Remarkable power for a 4-banger, unique styling, air conditioning vents are original and very easy to use, bright and adequate instrument display, exterior lights function great (they turn on and off automatically so you can't leave them on), More roomy than you would think.

Rattles and Road Noise. The dash has loosened up and makes an annoying grinding sound. The door panels also like to make funny noises that drive me insane. Window Seals seem poor. Floor could use some foam or something to quiet it down. When I drive my dad's maxima it is SO much quieter even with a 6 cylinder. The mechanism that allow the front seats to move so people can get in the back has become hard to work with after 16 months....rear seats don't fold down on my model. Rough, Bumpy, ride.

I paid just under 15k for the '99 Bare bones model. No special features here, just power locks. Pretty easy to take apart and customize but I find the rattles and road noise extremely annoying. I am pretty impressed with the power of the 4 cylinder engine (I've gotten to 115 downhill on the interstate), even after driving my parents' cars which have supercharged V6's. I imagine that the V6 Grand Am would preform extremely well. I would reccomend this car to anyone who wants a sporty feeling car. It has a very "roady" feeling. When I drive a honda, it feels sort of like i'm floating down the road compared to driving the grand am. Give a test drive and you might like it.

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'00 Maxima (it is my dad's but I drive it a lot). The maxima is better in just about every aspect. It is much more powerful, quieter, and roomier.

'96 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi. Suffers from the same problems as the Grand Am but has a whole lot more features and room such as a head up display with power seats and windows.

Neither of these are really a fair comparison but oh well.

Hmm. Uhhhh.... well the cup holders work... no, they dont either.. only one size cup fits exactly in, others wobble and spill. To be fair, I will admit that when it wasn't in the shop, I did enjoy the ride of the car and the power of the 4 cylinder. It was fun at times.

This will be a long list, ill put it in my review summary...

I don't know quite where to start. This car has been towed more miles than driven. Read below for the freaky occurrences... First, the brakes and rotors CONSTANTLY need replaced. It also eats tires, bearings, etc.. and I don't drive it very hard. The adjuster on the seat broke so now it sticks in one place and is annoying as hell. The back seat is entirely too small for a car of its size. The wheels constantly need realigned. The transmission went at 60,000, and my warranty wouldnt cover it because it was "performing to expected parameters", even while the engine light was on constantly and the code coming up was for transmission. The water pump broke and so did the timing chain, so the car was in the shop for 3 weeks, but at least that was covered under warranty. The car wont start with less than 1/4 tank of gas, and the gauge is off, so under a half or so the car wont start. The gas mileage is horrible for a 4 cylinder and it doesnt get the 30 MPG it claims. Now, the freak stuff. First, around 40,000 miles, the drivers side front a-frame fell apart while I was driving, causing the wheel to fall off. Thank GOD it was at 30 MPH!.. Then last week, a piece of cheap plastic broke in the throttle assembly, and my accelerator went to the floor and stuck. FREAKY! Our mechanic has never seen EITHER of those things happen. It's a death trap. So this car is getting traded in. It is garbage, I dont recommend it to anyone.

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Sunfire, Corsica, Cavalier, Neon, Power Wheels Kiddy Car (about as durable..)

Takes off nicely, and is able to keep up with Avengers, Eclipses, and Cougars. Sporty feel at a economy price. Roomy on the inside and stylish on the outside.

Traction system not to it's fullest potential. Car is unsure of it's self at 130mph

paid 23k but definatley worth it.

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91 olds cutlass, better handling, breaking, and cornering

I rented a 4 cyclinder car for a week. I had previously rented a 1999 car for a weekend. I put this car through its paces and it it a great car at a great value.

Visor vanity mirror was missing. I noticed because the mounting holes were still there. Has it fallen off of your car.

I rented a 4 cyclinder car with almost 20K abusive miles (someone ripped off the vanity mirror and the sides were dented). It had lots of pep, could climb 6% grades with ease, it was quiet, smooth and I got over 30 MPG. A 4 cyclinder Grand Am/Alero is a good deal because dealers have a hard time moving them off their lot, since the sticker difference between the 4 and 6 is minimal. Therefore they should give you a better deal. This car has traction control and ABS standard, features normally found standard on luxury imports. Also note that Nissan Altimas cannot be found on dealer's lots with ABS and Traction control is not available on 4 cyclinder Camrys, Accords, etc. This car is as roomy as the Accord/Camry, it comes in cooler colors (Fire Engine Red, Jet Black, etc). The power height control standard on the driver's seat (like the EX Honda Accord) and tilt wheel makes it easy to fit very short and very tall drivers. Also cool is the red-lighted guages and the kick-ass sound systems standard. In addition, the good gas milage and big fuel tank allow the car to go over 450 miles per fill up. Fold down rear seat let you carry things like a SUV. Also Fog lamps are standard. Another neat feature is the standard door lock system. When you get out, if you press the power door lock button once and slam the door, a few seconds later the doors will lock them selves, honk the horn and flash the lights to confirm this. But if you press the button twice the door lock will lock them selves. But to keep you safe, the car will not lock the doors if you left you key in the ignition. I also like the automatic headlights. When lights are needed they go on automatically and go off automatically when it gets light out.

Initially selected for style, pick-up, price. A sharp looking car in an affordable price range.

Where do I start? When it rained, the car leaked through the seals around the driver's side door into the passenger compartment' it took the dealer 2 tries to fix the problem. The material on the driver's side upper door panel is bubbling; replacement part was ordered 7 months ago, has still not arrived. The center console has loosened up, and rattles when the car is driven. The car developed a major mechanical failure (valve body) with only 11,000 miles on the engine. All in all, the abysmal experience I have had has put me off of Pontiacs for good.

$21,200. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone under any circumstance.

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This vehicle falls far short of the Chevy Z24 and Z26 (the latter which I still own), as well as the Grand Prix SE I traded in on this vehicle.

Well, it is a sporty little car, and corners great.

This car is always in for repairs. Two months after I bought it, it was already in the shop. It doesn't accelerate that well, and the gas mileage is not the best. It has no cup holders, and the stereo isn't made very well. The seats come off their tracks and don't stay in place. I have had numerous problems with the coolent system. Now, after only 80,000 miles I have to replace the engine.

This car isn't worth the bother. Instead of replacing the engine I am seriously considering getting a new, different, car. I have found this car to be some trouble. This car would be good for city driving, but for a person who likes to go up to the mountains for the weekend, this is not the car for you.

Looks, Engine, Ride, quality built, radio is awesome!!!

Blind spots, seat aren't too comfortable

I have had this car for about 2 months and so far so good! I love the power and smoothness of the engine. I have the 2000 GT(Ram Air V6). I dont think the Ram Air really does much i think the increase in HP(only 5) is due to the dual exhaust! I love the looks of this car!!! It rides very well and handels unbelievably. The seats need work and the brakes don't have a great feel to them either. But based on the price i paid and what i got i have to give this car 5's!!! Buy it(GT or GT1) and you will love it!!! Just go and test drive it!

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Chevy Malibu(which I loved as well)

(1)Incredible 'bang for your buck'--I got my GT with every possible option for 23K final.(2)Acceleration--better than average for any four door.(3)Styling--many will laugh, and I agree that the exterior AND interior are not for everyone. However, with the majority of today's sedans looking more similar than different, the Grand Am's body definitely turns heads for better or worse, and makes finding it in a parking lot full of Camry/Accord clones much easier.

(1) Gas mileage tends to hang around the low end of the spec range, with little improvement during highway driving.(2) Gone to dealer 3 times with warped rotors. Tech said that this has been a common problem, most often caused by improperly torqued lugnuts following a tire change or rotation.(3) Minor headaches--oil leak(faulty factory gasket,no problems since); faulty volume knob(I tend to stick to the steering wheel controls); occasionally maddening cupholder(not that I lose sleep over it);smallish, low-rent stereo/CD readout.(4) Rear headroom can be dicey for anyone over 5'10.

In light of the fact that this is my first new car purchase (think new boy/girlfriend who can do no wrong) coupled with the infrequent amount of time I spend behind the wheel (OK, so in reality it's my wife's car), the honeymoon is still very much on...with the car, that is. As I mentioned above, for 23K I got every option on the block, including remote keyless entry (I'm not sure I've EVER actually inserted the key into the door!), steering wheel controls for the factory upgraded sound system (and I don't mean just ON/OFF), moonroof, lumbar support and 6-way seat driver's seat adjust. I am mildly surprised when I don't find similar features in higher priced sedans. I agree with one publication's assessment that the Grand Am has the look and feel of a more expensive car. While we are not talking wood grained inlays here, it's well-constructed for the price. On the road I feel I can keep up with the Joneses. Acceleration is good even at high speeds(keep in mind I'm refering to the 175HP version). Handling and cornering are fairly tight for an American sedan. Suspension tends to be a bit too talkative. Taking into account all that I have read in numerous auto publications, reviews from other owners, and my own one year of ownership, I'd suspect the Pontiac Grand Am in any trim level would garner a 6.5 out of 10, or 2 1/2 stars out of 4, or a B-, depending on what scale you prefer. It's value cannot be denied when you consider standard features as well as road performance. It's service record and resale value are somewhat shaky, but I would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND AT LEAST A TEST DRIVE. You might fall in love. And if you do buy, do it right. Get a fully loaded GT, tint the windows, get in the fast lane, and pass all the modestly-styled sedans that play it safe. For better or worse.

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Test driven various new/late model midsize sedans

At first I loved it, but then doesn't everybody ? you know, it's a brand new car!! No major mechanical problems.
(I treated it like a Baby)

The brand new feeling wore off quick! but I didn't WANT TO trade it in because it was economical!! Well I wish I had .
This is my third year with it, with 70,000 miles,and now I have to replace the motor!! Let me remind you that I did what I was suppose to do for monthly maintance,or mileage maintance and this is what I get in return!!! Now to trade the piece of junk in it's gonna cost me!!!

I'm still paying payments, plus I can't drive. Overall money paid out ( MORE THAN WHAT IT'S WORTH)

The V6 has plenty of power and is very smooth. You get a lot of features for the money on this car. It's fun to drive and comfortable for passengers. The stock stereo is outstanding. I have really enjoyed the cruise control and stereo controls on the steering wheel.

The seats could be a little more comfortable. The drink holders are not placed well. The gear shift interferes with getting your drink in an out.

I have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE2, 4-door. This car is loaded when compared to others in it's class and price range (around 20k). I have had no mechanical problems with this car. I would compare it in speed and power to a 1984 Camero Z28 I owned several years ago. Actually, I am confident the Grand Am is faster, it definitely handles better and gets A LOT better mileage. My mileage runs in the low 20's in town (I have a lead foot) and high 20's on the highway. The trunk is big enough for luggage to a family of 4 for a extended weekend. Golf clubs also fit in the trunk. I would recommend this car for anyone that is looking for a sporty sedan. I have really enjoyed this car!

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Mazda 626 (1991), Chevy Camero Z28 (1984)