1985 Pontiac Grand Prix review from North America
"One of the greatest cars ever built"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rebuilt carb at 90,000.
Replaced exhaust system.
Rear brake cylinder blew at 90,000. Replaced both of them.
Replaced the radiator twice.
Master cylinder went and was replaced at 150,000.
Patched small hole in back seat floor (rusted out).
Paint has worn.
Bottoms of the doors are rotting out.
Gas gauge has stopped working and several of the dash lights have gone out. This is not due to a faulty sensor or bad bulbs, but is because of the stamped circuit that delivers power to these items behind the dash.
The car currently has a vacuum leak in the intake manifold.
General comments?
For such a "large", body-on-frame kind of a car, it handles surprisingly well. The 305 V8, often maligned for being underpowered and anemic, accelerates beautifully and has no trouble maintaining speed.
The car has never left me stranded. Even with a leaky radiator and a vacuum leak, the car moves like a champ. After sitting for six months, she still starts right up.
The car is simple to work on. The parts are easy to find; any Monte Carlo, Cutlass or Regal parts will work on it. S-10 truck suspension and brakes are also usable. The car has the standard Chevy 305, so parts for that are simple and cheap. Also, the mounts will allow a wide variety of engines, from a Buick 231 to a 350, 305, 403, 454... almost any GM engine will bolt into this without an issue.
I've had this car for almost eight years, and would buy another G-Body in a heartbeat. It has been nothing but reliable.
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| I miss it |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1985 |
| Year of manufacture | 1985 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.0L V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 89000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 165000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Celebrity |
| Date of Entry | 19th November, 2008 |