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Pontiac Grand Am

2589 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 9:27 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Grand Am, Sedan

Messages Page 14 of 260

#126 of 2589 Braking , Noise and Gas Mileage by debounds

Sep 30, 1999 (5:30 am)

Thanks AVS007. I called the Dealer and spoke to the parts department. They told me yes about the DuraStop but did not mention that there were two types. I am not ready for rotors yet. But I will specifically ask for the cross drilled slotted when the time comes for them. I was also told that GM approved them for warranty replacement in addition to the stock standard rotors that GM uses. It is really a sad story when you have to ask for the higher quality.
Also, for those questions about the gas mileage. I use my car for business. I live in No. California in the Bay Area and travel the freeways here. My gas mileage averages about 31 MPG when not in commuter traffic and about 25 when in commuter traffic.
Also, there IS a slight rushing wind noise that is pretty standard in the Grand Am but my experience is that it is coming from the front and not the back. I have driven many other Grand Ams when my car was in for repair at the Dealer and I found this problem to exist in all the other ones that I have driven. As I mentioned earlier, Pontiac bought back my original 1999 Grand AM SEI and I opted to purchase another one. I just can't help it, I love the Grand AM even with its assorted problems. The repair department at the Dealer and I are on first name basis! On my brand new SEI I had the dash replaced after four days!!! The service department had a devil of a time installing that!!! When I picked up my car after they had it for two whole days, the steering wheel was goofed up so back to the Dealer tomorrow! Nonetheless, there is just something about that Grand AM that has charisma. And to think that I almost bought a Buick Regal instead!

#127 of 2589 Burdawg by burdawg

Sep 30, 1999 (3:41 pm)

Having been a Grand Am owner for 5 years now, I would have opted for the Regal. I havn't had any problems with the Pontiac except front brakes (seems typical) and front tire wear. But the rubber parts and fake chrome are not holding up well, the plastic front and rear bumpers are starting to discolor and the interior is getting loose and noisy. I have almost 50,000 miles of mixed driving. Gas milage is very good (Quad 4 engine), sometimes as high as 34mpg highway.
I'm considering a Buick Century now, because a Century Custom comes loaded for about the same price as a well optioned Grand Am.
I guess overall I'm happy with the Pontiac, but I doubt if I will buy another Grand Am.

#128 of 2589 yeah but... by avs007

Sep 30, 1999 (4:57 pm)

It isreally a sad story when you have to ask for thehigher quality.


You won't hear any complaints from me, when the "higher performance", CrossDrilled n' Slotted Rotors are approved for warranty replacement. Even if you just pay for the diff, I think its pretty cool...


Now only if you can convince the dealer to install the 12" rotors.....

#129 of 2589 in case you're confused by avs007

Sep 30, 1999 (5:01 pm)

I meant convince the dealer to install "oversized" rotors as opposed to the stock size... I didn't mean to infer that the dealer wouldn't install them for you...


Some will... One of my friend had the dealer install 12" rotors from the intrigue, (autobahn package), onto his GP...


Just note, that if you install 12" rotors on the front, your temp spare wont fit anymore, because the brakes won't fit in the 15" wheel. Some say if you go flat on the front, you wouldn't want a donut on the front, so the recommend puting the donut on the back, and move a goodtire forward... If its too tedious, you can prob check the price for a donut from an intrigue with the autobahn package...




If going for 12" rotors tho, I would just get 12" CrossDrilled Slotted DuraStops, (or your fav brand), instead of plane jane rotors from an intrigue...

#130 of 2589 thanks all by jsills

Sep 30, 1999 (6:11 pm)

Thanks everyone for your responses. I chose a Grand Am (my other possibililty was a Cougar) partly because you see SO MANY of them on the road from every production year. There must be a good reason for that! It will be interesting to see if all these Cougars are still on the road in 5 years....


Peace!
JS

#131 of 2589 . by szerfas

Oct 02, 1999 (4:44 am)

Hey jsills,


My GrandAm is configured like yours. Mine if just coming on 4 months old. I know exactly what you are talking about with the noise that you can only hear when it is raining. I first experienced that and I thought that the window was down. I thought sure with that noise there was a bad seal or something. Yet the car is as quiet can be on no rain days at ANY highway speed. I have had this already is some absolutly terrible rain storm and not a drop of water leaks into the car anywhere. I just chalked it up to oddity with the design. As long as it keeps me dry I am happy.


I have not taken mine on quite that long of a trip but on one occasion I have gotten as high as 29 mpg so your 31 deffinetly sounds possible. I think if I take mine on a long trip it should be able to get the same numbers. Mine too is the SE with the V6.


It really seems to be a great car. My only concern right now with it the long run it sqeaks and rattles with the interior trim. The interior trim just does not feel that solid in some places.


Happy Driving,
Stephen

#132 of 2589 Forget the Regal! On with the DuraStops! by debounds

Oct 02, 1999 (5:19 am)

Burdawg....There is absolutely no way I would have been happy with the Regal. The cluster vibrated every time the car went over a bump in the road. I drove three Regals and they all did the same thing. Those cars cost too much money to have cheap material that vibrates. I can't stand vibrations, rattles, squeaks and the like. The Grand AM is the only car that I have not had those issues with (at least not yet). The car is pretty solid. Although since the Dealer replaced my dash on my three day old car, I have noticed that there are some noises that were not there before. I should have left the dash alone as the problem wasn't really noticeable. Oh well, live and learn.
AV007...I can't wait to have my rotors replaced!!Ha! Ha! I figure around 10 to 12K is when the rotors will begin to have a problem. I only have 1100 miles on my replacement Grand AM. The Dealer will want to machine them, of course. But, they are really sick of seeing me and I think they'd give me whatever I want to get rid of me!!!! When I ask the Dealer to use the DuraStop they are going to wonder where I got my information to even ask for such an item!!! How do you know about those DuraStops?

#133 of 2589 What fake Chrome? by debounds

Oct 02, 1999 (5:32 am)

One more thing Burdawg...what fake "chrome" are you talking about on the Grand AM? If you've had Grand AM for 5 years, that means it is like a 1993 or 1994? I don't recall any chrome, fake or real, on my 1992. I'd go look at it but I gave it to my daughter and she now lives in So. California.
Boy, you must not travel alot with 50K on a 5 year old car!!!
You are right about the Century. The Dealer did not have one on the lot for me to drive. But they are a step lower than the Regal (I was told by the Dealer)

#134 of 2589 Brakes on GT1 by vernd

Oct 03, 1999 (4:09 am)

I took my car into a Pontiac Dealer (not the one I bought my car from) at 7100 miles for the front rotors. I expected a hassle but, the dealer turned the rotors and the steering wheel shake is gone. I hope that this is not a recurring problem every 5k to 7k as some people are saying. Has anyone tried to contact GM directly about the brake problem? If so, what was their answer? I love my GA and hope to have it past 100k miles. This is only my second new "American Car" out of 5 new cars that I have purchased. Since 1994 I have bought "American" and have been more than happy with my choices. All of my Japanese vehicles that I have had went 100k plus with no problems. I hope that problems with my GA don't make me regret buying American.

#135 of 2589 Thanks, szerfas by jsills

Oct 04, 1999 (8:06 am)

Thanks for assuring my that I'm not going crazy, szerfas. I have to add that the way it handles in that pouring rain (as I experienced again tonight) more than makes up for that sound I hear. I'll get used to it!

Messages Page 14 of 260

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