1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT from North America

Summary:

HORRIBLE!

Faults:

The first week that I bought my car, the A/C stopped working; there was a flood in my car on the passenger floor, and I had problems with my coolant.

I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC AGAIN!

This is an okay first car, but definitely not worth the money. If I had not purchased a warranty, I would be up to my ears in debt from this junk.

Recently I got into my car, and my door panels were loose. My side window switch fell through the door, my window control switch on the passenger door no longer works, and my rear passenger door chooses when it wants to open for me.

NEVER AGAIN... these problems seem to be re-occurring and should not be happening. Now I am starting to hear a clunking noise every time I start my car in the morning and back out of my driveway.

General Comments:

I must say it is very comfortable, but lacks reliability.

It's a shame.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 7th August, 2007

29th Sep 2011, 22:41

I am having the same exact problem with mine, but even worse, mine OVERHEATS CONSTANTLY!!! I just replaced my radiator, water pump, and fans, and some hose on it, and it still overheats after driving it for about 30 minutes. I have to put Dexcool and water in it every 3-4 days, depending on how much I drive it. I loved my car at first, but now I'm trading it in for an SUV! Overall, the worst car I've ever had. I've dumped at least $4000 into mechanical issues. Now my head is warped. Goodbye my little sports car!

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 3.8L supercharged from North America

Summary:

Pretty good

Faults:

Same exact problems other owners listed; when you turn on the AC fan, headlights go out, turn signal makes the engine die, and the lights go crazy... my mechanic can't figure it out, was hoping someone else has found cure for the problem??

General Comments:

Love the car up to now.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 12th July, 2007

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.8 from North America

Summary:

But another in a heart beat

Faults:

Air condition compressor went out at 150,000 miles.

General Comments:

This car was worth every penny I paid for it. $21,000.

It is my second Pontiac with 200,000+ miles.

The only mechanical complaint is the air condition conpressor went out at 150,000 miles.

No alternator, transmission, exhaust, or other engine problems.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th April, 2007

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.8L OHV V6 from North America

Summary:

BEWARE - this car will ruin you financially

Faults:

Repairs unrelated to general maintenance i.e. filters, brakes, fluids, tires, plugs:

New alternator @ 210,000kms - $500CAD.

Completely rebuilt transmission (all new hard parts and bands) @ 220,000kms - $2200CAD.

New crank shaft sensor @ 230,000kms - $900CAD.

New catalytic converter @ 230,000kms - $600CAD.

New radiator @ 235,000kms - $800CAD.

New driver's side window switch @ 235,000kms - $200CAD.

Rebuilt the top end of the engine with all new gaskets, belts, etc (the thing was leaking oil like a sieve) @ 235,000kms - $600CAD.

New exhaust manifolds @ 235,000kms - $800CAD.

New water pump @ 240,000kms - $200CAD.

245,000 failed Aircare and decided to sell the thing - got $1900CAD.

Unfixed problems at time of sale:

Faulty O2 sensors.

Airbag warning light was on.

CD player clock light was faulty.

General Comments:

BEWARE - this car will ruin you financially.

It is a cold calculating machine engineered for one thing - for something on it to go wrong strategically once a month for the entire time you own it.

Purchased in Spring 2004 for $5500CAD + $500GST @ 195,000kms.

Total price paid - $6000CAD.

Total cost of repairs excluding maintenance - $6800.

Years owned - 2.

Total KM driven - 50,000.

$10,900 for 2 years of driving on a 7-9 year old car is = to a lease payment of $455/month.

Which means I could have been rolling in a new fully loaded Japanese luxury sedan for 2 years with $0 down and handed it back in after.

OR

Bought a car with low km's for $10,900 - driven it for 2 years without a single headache and then taken a dump on the drivers seat and pushed it over a cliff, and I'd still be happier than I am right now with the Pontiac Grand Prix.

Thanks for ruining my life GM.

Sincerely, Michael

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 20th March, 2007

23rd Mar 2007, 20:29

It does sound like you could have used the advice of a good friend before paying $6,000 for a beat to crap car with 195,000 km on it. This would have been a good $500 car, but you paid too much. You probably should have pulled the plug at the first $1,000 repair.

Also, I notice in your repair list a few places where you could have saved yourself a lot of money. $500 for an alternator??? You could have done much better. This is the easiest thing to change, and I think you paid at least $300 too much, and that's being generous.

A new radiator for $900? The cure for that on an old car is a $4.95 tube of J-B Weld to patch a pinhole leak, or a bottle of Barr's Stop-Leak. An expensive lesson.

You can successfully drive beaters, but never pay more than $1,000 for one, and always know when to pull the plug.

5th Mar 2008, 11:03

Hahaha 500 dollars for an alternator, I can get it down here for 60 dollars. your prices do not make any sense, sounds like someone is tryin to put down the grand prix, all of your costs are 300 more than what it would really costs.