1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.1 V6 from North America

Summary:

Help support your local mechanic... buy a grand am

Faults:

The head gasket went two weeks after I bought the car...$800 dollars.

Two months later it broke a piston rod, so I had to put in a new motor...$1200.

One month after that it needed new tires...$450.

Then four months later it needed a new alternator...$150.

Just when I thought I had enough I had to replace just about everything that had to do with the brakes and front suspension...$950.

I finally decided that it was time to get rid of it and was able to sell it for $3000...which is $2500 less than I had paid for it one year earlier.

In total this car cost me $5950 and only gave me about 40000km's.

General Comments:

This was the worst car I have ever owned and suggest that everyone learn from my mistake.

Although the car cost me a lot it did handled nicely for those few months in between fixes.

It is the perfect car for those who are very good friends with mechanics and can get work done at cost.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 25th May, 2003

26th May 2003, 07:45

After reading many of the reviews about grand ams' I have noticed one important thing. All of you who have had a lot of problems with these cars, bought them with very high miles. Some over 130,000 miles. well did you ever stop and think that you bought an old car that was on it's way out?

You can't expect a car with 100,000 miles on it to not have many problems. buy a newer car! And as for the tires being replaced after 1 month, well that should have caught your eye before the purchase. ya think!

14th Dec 2004, 20:01

I bought my GA with 85,000. Changed oil every 3000-4000 miles. It leaked rain water, was burning oil, and leaking oil from middle of motor. The oil started happening at 135k. I had the car for 3 years, put 50k on it, my friend who had it before took care of it too. The quad 4 is one of the worst engines ever made for mechanic cost.

1995 Pontiac Grand Am S E 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

I got a really bad deal on this car

Faults:

My service engine soon light came on after 73000 miles. The transmission acted like it wanted to jump out of gear. So I checked the transmission fluid and it was low.I put more in it and the light went out.But not for long I than brought it to the car lot I bought it from they put it on the computer. Said the TPS sincere was out so they replaced it.The car ran good for one day and now its missing again, but the service engine light hasn't came on yet. if any one has any suggestion on what the problem might be I would love to know.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 25th May, 2003

1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE turbo 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Great looking money eater

Faults:

Alternator went 5 times in 4 years.

Driver and passenger windows wouldn't go up unless pulled up by hand. This often took close to an hour to do.

Faulty electrical system: headlights turned off and wouldn't go back on unless serviced.

Power steering blew at 90K miles. Had it "fixed" but it never worked again. Great for building upper body strength.

After driving in temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than ten minutes, the car needed an hour break to "cool off." Would not start after driving at least 100 times.

Several recall notices collected from Pontiac.

Bought for $8,000. Must have put at least $4000 into it.

General Comments:

Looked great.

When it would drive, it drove better than any car I've ever had. Great for speed. Great handling.

Great air conditioning.

Great factory stereo, even though I did blow all, but one speaker.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 20th May, 2003

1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.1 V6 from North America

Summary:

I bet they do not engineer the crank shaft

Faults:

Crank shaft failed.

It is broke.

General Comments:

I bought this car 15 months ago. Nothing was wrong at all until I attempt to start the car. It died on me right there. I have it towed and I removed the oil pan to see the inside of the engine. The crank shaft is broke. It had very slight knocking, I thought it might be low octane gas. I am a mechanical engineer. There is no excuse for a crank shaft fail unless there is a manufacturing error. Now it is a piece of junk. Stay away from V6 3.1 engines. It did not give me any trouble at all since I bought it. Now need a new engine. I won't keep it.

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

Review Date: 16th May, 2003