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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  nothing but comfort - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By sonnyphysh - November 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2002 Grand Prix SE. I do alot of long distance road trips, and this seemed to be the ideal car for the bucks.Very comfortable on the long runs, with plenty of cargo room. This SE model has the 3.1 engine, which is pretty sluggish with 3 average persons in the car. Engine noises a month after my puchase( needs pistons ). Thats a bad start, for a car loan. I should have bought the GT with the 3.8L, or just stayed away from Pontiac all together.Stay away from the SE models.

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  I am happy with my Vibe! - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Crisco - November 7 - 11:43 am

  I really am enjoying my vibe. Even though I just got it,I love it already. I like its style and the quality of a Pontiac. Thanks for making such a great automobile. Thanks, Wendy Thompson

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  Love My G6! - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By G6 Fan - November 7 - 6:00 am

  I love my G6! Ive had it for 5 years now. Its at 75,000 miles and has not had any major problems whatsoever! The styling is beautiful, both inside and out! My only minor complaints about the interior are that the leather is fading a bit on the left-side edge of the drivers seat (I must sit extra hard on that side) and some of coloring on the radio dials is starting to fade just a tad. Mechanically speaking, its been a great car! Lately, Ive had an odd sound when braking, got it fixed before brake pads were adjusted or something, but now the noise has returned. But its apparently no cause for concern. Despite these minor flaws, though, its been a great car and is very fun to drive!

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  Best car yet - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Siryj - November 7 - 4:50 am

  I purchased this car 2003 SE1 with the V6 from a Avis rental fleet. I have had the car for over a year and I have NOT had one problem. The best thing about this car is the Torque. there arent a lot of cars that will beat the Grand Am from a red light. My only complaint with the Grand Am is the limited room in the rear.

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  Do not buy this car - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By chemprice21 - November 6 - 11:10 am

  I have owned this car for just over a year. Within 6 months I had to have both bumpers repainted because the four corners of the bumpers were rubbing against the fender wells and began to chip. The warranty covered the cost of the repairs, but would not loan me a car to drive for the three days it took to repair the car. I have also had the car in the shop six times since August 2006 due to an issue with the tires. I just this week finally received a new tire after waiting 2.5 months for a replacement after the tire was diagnosed as faulty. They said even though the car was vibrating, pulling to the left and nearly hydroplaned every time it rained, this was not a safety issue. Dont buy!

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  Great Automobile - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By D. Goodrode - November 6 - 10:20 am

  Just purchased it, love it, sharp looking in the Stelth Gray, quiet, comfortable, solid, and handles good on twisty roads. Only 200 horses but more than enough, keeps up with all but the quickest sedans costing twice as much. Looks of a European sedan, comes standard with tons of gadgets. The electronics can be customized to your own taste. This is a classy automobile. Many creature comforts and fold down rear seats for extra long items. Many 2006 improvements on the engine and trans. The 3.8 V6 has tons of torque coupled with the medium duty (not light) 4L65-E trans is a great combo. No Im not a dealer, Im the son of a son of a mechanic and appreciate a well built automobile.

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  One Great Car - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Allen Payne - November 5 - 2:36 am

  This is one fun car to drive, with extremely high quality in the building of the vehicle. I now have 28,000 miles and have not found one thing wrong and all the panels fit perfectly. I have the supercharged GTP with the heads-up display. It is really a pleasure to drive and the stability control works like it should.

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  Competent and looks good. - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By MF - November 4 - 10:00 pm

  This car flat out looks good, and more importantly looks better than most of the competition, save the Altima. The V6 has good enough power for most use outside of drag racing, and the interior looks a lot better in person than it does in pictures. Handling is good for a midsize sedan, and braking is a non-event, which is a good thing. Seat comfort is very good for long trips with just the right amount of hardness in the seats. Backseat legroom is quite good, and without the panoramic sunroof, most 6 footers wont feel like youre subjecting them to torture in the back seat. The stereo on the GT is fantastic- 8 speakers, and some of the best sound in its class.

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  Just Gets Better - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Gene - November 4 - 5:40 pm

  Posted earlier after owning only 3 days. The car just gets better as does the mpg as it breaks in. Havent been on any lengthy trips yet but assume it will get much better. As lots of others said, this car turns heads. Found that Im not alone in thumbs down of oil pressure and battery. Liked another reviewers idea of pictures displayed there. I would prefer to see MPG or anything else displayed here. Would be even better if you could select from DIC what you want there.

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  still going? - 2001 Pontiac Sunfire
  By ROY - November 4 - 10:00 am

  It been a good little car but with a lot of problems. After 4 attempts to fix transmission gringing noise problem still persists. A/C lower 2 settings no longer work. Fuel gauge failed and needed replaced. Low on power compared to competitors. Seat are now worn out. This car is only 3 years old with only 42000 miles on it.