2004 Pontiac Grand Am: Good Price, Good Vehicle
Written: Oct 02 '04
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Pros: Reasonable price; Sporty
Cons: A little tight in the front; Parking brake out of place
The Bottom Line: Grand Am is a very good vehicle for the price and it would be even better with a few more changes/updates.
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: 2004 Pontiac Grand Am Sedan |
Pontiac, one of General Motor’s many lines of vehicles, has been making cars since 1926. Considered a step- up from the Chevrolet line, Pontiac cars are usually more stylish and more performance oriented than the vehicles in the Chevrolet family. Pontiac has made a few changes to its lineup, which has ranged from roughly six to ten different models in production at any one time. And the best- selling among them is Grand Am, a mid- sized sedan available in two- door and four- door models.
Features/Options:
Pontiac’s 2004 Grand Am is available in five different trim levels: SE, SE1, SE2, GT, and GT1. SE is at the lower end of the price and luxury range, followed by SE1, SE2, GT, and GT1 at the top.
With the SE and SE1, you get a 2.2 liter, 4- cylinder, 140 horsepower engine. SE2 offers a more powerful 3.4 liter, 6- cylinder engine that cranks out 170 horsepower. GT models feature the same 3.4 liter V6 engine, but they include Ram Air, which increases the horsepower to 175.
The SE trim levels of Grand Am feature vented front disk brakes and rear drums; Macpherson struts with lower arm suspension in front and independent solid stabilizer bar Macpherson struts in the rear; and rack and pinion power steering. GT models come with vented disc brakes in both the front and rear; the identical front and rear suspension as the SE; and c- spring EVO variable steering.
Statistics/Measurements:
Exterior dimensions of the SE, SE1, SE2, GT, and GT1 are exactly the same regardless of whether you purchase 2- door coupe or a 4- door sedan. The length of the 2004 Grand Am is fifteen feet, six inches; width is five feet, ten inches; and the height is four feet, seven inches. Interior dimensions are also very similar among the different models, with the three additional inches of rear hip room in the sedan standing out as the only significant difference.
The total interior volume on the sedans is about 105 cubic feet while the coupes offer 107 cubic feet. Cargo space is average with 14.6 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds 14.1 gallons.
SE models come standard with 15- inch wheels with covers. On the GT, the standard size is increased to 16- inches. This larger wheel is also an option on the SE1 and SE2.
Pricing:
Pontiac Grand Am is priced at the lower end of the automotive price range. MSRP for the SE begins at about $17,000 then quickly jumps to about $19,500 for the SE1. SE2 can be expected to carry a $21,800 base price, while the GT and GT1 start at a base price of about $22,300 and $23,500 respectively.
Final Thoughts:
Pontiac’s 2004 Grand Am is a good car with a nice amount of style and grace offered at a fair price. The Pontiac make was the first new car I ever purchased, back in 1989, when I bought made my first post- graduate new car. My choice back then was the old Pontiac Sunbird, mainly because of the deal I was able to get. Since that time, I have driven most of the other Pontiac models, and most recently, I had the chance to drive the 2004 Grand Am for three days through a car rental company.
My Grand Am was the GT model, which surprised me at first because from my experience, the cars you usually get from rental companies are stripped down and as bare to the bones as possible. But this time, I got one of the better trim levels. And I noticed a few things right away that caught my attention. First of all, I like the exterior styling of the GT. The Ram Air and the design of the body give it a look that is aggressive, without going over the top. Checking out the interior of the Grand Am, I liked most of what I saw there as well. I really appreciate the 360- degree vents. There are a total of five of them (all located in the front), and they have a rounded design that not only moves up and down, it can also be turned any way you choose, making it easy to direct the flow of air exactly where you would like it to go.
For those who like to sip on a beverage while they drive, Grand Am GT has three cup holders in front and one in back. One of the cup holders in front is located next to your arm, between the gear shift and storage console, making it easy to reach. The other two cup holders are harder to reach, located in front of the gear shift.
The power locks on this vehicle are activated as soon as you shift into gear. A small beep tells you they have been locked. To make the window controls and lock controls on the driver’s door easy to access, Grand Am angles them toward the driver. This is nice because you can easily see them and read them, in contrast to older vehicles which had the controls at a flat, right angle to the driver, making them more difficult to see and read.
Front seats offer some good comfort with their individual bucket design. And the back seats are more comfortable than I expected. They slant backward just a little bit and they are firm, so they keep your back straight as you ride, thereby minimizing the chances for a stiff back or other discomfort on a long trip.
As for the cons, I did notice a few things with the design that were less than stellar. First of all, I don’t like the red lights on the panel display. They are set against a black background and are a little tough on the eyes. The dials on the panel display, which include RPM, speed, engine temperature, and fuel are large enough to read (the odometer is digital and appears inside the RPM dial), but the nighttime viewing is more difficult that it should be with the red lighting. And I didn’t like the placement of the parking brake at all. It is placed on the side of the console, next to the front passenger. This is awkward and unattractive. I would prefer if Pontiac had placed the parking brake on the floor, next to the other foot pedals.
I like the Monsoon sound system in this vehicle. It shows the call letters of the radio station you are tuned in to (in most cases, but not all), and sometimes it will even display the radio slogan or subtitle (“The Rock”, “The River”, etc.) on the digital display. I also like the fact that the time is always displayed on the panel. Unlike other vehicles which display only the frequency number or the clock at any one time, this system displays both at all times. Keep in mind that the radio remains on when you turn off the engine, but it shuts off when you open up a door.
Acceleration with the GT is good, and I was surprised to discover the horsepower rating was “only” 175. It felt more powerful than that. I noticed the gas pedal was a little bit tight, requiring a greater amount of pressing to make the car pick up speed. But I also noticed that I had to watch my speed more frequently. This car seemed to increase its mph with little effort and often I didn’t even realize how fast I was going. Steering response is good, too, with easy and smooth transitioning into busy traffic and simple merging into highways.
Grand Am is Pontiac’s best selling vehicle, and for good reason. It offers a pretty nice, sporty vehicle for a relatively low price. It isn’t the perfect car (if such a thing even exists- most people can find something wrong with any vehicle), but it does get a recommendation from me. I was able to find a few faults with this vehicle, but overall, I think it’s a very good car and one worth checking out if you’re in the market for a mid- sized vehicle.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 23,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: Grand Am GT
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