Lots of bang for the buck
Written: Feb 07 '05 (Updated Feb 16 '06)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Reliability: |
 |
|
| Seat Comfort: |
|
|
| Build Quality |
 |
|
| Roominess: |
|
|
|
Pros: Fun to drive, great for long highway rides, V6 fuel economy, distinctive styling, comfort.
Cons: Cheap interior materials, distinctive styling, V6 this big although adequate, should be more powerful.
The Bottom Line: An alternative to cookie-cutter imports. Admittedly dated, but still a sporty, fun to drive car that serves well as an everyday driver and won't break the bank.
|
|
|
| mezlax's Full Review: 2004 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe |
Purchased new in June '04. My car is a 2004 Grand Am GT1 coupe. I needed to replace my beloved '96 Accord, and had initially looked only at Honda, but was persuaded into a Pontiac dealer by my father, who has owned and loved 3 Pontiacs, back to a '76 Grand Le Mans which he drove for 17 years and 160,000 miles. After 6 months, my impressions so far.
Engine/Transmission: The 3.4L V6 is behind the competition in power in this class, especially considering its size. It does pack a nice little punch, providing smooth power off the line and for highway passes, and only seems lacking when compared to similar size V6's from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. Returns good gas mileage for a V6 this size, averaging about 26 mpg. Transmission is adequate, a hair slow to downshift in passing situations, but no real complaints. Overall, smooth, effortless power with a nice sporty exhaust note.
Ride/Handling: Ride is surprisingly good compared to most other American models in this price range. A hair behind the foreign competition, but considering the "sport-tuned" suspension and low-profile tires, the ride was solid. None of the rattling over bumps I find in the girlfriend's '01 Olds Alero. A very solid, smooth ride on the highway, great for long rides. Handling is decent, as long as you do not read too much into the sport-tuning of the suspension. Provides enough grip and performance to have some fun on twisties, but you won't see it at the track anytime soon. Overall, a fairly smooth, solid ride and good handling, as long as you're not looking for a BMW 3-series alternative.
Interior/Comfort: My car came loaded, leather seats, sunroof, steering wheel radio controls, mp3 player, the works. Interior styling is admittedly a bit dated, and some of the plastic materials feel cheap, but no real complaints. The dash is easy to read, and the controls are easy to find and use. The red backlighting is nice, and fits in with the sporty themed interior. You'll either love it or hate it. Seats are comfortable and supportive, and there is decent room in the back for two adults. Three is a squeeze. Overall provides a comfortable driving position and the interior is decent enough, especially considering the price. But compared to the competition, the interior materials could be a bit better.
Problem Areas: No major complaints so far, other than interior materials. Has proven a reliable, comfortable everyday driver. An occasional small rattle here or there reminds you that you are in an American car, but no real problems.
Overall, a sporty, cheaper alternative to the imports. Definitely American in style and function, it has a good mix of comfort and sport to its everyday experience. I was able to get leather, sunroof, V6, and a host of other toys for about $5,000 less than what Honda wanted for a similar Accord. Granted, there is not the same level of fit and finish, but I am completely satisfied with the overall quality, and an occasional rattle is worth $5,000 in my pocket anyday. A solid and fun, though not perfect, car.
Update: It has been a little over a year and half and 27k miles, had some updates I thought might be relevant. The biggest thing I have noticed as the car has aged is the softening of the ride/handling of the car. Granted, the handling was never exceptionable, but it was decent enough. Body roll in spirited driving and an excessive amount of up and down motions over rises in the road have gotten more prevalent as the miles have piled up. They have combined to rob confidence in the car's abilities at speed, and its hard to have fun when you're not confident in your machine. Compared to the V6 engines available right now, the 3.4L unit seems woefully underpowered, but it still has enough torque to satisfy most but serious enthusiasts. Gas mileage has remained stellar, at 25-27 mpg. Granted it is 80% highway mileage, but on the stretch of NJ Turnpike I frequent, average speeds are around 80mph, not condusive to fuel economy. Still a competent, reliable daily driver, despite the lack of top notch refinement. If you can live with a rattle or two and some cheap plastics, you'll get a lot of features for not a lot of dough.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 20,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: 2004 Grand Am GT1 Coupe
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mezlax
|
|
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.