1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.1 from North America

Summary:

A great family car, with a little added fun

Faults:

The passenger side window will not operate with the driver's side controls.

The radio display scrambles randomly.

The compact disc player always gives error messages when a disc is put in. Brand new discs are used, and it still does not work.

The panel on the driver's side and passenger side door pops off.

General Comments:

Despite all the errors inside the cabin, this car gives great performance.

Curves are handled very well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th July, 2001

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 3.8 supercharged from North America

Summary:

#1 Car all around

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with my baby.

General Comments:

This is the best car I have ever owned.

When you buy a Grand Prix... you never want another car.

As a matter of fact my next car will be another Grand Prix GTP.

This car has got me more tickets than any other.

You can't drive the speed limit in this puppy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th June, 2001

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8 from North America

Summary:

Not as good as I thought it would be - disappointed!

Faults:

My water pump is being replaced right now.

My second serpentine belt is being replaced right now.

Driver's side fog light has been replaced twice in 6 months. It burnt out, so we replaced it and a few months later it happened again. I said forget it and left it as is. I don't use the fog lights now.

Water build up in both of my headlight covers. Have had both replaced. Lense cover on the passenger side missing one day. Assumed it fell off.

4 months after I bought the car I heard a noise in the rear of the car. I took it back to the dealership, explained the noise and they took a look and replaced the rear stabilizer links. Took the car home and I still heard the noise. Over the next 4 months I took the car in 4 more times for the same noise I heard 4 months ago. They kept replacing the rear stabilizer links. Each time I took the car in they seemed less concerned each time. I had to call a certain Pontiac phone number to complain about the dealership. Now it is 4 years later the noise doesn't seem as bad, but has never went away. They finally said that is a normal noise for this make and model and this year of car.

A few years ago I noticed water in the trunk, not a lot but a little. I thought it might be leaking around the stripping. Never could determine the leak.

While driving in the rain, ice, snow or if I have washed my car, I've noticed my brakes won't react right away.

General Comments:

I was so happy when I bought this car. Now I feel very different.

I really haven't had any major repair costs. I had the serpentine belt replaced 2 weeks ago and got it home and it started making squeaks and squeals and chirps. I was very disappointed, it was a new belt after all, why was it making noises. Took it back in today, they said my water pump needed replaced and it was leaking causing the belt to make noise. Therefore the belt is going bad, seperating now. So I have to get a new belt put on again. With the new water pump I will have a nice bill. No telling what will go wrong next.

The car handles pretty good.

The tires lasted me 63,000 miles. Just had them replaced a few months ago.

Overall this car was not what I expected. Little things going wrong here and there.

The dealership where I bought the car never really seemed concerned about the problems like they should have been. It was like pulling teeth when I had to take the car back in there when it was under warranty. That's why I will never buy another car from that dealership again. I guess they never heard of the saying - "Make the customer happy with their first car purchase and they'll come back for their second car purchase". I would not recommend anyone I know to buy a car from them.

To sum it all up, I had more problems with the dealership fixing the problems of the car. Which made it more of a hassle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th May, 2001

10th Nov 2003, 11:48

I have a '98 Grand Prix and I've had water in the trunk once while left out in a thunderstorm. I don't know why.

The front clear plastic headlight cover fell off my car also. Luckily I found it and glued it back on. Condensation does build up in both lights.

I'm replacing the 2nd fog light in 5 yrs (only 43K miles).

I wonder if newer models have these problems also.