1997 Pontiac Trans Sport extended review from North America

Bought it from my brother which he bought new and never had any problems.

2 months after I bought it head gasket blew and was more than 300 miles from home.. had engine replaced from scrap yard and the engine was from a 2002 montana because I knew that when a 3.4 overheats the aluminum heads tends to bend and very costly to repair..didn't take any chances paid extra money to replace the intake gasket..

I also changed the dexcool for good old green prestone as I heard that the dexcool contains acids that helps to keep for a longer time a coolant in the cooling system, but also helps destroying gaskets.

I have read many horrible stories and (like I had) reviews on the 3.4 liters in montana and the sorts.. they might be less reliable than Honda odyssey or toyota sienna, but a lot cheaper to buy and maintain.

Let me explain... they cost 5-6000 dollars more new and sometimes used... and where I live I can have from scrap yard many parts for cheaper price (1500 cdn dollars for an installed engine) than these imports.. the imports can do 400000- 500000 km with the same engine if maintained well after that it will also be a nightmare to repair these costly wise.

A 3.4 liter engine (all made in Mexico) is averaging 200000 km before having serious problems if there are!! so even when rebuilt I can possibly hope for 800000 km with 4 engines!!..And I am not talking about the transmission which on mine never had any problems yet... I know it sounds easy.. and you might say all the time lost for doing these repairs.. but how many hours more you have to work to get 5-6000 dollars more to get these imports!!

However..It is my way of thinking.. you may not like it and find I forgot many other things.

But I like this van and if I had like a Chrysler or a Ford I would have thought the same way.. but I love my pontiac the way it looks, handles and haul all of my stuff for cheaper on gas than imports the same size.. and especially on parts..

In conclusion I might say like the old stuff YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!