Why do you drive or love your Pontiac

[EaOutlaw]

I am curious, consider this a poll of sorts.

Why a Pontiac? When in today's world of get the latest and greatest you could have your choice of an unimaginable selection of year make and model to own.

Pontiac is long gone this we all know, many old school guys might argue that they stopped making a real Pontiac in the early 1980s when they halted production of a real Pontiac engine.

I am not wanting an argument of what is a real Pontiac I am more interested in what makes you a Pontiac enthusiast.

When I was a kid you didn't have the numerous choices that people today enjoy, you pretty much had the big three and a few imports.

I have always been drawn to GM products especially Pontiac I guess because of their styling and yes that wonderful engine under the hood that so many gears heads know as a Big Block Pontiac. Yes we all know by now Pontiac never labeled their engine a big block because they only produced one size Block.

I am sure we can all agree it doesn't matter if you had a High Output 455 or a snail 301 from the 80s what lived under the hood was in fact big and sexy.

For some reason when I cranked over my Pontiac Engine and heard the low toned rumble of even a stock 400 in a 1978 Trans am I felt at home and I felt secure knowing I was going to get where I was going trouble free.

Even when you turned off a Pontiac engine it really shut off I mean right now the engine immediately stopped spinning because of the massive rotating assembly.

These little nuisances grew on me over the years which caused me to buy Pontiac cars over and over.

When Pontiac no longer made their own engine and used Chevy motors exclusively I admit I was right their bitching up a storm begging GM to wake up and realize they will slowly kill off the brand.

Yet Pontiac persisted and thrived for many years, after this I eventually jumped on board buying the Modern Pontiac that was really just a GM in my mind. because they never lost their sense of style they were always just a little better than its Chevy counterpart.

So tell me if you will, what makes you love your Pontiac?

In other words do you drive a Pontiac because they are no longer being made and feel you now have a part of history and want to preserve that history for as long as you can.

Or did you get it because it was what you could afford at the time.

If your part of the group that wants to preserve your Pontiac and your Like me that you wish you will wake up one day to a News Flash that Pontiac is back and brighter than ever then I have to say thank you.

Why you ask? Because Pontiac has provided me with so many fond memories that it just takes a glimpse of a well maintained Pontiac new or old to flash me back to those times long ago when I was behind the wheel of my first Pontiac. Without you those memories would eventually fade away.

 

[richardgriese]

My first car was a 1982 Chevy Malibu diesel... Yes it would go above 40 mph down hill LOL. After that I got a 1990 Grand Prix LE. I liked it because it had the goofiest dash I had ever seen. Later I had a 1996 GP. Now I have a 2003 GPGT, a 2004 GPGT, a 2000 Bonneville SSEi, a 2000 Grand Am GT, and my 2005 Impala base.

I bought most of the cars because money was tight. I think they have a good value to their price. I think they get pretty decent mpg, good stock power, and they are pretty reliable - I also like the styling. So many cars (especially today) are dull and lack luster.

Never did have a "true" Pontiac in that sense, but I know the sound you mean. I have a 1980 Sierra Grande diesel (but I converted to gas) with a 454. I use that only for hauling scrap down to the yard.

I don't know how I ended up with so many Pontiacs, but I just liked them. I gave the Bonneville to my mother when she got in a wreck, now it just get about 6 miles a day. I gave the 2003 Grand Prix GT to my sister as a trade for her 2000 Honda Civic because she needed a sedan and her Honda needed some work done. The Impala, 2004 GPGT, and the 2000 Grand Am GT are split between my wife and I (I like 3 cars between 2 of us in case I need to work on one)

I still consider the other Pontiacs 'under my wing' because I do all the maintenance, technically still have the title in my name, and I love working on them. I am now at the point that I will change out my impala and get something newer and I will probably give that car to my nephew. Later on I'll build a separate garage and have some of my cars back there as a sort of collection. My wife keeps telling me I just want to collect them all.

 

[EaOutlaw]

Wow a Malibu diesel, That must be one rare car by now. what did it have like 80 horse power or so. LOL I guess your parents helped pick that one out.

 

[richardgriese]

It was actually my dad's car and he gave it to me; the rest I bought. We always had tons of cars so it was parked most of its life. Had 28k original miles. Yeah probably about that hp.

______________________________

 

[Pursuit the Great]

I bought my 2006 G5 (well actualy it's a Pursuit) 2.2 L last November after my Chrysler Neon died on me. I bought it because it was at the dealership waiting for a good home and I needed a replacement car fast to get home in Quebec for my dad's surgery. I knew right away it was the one for me. Plus I trusted the brand because I drove across Canada with my friend in his 9 years old Sunfire (which live five more years before going to Pontiac heaven ). It's roomy for my tall legs and arms, fuel efficient, reliable yet it feels like a race car because of the driving position and the way it handles the road.
Also, you feel in contact with the road without suffering too much from the multiple bumps or rocks. This car just goes over the bumps in my driveway like nothing. I don't take forever to cross intersection and it's so easy to cruise at 1.5 or 2 000 rpm without even applying gas.
I hit passenger side mirror once and it took me about 5 minutes to replace it because they made it convenient and easy to do. I am looking forward to keep changing pieces for cheap as it get older, just to keep it in good shape. That's why I clean it once in a while to keep it's ultra silver, ultra silver.
I did touch up paint today and I will do it again in the future. It's so worth it considering that there is virtually no rust on it and for a 2006 it's not common.
I will wrap up the praise for the G5 by mentioning that the base model really doesn't need any cruise control as far as I am concerned since it keeps its speed quite well. I don't miss the back up cameras that other cars have or their modernity only the fact that I've got a CD jammed in the CD player.
Down the road in hopefully many many years, I might have to part with my Pursuit G5 but I think I will stay in the GM family.
Until then, I cherish my Pontiac and enjoy every drive (plus it's so fun to follow another Pursuit!). If by any chance, I won the lottery, I would buy more Pontiac, older ones.
And if I don't, I will read more stories on the forum!
Long live the remaining Pontiacs and may the brand be reborn!

 

[EaOutlaw]

Do you have the 2 or 4 door? I am guessing the Persuit version is the sport version above the base model where you get alloy rims and a rear wing fog lights etc?

In 2004 I purchased my wife a new Grand Prix GT Non Super charged, we got a great deal because it was used as a demo they claimed. I think it was a sold car that someone brought back. either way the finish on the paint had many fine scratches on the green paint.

I had to wet sand and polish the entire car to bring it back to near new condition.
But once I was done the car was absolutely beautiful.

We had it a for a while until my wife got stuck working at Palm Beach County EOC headquarters. during a reasonably strong hurricane I forget which one.

Her car along with nearly everyone's car was trashed when high winds picked up all the little stones off the flat roof on this building and pelted all the cars on the parking lot.

There was not one square inch of her car that wasn't damaged in some way.

My poor wife was heart broken because there just was no fixing it back to the way it was.

I couldn't imagine how bad off someone would be to get caught in that basically rock storm that stripped the paint of the front row of cars and put dime size dents on every square inch of the other cars in the lots even taking out most of the glass in the front row of cars.

I am guessing it must have been a small tornado that didn't touch down mixed in since everyone's car had damage to the entire car front rear and both sides. not even the rims escaped damage. It must have been a sight to see.

You would think since Palm Beach County would have covered the damage to their employees cars since all of them had to be at work they had no choice show up or get fired.

The jerks there only offered to cover a portion of people deductibles. Yet when our car was trashed it was still upside down on the loan so we took a large hit when we unloaded the car. We have Gap coverage on the HHR and any car I buy new in the future. Expensive lesson learned.

I would have purchase another a new Pontiac to replace it yet being upside down limited what we could afford. So we ended up with the 2010 HHR she has today.

The carry over balance still has us upside down on her HHR today, yet we are finally at the point where most of our payment is applied to the balance and we are finally getting close to having no more payments.

Living in Florida like any place has its risk and rewards, I find it very annoying that when you build a house or do work to your home it has to meet strict hurricane guide lines. yet the very Government that is in charge of making and enforcing these rules can allow roofs like this to exists in Palm Beach County and on their own roofs that they depend on EOC is what helps keep everything somewhat normal during a hurricane or other crisis's.

I have one word to describe them. IDIOTS LOL

 

[richardgriese]

Bummer on the car Ea. Was it a 2004? or was it a 2003 remainder? Funny if it's a 2004 GPGT green because I just bought one of those.

 

[EaOutlaw]

Bummer on the car Ea. Was it a 2004? or was it a 2003 remainder? Funny if it's a 2004 GPGT green because I just bought one of those.

yeah it was a 2004,

Go ahead and say these words, My name is Richardgriese and I am a caraholic , LOL

______________________________

 

[richardgriese]

I know right. One of my wife's coworkers said they had the trans go out on an 04-08 GP; I told my wife to offer her a price and we could have another... she just looked at me...

 

[melsg5]

Grew up in New York City. Only time we had a car when I was young was a rental for the summer. When I got to 18, 1967, wanted a car and was considering a used Tempest or LeMans. Father made a deal with me if I chipped in we would get a new car. I agreed to the deal but told him I would pay over time. Two local GM dealers Oldsmobile and Pontiac. Went to the Olds dealer and was considering a Cutlass. Went to the Pontiac dealer and found out we could get a GTO for less than the Cutlass. Convinced him to go for the GTO. Seemed like everything was going great until the salesman mentioned the relatively unknown 2bbl, regular gas option. To my dismay that is what we ended up with. Regular GTO was rated at 350 horsepower this car was only 265 horsepower. My friend next door got a GTO also but kept secret the part that he also went for an optional engine. The 360 horsepower option! Needless to say his car was awesome compared to mine. Since the family car was registered under my father's business he could depreciate the value of the car. So three years later, 1971, he was willing to go for another new family car. Again went with a GTO but by then I had a little more knowledge and influence and got the 455 HO with Ram Air. Still have it today.

 

[EaOutlaw]

melsg5 that is such a cool story, and history of growing older with your Pontiac, how about posting some pictures, if you still have any around when you purchased it and how it looks today? even better if your in the shots.

My Dad always had an attitude when it came to cars, his favorite saying was " a car is just transportation to get you where you need to go". so he never approved or supported my desire to restore the cars I had over the years. I always wanted to do a father son project completely restoring a car together with him.

It wasn't until recently that he admitted restoring his first car a 1955 Chevy making it like new, only for it to burn to the ground. I guess that soured him for life on cars.

 

[Pursuit the Great]

My car has four doors which to me is more convenient to carry passengers. Everyone in my my family is tall and most of my friends too. The Pursuit is simply a how a G5 is called in Canada. I've got the base model so no cruise control, no fog light and only four bolts on the wheels but it's perfect. For me, simple is better. Even in the cold canadian winter, I don't need my butt to heat and cook! A colleague of mine had the GT version and the base version and he says that the turning radius is quite different.
Your Grand Prix story is so sad. I see how your wife could be heart broken. I would be too. Hopefully, there won't be any hurricane attack if you ever get another Pontiac.

______________________________

 

[EaOutlaw]

My car has four doors which to me is more convenient to carry passengers. Everyone in my my family is tall and most of my friends too. The Pursuit is simply a how a G5 is called in Canada. I've got the base model so no cruise control, no fog light and only four bolts on the wheels but it's perfect. For me, simple is better. Even in the cold Canadian winter, I don't need my butt to heat and cook! A colleague of mine had the GT version and the base version and he says that the turning radius is quite different.
Your Grand Prix story is so sad. I see how your wife could be heart broken. I would be too. Hopefully, there won't be any hurricane attack if you ever get another Pontiac.

I like buying cars with the least amount of equipment for myself, this way I am not paying for options or parts that I may change out later to while making it personalized.

With my back and neck so jacked up I cannot easily get into a four door car any more. unless it is a very large 4 door car.

The front seats are normally too far back behind the B pillar I think they call it, for me to get in without hurting myself so I do not ride or drive the HHR we have unless I have to.

Honestly someone like me shouldn't be driving at all because I cannot look around when backing up or changing lanes.

For my wife I try to spoil her and get her fully loaded cars with extended warranties and now gap insurance LOL

So it is doubtful I will ever buy a late model Pontiac again, Currently I have a old Sunbird abortion with a 1969 chevy 350 and s10 frame I picked from a neighbor that I was going to save and work on when my back and neck allows me to.

However it is so hacked up and parts are impossible to find I just cannot see it getting back on the road again.

If I do get another Pontiac it will have to be one that parts are still available and it will need to have a Pontiac V8 in it either a 400, 455 or 428.

I really do not need a car since I am stuck at home 24-7 but I try to keep a project around that I can tinker with, so I feel like I have some usefulness left in me.

Heck I traded my Harley I couldn't ride anymore for a Ford ranger just for a second reliable vehicle for my wife and for me to get out of the house, I have never even driven it. because I made the guy I traded come to my house for the trade.

It sucks I enjoy vehicles so much yet can not enjoy them like I want to.

But do not feel sorry for me because I am in the shape that I am in because of dumb choices I made over the years. what is wrong with me could have been avoided by respecting the dangers these vehicles can bring along with the joy they bring.

 

[richardgriese]

It wasn't until recently that he admitted restoring his first car a 1955 Chevy making it like new, only for it to burn to the ground. I guess that soured him for life on cars.

Knocks on wood; I am about to restore my 02 GP's interior - re vinyl the padded dash, probably paint (maybe a touch of vinyl here and there) the rest of the interior, eventually re upholster the seats, swap in different parts here and there like the center console, idk what else but I'll get ideas.

Bummer to hear about your shape. Sometimes I get an itch to work on something too.

 

[melsg5]

Pictures 1971 GTO

These are from 2006 since then the interior has been reupholstered and the engine compartment has been cleaned up

 

[EaOutlaw]

Knocks on wood; I am about to restore my 02 GP's interior - re vinyl the padded dash, probably paint (maybe a touch of vinyl here and there) the rest of the interior, eventually re upholster the seats, swap in different parts here and there like the center console, idk what else but I'll get ideas.

Bummer to hear about your shape. Sometimes I get an itch to work on something too.

When you can take some before pictures, start a thread and give us some pictures of the good bad and ugly along the way.

Good luck with your project.

______________________________

 

[EaOutlaw]

These are from 2006 since then the interior has been reupholstered and the engine compartment has been cleaned up

My brother had one of these rounded GTOs years ago, he loved it even after a fork lift dropped something on the rear quarter panel.

He was a maniac in that car it ended up getting impounded LOL that calmed him down some cause he lost it while he was in jail to the impound yard .

I like your car the color is understated and doesn't attract a lot of attention.

When you can I would love to see what it looks like now.
Thanks for the pictures.

 

[2002SEsunfire]

-they make good drivers cars
-theyre reliable
-they have always had good styling

 

[2002SEsunfire]

Fine,

I love all pontiacs because they are good drivers cars, and it is rare to find those kind of cars these days, that is why I love pontiacs, that above statement was hardley true, that is the feeling i get from driving it like a normal person, being behind the wheel of a drivers car.