1992 Pontiac Grand Am GT review from North America
"I loved my first car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Check gauges/check oil lights flicker after braking quickly. Check gauges light flickers randomly. (All due to electrical problems.)
Lumbar support knob totally useless (user error--my sister broke it).
Starts fine on dry days. On humid days car stalls upon first start up. Starts fine in the winter but very long warm up time.
Blew a gasket at ~100,000 miles.
Tilt steering wheel broken. Swung up and down (I don't know how my sister drove it, but that's besides the point) until it was fixed, so that it only had three settings. I broke the middle one, the one that I drove at, so it's only Very High and Very Low.
Coupe style, so the passenger side slides forward to accommodate passengers in the back. Unfortunately, it sometimes slides forward if I brake too fast. One time it happened with someone IN the passengers' seat (no damage caused, but it was harrowing).
General comments?
Even though the Grand Am is often maligned, I enjoyed the ownership experience. The car was quick and fun to drive. We never experienced any problems with the engine. Just the wiring, transmission, exhaust... but I digress. As a teenager with no car experience, this car taught me a lot. I became familiar with all aspects of car repair and maintenance. As others have noted, the factory speakers were excellent. Really, what more does a teenager need than a quick car and a loud stereo?
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| Grand Ams not bad, but not good either |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1992 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.3 Fuel Injected Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 87000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 120000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 16th June, 2003 |