Pontiac Grand AM GT? Yay or Nay?

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Aug 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: bolido2000
I would get a 00/99 Infiniti G20 for the same price, but that's just me.

Why do you want to drive a Nissan Primera econobox. Yes, that is what they are called outside of the US.

 
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
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Originally posted by: cashman
I'm looking for a 1999 to a 2002 Pontiac Grand AM GT. I love the body style and it is pretty reasonable. Any one have one of these? The one I want has a V6 engine, here's the link to the one I want. Any comments? Thanks your for help AT car ppl :)

What engine does it have? If it's the 3.8l V6 then it's a good choice in terms of engine reliability.

 

Danman

Lifer
Nov 9, 1999
13,134
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Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: cashman
I'm looking for a 1999 to a 2002 Pontiac Grand AM GT. I love the body style and it is pretty reasonable. Any one have one of these? The one I want has a V6 engine, here's the link to the one I want. Any comments? Thanks your for help AT car ppl :)

What engine does it have? If it's the 3.8l V6 then it's a good choice in terms of engine reliability.

Yes, I think it has that engine. :) Thanks for all of the tips guys! Oh, and for the ppl saying I should get a Infiniti or a Lexus.....insurance would be loco for somebody like me, I'm only 18. :(
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,389
8,547
126
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: cashman
I'm looking for a 1999 to a 2002 Pontiac Grand AM GT. I love the body style and it is pretty reasonable. Any one have one of these? The one I want has a V6 engine, here's the link to the one I want. Any comments? Thanks your for help AT car ppl :)

What engine does it have? If it's the 3.8l V6 then it's a good choice in terms of engine reliability.

should be the 3.4
 

thebestMAX

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
7,501
133
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3.4 v-6 is correct. Sorry, since GP is 3.8 I thought there was only o.2 difference not 0.4.

Oh, well, ask me about my car.

"Expensive to maintain" as compared to what??????
 

Cfour

Golden Member
Jul 6, 2000
1,486
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www.sternie.com
Originally posted by: cashman
I'm looking for a 1999 to a 2002 Pontiac Grand AM GT. I love the body style and it is pretty reasonable. Any one have one of these? The one I want has a V6 engine, here's the link to the one I want. Any comments? Thanks your for help AT car ppl :)

I have a 2000 GT, and I love the car. No problems at all yet, and the only thing you should get checked out before buying the car (if its used) is to see if the intake manifold gaskets are leaking... thats probably the most common problem. Also, be sure to check out grandamgt.com for more info/research.

Tony
 

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
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Go for it.

GM's V6s are rock solid, shouldn't have any tranny and engine issues. That is unless you over-mod your engine. Those GAGTs can get pretty fast, my brother raced one with his '99 Civic SI (a real one, not a re-baged DX) and lost.

Don't listen to the folks that say it will fall apart just because it is a GM, obviously they don't know what they are talking about. Just don't kid yourself, though. The interior does lack and there is hardly any refinement. However, if you need a good car to get you from point A to point B I think this GAGT will be fine.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
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I hope you have seen the people that own, have owned, or know someone with one say yay. But all the ricers that have never owned one say nay.
rolleye.gif


They are very good cars. My grandmother likes sports cars but needed something that was taller, so she just got a new GrandAm GT. She loves it. High enough off the ground that she can get into easy but low enough she says it handles good.

Also 12K for a 2000 is to high. The resale drops fast as no one every pays MSRP. GM right now is giving 4K off and/or 0.0% on new ones.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
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id go with nay unless you really like the rubbed-for-her-pleasure GM styling. For the same amount you can get a subaru 2.5rs or some similar sedan.
 

SuperTool

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
14,000
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Get a used Maxima instead. 1999 should run in around 12K, maybe less if you buy at auction.
Grand Am is not bad, but it's pretty much rental grade car, and when I see one on the street, I assume it's a rental.
 

DarkManX

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
3,796
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wow i almost posted the same topic.. yesterday i went to a pontiac dealer and saw a 99 GAGT with 39,000 miles. it was pretty much loaded, leather, sunroof, CD/cass. they were asking 13,995 for it, but got it down to 9,995 but still thinking about it. I really liked the ride, compared to some of the other cars i've driven like the mazda 626, and toyota avalon. the grandam is probly faster then those and seems even faster then my moms 2000 Grand prix GT.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,278
1,784
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how about maybe trying to find a good deal on a Grand Prix GTP. I used to own a 94 grand am V6, and it was an OK car .. at 100K miles it started to have problems. My 300M is WAYYYYY Better then the Grand Am I had was. (I bet you could find a good deal on a 99 300M if you looked, nice car i may add, though insurance is pretty bad)
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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nononononONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO
Stay far, far, far away. I drive a '94 grand am, I replaced my engine, transmission, cooling hoses, motor mount, flashers, tilt wheel mechanism, and alternator. My friend has a '95GT, he's replaced all that plus the something in his exaust system. A co-worker has a '93, and he's replaced his transmission. Granted these are a generation or two back, but its still the same basic car, DON'T DO IT!!!! Seriously.

Oh, and what's this talk of it being a girls car? I know a lot of people with Grand Am's, and literally NONE of them are girls.
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
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I have a 1999 Grand Am SE2. Only difference in mine and the GT is the side body (I like the SE body better with the very defined lines/bumps/things) and the dual exhaust. I have every option except for leather and power seats.

I Love my car. Plenty of power, love the look, great sound, etc.

 

BlackOmen

Senior member
Aug 23, 2001
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The 3.4 v6 isn't too bad of a motor, although given it's displacement I expect more from than what you get. As long as you don't beat on the car, the trans will hold up. If you beat on it, that trans will not live long.

If you look at other Grand Am's, avoid models with the Quad4 (2.3L 4 cyl). The Quad4 has a long history of cracked heads and blown head gaskets. I replaced a cracked head on my friends 94 Grand Am and let me tell you, it is a very difficult job (==$$$$$$$$ at the garage).

If you're set on the Grand Am, get a v6. However, you can do a lot better for 12 grand.

My .02

Charlie
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
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For a regular car, it's fine. but if you are going to lay into it, get another one. My brother bought one (2002 model) and it is having tons of problems. Trans is slipping, burns oil like a mofo (2 quarts between changes) exaust rusted through. It is out of warranty because of the millege (50 something K)

The torque stear is real bad. You stomp on it and it makes a 70 degree turn. No joke. It rips the wheel right out of your hands.