1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America

I bought this car used from a friend of mine about a year ago as is for $1,500. The engine had been replaced with about 40K when I took the car over. Basically, everything was fine other than this constant time bomb type ticking coming from the dash area.

About 3 months after buying it, I noticed that when I apply the brakes, there's a squealing sound as well as when I make left turns. I had the front brakes replaced, however, the noise has continued.

Both driver side windows are being held up in place by blocks of wood.

The A/C went out and I had to replace the A/C hose assembly (leak) and have the compressor rebuilt. The A/C fan does not work on 1 and 2, when I have it set on 4 and lower it to 3, the fan will stop blowing after about 5 minutes in that position and will not work again until I shut the car off and wait several hours.

The dash under the windshield on driver side starting to lift more and more.

Both driver and passenger front door panel material separating from the doors.

When I first start the car, whether it's been running just prior or not, it has a knocking sound, kinda like it's pinging when you have bad fuel. It goes away once I start driving though. I use Chevron 87 or 89 fuel.

Now, I need to replace windshield due to small chip that has cracked its way from the bottom all the way to the top within about a weeks time.

Other than that, I have no other issues, YET?

Oh yeah, don't know if this is normal or not, but it seems to operate at such a high temperature, usually 200-210 without A/C on, and up to 220 while running A/C on long distance, 225-230 when in town. Is this normal? I have driven this car once from SoCal to St George, Ut (about 900 miles round trip) with no issues, other than the A/C was out and it was in high 90's up and back.

As far as the comfort level, I'm 5'10"/260 lbs and it is a b***h to get in and out of car. So low to the ground. The seats in front are next to zero in comfort (no more cushion left). I have plenty of room as far as belly to steering wheel ratio, but long drives are a killer on the back and rear end.