1989 Pontiac Tempest from North America - Comments

The radiator sprung a leak at 170,000 km.

The turn signals went out a long time ago, but I didn't bother getting them fixed.

That's it, except for regular maintenance.

This is and has been a great car. In seven years the only thing I had to spend money on was maintenance and a new radiator ($200). The car has been extremely reliable, enjoyable, and versatile.

I've used it as a student car, a kennel, a grocery getter, and a daily commuter.

Mine has quite a pick up, even with 190K km on it! I have caught many unsuspecting people by surprise. With its small displacement, you get the gas mileage of a four banger with the low-end torque of a V6. The best of both worlds!

The stock stereo is amazing. Don't expect to use it to win any competitions, but the bass is unbelievable for something without a subwofer. The radio reception is quite poor. I have a hard time picking up a station 40 km away, on a hill. But it is loud enough to suppress the squeaks and rattles.

But who needs a stereo when you can listen to the sweet sound the engine makes when you floor the accelerator at 100 km/hr... 60 mph for our American audience. '89 was the last year for the 2.8 and all the kinks seem to have been worked out by then.

To be fair, I have heard some bad things about the 2.8. Such as the head gaskets blowing, timing belts shredding, and many other things asymptomatic of a neglected power-train. If you change the oil, monitor your other fluids, and clean the fuel system once and again... I don't see why you wouldn't have as care free and enjoyable an owners experience like mine.

I love my "89" pontiac tempest. Has anyone had the problem with the transmission --I can drive forward, but no reverse, any ideas Thanks Pat J. (this has just happened)

My dad had a 1989 Tempest 2.8 V6 with 560000 km. He got it new from GM.

He had to park it because of the rust, the motor was still going strong. It would knock when cold, but when it warmed up it was OK.

We never change the fluid transmission, never had any problem.

We changed minor things like alternator, disc brakes, heater core, plugs, belt tensioner, nothing major.

I now have a 1991 3.1 V6 Corsica with 320000km on it, and like the Tempest it will go a long way before it dies.

The best cheap car there is out there.

Oh man. The '89 Pontiac Tempest was my first car (got in in 2003). When I bought it, it had 190,000km on it. It lasted me until 2006 (it died after I gave it to my brother, prob died more due to my brother's maintenance of it).

Any-who, the only problem I had with the car was leaks! This thing leaked everything. Gas from the gas line & tank, power steering fluid, oil. You name it, it leaked it. Other than that, the car was great!

$500; it's the price I paid last year when I bought my Pontiac Tempest 1989, and the car has just got 75 000 km and I've NEVER regreted my purchase.

In a year I touched the engine only one time, and it was the spark plugs and the thermostat, and it run pretty well.

I even get surprised when I quit looking to the gauge for too long; when I look I'm 40 km over the limit. The engine runs so well and is powerful enough, I can't feel the acceleration.

The 2.8 engine is a perfect fit in this car. This winter we got 2 weeks under -40 c, and as long I keep it plugged, it starts every time I turn the key...

I know some other people that can't say the same thing of their new cars..

In my life I've tried a lot of cars, American or Japanese; name it, I probably drive it, but only 3 cars have got my heart and gave me real emotions and it's 3 Pontiacs... My first was a 1989 Bonneville SSE (I was really nuts to let this one go...), my second was a 1985 Parisienne (still cry), and my Tempest (I've still got this one and take good care of it).

Finally, why don't they do cars like those today???