1989 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.1 from North America
Summary:
Scrap metal describes this vehicle accurately
Faults:
What hasn't gone wrong with this car is the question!
Lets see, we're on our second transmission and this one's on its way out now.
I replaced the head gasket long before we ever hit 200,000km.
The horn works when it wants to, mechanic can't figure that one out.
Power window's, yup, been there with the 1 inch every 15 minutes.
The suspension, well, those little rubber things keep popping out on both front wheels and cost a bloody small fortune every time they need to be replaced which is once a year. Why? I'm not driving on cattle trails! I'm driving normal on paved roads and highways. I can't fix these myself because they need to be pressed into the frame.
Great design feature there.
Bottom line is this car is a piece of junk. It was designed and manufactured to be replaced within a few years and have high maintenance for the dealership.
I'll never buy GM again.
I still own my 89 Jeep Comanche. This thing has 300,000km on it and still purrs like a kitten. Only thing I've had to change is the water pump. I'll drive my jeep till it rusts away and watch the Pontiac rot in the driveway until then.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 12th March, 2003
4th Oct 2002, 10:04
The 2.5L 4 is certainly the least-balanced of the motors in the 1989 Grand Am line. A while ago I owned an 1988 Grand Am with this motor, and it was serious garbage. Since then I've picked up a 1989 Grand Am with the 2.3 Liter DOHC 16V Quad motor, and it is a big improvement, and has required very little work except for plugs and oxygen sensors.