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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  Lo kwality - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Laith - August 29 - 2:00 pm

  Too many intermittent issues: cruise control doesnt work sometimes, chimes for no apparent reason, pillars blind spot, transmission problems after 50k (trans oil pump). Power mirror motors died, seat sagged too early (I only weigh 140 LB), suspension issues, poor design of doors - opens half-way and closes on my leg when exiting. Poor door seals, air leak, power mirrors motor does not work sometimes, gear issues. I have kept 100% of manufactoring maintenance schedule. I was hoping to drive this car like my predecessor (same type) but I have to get rid of it after 67k. I will not recommend or consider buying again. Im an engineer and work for automotive suppliers, I know what quality is.

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  Not a happy camper - 2009 Pontiac G3
  By Not a happy camper - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I have now had this car about a year in a half! Mind you its my first brand new car! I thought i picked a great choice for my first new car. Well I was WRONG! My car has been to the shop 8 times! Front end problems pulling me to the left hard, driver side mirror shakes so bad i cant even see out of it when it rains or on im on the high way! Thermostat has gone out. And just yesterday i had to get the heater blower thing fix! I am trading this car in! They will not see me again!nor get my business again! It sucks gas! It doesnt ride smoothly! Worst choice i could have ever made buying that car!! I regret every day of it!

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  Pontiac Owner Suffers - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By pos - August 5 - 10:13 pm

  The best way to review a car like this is to list the part that have been replaced at 14000 miles blower motor windshield air leek ONLY when its cold out (ice on the inside...took 20miles to melt) NOT Fixed by dealer Sunvisors will not retain position (If you have a 08 g6 take it in for this they stopped making the ones they put in the car because they are so bad ) Brakes and rotors Door made a noise when you stop. they just greased it. ( umm thanks GM ???) Engine ticks (when its cold) they did nothing to fix this. I was told they all do that. Engine idles is not normal ( car shakes when im at a stop light) They all do this i was told. I will list more on my favorite features...

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  Drives like a rental - 2009 Pontiac G6
  By josh - July 16 - 2:23 am

  I am currently renting this car. Overall its a very dissapointing car. I normally drive an 2007 Audi a4 and given my A4 only cost me about 5k more then a new G6 GT it feels about 100% better in terms of interior quality, handling and overall build quality. The only thing I am impressed with is the 3.5 V6 which feels a lot stronger then the 219 HP its putting out.

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  This is a real piece.... - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
  By zorba - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Do not buy this car. It is a horrible machine. I think weve replaced everything on the car back the windshield. I would never suggest it to anyone.

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  SUCKS - 1998 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Pontiacbad - May 16 - 2:00 am

  The first week I had this car the alternator and the battery went bad. Know with many more miles, The car wont shift correctly, it sits in first gear (this is a automatic) and I dont even have to step on the gas to go, it is idealed to high. The worst car I have had looking for a Honda.

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  I do not like the G6 - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By BG - March 31 - 4:40 pm

  I traded in my 2003 Grand Am GT w/ ram air in for this car and Im very upset that I chose the G6. It does not have enough power, hesitates when the gas pedal is pushed, there are blind spots everywhere on the car and the car has a horrible turning radius. I got the G6 V6 for a reasonable lease price but I am definitely not happy with this car.

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  Do not buy this car used - 2002 Pontiac Sunfire
  By dellis - March 25 - 8:43 am

  Bought this car on the cheap and that is exactly what I got, a cheap car. A litany of things went wrong with this car during the first 4 years, worst of all the rotors kept warping no matter what pads and rotors I put on. Of course the dealer told me it was because they werent OEM parts. Interior doesnt fit together snuggly, I felt like I had to fall in and climb out of this car, speakers rattle, passenger door not aligned right which was fixed by the dealer with a sledge hammer, very sluggish turn when starting, visor broke and flaps leisurely around while driving and its so loud in the cab that there is a feature that raises the radio volume automatically while driving certain speeds.

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  Rental car like - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Lloyd Carder - March 25 - 3:26 am

  We purchased the G8 and was excited the the rear wheel drive would give the ride and feel of a classic American car. Instead the car rides like a go Kart is jumpy off the line and has a gas pedal like a tractor. The speedometer and Tach are covered by you hands at 10 and 2 leaving the digital speedometer to be stared at before you can focus to see what the faint red number says. The shifter slips into Neutral if you rest your hand on the shifter. The rear view mirror requires you to flip a lever, not a problem but the mirror has so many buttons for OnStar and other gadgets that you are always hitting them. We are selling the car after only 250 miles at a 6K loss to just get rid of it.

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  g6 is reason for gm failing - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By steve - February 11 - 7:06 pm

  Purchased this 08 g6 for my wife and it was a nightmare from the time we purchased it almost 2 years ago till we traded it in a few weeks ago. Premature brake failure on rotors and pads at 6000 miles, Pontiac says it was due to wifes poor driving habits and would not cover under warranty. Then the iceing on the cake was when the steering went out at 9,000 miles and I had had enough. If I had done my research on this car I would have seen that brake problems and steering failures are a common problem with the g6 and gm refuses to do anything about it.