A great-looking, great-performing machine!
Nothing has gone wrong to date.
This is the best-looking, best-riding car that I have owned. The Grand Prix has a very sleek look and great performance. So far, I have had no problems with the car.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 11th January, 2002
Dream car
Very little is bad about this car. Beautiful outside and comfortable inside.
There was a recall on the windshield wiper motor.
Water gets in the left headlight.
Incredible on maneuvering just like the commercials say.
3.8 Liter 200 HP V6 engine.
Very good on gas mileage.
Very roomy for passengers. Seats five comfortably.
Large trunk space.
Loud horn.
6 way electric drivers seat.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 8th September, 2001
A 'fast' way to lose your money
My water pump failed at 35,800, just under warranty.
The front steering rack failed because of a faulty valve, $1,200 to fix with no option of finding a refurb'ed one. Not covered under warranty.
Front headlight cover just disappeared. $150 bucks to replace.
Fog lights burn out repeatedly.
Front right tire makes a annoying high pitched sound. Dealer said everything was within normal tolerances?
Battery needed replaced (which I know falls under normal usage), but how it broke was strange. It corroded from the inside. The mechanic had never seen that before.
I do love this car. It's quick and great looking. The engine is so smooth, but..
I will never buy another one or recommend that anyone else buy one either.
I can't wait to get rid of it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 20th August, 2001
To: an anonymous voice
I myself have a 97'Grand Prix, I've been through all of the incidents which you have posted, such as the headlight lenses suddenly disappearing, I think that my head gaskets blew, because every time I press the accelerator down it seems like the car can't go without shaking. Even right now my car is sitting in the garage with a broken power steering line, a dead battery, and only my fourth speed on my heater works. when you find a solution please post for all of us like you.
From: an anonynous voice.
Research this car heavily before you decide to buy!
When I ordered this car from the factory in September of 1996, I thought that I was going to get the car of my dreams. After waiting for 5 1/2 months for the car to be built and shipped to my local dealership, it turned out to be a nightmare.
Let's see, where should I start?
Within a week of owning the car, I had to have the brake light sensor replaced, as my brake lights were not going on.
The inside trunk lip had to be repainted, as it already had surface rust on it from the factory.
I have had two water pumps replaced.
I have had an alternator replaced.
My head gaskets and rear main seal blew after only 30,000 miles. Thank God for extended warranties..
My passenger air bag had to be replaced due to faulty sensors.
My heater core has been replaced.
At one point (before they "diagnosed" my blown head gaskets..) my coolant had turned to mud (as oil/antifreeze must have been leaking in), only to have the dealership tell me that "that is normal". Two weeks later, after taking the car in again, they "found" the leaking head gaskets AND rear main seal.
The oil pan was leaking.
I have constant condensation in my headlight lenses. The dealership has told me that this ALSO is "normal".
I have had to replace my fog lights several times.
I just got charged almost $100 by the dealership to fix my anti-theft shock sensor (My car alarm would just go off randomly...) after it "somehow became loose under the dash".
My glove compartment light would not go out, even when it was closed. It still goes on over big bumps (but now at least goes out on its own.)
As was said in others' comments, I also feel that the dealership does not solve the problems. They look at me like I am crazy each time my car goes back in, but yet amazingly, each time something is wrong (see above list...)
For the 25,000 + that I spent for this car, I am thoroughly disappointed and can honestly say that I do not believe that I will buy another Pontiac/GM product in the future.
The design people did a great job on this car, I love the looks, but the mechanicals are enough for me to never buy one again.
In fact, when my 6 year warranty expires, this car will be up for adoption pretty quickly. I can only imagine what costs I will have AFTER my extended VIP (haha, yeah right.) warranty runs out~!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 16th July, 2001
In the past month, I have replaced the following on my '97 Grand Prix GT, at only 22,000+ miles: alternator, battery (was leaking acid), water pump. The guys at Pontiac customer service (the number in the owner's manual) were very polite and "professional," but the promised price reduction for repairs has not materialized. I love the way this one drives and looks, and I don't know how I'll survive on California freeways without head up display (great for those of us with bifocals!), but I'm really thinking of spending the money to dump it if one more thing goes wrong. I've never kept a car (Mustangs, Camaro) for less than eleven years, and I had planned to keep this one at least ten.
14th Mar 2003, 19:20
We bought a new 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix and still own it. It has 31,000 miles on it now. It is getting 31 miles to the gallon on the highway. I did put strut tower bars front and rear and replaced the stock (low quality) sway bar bushings with polyurethane bushings and it corners like a Ferrari now. We let a salesman from the dealership we bought it from drive it and he was amazed and said it was the best cornering car he had ever driven. We have had absolutely no trouble with it and love taking it to the mountains in Carolina and East Tennessee to see the leaves change. (We're from Florida.)