-wise, the car is very comfortable and all the controls are well placed. Gauges are bright and easy to read and the car handles superbly. I would not hesitate to buy another one of these great little cars.

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  Great Car - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By jetfan - August 14 - 6:03 pm

  When I bought this car the previous owner took very good care of it. The only thing I had to do is put a MAF sensor on it. These cars are fast, especially if you add a few goodies. So it just goes to show if you maintain your vehicle, more often than not it will last. I love this car, in fact I think Im going to buy another one possibly a gtx if I can find one.

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  What a car - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By vksandsek - August 14 - 5:03 pm

  I bought the 2009 Vibe with 1.8 liter engine and 4-speed automatic transmission. The power is sufficient and the gas mileage is excellent. The engine does not feel strained and remains quiet even at speeds above 80 mph. On the exterior, the Vibe is somewhat better looking than its sister, the Toyota Matrix. The interior is ergonomic, comfortable and well designed.

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  Super Hot - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By jp - August 12 - 5:00 pm

  This is the most fun in a car I have ever owned. Great looks and awesome performance. Ive had mustangs, toyotas, and big trucks. The handling is wonderful. At 110 it felt like 60 and still had room to go. I got the GT with all the extras. Stepping into this automobile is like stepping into a make believe world. I love to drive it. It stops on a dime when needed, corners well and accelerates quickly. I would pay the 25K for this car again in a heartbeat.

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  M6 Impulse Blue 2004 GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Phillip Kelley - August 12 - 1:13 pm

  I purchased my 2004 GTO in November 2004. I have 2600 miles on the car and to date have had no problems with it mechanically. I do have a few concerns in the fact that the drivers and passengers windows do not defrost when there is inclement weather. Also the fact that you have to shift the 6 speed manual transmission from 1st to 4th (CAGS) under certain conditions is a pain in the neck! There is a bypass kit to eliminate this feature so I will probably install one soon. Also the fuel economy isnt close to what is stated on the window sticker. I thought that the power would be better but with a heavy car I guess its not too bad. In general I like the car very much and for the pricing it is great.

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  My First Roadster - 2008 Pontiac Solstice
  By New Roadster Owner - August 12 - 8:06 am

  The GPX is amazing! This is the first roadster that I have owned and I am very happy with my choice. The Solstice is the only car that I have been able to drive comfortably. I am a large person (6 ft 325 lbs) with a very long torso. Other cars I have looked at did not have the hip room and head room that I needed. The Solstice has both. One other car I looked at had so little room, I looked OVER the windshield when seated in the car and I could not close the door because it hit my leg. Other than being very comfortable in the Solstice, it is really fun to drive. Other reviews complain about the meager trunk space, all I can to say is this car was only meant for hauling - well you know!!