Short Lived Grand Am?

[logicman49]

I'm starting to read some stuff again about when the GAs hit 75,000 miles, that everything begins to go south! I bought an '03 GT Black figuring after the 3 yr period is over I'd do some performance things and keep the car like forever. I only do about 4K a year. I don't like hearing this stuff and still wonder why I didn't hear so much before I bought. I refused to buy foreign, and still do... Comments?

[mtnagel]

I sure hope not, I have 73,000 miles! At least I'm almost done paying for it, but I don't want to have to sink a ton of money into it; I want to save up for a new car in a couple years.

[sunrunner_pei]

Besides regular wear items (Rotors, pads, bearings), the only problems the new GAs are particularly prone to are lower intake manifold gasket failure and alternators. If the intake manifold repair is done right, then you're good to go. Alternators can be fixed as well, by replacing it with a good quality alt. Bosche makes a replacement alt with a full 5-year warranty.

[apple jacks48]

I have 79,000 miles on mine and not a problem. I havent put one dollar into repairs in a year and a half that Ive had it.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Ga's can last if taken care of they dont have any more problems than th other GM cars. Except maybe that manifold gasket..but that can be fixed and GM doesnt use the best alternators along with their rotors

[TA^Guy]

We sold our old '95 GASE with the 3100 V6 to my inlaws. I think it has like 112,000 mile son it currently with no major problems. And what has happened to it is either due from my mother in-law driving it or my brother in-law abusing it.
I wouldn't have purchased another if they didn't last well.

[gt karl]

My '97 has cost me $3000 to fix and maintain in the 30 months I've owned it!! Alternator, AC compressor, intake gaskets, brakes, front control arms, rear shocks, etc. Now the AC compressor is making noise again, and it was replaced last year! It will soon need front struts, and it needs front brakes again!!! I like the car, but this is ridiculous; every foreign car I've owned (over a dozen) has gone at least 100,000 miles before any of this stuff broke! My GT has 90,000 miles on it.

[Night Wolf]

Originally posted by gt karl
My '97 has cost me $3000 to fix and maintain in the 30 months I've owned it!! Alternator, AC compressor, intake gaskets, brakes, front control arms, rear shocks, etc. Now the AC compressor is making noise again, and it was replaced last year! It will soon need front struts, and it needs front brakes again!!! I like the car, but this is ridiculous; every foreign car I've owned (over a dozen) has gone at least 100,000 miles before any of this stuff broke! My GT has 90,000 miles on it.

$100/month..... still alot cheap then a loan or payments on a new car......

[klc317]

I've had all the most common GA problems happen to mine with less that 20,000 miles (Goodyear tire problem, intake gasket problem, lower reverse lights full of water, SES light fiasco, leaking trunk, warped brake rotors, etc.) I figure besides an alternator going out, my car is good for 200,000 miles!! LOL!! Fortunately everything seems to be perfect now, so I'm happy.

[BiH]

my 96 SE has over 100K miles now and its being driven every day atleast 50-60 miles. it had some issues but lately it has been driving good (knock on the wood).

[HoosierDude]

my 97 GA has about 98,500 miles on it. Since I got it back at around 70K miles, I've had to replace the alternator due to the belt getting demolished, and right now it needs the idler pulley replaced. Everything else is just general maintenance, and I put 100-120 miles/day easily.

As with any car, the amount of repairs needed depends on how well its been taken care of and how you drive it. I have tended to baby mine since I was unemployed from November until about month ago ;)