Pontiac Grand Prix

[VaSteve]

My AWD daily driver was in the shop on Friday and the dealer gave me a rentail Pontiac since they were out of loaners. On Saturday, I drove it back to the dealer in the freaken snow because I needed the AWD back in my hood. (that's another story for another time).


Anyone ever driven one of the Grand Prix? Awful. It's a big old boat of a car, ugly and nasty inside. I felt like I should have driven directly to a Nascar race. The one I had said "Widetrack" and I could barely get this beast in the garage.

The weird thing is that when you let off the gas, the idle dropped to 900, there was no gradual slowing off the motor like my other automatic cars. Anyone have any experience with one of these bohemouths and why it might perform that way?

[asphaltgambler]

GM was one the first manufacturers to utilize fuel cut-off while de-accelerating in high gear. Less than 1.5 secs after completely letting off of the accelerator the ECM shuts the fuel off until you either step on the big peddle again or the speed drops to under 15 mph. The effect is like a diesel jake-brake.

[Oh Haha]

I test drove a GP GTP last year the day I drove a GTO. I agree with you, boat of a car. It wasn't for me but I talked to quite a few people that really like them. Compared to Audi or VW, it is just a boring, flat car.
I just got a Vibe for a new company car and I hate it! We have to order the base model but it doesn't even have ABS. I thought ALL new cars came standard with that! I got used to traction control and ABS in my every day driver Cavalier. The extra room is nice but driving in the snow is a major PIA.
MY Monday morning rant is done! Thank you,

[VaSteve]

Ahhh. That explains the drop off in revs.

Yes, this thing just felt massive. I'm sure it really would haul azz since it had a lot of power, but nothing else that would have made it enjoyable. I like how the doors opened r e a l l y w i d e to accomodate larger American drivers.

Oh and yes, this thing was terrible in the snow. All that weight and power with no traction control made for an interesting drive this weekend to say the least.

[osidak]

Drove one for 2 months while my TDI was being repaired.

Lets just say I would never want to be the one that bought that car at auction.

Speed bumps at 90 mph
Throwing it into reverse while doing 20 mph
and the list goes on.

Was a 2004 model. I hated it, my wife hated it and my son who maybe 8 months old at the time hated it.

[legion]

I had a Grand Am for four years. I thought it was a great car, but the Grand Prix was too heavy and underpowered. It was trying to be some sort of luxury sport touring sedan, with FWD to boot. With the G6 and the GTO, I don't think there is much of a place for the Grand Prix anymore. Bob Lutz has seen the introduction of both of these cars, and the Solstice. He has also killed the Aztek...maybe time for another mercy killing?

[Les Paul]

My wife had a 98 GTP. It was a great car for the money. Plenty of power, traction control all the bells and whistles. With the traction control the snow had to be over 12 inches for it to get stuck. It would get 25+ mpg on the highway. We got over 215,000 without any major service. Hell the plugs lasted 175k.

On the other hand the fit and finish in the interior was strictly bush league. Everything worked it was just not up to what it could have been. As far as handling it had some kind of handling package so it didn't feel like a barge to me.

[Serge914]

My father has a V6 Grand Prix. Sitting in it, you are obviously in plastic territory. It is quite boring to drive, he doesnt complain about it but he is 79Yo.

[onewhippedpuppy]

A perfect example of the inferiority of American cars, and yet they sell thousands of them. Please God, tell me it's the incentives, I don't want to believe that Americans as a whole think a Pontiac is a high quality car. Also, excepting the GTO who's styling is dull as a brick, what about them embodies "driving excitement"?

[Jay H]

I'm convinced that it's the $4000 cash back and another $1500 off the sticker plus all the GM points you've collected on your GM MasterCard that makes these things sell...

Plus, out in the sticks were I live, you can only buy Chevy, Ford, Chrysler or Pontiac. There are NO Honda, Toyota or other foreign dealerships in these small towns even if you wanted to buy one.

Lots of the hicks by me would never be caught dead in one of dem for-rain cars (anti American ya know to own a Honda). They don't know anything else other than a slushy, wallowy suspension sedan with the old school pushrod Buick 3800 V6 with a 4 speed auto trans thats in every GM car nowdays.

My sister owns a '03 Monte Carlo SS (3800 Buick V6 with a slushbox). Man, what a heavy, pig of a car. Not much hussle in that thing. She just wouldn't consider anything outside of GM and feels safe with the US made car for some reason.

[Clowd]

My friend has a 2001 GTP.. He let me drive it for a little bit and DAMN that thing had power..

Wouldn't catch me buying one, though. Needs a 5/6 speed option first of all, and have you seen the coupe edition?! It looks maybe a tad bit better than the rest of the American coupes(Seems like all they do is keep the body and stretch the front doors!)

[Jay H]

...on the other hand, my co-worker has a 1992 Buick Century station wagon (mid size - not the full size boat they made those years). He's got 312,000 miles on it. Still looks exceptional for it's age with no rust, no body damage, and a clean interior with minimal wear. He's had it (dealer) maintained extremely well with oil changes every 3000 miles and always keeps up with maintenance.

The 3300 Buick motor has never been apart. He's on his second transmission after the first one failed around the 250,000 mile mark. I think most of the reason for the longevity is that most of the miles are highway miles and he also keeps up with maintenance. He's got all the records and if you do the numbers, that car is basically running for free now...