1995 Pontiac Grand AM

[fjorner]

Can anyone tell me, either by personal experience or website reference, about the quality history of this car? It's six years old now but i've found a potentially awesome deal on one, need to know what experiences other people have had. I am looking at a two-door SE coupe model. pointing me to an applicable website would also be nice. thanks.

 

[vi edit]

The 6 cyls were okay, the 4 bangers were absolute crap IMHO. My sister has a '96 SE V6 and it has been nothing but a nightmare. But in the cars defense, I think it had been in a pretty bad accident that was undisclosed at the time of purchase.

Review

 

[munruss]

I have the 2002 Grand AM GT and it's excellent. The car is fast and good looking. Of course, like any America vehicle, there are a few bugs at the beginning, but once you get past that, it's smooth sailing from there.

 

[Vette73]

Grand Ams are good cars. Mind you they are not a $50K car.

But they are easy to work on for the most part and as long as you take care of it it should do OK.

 

[Aceman]

I've got a 95 Pontiac Grand Am and love it. It's the 4 cylinder 3 speed. I just went over 100K on the car and the only issues I've had with it are as follows:

-At 60k I had to have a "massive tune up" the coils were bad and they needed to be replaced along with plugs and a new battery. (That set me back about $600 for everything they did.

-At 75K my oil sending unit crapped out. $50 repair bill

-At 95K my alternator went out. $125 repair bill

Right now she sounds like a typical GM at 100K. A bit rough and loud, but there's been no loss in power. The only other annoying issue I've had is the fuse for the power locks and cigarette light constantly blow out!

 

[Deeko]

I have a '94 grand am. The 4 cylinder version. If yours is a I4, lucky for you, for the '95 model they replaced the horridly slow 115hp engine with something more along the lines of 140 or 150. Mine is insanely slow, but the newer ones, or any V6, ain't bad. Oh, and the freakin' 3-speed automatic transmission is the most annoying thing in the world. Pray for the 4 speed if its automatic, or for manual. Other than the speed issues I have, its a nice car, its very smooth, comfortable, and its the only car I've ever driven that actually gets the advertised gas mileage.

 

[Aceman]

I've never had any problems with my 3 speed automatic. It's a bit "louder" than a 4 speed and it gets 2-3 miles less per gallon than the 4 speed but the tranny has never given me any problems.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Aceman
I've never had any problems with my 3 speed automatic. It's a bit "louder" than a 4 speed and it gets 2-3 miles less per gallon than the 4 speed but the tranny has never given me any problems.

this is because they perfected the tranny. After so many years of service, not too many things should go wrong with it.

 

[dave127]

hey...i have a 96 gt v6 model....its not too bad of a car...only have put about 1000 miles on it since i bought it about a month ago...i can say, it gets me where i want to go, but it donsnt do it very fast...the 3.1L just doesnt cut it for me anyways...i need to find a way to get more power under there...my dad owns a shop and he told me the 3.4L thats in the current grand am's should pretty much bolt right in, but im not even sure that would be enough...if you want a fast car, or one that you can mod easily as far as performance, dont get it, but if you just want a car thats good to drive from point a to point b with more comfort than any other in the price range, then this is for you...good luck

Dave

 

[Deeko]

I've never had any problems with my 3 speed automatic. It's a bit "louder" than a 4 speed and it gets 2-3 miles less per gallon than the 4 speed but the tranny has never given me any problems.

Its not so much that I have 'problems' with it, it just feels like it makes it alot slower...and my car is slow enough lol....0-60 time of 17 seconds :Q

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: dave127
hey...i have a 96 gt v6 model....its not too bad of a car...only have put about 1000 miles on it since i bought it about a month ago...i can say, it gets me where i want to go, but it donsnt do it very fast...the 3.1L just doesnt cut it for me anyways...i need to find a way to get more power under there...my dad owns a shop and he told me the 3.4L thats in the current grand am's should pretty much bolt right in, but im not even sure that would be enough...if you want a fast car, or one that you can mod easily as far as performance, dont get it, but if you just want a car thats good to drive from point a to point b with more comfort than any other in the price range, then this is for you...good luck

Dave

If you want to make the 3.1 faster the easiest thing to do is put on a K/N filter, a freeer flowwing Muffler, Heavy Duty Plug wires, and put on some after market Coil Packs for the ignation. This will give you more Mid and a little more top end and should move you faster.
Also get some Carb. cleaner and spray out the throttle Body and the Idle Air Speed valve. This clog up easy and doing just this will also help.
And don't forget the Fuel Filter.

Now if you have some money and time. Take the heads off. Take about .010 to .015 off the head and Port and Polish them. This REALLY helps.

But I have a customer of mine that has over 200K on his 1990 Regal with a 3.1, and he delievers pizzas. So the 3.1 motor will last as long as you take care of it.

 

[LAUST]

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[Jeffwo]

You would be smart to take this car to someone who is knowledgable about mechanics
(or have someone come and look at it). I would say, if it drives alright (runs smooth, peppy,
no vibrations, etc) and there is no noticable fluid leakage or engine noise (these cars are
famous for pecking or knocking) it will probably be OK.

Jeff