Faults:
At 105,000 Miles the following was done to this car...
Head Gasket.
Struts and shocks.
Motor Mounts (and then replaced 3 subsequent times by reputable mechanics, seems they're just not strong enough)
EGR Valve and O2 Sensor.
Door Lock Actuators and Drivers power lock switch.
Fuses are constantly having to be replaced.
General Comments:
I really enjoy driving this car. It handle's great to be an aging American made car. It still gets looks on the road despite it's age, too. The factory 16 inch wheels still look brand new, as does the glossy deep green paint. The chrome dual exhaust with quad tips is still shiny, and makes just enough noise to give you some feedback when you press the gas hard.
It seems like this car slides on wet roads easier than other cars. I just put new Michelin Tires on this car and found that it still didn't fix the problem. Also, the brake pedal has a non-linear feel, it's mushy... and I find myself replacing brake pads once every 3-4 months.
This car rides LOW to the ground, I've had some problems going through even relatively small puddles. I lose power steering, and sometimes the alternator will stop working for a few seconds... maybe new belts could fix this. It also has a really rough ride despite having new shocks, struts, and tires, but this car handles great once again, so I wouldn't complain too much.
The V6 engine is still pretty powerful despite the high mileage, I never feel a lack of power at any speeds. The transmission still shifts smoothly, without a glitch.
I recently took this car on a 400 mile road trip and found the cabin to be pretty well designed... everything is in close reach. All the controls are really easy to understand, and the gauges are easy to read with a red glow at night. The seats lacked some support however, and the cup holders could have had more thought put into the design.
I've had some problems with this car, but I wouldn't part with it for anything.
2nd May 2007, 22:15
Yeah the knocking is more than likely the engine. I had a 1995 grand am SE with a quad 4 and it lasted me till about 186,000 miles. After that, the head gasket went cause the head gaskets are made from aluminum. I wouldn't buy another car with a quad 4 engine again... but they aren't made anymore, so that's good.