whats SE stand for?

[2kgrandam]

wondering

[tido_29]

i got a second edition (but i could be wrong) went to a acronym finder website

[sunrunner_pei]

From the FAQ: http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4943

[Crackers]

:D :D :D

Shawn, it's like the joke where a guy walks into a room and says "52" and everyone laughs. Then he says "41" and everyone laughs. Later he explains to a newcommer that everyone heard the jokes before, so now they just say the joke # and they all laugh at the joke!

The past few posts you refered poeple to other previous posts and the above joke just jumped into my mind!! :D :D :D

[sunrunner_pei]

Originally posted by wiseman
:D :D :D

Shawn, it's like the joke where a guy walks into a room and says "52" and everyone laughs. Then he says "41" and everyone laughs. Later he explains to a newcommer that everyone heard the jokes before, so now they just say the joke # and they all laugh at the joke!

The past few posts you refered poeple to other previous posts and the above joke just jumped into my mind!! :D :D :D

:lol: I know what you mean, Howard. ;)

[BBT]

SE stands for 'Stripper Edition', as much as a GA can be considered a 'stripper'.




OH boy! Am I gonna get it now from the lower ranks! Hee! Heeee!:bolt:

[sunrunner_pei]

Originally posted by BBT
OH boy! Am I gonna get it now from the lower ranks! Hee! Heeee!:bolt:

:agree: :lol: :lurk:

[Marks95GAGT]

Originally posted by wiseman
:D :D :D

Shawn, it's like the joke where a guy walks into a room and says "52" and everyone laughs. Then he says "41" and everyone laughs. Later he explains to a newcommer that everyone heard the jokes before, so now they just say the joke # and they all laugh at the joke!

The past few posts you refered poeple to other previous posts and the above joke just jumped into my mind!! :D :D :D

I don't know if you know it or not, but according a computer (I think it was built buy frog like beings) in Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 41 is the meaning of life. Just thought you should know that......so it is a pretty serious number and not just a joke.......:D

[CDR Speed]

Could it be "Special Edition" ? I know that's what is meant when they throw that designation on a tore-a$$ and the nissan maxima.

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by BBT
SE stands for 'Stripper Edition', as much as a GA can be considered a 'stripper'.
Crap, when we bought our SE it didn't come with a stripper! I've been had!!!

On that note it all depends on what make or model you refer too, different companies use different acronyms.

[redgrandam]

There is no LE GA is there?? unless just in the older models.. ???

[ferran586]

I think LE was just in the older models, if at all.

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by BBT
... OH boy! Am I gonna get it now from the lower ranks! Hee! Heeee!:bolt:

Hey man ... no fears ... we ALL understand how people can get when they're jealous :D :lol:

[2001GAGT]

Originally posted by 99grandamse
Hey man ... no fears ... we ALL understand how people can get when they're jealous :D :lol:

This coming form a Man who Put a GT exhust, RamAir and GT rims on his SE. J/k Kelly :bolt:

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by 2001GAGT
This coming form a Man who Put a GT exhust, RamAir and GT rims on his SE. J/k Kelly :bolt:

Yep ... but it is still an SE :) ... or should I say, "Style Enhanced" :D

[donalson]

Shitty econo-box?

er guess we need to trade our SE badges w/ a few civics :D

mark

[BBT]

As for 'LE', doesn't that generally stand for 'Low End'?

As for any jealousy on my part, nah, how can I be when I have a fully loaded GT?

Enjoy what ya drive guys.:beer:

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by BBT
... how can I be when I have a fully loaded GT? ...


Easy ... because you don't have a "fully loaded SE" :wink4: :lol: :kidding:

[BBT]

Originally posted by 99grandamse
Easy ... because you don't have a "fully loaded SE" :wink4: :lol: :kidding:

Lemme see here (checking equipment availability 1995 SE vs 1995 GT), ahhhhhhh nnnnnnnnope! I still have it beat! Hee heeeeeeeeee! This is fun! :bounce2:

[CDR Speed]

Could it be "Styling Envy" ? I see all the GT guys gettin upset here, can't help but wonder. lol, j/k

[GrandAmageGT]

They should come out with the PDAWTLSFE GA......Forget the SE and the GT....everyone go out and by the Please Dont Ask What These Letters Stand For Edition....:D

[sunrunner_pei]

:funny: :bigok:

[GrandAmageGT]

And speaking of thread hijacking..........:rofl2:

[GrandAmageGT]

Ya know actually I wonder....I'd lean toward SE standing for Sport Edition....but I dont know. I mean...it's not "special" in the sense from other GA's. They are all unique in their own design and additions. Hmmmm........:lol:

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by BBT
Lemme see here (checking equipment availability 1995 SE vs 1995 GT), ahhhhhhh nnnnnnnnope! I still have it beat! Hee heeeeeeeeee! This is fun! :bounce2:

:lol: ... fun huh?!? :rofl2:

[GrandAm95]

the SE stands for Sport Edition, dont ask me but that is what it says under SE on the side of my door so i have a strong belief that is what it stands for. but one problem isnt the gt sportier??? :shrug:

[Shydogg5]

LE= Luxury Edition. More luxurious and sometimes more economical. More of a momma car or so. Like the early model GA's some were LE and they didn't have some of the features that the SE have.

SE= Sports Edition. Less luxurious, more features. Late model SE's came with a spoiler or a luggage rack on the trunk. More so have bigger engines. Most SE's came with a 2.3 DOHC auto or a 5 speed. <~~Not available on the LE's. Or they had the 2.1 Turbo. Also not available on LE's. It is just the difference in options. The SE's were not made with four doors. Which all of that gave it a sporty look. I drive a 89 GA SE, has better engine, spoiler, and look than those damned LE's.

GT=(correct me if I am wrong) Grand Touring. All available options. Spoiler, often dual exhaust, 5 speed, auto with overdrive etc...... Some say an over all better car, but I dunno about being better. :D (Make a post if you wanna argue the topic!) Just thought I would offer my two cents on the topic.
By the way, how bout our troops??!!!?? My tribute to them..............
:flag:

[BBT]

Originally posted by GrandAm95
the SE stands for Sport Edition, dont ask me but that is what it says under SE on the side of my door so i have a strong belief that is what it stands for. but one problem isnt the gt sportier??? :shrug:

Yeah, that's what Pontiac would like you to think, but it really is just more equipment added to the car, some of which is not available on the SEs, or options that are not available on the SE. I dunno about GT making it 'sportier'. If 2 tail pipes & bigger tires make a 'sports' car, then I guess a GT is one. But really, these cars are just family sedans, but I guess compared to a Buick Lesabre, any Grand Am is 'sportier'.

[GrandAmageGT]

Yeah you'd think the GT would come out with better struts, and maybe some sway bars etc.....The handling on the GT is nice steering-wise, but the body roll make it seem not so GT.....

[Madman]

i think it means "Should have got a gt Everyone". Just kidding, stupid joke. Grand am is a Grand am, how cares what the bag says. were all going to think ours is better than the next.

:pontiac:

[Madman]

hey guys, isnt this part of the forum suppose to be about tech info, and not about witch model is better.

i have a dodge dakota and am a part of a dak forum, you guys sound just like the 5.9l guys arguing that the engine is better than the 4.7l. they are both good engines so who cares. just like they are both good cars, who cares.

[BBT]

Well in the spirit of being a 'tech' forum, 'technically' the GT is better than the SE. So there!:moon:

[TA^Guy]

Remember guys, the third generation GA's came in two models. The LX and the SE, the SE being the spotier of the two. IIRC it wasn't until '92 that the SE became the base model and the GT was the sportier package.
Originally posted by GrandAMage GT
Yeah you'd think the GT would come out with better struts, and maybe some sway bars etc.....The handling on the GT is nice steering-wise, but the body roll make it seem not so GT..... The GT does have sway bars, actually larger sway bars than the SE.
I don't know if you've ever driven a SE but there is a big difference in handling. I'm sure Shawn can attest to that seeing as he just went from a '99 SE to a '03 GT.

[donalson]

Originally posted by TA^Guy
Remember guys, the third generation GA's came in two models. The LX and the SE, the SE being the spotier of the two. IIRC it wasn't until '92 that the SE became the base model and the GT was the sportier package.
The GT does have sway bars, actually larger sway bars than the SE.
I don't know if you've ever driven a SE but there is a big difference in handling. I'm sure Shawn can attest to that seeing as he just went from a '99 SE to a '03 GT.

what years have the rear sway bar? hopeing it's the mid 90's lol... i want a rear sway bar :(

mark

[GrandAmageGT]

Originally posted by TA^Guy
Remember guys, the third generation GA's came in two models. The LX and the SE, the SE being the spotier of the two. IIRC it wasn't until '92 that the SE became the base model and the GT was the sportier package.
The GT does have sway bars, actually larger sway bars than the SE.
I don't know if you've ever driven a SE but there is a big difference in handling. I'm sure Shawn can attest to that seeing as he just went from a '99 SE to a '03 GT.

Yeah I've driven an SE before....my 98 was an SE. In all actuallity I thought my SE took curves better than the 01 GT...though with a different body style there may be other forces at work there. Ahh....sometimes I miss my 98 SE...it was champagne colored and a great ride IMO. Bottom line is the 01GT takes curves pretty well but I think they could have improved the body roll factor on these models.

[sunrunner_pei]

OK, the real deal on suspension differences betweeen the '99-'03 SE and '99-'03 GT:

The GT has stiffer struts (I know that aftermarket struts make no seperation between SE and GT, but from the factory, the GT struts ARE stiffer). Front springs are the same (AFAIK), rear springs are a few pounds softer on the GT. Both the SE and GT have anti-sway bars. The difference is that the GT's bars are larger diameter. To finish it off, the GT throws in the 225/50R16 Goodyear Eagle RSA. It's not a great tire, but it's 200% better than the flimsy sidewall and poor bite of the 225/50R16 Goodyear Eagle LS tire that's optional on the SE, or the 215/60R15 on the base SE.

I've had both, driven many of both. The SE rides smoother. The GT feels better in the corners. The is a major difference in road feel and handling between the two. But as far as I'm concerned, a lot of the handling differences are due to the better tires on the GT.

[GrandAmageGT]

Originally posted by sunrunner_pei
OK, the real deal on suspension differences betweeen the '99-'03 SE and '99-'03 GT:

The GT has stiffer struts (I know that aftermarket struts make no seperation between SE and GT, but from the factory, the GT struts ARE stiffer). Front springs are the same (AFAIK), rear springs are a few pounds softer on the GT. Both the SE and GT have anti-sway bars. The difference is that the GT's bars are larger diameter. To finish it off, the GT throws in the 225/50R16 Goodyear Eagle RSA. It's not a great tire, but it's 200% better than the flimsy sidewall and poor bite of the 225/50R16 Goodyear Eagle LS tire that's optional on the SE, or the 215/60R15 on the base SE.

I've had both, driven many of both. The SE rides smoother. The GT feels better in the corners. The is a major difference in road feel and handling between the two. But as far as I'm concerned, a lot of the handling differences are due to the better tires on the GT.


Interesting. So if I went ahead and lowered the car...and perhaps got some good aftermarket struts would the overall ride (cornering and smoothness) improve a good deal or just a touch. Also...anti-sway bars...are they located on the front and rear of the vehicle? And if so, where? Under the hood near the firewall on the front? I wanna make this puppy "float" on air.

[sunrunner_pei]

Originally posted by GrandAMage GT
Interesting. So if I went ahead and lowered the car...and perhaps got some good aftermarket struts would the overall ride (cornering and smoothness) improve a good deal or just a touch. Also...anti-sway bars...are they located on the front and rear of the vehicle? And if so, where? Under the hood near the firewall on the front? I wanna make this puppy "float" on air.

Loweing the car will generally improve handling. Replacement struts may be built to either SE or GT specs, you would never know for sure. Lowering struts would likely be as stiff as GT struts, or stiffer.

As for the anti-sway bars, you have to take the wheels off to see them. You may be confusing anti-sway bars with Strut tower braces, which serve a different purpose, and are in the engine bay. Anti-sway bars (also called "anti-roll bars" or "sway bars") tie your suspension arms together for better, more level cornering. When one suspension arm is compressed, it forces the opposite arm to extend to a certain degree, increasing grip to the opposite tire. At the same time, they also reduce body roll, as they're attached to the sub-frames under the car. The larger diameter the anti-sway bar, the stiffer it becomes. The stiffer it becomes, the less body roll you get.

[GrandAmageGT]

Originally posted by sunrunner_pei
Loweing the car will generally improve handling. Replacement struts may be built to either SE or GT specs, you would never know for sure. Lowering struts would likely be as stiff as GT struts, or stiffer.

As for the anti-sway bars, you have to take the wheels off to see them. You may be confusing anti-sway bars with Strut tower braces, which serve a different purpose, and are in the engine bay. Anti-sway bars (also called "anti-roll bars" or "sway bars") tie your suspension arms together for better, more level cornering. When one suspension arm is compressed, it forces the opposite arm to extend to a certain degree, increasing grip to the opposite tire. At the same time, they also reduce body roll, as they're attached to the sub-frames under the car. The larger diameter the anti-sway bar, the stiffer it becomes. The stiffer it becomes, the less body roll you get.

Excellent information Shawn, thanks. Also....as for the Strut Tower braces....what is their purpose. Would it be beneficial to install it on my car? Also...in terms of struts, is stiffer better or worse?

[sunrunner_pei]

Originally posted by GrandAMage GT
Excellent information Shawn, thanks. Also....as for the Strut Tower braces....what is their purpose. Would it be beneficial to install it on my car? Also...in terms of struts, is stiffer better or worse?

Strut Tower Braces (Or STBs) server one purpose: to reduce body flex between the strut towers. This will tighten up the car (Mor rigid body structure), and allow the suspension to work to it's full potential, rather than having body flex absorb some of the shock. On a car such as ours, what it will do is give you less shake over uneven bumps, such as railroad crossings, etc. They can also help prevent squeaks and rattles over time, since there is less body flex, there are less chances of stuff coming loose.

As for the struts, it depends on what you're looking for for ride charicteristics. If you want the best cornering ability, stiffer is better. If you want a smooth ride over rough roads, then softer is better. It's all a tradeoff. On daily driver passenger cars like ours, the manufacturer tries to come up with a compromise to please the middle ground. Most people that buy these cars don't road race them, so rock-solid handling is not what they're designed for. But they're "sportier" than many other cars, so they ride a little more firm than many.

What you have to understand is that shocks (struts) and springs have to work together, as they compiment eachother. If you go with a stiff spring, you need to compliment them with stiffer struts for proper handling, or you'll end up with a bouncy ride.

[GrandAmageGT]

All that makes perfect sense Shawn, thanks again. Time to do some "looking into".

[antoniobanderas]

SE stands for super sport in my country

[Prospeeder]

Sexy Edition!! duh! I find that its true the 98 SE handle worlds differently than the 99+ grand ams, cause my friend drives like a nut, and its got prolly half the body roll my moms GAGT has, but no where near the performance, lol! poor little 2.4 has a little pep, but not enough, funny how every time he takes off he brings the RPM's to at least 4k then lets off the gas and it shifts, he wonders why the car gets such awful milege

[SPECIALGAGT]

"52", "41".

Here's the second half of that 100 yr old joke.
"....so the new guy thinks awhile, and shouts out "87!!"
There comes back dead silence. "What's wrong?. he asks the other guy.
"Well, fella, some guys just CAN'T tell a joke!".

[sunrunner_pei]

:shrug:

[levey]

Geez. I took heat for digging up a thread that was only a year old.

[antoniobanderas]

easy SE stands for SUPER SPORT Period :cool:

[levey]

So....you're driving a 1993 Grand Am Super Sport ? :lol:

Hot dang. I got me a 2001 Super Sport, and dint' even know it. :lol:

[Rayz]

SE= shitty engine

[levey]

Soapbox entry

[Prospeeder]

Standard Edition?

[RocketFast321]

sh!tty edition.

[antoniobanderas]

HOW ABOUT SHITTY ENGINEERING ? PERFECT !