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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  Deceptively reliable--a handsome highway cockroach - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By thrashette - November 13 - 2:23 am

  So this is the first, and thus far, only car Ive owned for my 3 years of driving. Im the 6th owner, and it was passed down from my dad at 130k miles. Its now at 210k miles, and I can say with pride that this car has never failed me. Aside from when the battery was dead (the battery was 12 years old at the time and an easy jump got me goin), it starts every morning as I begin my commute. Whether its the usual 30, the frequent 100, or the occasional 1000 miles, its always ready to go. Most of my maintenance has been regular, with a few big replacements such as the axles and brakes. The transmission and the engine still feel fantastic, despite the dust and age.

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  Love this - 2002 Pontiac Montana
  By jbjq - November 12 - 8:53 pm

  I bought my dark red Montana from eBay in December 2003 for $11,700 and it had 42,130 miles on it. It has lots of extras including OnStar but I dont use OnStar. Mine is not the extended version. This vehicle is the perfect size. Not too large and not too small. It is the perfect height for getting into and out of. My kids would rather I drive a Cadillac CTS but too bad. But anyway I have just had regular maintenance done and a few minor glitches which I had fixed at Firestone. I have 90,750 miles on it now. Love this van. Oh and it gets 23 mpg. For what I paid I consider this vehicle to be a great value.

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  Incredible Car -- Its GRRRR8T! - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Cyrus - TX - November 12 - 4:50 pm

  This is absolutely an incredible car! Finally Pontiac has gotten it right -- unfortunately right before it has to close its doors. If you are considering buying this car, now is the time and you will not be disappointed. Caveat--If you are looking for great gas mileage, buy a Honda, but if you want awesome performance with very decent gas mileage...this is your ride. It will get better mileage with additional after market mods(check the internet), which signficantly increases the horse power too. As a family sedan and sports car...I think your getting the best of both worlds.

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  Love my Vibe - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By anitalazr - November 12 - 8:36 am

  Vibe fit the bill of low cost and good gas mileage. I love my little red pontiac. It is great for around town, easy to park, hauls 4 adults very comfortable, and the hatchback is great for shopping/storage. Drove it from L.A. to S.F. in Calif, along Highway 1 (the beautiful coast) .. my Vibe did great, handled well.

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  Looks dont count - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By shannon - November 11 - 5:46 am

  I bought this car without doing a lot of research first, mistake ! I wanted it because of the sporty look. It has been one headache after another.I have had to replace the water pump, the brakes multiple times, the traction system is junk. Little things like heater knobs have broken off, heat only works on high, both rearview mirrors have broken off for no reason and the turn signal switch went bad. My moms full size truck gets better gas mileage! I am doing a lot of research for my next car!

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  Economically Fit - 2007 Pontiac Vibe
  By Craig - November 10 - 3:43 pm

  This is a great car for anyone at the age of 24 to the age of 55. I can get 28 miles per gallon driving on the highway/around town, which is good for a crossover car. I am more impressed by the space inside. The other day I went surfing, and I fit my 96" surfboard all the way in the Vibe with the back hatch shut. It is also very stylish. One negative comment would be road noise while driving on the freeway. It can get quite loud compared to my old Infiniti I used to drive. Other than that, this car packs a big punch for the price tag and I feel Pontiac will keep making the vibe for many more years to come.

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  Return of the Goat - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By fronkie - November 10 - 12:56 pm

  This GTO is the best GTO ever built. My dad bought this one and let me tell you it drives like a dream. My dad also has a 1966 GTO and he definitely likes the new one better because its better, faster, more fun, an more reliable. All I can say is that its awesome, and I sure as hell hope that GM builds their Ram Air 6 concept as the next GTO Judge. THE MUSCLE DAYS ARE BACK AND HERE TO STAY.

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  A winner too late for Pontiac? - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By kd - November 9 - 9:40 pm

  Reality demanded I spend less than originally planned for a new car. I am very happy to have chosen so much car for the money. The GT looks cool, drives tight and has the most comfortable front seat of my better cars (TL, 300M, Aurora, Legend). I can mention some constructive improvements others have documented, but with research, you know these before you buy, such as the weak sound system, lack of some amenities and weird controls. The only issue after 2 months besides still not having the second set of keys lost by the dealer, is an annoying vibrating noise randomly coming from behind the glove box. We will see if it can be addressed by the dealer before commenting on GM build quality.

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  They got it right this time! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Paul - November 9 - 5:00 am

  Great fun to drive. If you dont need all the cushy stuff and just want the muscle, you cant go wrong with the GTO. Be ready to pay lots more for comparable performance from other makes. Plenty of power and handles superbly. I traded an 04 for an 05. Hood scoops and rear-end redesign is a great style improvement over the 04. More powerful engine and much improved brakes make this one better live up to the GTO name. Minor problems with shifter sticking or not catching (in reverse). Idle pulley seized within the first 30 miles. Accelerator sensor malfunction at 300 miles. Electronic throttle takes some getting used to. Parts still not readily available for repairs.

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  Been a great van - 2001 Pontiac Montana
  By kajensen - November 9 - 2:00 am

  Ive had no problems with the van. I love it and would get another.