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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Grand Am - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
By Jeff24135 - June 30 - 8:33 amGreat car for anyone. Lotsof interior room especially in the back considering its a two door car.
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Why not a recall??!! - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
By jinx - June 23 - 2:06 pmI can not understand why a recall has not been issued for the passlock system! I googled the problem with my car and saw hundreds of people having the same problem as I have with having to wait ten minutes ,randomly , to start my car. I was docked 15 minutes of pay last week because I was 45 seconds late for work one morning.! I left the house at 6:30 am and twice in a row my car made me wait ten minutes to start it...even though I live just a few minutes from work with half an hour to spare to get there ( I thought ) I ended up being late. I called the nearest Pontiac dealer and was told there was no recall because it is not a safety issue.
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Buyer Beware - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
By bpduplex - June 16 - 10:00 amI bought this car with 30000 miles. In only 4000 miles the ignition harness blew out and all my gauges failed. It took forever to drop off my car a Pontiac since their lines were so long. My biggest complaint is resale, I paid 13000 for it in 2001 and it was worth 8000 in 2002 :(
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Unreliable garbage - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
By cetdas760 - June 12 - 2:23 pmI replaced the electric motors in all four windows, the transmission, alternator several times, chews up front brakes and disks every 20,000 miles, fuel injectors clog, no seat supports, noisy, chews up tires, no turning radius, arrghhhhh!!!!
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Great Car, Great Fun! - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
By Steph Jordan - June 12 - 10:30 amI love my Grand Am, I have gone across the country in it, and it has been a pleasure to drive, very good sound system, handles very well!
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Pontiac Quality - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
By 2004GrajdAm - June 11 - 7:46 pmI have over 22k miles on my Grand Am and I did not expect it to not have any problems. This car is fun to drive and it feels solidly built. My only complaints with the design is that the rear seating is a little tight for adults. My only mechanical problems are a spring that broke in back of the drivers seat and that the fog lights stopped working. Both of these are minor and I will have them fixed at my next oil change. The engine has been smooth with not even a hint of any looming problems. Do not purchase anything else until you try the Grand Am.
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Awesome......when it works - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
By toyotaboyesl - June 9 - 2:00 amWe rented it for a week and loved it. I loved the handling and speed. It looked REALLY cool, it was really so much different than the Camrys, Accords, Corollas, and Siennas and I am used to! That must be why I liked it so much, a VERY cool car, it will definatly wake you up from the boringness of most other cars in its class! Another thing that I loved was the sound system. Oh, I could go on and on about that! It played CDs so perfectly clear, it was the first factory stereo system that I have ever seen that could actually play heavy bass.
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Say no to Pontiac! - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
By Briguy - June 4 - 5:20 amWhen I saw this car on the dealers lot I fell in love with the style in and out. Also the gas mileage was impressive but little did I know this would be the worst running vehicle I had ever owned. Bought with 10K by 28K ABS system failure, serpentine belt, valve lifters, and engine overheating made me have to say bye-bye. Of course GM did its damnedest to make sure they fixed nothing, solidifying my decision.
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Problem after Problem - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
By tpdixon - June 3 - 2:00 amMy alternator had to be replaced twice in less than two years. The brakes barely last past a year. And the worst problem I have had that has yet to be fixed by the dealership, when I try to turn the car off, the key gets stuck so my lights and battery stay on (but the motor is off), and it stays that way for about 15 minutes before deciding to let go. I took it to a pontiac dealership and they charged me $213 for the problem NOT to be fixed and refused to give me my money back and I have taken it back several times and they still cannot fix the problem.
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THIS CAR IS BETTER THAN A MERCADES!!!!!! - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
By COOL_JAY - June 3 - 2:00 amALL EXPENSIVE CAR DRIVErs!!!!!! BUY A GRAND AM GT SEDAN!!!!!!!!!
