Faults:

A month after I bought this car, the engine literally blew up. I'm not exactly sure what went wrong with it, but it had something to do with the rod blowing out of the overhead cam. (You can tell I don't know much about cars). I had the engine replaced with a similar one from another kind of car. I had very few problems after that. The repair cost me about $800.00.

I had been having problems with some paint flaws as well. Some rust started to show up on the bottom half of the doors. However, I owe that up to nasty Pennsylvania weather. Also, tiny minute scratches were all over the hood when I bought it, and the paint got really ugly after I tried to wax it three years later. I had to get the hood repainted.

Other than that, there have been no problems with the car.

General Comments:

I loved my little Grand Am! However, since I am traveling a lot due to college, my parents insisted that I take their old Cavalier instead. I wasn't too happy about that since my Grand Am was my first love. I want to buy a Sunfire after I graduate. I like them better aesthetically than the new Grand Ams. I think that I would always stick with a Pontiac.

This car is a lovely, reliable little thing. I ran it very hard over five years, and it never gave out on me, other than the engine incident.

It handles so nicely, and I've avoided many accidents because of this. I got the speed on it up to 100 mph once just to see how fast it would go. I consider that to be pretty good for an older car. However, over the years it has lost its torque. It needs a little coaxing to get going.

If I were rich, I would completely restore this baby. I think that the original owner may have special ordered it, because I have never seen one exactly like it on the road. It is special, and I hope the next owner will love it like I did.

I am going to miss my baby.

Faults:

The Wheel Wells rusted out completly. The Manifold went. The Altanator went.

General Comments:

A very reliable and fun car. It rusted badly though.

Faults:

Motor Mounts are slowly starting to go, car "jumps" under periods of quick acceleration or high revving starts from a standstill (have to keep below 1500 RPM until 10 MPH) due to the bad motor mounts. Original GM parts cost $280 before labor.

Exterior rusting, major paint chipping however structurally sound.

Service Engine Light is on almost constantly while in a forward gear, even though a diagnostic test shows nothing wrong with the system.

Turn Signal is starting to fall apart, re-attached with some clips, fully functional cruise control.

General Comments:

These models are nimble and have good high end acceleration (above 70 MPH.)

Great room front and back, all options including a very early-generation on-board computer.

Decent totally stock sound system.

Has many options, all on-board systems, lighting systems as well as foglights and the optional tachometer.

Put the car in overdrive and it can compete with the most vicious Chrysler V8s from the early 1980s (know from personal experience.)

The Quad 4 engine is relatively hard to work on and even the air filter requires a technical reference or a trip to a mechanic once, just to show you how its done.

Faults:

I had to replace the two ignition coils and a few sensors on it.

There are some rust spots starting to form and the paint is chipped on the front a little.

General Comments:

Overall, this car handles great and has the look too.

It is a great first car to own.