1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE review from North America
"BEWARE - this car will ruin you financially"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Repairs unrelated to general maintenance i.e. filters, brakes, fluids, tires, plugs:
New Alternator @ 210,000kms - $500CAD
Completely rebuilt transmission (all new hard parts and bands) @ 220,000kms - $2200CAD
New crank shaft sensor @ 230,000kms - $900CAD
New Catalytic Converter @ 230,000kms $600CAD
New Radiator @ 235,000kms - $800CAD
New Driver Side Window Switch @ 235,000kms - $200CAD
Rebuilt Top end of Engine with all new gaskets, belts, etc (thing was leaking oil like a siv) @ 235,000kms - $600CAD
New Exhaust Manifolds @ 235,000kms - $800CAD
New Water Pump @ 240,000kms - $200CAD.
245,000 failed Aircare and decided to sell the thing - got $1900CAD.
Unfixed problems at time of sale:
Faulty O2 Sensors
Airbag warning light was on
CD player clock light was faulty.
General comments?
BEWARE - this car will ruin you financially.
It is a cold calculating machine engineered for one thing - for something on it to go wrong strategically once a month for the entire time you own it.
Purchased in Spring 2004 for $5500CAD + $500GST @ 195,000kms.
Total price paid - $6000CAD
Total cost of repairs excluding maintenance - $6800
Years owned - 2
Total KM driven - 50,000.
$10,900 for 2 years of driving on a 7-9 year old car is = to a lease payment of $455/month.
Which means I could have been rolling in a new fully loaded Japanese luxury sedan for 2 years with $0 down and handed it back in after
OR
Bought a car with low km's for $10,900 - driven it for 2 years without a single headache and then taken a dump on the drivers seat and pushed it over a cliff and I'd still be happier than I am right now with the Pontiac Grand Prix.
Thanks for ruining my life GM.
Sincerely,
Michael
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All 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix reviews
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model Year | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.8L OHV V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 3/10 |
| Reliability marks | 0/10 |
| Comfort marks | 3/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 0/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 195000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 245000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Nissan Micra |
| Date of Entry | 20th March, 2007 |