3rd Apr 2010, 07:58

Original poster:

- Nope, not a rental. One previous owner bought in Iowa. Clean VIN Check with maintenance history.

- Was told the HUD Heads Up display windshield has a film on it that helps it reflect.

- Yes I've put a lot of time, energy and money into it, but the reality is, I'll never see a return on it. It's been expensive and a headache, and I'm afraid it will continue to be. It's just not worth it. I was in denial for awhile and I hate to admit mistakes as much as anyone else, but this car was not one of my better decisions. Just have to suck it up and cut my losses. If the baby is ugly, the baby is ugly... this is one ugly baby.

16th Jun 2010, 13:34

It's too bad you got a used car that appears to have been badly maintained/treated. I purchased mine new and have had very few problems. It was difficult replacing the tires due to the small selection of matched sets at the correct sizes. However, the difficulty was more due to Goodyear stopping production on the size I needed than anything else. Still on my first set of brakes 4 yrs/ 48,000 miles in.

This is a performance car - tires, brakes, etc. will cost more when compared to a standard car. Not that a GP is in the same class, but try pricing parts for a Lambo or Ferrari. That will make GXP parts look very favorable. It has to do with economies of scale. The tire size combination is only used on the GP GXP (I believe the brakes as well but not completely sure). The price for the windshield replacement seems reasonable to me. Not that Pontiac (RIP) has any control over rocks/debris hitting your windshield.

As far as the MPG goes, I average 21 MPG in mixed driving. I also have a heavy right foot and am not above an impromptu race every now and again. I think your foot may be a little heavier than mine based on your amount of tickets (BTW, I haven't had any in either the GXP or the GP GTP I had before this car). This may also account for your high insurance rates. Insurance rates have more to do with your location and driving record than anything else. Also, "I'm nearly 25 with a Clean Driving Record and no insurance claims, I don't understand why it's so expensive." - five tickets in a year. It's not the car, it's the driver.

I love my GP GXP and would buy a new one when ready if that was possible (RIP Pontiac). Read the owner reviews/ratings on Edmunds if you want to get a good overall picture of owner's experiences with this car and not just two (OP's and mine).

16th Jun 2010, 15:53

"Noticed from the get go the EPA 18-27 MPG was a big ol lie!

Car is very very fun to drive (5 tickets in the year that I've had it). Again, the car is a blast to drive, sunroof open, pedal down, Monsoon stereo blasting, and that V8 exhaust rumble was just awesome!"

I love when people complain about gas mileage and then go on about their five tickets! If you speed and drive a car hard, you will get bad gas mileage! You could be driving a Civic, and if you race it around and drive it fast enough to get tickets all the time, you won't get near the rated mpg on it either. Try driving the car in a calm manner and see what your mileage is. This could also be a reason you are having so many problems with this car?

16th Jun 2010, 16:13

Here is some advice: Change your driving style. You are breaking calipers and going through brakes and wheel bearings, belt tensioners, and you have starting problems etc, etc. You are beating the heck out of this car and the car isn't built for the abuse you are subjecting it to. Not sure why you feel the need to drive so hard all the time, but SLOW DOWN. It'll save you money for tickets and it'll also save you money for broken or prematurely worn out parts. I see so many people taking off at full throttle all the time, and then slamming the brakes on at the next light, and doing this over and over. Then they wonder why they are replacing so many parts on their cars.

I had an Olds that I put $6,000 in parts into. I was beating the crap out of it every day like a fool, always driving 80 mph and slamming the brakes on etc, etc. I adjusted my driving style and started to relax A LOT more on the road, which was not only safer for me and everyone else, but I no longer was replacing parts and fixing my cars all the time. This was totally caused by driving style.

Slow down, relax and stop riding and slamming on the brakes, and you'll see just how much more efficient your car is, and how much less it breaks. It'll be better for your wallet, and safer for you and everyone around you too!

17th Jun 2010, 15:04

5 tickets HARDLY qualifies as a clean driving record. Not sure where you're from, but they do report these things to insurance companies, and guess what, they raise your rates for them.

18th Jun 2010, 08:32

No you won't... but guess what, you won't get a return on any new car. If you want financial returns on your cars, buy old classic cars, store them and keep them in mint condition, and then they will pay you back. Every day cars are meant for transportation, not for investment.

29th Jun 2010, 16:09

I own a 2006 Grand Prix GXP as well, and I know a very few of the problems from this car. I too have an extremely heavy foot (clean driving record though) (knock on wood) :) So, the gas mileage that GM said it got, is way off... probably my own fault and I'm guilty of putting the cheap stuff in it as well.

We also put brakes on it, but my dear husband bought them without checking them first because they were squeaking, but no biggie.

Yes the parts are expensive, but I'm on a mission to find out why my car is having some of the problems it may be having. Because it shouldn't be.

For example, my car drinks a lot of oil (probably due to my driving habits), and the computer on the dash sometimes goes crazy. Any suggestions?

I too was thinking about getting rid of mine, and my husband still wants me to, but I love the car dearly and I think I will super duper lose my ass on this one if I do it. So, not quite sure what to do yet, but one things for sure, you are definitely spending a lot of $$$ by letting it sit and paying for another car too. I hope you are at least taking the time to start it every now and then, or you really won't get anything out of it.

I know some of your problems, but hell if you already have it, you might as well enjoy it! 8's weren't meant to leave parked and collect dust, they are meant to drive and leave people in your dust.

I love my GXP, and maybe the previous owner abused it. I think once you replace parts as you go and are a little more gentler on it... then maybe it wouldn't be so bad, and you'd still have an awesome car! Just a thought.