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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  Make sure it was taken care of! - 1995 Pontiac Grand AM
  By ATR - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Our 2dr SE runs like a top. Squeaks in the dash get annoying, but thats why there are pieces of paper folded 10x over stuck in the nooks and crannies. You cant really notice ‘em... until one gets loose. Oooh, make it stop! Weve had 3 alternators over 83K miles. Mechanic said it might be the location causing the alternators to get hot. Power steering fluid leaked, so the mechanic replaced our "high pressure hose" and that fixed it. The car has poor visibility because of the wide pillars, but the 4-cyl. has good power. The car looks as good as it did the day my wife got it, inside and out. Her parents gave it to her as a h.s. grad. gift (we werent married then, just two kids in love).

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  No Help - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By lissabean2 - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I loved my car, until the engine blew in it. I found out that this is typical in Pontiac Grand Ams. Too bad I found this out a little to late. GM would not help me replace the motor because (1) I was not the original owner (2) I was over the warranty (BY 400 MILES). If I could do it all over I would NOT buy this car. My experience with GM has been horrible, I have never experienced such rude customer service before. I will never buy another GM and I will try to convince others of the same.

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  Trans Am Forever - 1997 Pontiac Firebird
  By Trans Am Man - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Awsome looking, sleek, powerful, awsome stereo, comfertable, 30mpg highway, reliable, what more do i need to say?

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  Good Car - 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Tim_boo - July 22 - 2:00 am

  My experience has been a good one. The build quality is an issue with the fit and finish. It out-performs everything in its class regardless of cost. So trading a little quality for performance is what you have. My maintence on this car so far has been new tires and oil changes. I think this car is very good for what you pay. I dont see anything in its price range then or today that Id rather own. If your in the market my suggestion is test drive it. I thought of trading it in on a Maxima, I drove the Maxima and didnt like it!!! Also looked at a BMW 325 it needs more power and space.

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  BIG MISTAKE FROM UNHAPPY CUSTOMER - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Jessica Scott - July 22 - 2:00 am

  If you are considering this car but having doubts Do Not Buy this vehicle. I made the mistake of buying a Grand Am brand new. I have had nothing but trouble. This car isnt even 3 years old yet and has been in the shop at least 5 times. It doesnt handle well at all in curves and the brakes and tires wear quickly.I urge you to Learn from my mistake.

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  Great Value - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By M Stiles - July 21 - 11:16 am

  This vehicle attained excellent gas mileage - consistently 30 mpg, not in the low 20s as I was led to believe, and it gave me great satisfaction during the months of $4 per gallon fuel prices. Comfy seats, nice large trunk space and flip-down seats, good control and easy to drive. No major repairs were needed. The negatives: shortage of cupholders, some road noise, red dashboard lighting. Overall, an excellent vehicle for the average driver.

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  My frist new car - 1995 Pontiac Grand AM
  By dynapackardcomcast.n - July 21 - 4:33 am

  I love my grand am I bought it new and drove it for eleven years never had any thing go wrong with it . great gas mileage, I gave it to my daughter this year and bought a new one. I changed the oil as to the manufacture and had all the maintenance done that is suggested. I replaced the tires at 75,000 miles. This car was made to last. It has good get up and go for a four banger.

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  dars grand am - 2005 Pontiac Grand AM
  By goober - July 20 - 2:26 pm

  I have not had this vehicle long, however the experience with the vehicle is that it handles very well. It feels very sturdy as you drive it. I love this car

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  96 Grand Am GT - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Daniel - July 19 - 5:43 am

  This is my first car, and its certainly fun to drive, but it has some issues. Window motors are absolutely terrible, had to replace the drivers side and will likely need to replace passengers soon. Several other minor issues, adding up to ~$600 in repair bills in a year.

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  My 3rd 3800 series engine - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Carl - July 18 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned an 86 Park Ave and a 92 Olds 88 prior to buying this car--both with 3800 engines. The 3800 is solid. My car has 31,000 mi. I look forward to keeping this car for the next 15 years. I bought the car used a year ago and have put 6,000 mi. on it. Theres only 2 problems: the keyless remote needs new batteries and the rear seats could use a little more leg room. However, on the pro side, the car handles great in the city and on the highway. Plenty of power in any situation. Im 6 ft. tall and feel fine in the drivers seat. Some folks grip about the interior finish--I think its fine. Overall, I still love the car after a year and would recommend it.