1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America

I bought this car in early July, and I couldn't have been happier. All I have ever wanted, for as long, as I can remember, was a Pontiac Grand Am.

I had only had the car for 2 weeks when I went outside, started the car, and put it in drive - but nothing happened. None of the gears worked. I initially assumed that the car was out of transmission fluid (thankfully, it wasn't - the transmission is under the engine and everything, so only a mechanic can handle that function). I had the car towed to a mechanic and learned that there is a pin which controls the gears so that when you move the shifter, the trans-axle works in unison, and that pin had broken. This cost me about $300 to have repaired.

Last week, I was driving and the battery light came on. I took the car to Pep Boys, got a new battery - and the car wouldn't start. I called Roadside Assistance to find that once a new battery is installed, the car must sit with absolutely no activity (no door-opening, no NOTHING) for 20 minutes. Great. After all this, I found out that the alternator was done (which usually happens around 75K, so watch out). This was an additional $300.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my car. She is absolutely beautiful and rides like a dream. There are just a few small complaints that I have to address: the positioning of the transmission - whose bright idea was that? Everyone who looked under my hood thought I didn't have one.

The resetting of the battery - isn't there a better way than sitting still for 20 minutes? I was in a parking lot at closing time, sitting in the dark, waiting for my car to reset herself. Can you say DANGEROUS?