2006 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.8 series II from North America
Summary:
Love the car
Faults:
62,000 - this will be the second time the intermediate shaft for the steering will be replaced. There was a factory recall on the problem and Pontiac fixed it the first time.
30,000 - While fixing the intermediate shaft at Pontiac, they also found the tie rods ends needed replacing...
Now they tell me the rack and pinion is leaking.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 12th September, 2009
7th Jan 2011, 19:10
People buy a Camry because they like to drive a vehicle that does nothing but get them to point A to point B. A Camry does this task in spades, and all the while will most likely not need much but general maintenance up to 200,000 miles. Grand Prix and like vehicles were made for people who want a little bit more with their vehicle. A little bit more flair with the exterior, plastic clad body panels that look "buff". A little bit more performance (with the GTP package). A little bit more road noise. A little bit more up-keep.
This type of "more" leads to less investment in NVH areas (noise, vibration, harshness) where things tend to break down, because people who drive these "excitement" vehicles drive them as if they were sports cars. Sadly, they aren't built to last if driven hard, and it shows given the amount of bad reviews.
I personally like the Grand Prix nameplate, and wish that the newer G8 car had carried on the tradition of the Grand Prix line. It would have lent a little credibility to its forebearers, especially the late 90's and early 00's.
Alas, we are left with only memories of "fast in a straight line" vehicles with muscle car handling and a teen dream body.