1993 Pontiac Grand Am GT V6

Summary:

One heck of a good car!!!

Faults:

The only thing I had go wrong with this car, is the drivers side windshield handle busted. I took it back to the dealership where I bought it and they put a new one on and that was it.

General Comments:

This car is wonderful I would never own anything other than a Pontiac.

My uncle hydroplaned and put this car in a ditch full of water. The water went up over the hood and into the motor. I never saw any problems or had any even after that.

This car was a 6 cylinder 5 speed automatic, but you would never have known that.

This car had some power now let me tell you I blew away a 1998 Camaro.

It handles as if it were a train on the tracks.

I would never have gotten rid of this vehicle, but, I was leaving for the Navy and didn't have anywhere to keep it, so sadly I had to sale it to my uncle who put it in the ditch I sold it for 1000.00 and he still owned it till about 6 months ago. It had close to 300,000 miles on it and he said it still ran like a dream. With just a few problems like any old car would have. I would tell everyone to buy a grand am. They are just the greatest car ever built.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th February, 2004

1993 Pontiac Grand Am SE

Summary:

Waste of money

Faults:

Replaced tires, belts, and other normal maintenance things over the years.

Driver's side seat belt had to be re-seated in the track twice. Was later replaced because it kept getting caught on the track.

Knobs on the dashboard fell off.

Lighter broke by melting right through the plastic.

Driver's side side mirror shakes when the stereo is on.

Rear view mirror fell off during the summer.

Replaced heating unit, which blew during a winter month.

Engine stalled out quite regularly, or sometimes wouldn't start.

Replaced the brakes a number of times.

Transmission was awful. Once I hit 50 mph, the engine would start to buck if I didn't accelerate fast enough (over 50).

Motor for the automatic windows was starting to die out.

Interior lights no longer work, even though the fuse has been replaced repeatedly.

Headlight bulbs and signal bulbs had to be changed often.

Engine makes a terrible clicking sound at 166,107 miles - still not sure what's wrong with it. Could be head gasket.

Suspension was awful - went very quickly.

General Comments:

This car was good for about 6 months after I bought it.

One after the other, things kept breaking on it and it seemed like a never ending stream of bad luck with the Pontiac.

I have been left on the side of the road, in the middle of the road, and in my driveway, NUMEROUS times with this vehicle.

The back seat is uncomfortable, and it makes a terrible sound whenever someone sits on it.

The bucket seats are very comfortable.

The general interior of the car is not bad. Things broke, as they do, but not very often.

Fun to drive on the highway, goes pretty quick.

Factory speakers were very good until they blew.

Although it seemed like a good bargain when I bought it, the car was a total money pit.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 11th November, 2003

1993 Pontiac Grand Am GT 3.3L V6

Summary:

High performance and high maintenance non-bargain type car

Faults:

First lets start out with this. It shows that I bought the car at 132,000 miles. But prior to that, it was my brother's car. He had purchased the car when it had only around 60,000 miles on it. So the car has been around/with me for some time now.

Soon after he bought the car, the radiator blew out on it. Maybe a month later, the alternator, then the Ignition Control Module (ICM). That's just a start of the problems. The car had gone through 3 "NEW" batteries while he (my brother) owned it.

Paint started to chip away at around 65,000 miles.

Heat blower motor - GM needs to learn how to make a actual good blower motor. This car had broken, yes broken, "3" blower motors, 2 of which happened while it was in my possesion.

Now, since I have owned the car. Here is the large list.

Water pump blow-out at 132,000.

Lower and upper radiator hoses collapsing, after being recently replaced prior the year, at 132,000.

By-pass nipple into the engine block for coolant flow exploded (cheap piece of GM plastic). For a new part, the cost is $62, DEALER ONLY ITEM. Keep in mind, this part is no longer than your pointer finger. very small part, very LARGE PRICE.

Cooling fan blew out 2 times at 133,000.

A/C hasn't worked since 60,000 (sorry, forgot to mention that above)

Quad exhaust in rear starting to sag, poor GM quality build.

Head gasket blows at 137,000.

Exhaust manifold gasket? Yeah, GM apparently didn't think it needed one when built, because there was never one on, as I found out while replacing head gaskets.

Intake poorly contructed, intake gaskets are weak, bought non-GM aftermarket for lesser price, better quality, more durability. NEVER BUY GM PARTS if you don't have to.

Now at 143,000 miles, the entire engine finally had enough and decided to blow out completely. Constantly overheated, even after a complete coolant system rebuild, head gasket rebuild, heads finished, engine almost completely rebuilt.

Bought new engine, with only 47,000 miles on it. Got everything in, hooked up correctly, and fired it off. Right away, oil pump cover gasket blew a leak, sucked in air, blew out a fresh 4.5QT oil change in less time than it took me to put it in. Oil pressure sensor built of faulty cheap plastic, broke while trying to plug in. Again, a small part, semi large price. Cost of sensor, $22.

Cost of gasket? Was a dealer only item. so I said screw GM dealer parts, and purchased a gasket sheet to make my own. I'd feel more comfrotable driving around WITHOUT a gasket rather than trusting GM Dealer parts anymore.

I will make another complaint after this engine starts giving me trouble. I really hope it doesn't, but I'm sure it will happen.

General Comments:

Besides all the problems/issues these Junky GM's have, the car has very good acceleration.

Handling on tight corners is great.

Top speed on straight drag is outstanding.

Simple V6 will out-power almost every ricer (import crap) and V8 engine (with exception of the real actual American Muscle V8 engines/cars).

Interior has never faded in the 145,000 miles the car has been parked outside. So whatever you people do to fade your interior, either it's your fault, or GM was slacking off that day they made yours.

All lights are as bright as new.

All idiot lights work as expected and only when needed (now).

Brakes are great. Stops as quickly as you would need it, or as slow as you wanted it.

Factory sound system was good.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 16th October, 2003

7th Dec 2004, 14:18

I am not sure if you fixed your own car or had a local fix it, but it sounds like several of these problems were related. Radiator blowing, how hot did it get before it was shut down? Hoses collapsing, were they good quality or were they the cheapest available? Some have a coiled spring that needes to be replaced to keep them from collapsing. Radiator fan went out, these overheating problems will cause any car to blow a head gasket. Some sooner than others. For the money these are fairly sturdy cars. And many GM cars did not have gaskets on the exhaust manifolds due to machined surfaces they did not need them.drg.