1996 Pontiac Grand Am SE review from North America
"Great first car. Don't buy one with high miles"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
It needed a full brake job at 40,000 miles. (pads and rotors)
I had problems with the oxygen sensor at around 50,000 miles.
The water pump had to be replaced at 75,000 miles.
The ignition switch had to be replaced at 80,000 miles. (this was free, covered under a recall)
It had a small leak in the head gasket at 99,500 miles.
There were a few other minor interior things that happened over time. The radio knob busted off. The mirror adjustment switch fell inside the door.
General comments?
It was my first car, and I got it at a relatively good price. ($7000 had 35,000 miles) It ran for 6 years without any major repairs.
Finally at 99,500 miles, I took it in for a routine oil change, and was told there was anti-freeze mixed in with my oil. Although this was a serious problem, I continued to drive the car for another 4 months, while I shopped for a new car. The leak was very small, and the engine just kept going. (If I wasn't afraid of getting stranded somewhere, I probably would have driven it into the ground, and maybe even had it for another year)
Grand Am's are not known for quality and craftsmanship, but as a college student, it was the perfect first car for me. It was affordable, sporty, and got decent gas mileage.
Recommended reviews
| A fun car not worth the pain of upkeep |
|
| Fun Car, but you better be mechanically inclined |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1995 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.1 Automatic |
| Performance marks | |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Distance when acquired | 35000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 96000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 12th January, 2006 |