Pontiac
2008 Pontiac G8 reivew At the risk of sacrificing journalistic objectivity, I'm going to go on record as saying that I never could stand the Pontiac Grand Prix. It was a decent enough car, I suppose, but the styling and driving dynamics never did anything at all for me; since the current generation's introduction in 2004, I routinely ranked it at the bottom of the large-sedan class.
At the risk of sacrificing journalistic objectivity, I'm going to go on record as saying that I never could stand the Pontiac Grand Prix. It was a decent enough car, I suppose, but the styling and driving dynamics never did anything at all for me; since the current generation's introduction in 2004, I routinely ranked it at the bottom of the large-sedan class.
Funky, compact multi-tasking vehicles are all over the place these days. Where the subcompact station wagon once ruled the light-cargo roost, these days there are retro Chrysler PT Cruisers and Chevrolet HHRs, quirky micro-minivans like the Mazda5, and offerings with more contemporary style, like the Kia Rondo and Pontiac Vibe.
Fresh off of a redesign for 2007, the G5 is Pontiac's entry in the highly competitive sport compact segment. A virtual twin to Chevrolet's Cobalt, the G5 offers the entry-level driver sporty styling and an ample selection of essential equipment.
One of the things that made Duke Ellington great was his uncanny ability to recognize his musicians' greatest strengths and arrange his music to put those players in a position to best take advantage of their individual talents. General Motors has apparently realized the beauty of that strategy.
Can Pontiac challenge the Europeans with its 'sport crossover?' For some reason, I always forget how nice a vehicle the Pontiac Torrent is until I've slipped behind the wheel.
Entering its second generation, Pontiac's Vibe faces serious new competition in the crossover market.
Okay, so it's a Pontiac G6, successor to the largely unlamented Grand Am, and it's wearing impressively clean sheetmetal. The G6 is a decent car, not too far off from what a Toyota Camry would be like if Pontiac built 'em, but as a member of the bread-and-butter mid-size coupe/sedan class, there's not much to get excited about, is there?
Quite a lot of people are sitting up and taking notice of Pontiac's newest product, the dream-car-turned-real Solstice roadster. In just three years, Pontiac took this concept car from the stage to the street, and there's no doubt that it's one of the most exciting products in years from GM's self-styled Excitement Division. The first thousand cars sold out faster than hot concert tickets.
I hope you're happy. All of the carping and ridicule heaped upon Pontiac's Aztek since its introduction has made the company bashful, and the introduction of a much more capable do-all has been made so quietly as to practically go unnoticed.
