1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America

The alternator went out at 120,000 miles.

The second battery on the car just went out four years after it was replaced.

At 105,000 miles, I had a blocked oil valve that very nearly ruined the engine.

I have to replace a coolant hose or two every six months.

There is a clanging noise coming from the undercarriage that no mechanic has been able to diagnose.

The engine floods in the morning, and occasionally simply refuses to start. Nobody has ever been able to diagnose this problem.

There is a stuck spark plug that is going to require a new had gasket to replace.

I got this car as a gift from my parents, so I haven't minded the upkeep on it as it's otherwise mostly free. Lately, though, the maintenence has been becoming costly, and it looks like I'm going to have to have the transmission replaced next year, to the tune of $2000.

It's a cranky old thing these days, and I don't dare take it out of the area for fear it's going to break down and leave me stranded in the middle of nowhere.

The gas gauge appears to be on a logarithmic scale--if I fill it at half a tank, I'll put in 9 gallons--but at a quarter of a tank, I'll put in 10.5 gallons. It's easy to run out of gas if I don't fill the car when the gauge says half full.

It handles relatively well. My only real complaint is that the front end is so long that it makes parking in tight spaces a real challenge. I live in a large city, so being able to park a car easily is important!