|
Review 5 of 265
Price Paid:
$28000.00 Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 GTP Summary:
This is my second leased Grand Prix. Previously I had a GT and it was a really tight car, never a problem, started right up, no matter the weather. Handled great, drove great. But this 2003 model is not great. The steering is rough and unsteady. Holding on with both hands is a must, as it's easy to lose control. The car sometimes has trouble starting, as well.
The driver's mirror is a joke; the interior lights dip so low that they obstruct the view in the mirror, making it pretty difficult to see anything properly that's behind you. Very dangerous. What idiot okayed this mirror?
The automatic dimming (for night time driving) is annoying as well, as it comes on automatically, so you have to shut it off everytime you turn on the engine.
The interior is still cheap and plastic-looking. One whack and you could easily break the console or the dash. I knew the car had a cheap interior, I leased it for the power, and the room. Plus the exterior is cool-looking (although I think the new re-designed 2004 model is UGLY! The "Heads Up" system is really great; you can see your speed reflected in your windshield which means you don't have to take your eyes off the road to see how fast you're going. Excellent feature that I wish all cars had.
Overall, the Grand Prix can be recommended only to people who want a lot of features for less money, but who plan on leasing only, as American cars are not meant to last, and Pontiac is no exception. The crash test numbers are not great, and the reliability ratings aren't, either.
I don't plan on leasing or buying another Grand Prix again. In fact, this is only the 3rd American car I've ever had, I've always bought Japanese; you can't beat Japanese quality. If American car manufacturers ever give a crap about quality, maybe I'll reconsider. Strengths:
-Power
-Front is roomy
-Exterior looks (pre 2004 only)
-Parts & labor cheap compared to foreign cars
-Front seats are comfortable
-Not a brand that gets stolen very often (like Honda & Toyota) Weaknesses:
-Cheap pleather seats
-Cheap controls
-Very loud wind noise
-Extremely difficult to see through driver's mirror
-Steering very unsteady and rough
-Doesn't always start right up
-2003 has less head room than previous models
-Poor handling
-Trunk reservoir collects a lot of water which floods your trunk when open it
-VERY poor milage (less than 19 MPG highway)
-Reliability and safety test scores are not great Similar Products Used:
-Acura Integra (excellent car, very reliable, but small interior)
-1997 Pontiac Grand Am (worst car I've ever had)
-2000 Grand Prix
Would you like to Comment?Join CarReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
| 
Link to this page
5 of 5
2 of 5
