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Pontiac Grand Prix - 2000-2005

4457 messages,  Last post on Jul 28, 2011 at 9:56 PM

You are in the Pontiac Grand Prix Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Grand Prix, Sedan

    

Messages Page 271 of 446

#2698 of 4457 by gunit

Jul 08, 2003 (6:08 am)

Regfootball, i semi agree with you, But in GTP form the GP does really peform, 0-60 in 6.6 seconds is pretty impressive. The GT 8-8.5 is kind of crappy for a sports sedan. Thankgod they killed the rent a car SE. REAL Grand Prixs were 2 door coupes with V8's and RWD all the way from 1962-1987, I think the first GP sedan arrived in 1990? The 2004 is only a stop gap, NOT A TRUE redesign of the 1997 platform, like many here are inclined to believe. '04 uses the same w body and drivetrain as the 1997, just some updates and improvements, but enough for me. Pontiac claims 80% of the '04 is new, but I have my doubts. Why didn't they reall improve the interior which was the sore point of the '97-'03? They did improve the front seats/leather qaulity and I like then new speedo but that was about it
 
The 2004 is ok, but is nothing more then a rebadged/reskinned 1997 !!
 
I moddified my 1997 and 2002 GTP from the stock 240hp to 300+hp, 240hp was NOT enough for me... Those Crappy undersized P225 60 16 Good Year Eagle RSA tires are not good that the GTP came with. I went with P245 50 16, big dif. I also updated the brakes and suspension, after hopping in a regular unmodded GTP it feels slow and sluggish.

#2699 of 4457 by gunit

Jul 08, 2003 (6:16 am)

For me the new GTO just looks to plain/avg and does NOT have the room my GTP coupe does. Plus I had a new '86 442 with a modes 170hp RWD setup and it was horrible to drive in the snow with RWD, though no TCS back then. I prefer FWD cars in the bad weather, and I considered a WS6 transam in 2002, but too small/cramped and insurance was about 25% higher the then GTP, not a big deal but still. I saw too many hi end RWD Cars, like mercedes lexus having major problems driving in the NY CIty snow this year, while my FWD GTP had nor problem going around them, pretty good for a car 1/2 their price.
 
Like I said before, all cars have their pluses/minuses, there is NO perfect car out there, esp for me. Everycar has a drawback and with the GTP its the chessy interior and so-so build quality/reliability, that has always plagued the W Body, but I bought it for the cheap price/ good looks/price got and good peformance and decent room. if the GP was a sedan only in 1997-2002 I would NOT have bought it.

#2700 of 4457 by dan165

Jul 08, 2003 (6:39 am)

Gunit, I never said Pontiac was a poor man's BMW? I think you are mixing me up with someone. I like my car, but I don't see it as anything else but a sporty midsize sedan. It's competitive and I like it's looks better than anything else out there. It also is more than a "re-skin", if you test drive one you will see. The sedan coupe debate is really getting old though. Sedan sales are not what they once were and speculating on why GM killed the coupe could go on forever.
 
Regfootball, Have you even driven a 04 GP? The car is not aimed at the "phat" crowd.
 
Midlifecrisis, The centre stack of the GP may be hard plastic but it's matted and nice quality. I'm not sure why people think hard plastic = cheap. I personally like the lay out and I don't think it looks any worse than the Altima, though it's probably not as nice as the Accord.

#2701 of 4457 Unfair comparison by gmalltheway

Jul 08, 2003 (7:47 am)

Yes, i glance through the different car magazines at the store every once and a while to see what they are saying, The only place you'll find an American vehicle winning against the foreign is TRUCKS, because CHEVY, GMC, FORD, and DODGE all team up against the TOYOTA. My wife and I have always owned GM and i find there products are VERY reliable, including the 1997-2003 GP, my wife had a 1997 GTP and for the first year body style we never had problems with it, we no longer have it (leased) but i'd buy another one in a heartbeat. Yet due to the fact that a large majority of GP owners LOVE there car they don't score as high as the Accord, CAMRY, Altima according to the "people" in the magizine.

#2702 of 4457 gmalltheway by dindak

Jul 08, 2003 (8:10 am)

I still think GM is close but Honda and Toyota on average are still a bit better in terms of quality. That said, the gap is small and I feel I can pretty much ignore it now. Given the current pricing of US names vs Honda and Toyota, it's VERY unlikely I would ever buy an Accord over a good domestic sedan like the GP.

#2703 of 4457 Domestic Vs Import: by carguy58

Jul 08, 2003 (9:10 am)

I like Imports more yeah. Thats not true Nissan did take flack for the cheap interior by automotive reviewers just not as much as Gm takes flack though. Mazda took alot heat for the Ford Tranny so don't ever say import brands don't suffer backlash because they do.
 
About Honda's problems I admit they have to watch themselves. I think they had so many products they were making from 1998-2001 that quality did slip with the tranny stuff. I don't think these things will ever happen again with Honda.
 
About Toyota I'm not really into them. Only a few products I like from them.
 
American brands do stuff wrong too though if you look at it: Dodge Caravan's blowing tranny's, Ford tarus's with head gaskets blowing and Ford Escape starting and stalling problems.
 
As far as comaring an 01 Accord with a 4 cylinder engine to a GP GTP 2002 witha V6 thats a little different. Of course a 4 cyl Accord is going to be slower than a competitors V6. A 2001 Accord has a better interior than an 02 GP.

#2704 of 4457 GM quality by midlifecrisis

Jul 08, 2003 (9:22 am)

I've owned a 99 Grand Am GT for 4 years and it is approaching 70K miles. The only money I've had to put into it is for maintenance items like brakes, tires and battery. I also had a few interior fixes under warranty. Other than that, it is a solid car with very good performance numbers (0-60 in less than 8 seconds).
 
I've owned a 02 Chevy Avalanche for almost 1.5 years and it has 17K miles. The vehicle has been stellar. 285 HP, pulls my trailer like it isn't even there. Excellent design ideas for unique storage compartments, etc. Midgate down allows me to store 8' sheets of plywood, locked and dry. Midgate up allows me to tote around 6 adults in comfort. Any Japanese models that can do that? The only problem I've had is some moisture in one fog light. That's it.
 
I think GM has come a long way, baby.

#2705 of 4457 dan165 by gunit

Jul 08, 2003 (11:14 am)

Dan165, sorry If I had you confused about the BMW thing. The GP since 1997 in GT or GTP has sporty intentions and in regular driving feels sporty but is NOT a sports sedan, drive it hard and you will see, esp not at 3500 lbs, FWD and 65/35 weight distribution. The 2004 is NOT A full redo, its a reskin, using the same W body chassis and drivetrain from 1997, that is fact. Yeah it is improved, but it ought to be, esp 7yrs later, the competition is alot more improved too. Yes it is a nice looker, just like the 1997 was.

#2706 of 4457 GMALLTHE WAY by gunit

Jul 08, 2003 (11:23 am)

GMALLTHEWAY, my 2002 GTP has been perfect knock on wood and I would buy another if they had continued the coupe, so next time I will be look elsewhere, Despite my numerous 1997 GTP probs I still bought an 02 GTP, funny thing is that my 2002 GTP cost LESS then my 1997 one did.
 
Replaced trunk latch
soaked carpets, A/C leaking into the car, not under
HVAC bearing failed
Both headlights replaced due to moisture
new trunk pistons
alternator and waterpump went bad
auto headlight sensor failed 3 dif x
wiper motor recall
right rear speaker went bad
replaced blower motor
AC delco battery only lasted 1 yr
new valve coveor gaskets, oil leaking
check engine light on, emissions problem fixed
coolant leak, thermostat/gasket went bad
Catalytic heat shield replaced was loose/rattling
Tire rod ends loose, replaced under warranty only after major argument at dealership at only 30k miles.
 
Thankgod this was all covered under warranty and extended warranty, otherwise I Loved the car
 
Only knock was the cheap interior and somtimes loud/crude engine sound under high rpm from 3800, but great car and I bought another in 2002 figuring they go the the bugs out, great car

#2707 of 4457 by gunit

Jul 08, 2003 (11:25 am)

Dindak, you are 100% right, I would always buy a GTP before I bought a camaccord, regardless of Toyota/honda supposedly better quality. That is what the warranty is for. Camaccord is too boring dul for me, Camry/avalon handle like an old man's car.

Messages Page 271 of 446

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