1996 Pontiac Grand Am Consumer Reviews

Love the car hate the gas

Written by: stillarebel31 on 03/26/2008

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

Where is it going? The gas, one minute i can fill my tank on $40.00. 3 days later I am on E. Not happy where is it all going? I am sure not hotrodding it cant afford to go out much or drive all over ) just go to work and back. and i had over a 1/2 tank this afternoon same day i have quarter of a tank... my only problem is the power steering hose and the gas the GAS where is it going... My boyfriend is a mechanic I bought the car from a mechanic and i am getting mad. that i can't keep gas in this car,

Favorite Features

everything but the gas

Suggested Improvements

GAS GAS GAS GAS it goes bye bye way too fast and the serpentine belt is a pain to change.

1 out 3 people found this review helpful

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BAD

Written by: custom man on 03/19/2008

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I've had the car for almost 2 years, it is a 5 speed and i luv the car to death, i've had problems all the time but nothing to major all the time. i've replaced the tranny and clutch once and it ran amazingly since. I street race the car, i have a custom exhaust on it, custom intake, and a lot of interior work do to it. they come with the Z24 racing engine (stock 150 HP) since all my mods i have figured that the car has about 185 hp now and amazing take off and torque. i have a lot of corners around here and the car cornered well before hand but now i have replace all the control arms, sway bar mounts, tie rod boots, and end links and the car is amazing at cornering now. All in all i luv the car.

Favorite Features

the sound of the engine with a can on it is amazing it has the deep throaty bubbling sound, it doesn't have the farting bee sound to it.

Suggested Improvements

really no improvements i think, maybe make the firewall more accessible so the the amps battery wore can go through the fire wall. and make the engine a little bit more open to give it as much power as possible stock then the next owner con improve it more.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Beware!

Written by: Cleo on 09/07/2007

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr GT Sedan

Review

I bought this car 2 years ago for my son. I have probably spend over $3500 in repairs since then. From the alternator 3 weeks after I bought it to the failure of the electrical system to the the cracked radiator ect...I gave up and put this car where it belong: to the junk yard. If you start having problems with this car..think twice before atrating to spend hundreds of dollars in repairs. It is not worth it.

Favorite Features

n/a

Suggested Improvements

n/a

1 out 3 people found this review helpful

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my grand am

Written by: squeakers on 02/28/2007

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr GT Sedan

Review

my mother bought this car one year after it came out, in 1997, it is now 2007, when i got my license she gave me this car, and it still runs like new..even though it has almost 300,000 miles on it...in a few months i am going to be trading it in for a new one, because the quality is outstanding....

Favorite Features

my favorite features are the 5 speed manual trans., and the automatic lights, and the list goes on...

Suggested Improvements

none the car is perfect....

6 out 7 people found this review helpful

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It sure has been built for keeps!

Written by: T Lo on 11/02/2006

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I bought my 2.4L, 4 cyl Grand Am in 1997 used with 30,000 miles. Currently, it's a shade under 170,000 and she's still going strong. I get ragged by many friends who say I have an old ugly car, but I can't disagree more. A few mechanical problems have occurred (2 alternators, 2 water pumps, window motors that STINK, and a vacuum tube that baffled every mechanic except a Pontiac dealership) have occurred in 9 years. Currently, itching at getting a G6 Convertible. It's hard not to keep this car until the wheels fall off, nice not having a car note! I have no regrets owning this car during my entire 20's. Installed alarm and CD disk changer, so it's been functional and fun for me.

Favorite Features

I've always liked the seats and headrests (they go straight up, unlike the G6 that juts forward). I'm sure those cloth seats molded to my body over the past 9 years! Good get up and go for a 4 cylinder.

Suggested Improvements

An assorted group of squeaks and rattles, but sometimes they would just disappear! Had the instrument cluster replaced a few times back in 1997, the fuel gauge still is NOT accurate - keep up with your mileage (found out the hard way!). Rear ended in 1999, trunk still has leak problem, o well.

4 out 7 people found this review helpful

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Good Bargain, Reliable. Style

Written by: big-G on 07/17/2006

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I bought it with 94,000 and now have 115,000. The 2.4L DOHC 4 cylinder motor has great low end aceleration and great high end tourqe. No maintenance other than routine and an 0-2 sensor which was only 70 dollars and isnt an urgent problem. The car does have the tendency to overheat after longer rides with the A/C on, but what car wouldnt after so many miles. The exterior is very sporty looking and stylish for the price. The interior is comfortable but can feel a little cramped for the front passenger. Also, the car could have a little higher quality door panels etc. they tend to rattle and may feel a little "cheap". decent stock sound. great handling and cornering. Awesome speed for its class.

Favorite Features

The car is an all around bargain. rides and runs very well at high mileage. looks great. Very fun to drive. Quick. Good corners. Low Maitence. A/c and Heat work well. comfortable bucket seats.

Suggested Improvements

when compared to its foreign competitors, the interior looks great yet feels a little cheap and tends to rattle. gear changes are semi- jumpy, yet many automatics in these years were. besides, it adds to the sporty feel and jumps less then all my friends honda's, acura's from same year range.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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great car

Written by: mr_smith on 06/11/2006

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

My first car was this 1996 Grand Am. All I have to say is that this car took a beating and kept on going. I ran it hard and didn't take care of it the way I should've. My parents gave me the car with about 115,000 miles on it. The only repair they had done was giving it a new alternator. I drove the car for about 50,000 miles (hard and without proper maintenance) with no problems. I backed into a tree and a minivan (hit the van pretty hard) with no damage at all. I rear ended a blazer and the only damage from that was a hole in bumper from the trailor hitch. The only problem I had with the car is that the gas gauge was messed up but if you kept over a 1/4 tank then you'd be fine.

Favorite Features

This car had plenty of room for friends. Very easy to get in and out quickly.

Suggested Improvements

Gas gauge

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Total road warrior

Written by: Jordan on 03/27/2006

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I have had my car since august 2005 and it has been so much fun. it is so great for having fun in whether it be street dragging or what ever it still got the job done in the end it has great low end and high end torque and everything is original except the alternater t-stat battery and starter and of course maintanance stuff. but if i was given the opportunity to buy another one it would be sooo worth it and i was 18 when i bought it on my own and there is not a day where i would go without it. and it handles so quickly and well at 90 mph and when going that fast you look at the road and your doing 110 mph without even knowing it. IT HAS A GREAT SOUND SYSTEM.

Favorite Features

Well handling at high speeds and quick acceleration and gets me about 250 miles per gas tank on 15 gallons of regular unleaded.

Suggested Improvements

little more time spent on the back seat.

0 out 5 people found this review helpful

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96 Grand Am disappointing

Written by: Ken Stufflebeam on 02/21/2006

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I bought this car for my teenage sons to drive, 98k, SE model, 4-door, 4 cyl, auto. Thought it would be economical and practical transportation. Trans failed at 108k, no heater now - core failure, many repairs required, gas mileage not great for a 4 cyl, 21 city 26 hwy, squeeks, creaks, rattles. In all fairness it was worn out when I got it and you get what you pay for.

Favorite Features

It has a nice stance, it's a good looking car and didn't cost much. It has a good engine 2.4 4cyl, does not leak oil and continues to run pretty good after 112000 miles.

Suggested Improvements

Components aren't made to last.

5 out 6 people found this review helpful

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Great Car

Written by: Mary Todd on 10/29/2005

Vehicle

1996 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr SE Sedan

Review

I bought this car new and have had very good luck with it overall. Gas mileage averages 33 MPG. It always starts and runs very well.

Favorite Features

Style, color, mileage

Suggested Improvements

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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