Overview & Reviews

For much of its modern history, Pontiac has been home to legendary cars like the Firebird and GTO. With such dedication to raciness, it might seem a bit odd that when it came time for Americans to buy a Pontiac for much of the 1980s and '90s, they overwhelmingly chose the Grand Am, a car that wouldn't know a smoky burnout from a backyard barbecue.

Although the Pontiac Grand Am blipped into existence during the 1970s, it's the unassuming and over-styled family sedan from more recent decades that most people are probably familiar with. Within Pontiac's lineup, the Grand Am slotted one or two rungs up from entry-level. It featured an attractive price, just enough space for four average-sized adults, and four-cylinder or V6 power.

This was a good enough combination for many people, and Pontiac further expanded the Grand Am's visibility by selling heavily to rental car fleets. However, we were never particularly impressed by the car. Our first hands-on experiences were with the mid-'90s models, and we found them to be uncomfortable, unrefined and lacking in handling ability. More recent models didn't fare much better. Looking to ditch the car's "Bland Am" image, Pontiac eventually replaced the Grand Am with the superior G6 in 2005.

Widely available and convincingly inexpensive, used Grand Ams are adequate enough in most respects to be worth considering for a small family car. Just know that there have always been plenty of offerings in this segment, and many of them will likely prove to be more rewarding to own.

Most Recent Pontiac Grand Am

The last-generation Pontiac Grand Am was produced from 1999 through 2005. It was larger than the previous model, and a more rigid platform combined with a new multilink rear suspension provided better ride and handling characteristics. Sedan and coupe body styles were offered, and both initially came with either a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 150 horsepower or a 3.4-liter V6 with 170 hp. All early models had a four-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

The Grand Am's basic trim lines were SE and GT, though both contained submodels (SE, SE1, SE2, GT, GT1) with slight variations. The basic SE came with 15-inch wheels, antilock brakes, air-conditioning, radio and power door locks. The SE1 added power windows, a power seat, cruise control and folding rear seat, while the SE2 added the V6 engine, 16-inch wheels, speed-sensitive power steering, an upgraded stereo, steering-wheel audio controls and keyless entry.

The V6-powered GT added "Ram Air" hood scoops for 5 extra hp (175 total), more aggressive gearing, four-wheel disc brakes, a stiffer suspension and exterior styling add-ons like a spoiler and ribbed body cladding. The GT lost some of the items added by the SE2, but Pontiac reinserted them for the top-of-the-line GT1 and then topped it off with a sunroof.

The Pontiac Grand Am came closest to its sport sedan aspirations when equipped with the V6. The tires, brakes and steering upgrades that came with this engine helped as well, and the stiffer-sprung GT cured the SE's excessive body roll. On the downside, both engines were rough and unrefined, and the steering and brakes were rather uncommunicative. Finally, overall mileage with the V6 was below average.

Admittedly, the greater point of contention was the Grand Am's overwrought and unappealing styling. Much of the garishness could be avoided by selecting one of the SE models, but all Grand Ams shared the same interior that was marred by deeply recessed instruments and bulging components. In addition, the seats were mounted a bit too low and thus not all that comfortable, and overall interior materials quality was lacking. A marginal frontal-offset crash test score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety was a further point of concern.

Overall, competitors like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima were better cars at the time thanks to their superiority in terms of refinement, interior design and V6 power. But if you are set on a Grand Am, there are a few changes to look out for. A year after the car's debut, Pontiac made a five-speed manual transmission available with the four-cylinder engine. In 2002, the old 2.4-liter engine was replaced with new 2.2-liter "Ecotec" that traded 10 horsepower (down to 140) for better fuel economy. And in 2005, the only Grand Ams on sale were GT coupes; sedans had already been supplanted by the Pontiac G6.

Past Pontiac Grand Am Models

The previous-generation Grand Am was sold from 1992-'98. Both the sedan and coupe came in SE and GT trim lines. The SE started with little besides power steering, a radio and antilock brakes. The GT added a firmer suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels and some aero cosmetics. Air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, a tilt steering wheel, upgraded stereos and cruise control were optional on both trim levels. Quicker variable-assist power steering was available on GT models.

The greater differences were in powertrain availability. Grand Am SEs started with a 115-hp, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic. GTs were equipped with a high-powered version of that engine that cranked out 170 hp. A medium-powered, 155-horse version of the four-cylinder and a 160-hp 3.3-liter V6 (with considerably more torque) were optional across the board.

The Pontiac Grand Am got many substantial changes over the coming years. For 1994, Pontiac added a driver's airbag and a new 155-hp, 3.1-liter V6 paired to a four-speed automatic. The following year, all three four-cylinders were dropped in favor of one heavily revised one with 150 hp and far smoother operation (thanks to balance shafts). A styling revision came for 1996, as did dual airbags and further powertrain updates.

There were glaring flaws endemic to this generation. The standard steering setup was heavy, numb and slow, and SE models had subpar grip around corners. Ride quality managed to be both soggy and harsh, and the Grand Am's body structure flexed over common bumps.

The interior was similarly miserable. The overly low seats created the impression of sitting on the floor. Further, their thin padding offered minimal back and thigh support, while the backseat was a squeeze even for two.

We see little reason to look at this older-generation Pontiac Grand Am as a used car purchase, especially when other mid-1990s cars like the Ford Contour and Nissan Altima proved more entertaining, comfortable and well-designed in nearly every way. For those determined to buy a Grand Am from this era, models built from 1996 onward are the best picks. Only by then did all engines run acceptably smoothly and come with more efficient four-speed automatic transmissions. Try to find a sample with the more responsive variable-effort power steering -- it was a package option typically bundled with power accessories and cruise control.

User Reviews:

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  Well worth the ride! - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By docholliday1 - October 6 - 9:57 am

  Have had my GT for 9 years (was a year old when I got her) and havent regretted it. Fun to drive, plenty of power and great road handling. Major expense in all that time was the head gasket. Brakes need to be replaced more often than I was used to, and had to figure out the work-arounds for the fake codes that appeared a couple of times... but overall a fun and reliable car.

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  This Grand Am is a LEMON!!!!! - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Smom - September 30 - 10:00 am

  This 2002 Grand Am GT was an awesome car until it got approx. 25,000miles on it. I have had nothing but problems with the brakes, and I have had it in the dealership 8 times until they have just recently fixed the problem, unfortunately it took them 8 times to get it right. I would never recommend the Grand Am to anyone, and I have owned another Grand Am before.

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  Great First Car - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By MisterMarq - September 24 - 8:23 am

  This was my first car. In terms of reliability it was flawless. I drove the car into high mileage territory and always used high mileage oil when getting it changed. The first major hiccup started just recently when the on-board computer started triggering the security switch in the middle of driving - causing the engine to stop. But mechanically its always just hummed along.

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  Grand Am GT V6 - Going Stron - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By GMA - September 14 - 1:33 am

  Bought from a friend in 2005 who bought it new; it had ~50000 miles when i purchased it. Now has ~130000 on it. Replaced window motor, head gasket, alternator, brakes, rotors, rim leaking, shocks, etc... Typical for this car and similar to other posts. But, car drives great and if you keep RPMs under 2000, you can expect ok gas mileage. Everything still works, so no valid reason to trade it in, although it isnt work too much now. Will keep driving until the wheels fall off. If you are considering buying, try to get it cheap and make sure you go through these reviews to determine if any of these typical problems have been fixed. Mine is red, so looks good still when it is buffed

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  1997 Pontiac Grand Am SE by Alisha - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Alisha McAleese - September 9 - 1:46 pm

  I have driven many vehicles and i have determined my favorite was the 1997 Grand am that i bought this year. It handles great and it is really fun to drive even though it is an automatic. I have had many compliments on the car.

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  GOOD VALUE FOR THE PRICE - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By tonytone - August 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive had a very good experience with my Grad Am. Bought it with 30,000 miles on board. Other neg. reviewers must have driven the car too hard. Ive enjoyed the Power,the Styling,the Reliability. Only had typical American car problems.(replace d altenator,water pump,)Interior is cheaply made,but,holds up very well to usage.

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  96 Grand Am - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Tanner - August 26 - 2:00 am

  When i first bought this car is was not sure how it would work out but in the end i feel in love with this car. It has been a good sturdy car that has lasted me longer than i expected.

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  2004 Grand Am SE1 - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By GrandAmmer - August 22 - 7:43 am

  Bought this car with 21K miles in good condition. Had to replace front brakes at 40k miles and front wheel bearings at 51K miles. I have now found out that these are common issues with Grand Ams. Car has been reliable running and decent on mileage. But resale value drops quickly. There are some shortcuts in this car, like no dipstick for transmission fluid level. Fog lights are for appearance only and are totally ineffective in actual fog. Not a bad car for the low price, but expect to pay for additional maintenance if you keep car for a few years.

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  the best car i have owned - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By hotsnowfallsup88 - August 17 - 2:16 am

  I love my gramd am. Sure a few things have gone wrong but nothing serious whatsoever. The check engine light goes on whenever I drive over a large bump in the road but my mechanic just said thats because something is getting stress put on it and sending a signal to the engine saying it needs to be fixed when it actually doesnt. Pontiacs have a lot of computer codes inside of the car and thats why a lot of these reviews say "my check engine light is always on". Other than that I love this car. It has a Nice pick-up and has awesome fuel economy.

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  Great buy - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Ciesielski - August 10 - 5:40 am

  I bought my grand am about a year ago for 4,000 it runs good and drives like a new car. It only has 66k and am happy that it will last