1994 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.1L from North America
Summary:
A great college car!
Faults:
Starter relay switch failed so the car would not start.
It was replaced free of charge under a recall.
Replaced both front struts at 148,000 miles.
It eats wheel bearings for breakfast!
I've replaced all 4 wheel bearings, and the front wheel bearings have been replaced 2 times in one year!
Warranty on the bearings covered the cost of the replacements free of charge.
This car has too much plastic, as is typical on all General Motors vehicles.
The dashboard and various plastic pieces make a lot of noise on rough roads.
Power windows can be very slow to open or close sometimes.
General Comments:
V6 power is pretty smooth, reliable, and always starts in ice cold temperatures.
The 3.1 liter engine is the best attribute of this car.
Plenty of power for passing cars in traffic.
Stay away from the Quad-4 engine which has been known by many mechanics to be a troublesome engine with known problems.
Brakes are OK, but not the best.
This car takes very little maintenance, so it is a great college car!
Automatic transmission shifts quickly and never fails.
The larger 16 inch factory rims make a big difference in cornering and braking ability!
The factory sound system is pretty decent.
Front seats hold you in well, however, they lack good support on long trips.
Great climate control system.
The tight solid steering feel gives the driver a greater sense of security on curvy roads and tight traffic.
Airbag and automatic braking system are nice safety features.
Gets about 24-30 miles per gallon, depending on how heavy my foot is.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th January, 2003
3rd Mar 2004, 16:36
I'm sorry, but what are you talking about "eats wheel bearings for breakfast" I've only heard of them going after 100,000 miles when due to wear and tear. Sure your going to break them if you try to do a turn at 60mph, but this is not typical driving and should not be held against the car, but the driver.
27th Mar 2003, 11:46
The dashboard and various plastic pieces make tons of noise on my 95 Pontiac Grand Am GT due to any little bump on any road.