1999 Pontiac Grand Am GT review from North America
"Very nice car, great performer"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Slow leak in rear right tire.
Window regulator needed replacement.
Had to replace BCM.
Small leak in trunk during heavy rain.
General comments?
I bought this car earlier this year for a commuter vehicle for school. Prior to this I mainly drove a 98 GMC K1500 which was a gas hog. I used to pay $45+ a week to commute, now I only pay $20.
The car-fax I got when buying the car showed that the previous owner maintained it pretty well. They had GM do oil changes every 3k miles, a complete tune-up, brake and tire replacement when needed, etc etc.
The only part that I had to replace due due to GM is the window regulator in the passenger side window.
The BCM needed replacement due to user error; when changing a bulb it wasn't seated right and caused a short which fried the module. Dumb mistake on my part.
I suspect that the water pump may need replacement as I lose coolant slowly. But in my opinion its just one of those routine parts as I've had to change in several cars as they reach 100k miles.
Aside from these minor problems, I'd have to say that this car is great. I didn't think it would perform as well as it does.
The car is very quick. Highway passes are almost too easy, and when I first had the car I found that the tires spun pretty easily off the line.
The thing handles like a dream. The steering is very responsive, and the suspension does a good job keeping the body roll at a minimum on hard turns. It could be a little tighter though, but that's just my preference. If it had a strut tower bar and a little firmer spring setup it would be perfect.
One grip I've had is why GM didn't offer these cars in a manual transmission. The auto shifts very nicely, it has a nice bite to it, but I think this car would be that much more enjoyable with a 5 speed.
The fit of the car is perfect. I am 6'-4" and I fit fine in it. All the controls are laid out nicely. You don't have to reach far to do anything.
I'd recommend this car for anyone that wants an inexpensive, performing car that's also low on insurance.
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| Excellent first car! |
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| 1999 - Grand Am GT 3.4L V6 H.O. We love it - a better car for our low-end market |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.4L V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 82000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 95000 miles |
| Previous car | GMC Sierra |
| Date of Entry | 28th December, 2005 |