Cars cost quite a lot of money these days. That's the first thought that sprang to mind when considering the reasonably priced sport coupe from Pontiac. The average price of a new car is just over $20,000, and that's accounting for a market saturated by hundreds of thousands of cheap little subcompacts that come with four cylinders and all the interior space of a phone booth. So $20,000 is actually not much to pay for a car in the late 1990s, difficult as that may be to fathom.
General Motors can be credited with putting value back into the compact sport coupe. Chrysler's Dodge Avenger offers an optional V6, but, when comparably equipped, the Avenger is unmasked as a value-priced poser. Mercury's Cougar offers excellent handling at a reasonable price, but its styling makes the Grand Am GT look conservative by comparison. GM has, however, done credit to their name: They've combined a powerful engine with competent handling, boastful styling, and all of the options people really need, and they've made the whole package affordable.
Let's start with the boastful styling, because that's one issue that must account for personal taste, so we'll confront it head-on. The Grand Am GT's flanks look as if they were derived from either an accordion or a starving cheetah. The ribbed look is a Pontiac signature, but we prefer the clean lines of the Oldsmobile Alero. Perhaps the car's homeliest feature is the rear deck spoiler, which looks not unlike the tail fin of a humpback whale. Still, we can't say the Grand Am lacks character. It may lack refined lines or the inherent beauty of simple design, but what it lacks in grace it makes up for in flair.
The interior of the Grand Am is similarly wacky. The instrument cluster is divided by an arching double scoop, separating speedometer from tachometer. Three central vent portals are another Pontiac theme, but, combined with the strange arrangement in front of the steering wheel, the vents appear otherworldly. On a positive note, the center controls are angled toward the driver, and everything is easily within reach. Seats are supportive and comfortable for long periods of time, so despite the bizarre appearance, the Grand Am provides a well-planned and ergonomic atmosphere.
The drive is another pleasant surprise. We have driven the SE version of this car in the past, and its excessive body roll and harsh 2.4-liter base engine detracted from our enjoyment. The GT comes with one available engine: the 3.4-liter V6, which is a fine machine in itself. It develops 170 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque in its normally aspirated variety, but our test car came with Ram Air induction, providing an additional five horsepower and ten foot-pounds of torque, and making the one-and-a-half ton coupe move from zero to 60 in about eight seconds. Unfortunately for the purist, the V6 is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, so the fun ratio is not as high as we'd like it to be.
Standard fare on the Grand Am GT includes air conditioning, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, traction control, V6 engine, automatic transmission and fancy 16-inch wheels. Option code "1SB" turns the GT Coupe into a GT1 Coupe. This package includes all the basic necessities in life such as cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, and remote keyless entry. What you may not expect to find included in this option is a power sunroof, six-way power driver's seat, steering wheel-mounted radio controls, and an up-level sound system including CD player and subwoofer. Our test car also came with the UN1 option, which adds a cassette player to the stereo, and DT4, which is the option smokers will crave if they want a lighter and an ashtray.
The GT version of the Grand Am also benefits from stiffer springs than the SE, and the difference is noticeable. Carving two-lane roads through the mountains in the GT Coupe, we didn't once feel the need to ingest a Dramamine tablet. Steering offers a respectable amount of feedback from the road, and the transmission did an excellent job keeping up with our rapid acceleration and deceleration maneuvers around turns, always allowing just the right amount of torque through to the wheels.
Topping out at the cost of an average-priced American car, the Grand Am offers a value that is much better than average. A powerful engine, nimble handling and a spacious interior are all found on the Grand Am GT Coupe, and if you can get past the body-side ribs and goofy spoiler, this car won't make you starved for attention or fun.
General Motors can be credited with putting value back into the compact sport coupe. Chrysler's Dodge Avenger offers an optional V6, but, when comparably equipped, the Avenger is unmasked as a value-priced poser. Mercury's Cougar offers excellent handling at a reasonable price, but its styling makes the Grand Am GT look conservative by comparison. GM has, however, done credit to their name: They've combined a powerful engine with competent handling, boastful styling, and all of the options people really need, and they've made the whole package affordable.
Let's start with the boastful styling, because that's one issue that must account for personal taste, so we'll confront it head-on. The Grand Am GT's flanks look as if they were derived from either an accordion or a starving cheetah. The ribbed look is a Pontiac signature, but we prefer the clean lines of the Oldsmobile Alero. Perhaps the car's homeliest feature is the rear deck spoiler, which looks not unlike the tail fin of a humpback whale. Still, we can't say the Grand Am lacks character. It may lack refined lines or the inherent beauty of simple design, but what it lacks in grace it makes up for in flair.
The interior of the Grand Am is similarly wacky. The instrument cluster is divided by an arching double scoop, separating speedometer from tachometer. Three central vent portals are another Pontiac theme, but, combined with the strange arrangement in front of the steering wheel, the vents appear otherworldly. On a positive note, the center controls are angled toward the driver, and everything is easily within reach. Seats are supportive and comfortable for long periods of time, so despite the bizarre appearance, the Grand Am provides a well-planned and ergonomic atmosphere.
The drive is another pleasant surprise. We have driven the SE version of this car in the past, and its excessive body roll and harsh 2.4-liter base engine detracted from our enjoyment. The GT comes with one available engine: the 3.4-liter V6, which is a fine machine in itself. It develops 170 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque in its normally aspirated variety, but our test car came with Ram Air induction, providing an additional five horsepower and ten foot-pounds of torque, and making the one-and-a-half ton coupe move from zero to 60 in about eight seconds. Unfortunately for the purist, the V6 is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, so the fun ratio is not as high as we'd like it to be.
Standard fare on the Grand Am GT includes air conditioning, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, traction control, V6 engine, automatic transmission and fancy 16-inch wheels. Option code "1SB" turns the GT Coupe into a GT1 Coupe. This package includes all the basic necessities in life such as cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, and remote keyless entry. What you may not expect to find included in this option is a power sunroof, six-way power driver's seat, steering wheel-mounted radio controls, and an up-level sound system including CD player and subwoofer. Our test car also came with the UN1 option, which adds a cassette player to the stereo, and DT4, which is the option smokers will crave if they want a lighter and an ashtray.
The GT version of the Grand Am also benefits from stiffer springs than the SE, and the difference is noticeable. Carving two-lane roads through the mountains in the GT Coupe, we didn't once feel the need to ingest a Dramamine tablet. Steering offers a respectable amount of feedback from the road, and the transmission did an excellent job keeping up with our rapid acceleration and deceleration maneuvers around turns, always allowing just the right amount of torque through to the wheels.
Topping out at the cost of an average-priced American car, the Grand Am offers a value that is much better than average. A powerful engine, nimble handling and a spacious interior are all found on the Grand Am GT Coupe, and if you can get past the body-side ribs and goofy spoiler, this car won't make you starved for attention or fun.
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