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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  Fun to look at... THATS ABOUT IT! - 1995 Pontiac Firebird
  By MattE - May 2 - 10:00 am

  What a piece of junk! I bought this car as something to just goof around in because my everyday ride is a Ford F-150. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY! This car is in the shop every other week...It is not reliable at all! I admit that it is nice to look at, but its just not worth anything.

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  Bad Transmission - 2001 Pontiac Bonneville
  By unhappy with GM - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Overall a fun car to drive. Could use a V8. Transmission had to be totally replaced at 72000. GM will not acknoledge there is a transmission problem with this car. I know 3 of my friends had the same problem from 40k to 70k. GM did not respond at all when I went through their channels. Too bad for them because they have lost a good customer.

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  My Blue Goat - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By BlueGoat FL - May 2 - 10:00 am

  The torque...the speed...the handling...Need I say more? This car pretty much has it all!It is by far the coolest and most fun car I have ever owned. I will admit the exterior styling is a bit lacking but once I got behind the wheel none of that mattered. The car speaks for itself.In mine opinion its destined to become a classic.

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  Great Car - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By me8976234 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  This car is excellent.It is reliable and good on gas.

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  style, zip, and economical - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By shamus55 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Great fuel economy can be found on the 2005 Pontiac G6 GT. This sporty mid- size consistently averages 30 to 32 mpg. The car has plenty of pep when asked and handles the road tight and crisp. The sport suspension is a bit stiff but is expected. The rear seat leg room is spacious and the new panoramic sunroof is an absolute must have option. (It is like driving a convertable with the windows up when the roof is fully opened). The leather seating option includes all the bells and whistles to satisfy even the most demanding buyer. The G6 GT is a pleasure to drive and well worth the price tag of $28,000.00 fully equipped.

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  Mustangs? Where? - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Meti - May 2 - 9:16 am

  Its just nice to be one of the owners here. I love this car to death and anyone can talk smack but for $29k I think its worth every cent. I drove it from Lansing, MI to Miami Beach, FL. This was a good ride fully loaded. That is 4 ppl with full truck and even back seat floor with bags. Rear fender was covering tire more than 1 inch. Lovely car.

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  G6 is about GM and its struggles - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By ajl - May 1 - 4:10 pm

  I have inherited this car, so its not one I would have purchased. I would have at least bought a V6 model. The build quality is pretty good. At 13k miles, its still really solid, no squeaks or rattles. The interior is much better then any GM car I can remember, although still not Honda or Toyota quality. Lots of room in the back seat, although the outside visibility is poor compared to the imports Im used to. The engine is very coarse compared to a Honda and the 4 speed automatic hunts for gears and shifts into overdrive too early. Not a bad car, not great either. FYI: Owners manual recommends premium fuel for best performance. In a base model car?

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  Wish I never bought it - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By mda - May 1 - 12:03 pm

  I have had nothing but problems with this lemon. The front made a clunking noise whenever I would make a turn, so I had it fixed under warranty. The u- joints and should arm out at 10,000 miles? Then the brakes went out. Now it is clunking whenever I make a left turn again. The paint on the radio knobs chips off. I was told and shown the rims are bent on the right side. Now the engine light comes on, reduced engine power, and TC light stays on. In the shop right now. The airbag light came on, and had to have the airbag serviced. I might as well have kept my 1994 car, and saved my pocketbook and headache. Power steering problems that arise from nowhere suddenly

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  last of the great one - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By Keith Feemster - April 30 - 11:36 am

  This car puts a smile on my face everytime i step into my garage how all the body lines go together from front to back. Performance far better then the mustang. How the car handles it self when going through corners and when you go straight and mash down on it picking up speed in no time.

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  This car is horrible - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Sara Brown - April 30 - 6:50 am

  This car is horrible it has spent more time in the shop than out on the road. Brakes replaced twice, electrical system needed to be re-wired, gears in steering column replaced, and now a problem with the anti-theft system. This car is noisy (rattles) and badly constructed interior (as far as position of instruments). Seats are made of horrible material that does not wear well (single business women who weighs 115 lbs, so drivers seat should not be falling apart). Dealership hates to service car. I hate driving it, cant wait until it is paid off so I can get rid of it!