Opinions on '94 GA

[tikiboy]

I have to write a paper for one of my college classes. They assignment is to write a paper on a real world topic. We had to draw topics and my topic was:

You are buying a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am with 74000 miles. Find out what is a good price and maintence/reliabilty issues with this car.

I about crapped my pants as I have a 99 and used to have a 92 GA!! Luck of the draw I guess. Anyway, I would appreciate any and all information you can throw me about this topic. Of course, I have my own thoughts but would like to hear everyone elses that know something or own one.

Thanks in Advance!!! :cool:

[SpecialFX]

First off, it's low miles for the year. It's a fairly reliable car with the quad4, not as much with the v6 (3100 i beleive it is?) Known problems are with the brakes, whch is widely recognized. Even when working the brakes aren't great, esp. the rear drums. There was a recall on part of the ignition. If the fix hasn't been performed, your car can spontaneouly combust. Not sure if it applies to all '94s, but it did to mine. It seems from talking to some other owners, that theres often a mysterious SES light that comes and goes sometimes. And from personaly experience, the car gets pretty screwed up (over $3000 in damage) from rear ending someone at about 10mph. Just to note, that was from the previous owner and not my driving, hehe. Condition and options makes a big difference, but I would say a price of around $3000-$4000 would be fair
.

Kind of a long ramble and some of it is more opinion than fact, but I hope it helps.

[92CamaroRS]

the thing about the ses light is the circut board is in a bad place and after ten years of bumbs and stuff the soders break and the light will come on for no reason at all. same goes for alot of the lights int he dash for the 92-95

[dearim]

A good place for reliability info is http://autos.msn.com/

There's reliability ratings for about every model year since 1990 there.

As for pricing, nothing beats http://www.nadaguides.com/

[tikiboy]

Thanks All !!
Keep it a coming !!

[Bouchie11982]

heres a site... http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2094
this will prolly help u with some...

[RedGASE97]

Its a b***h installing a cd player :P thats all i remember about my `94.

[ace_ga]

If it comes with a 3100 V6, then somewhere in the 100,000 mile range the head gaskets will probably blow. Thats a common problem with the 3100s.

[1992grandam]

do u mean head gasket or do u mean the intake gaskets?