I know this is an off road site but. . .

[Darkman]

I'm thinking about buying this car for my wife, does anyone have any feedback on these?

2000 Pontiac Grand Am SE
3.4L V6
160,000 miles
New tires (? brand) and alignment
Recently tuned up
New belts
Body good (no rust or dents)
Runs great
Used as comuter vehicle for work/school
Currently registered and inspected in NH.
Asking $2295 or best offer

[SteveP612]

My wife has a 02 same car except that it has that Ecotech four cyl in it.  We just hit 130,000 miles on it and have not had any problems with it at all.  Except for front brakes.  I would reccomend it to anyone.

[RIP_K52007]

not bad price for a 00'  ... i think the 3.4's are known for intake gaskets goin bad... thats something to keep in mind..  that motor might run ya 240,000 if your nice to it.. ya never know.   the 4cyl models are really slow, but get another 8-10mpg, and them engines are known for running forever

[free2blaze]

I would think you could find somthing compairable for that price with less miles, it looks nice but I wouldnt think the motor would be good for much more than another 70,000 miles, personally I wouldnt give more than maybe 1600.00 for it and I would still look around more before paying that for it, just my opinion, good luck

[chevyman350]

its a good but except fer the miles but it is a pontiac so itl prolly last at least another 20-30thousand but thats if yer lucky just keep searchin unless u realy need a car

[1WickedZ71]

I have had a few Grand Am 3.4's they are great until about 150k then they get to be alot of problems. So if you can get it cheap enough then i say do it if you don't mind putting a motor in it with in a year i would guess.. Good luck.

[7387chevynut]

I wouldnt let the mileage scare you..........I owned a 1982 Buick with 4 cylinder in it......put over 150,000 miles on it, (car had 87,000 original)...........motor had lifter tick.......but thats commmon on 4 bangers. I never had any problems other than body rotting out.

As long as you do regular maintence checks/fluid changes. That motor should last as long as you need it.............no different than a 350 chevy in my mind.

[Eroq]

3.4s are decent motors. known for the intake gasket leak.

160k is pretty high, i would offer him 2000 for it, but first take it to a reputable mechanic and have them look it over.

[Econo-box from Hell]

The price is right for the miles.  Have it inspected to see if there are any issues with it before you buy.  Try to see if the intake gasket has been replaced on this unit.  At 160K I'm almose sure it has.

The biggest failure I see with these engines is people overheating them (water pump failure, intake gasket failure, etc.) and damaging the engines.  Another problem I've see a few times is is the intake gasket failing allowing antifreeze to mix with the oil.  If people drive these engines like this it has a tendency to take out the bearings.  Sometimes the bearing failure is delayed until after the intake has been repaired (usually within a month) so be cautious if the intake gaskets have just been done.

It's a good idea to stick with GM.  It seems like GM products are better supported in the parts industry and GM allows far more information to get out to the repair industry making it's product easy to repair (and cheaper) should a problem arise.  Other manufactures make good products, I just find GMs easier to work on.

[Ranger Dave]

my wife had a  grand am gt   for  7  yrs  had  no trouble with it.   now  my daughter  driving it.

[Bigdaddy]

Ive had a few grand ams   been good cars...

[Hammerlane]

My wife had a Grand Am GT, nice little car. I'm 6'4"  and fit in it quite well, car was a little squirrelly on snow though and the engine issue seems to be the biggest concern, pay close attention to it.

[Darkman]

Thanks everyone, I plan to offer between $1800 and $2000 cash. My buddy Chris is a frame swap specialist for Cambray's Automotive and Collision in Nashua, NH. and he's comming with me to look at it/ test drive it. This is the only '99 or newer Grand Am that I've been able to find for less than $3500.

[Mudbuster]

Thanks everyone, I plan to offer between $1800 and $2000 cash. My buddy Chris is a frame swap specialist for Cambray's Automotive and Collision in Nashua, NH. and he's comming with me to look at it/ test drive it. This is the only '99 or newer Grand Am that I've been able to find for less than $3500.

when you take it for the test drive if the owner doesn't come with you then I would go to a parking lot some where and have a flashlight with ya and look it over real good. personally I don't like people looking over my shoulder when I'm doing stuff like that.

[Disturban]

3.4's are good motors...as already stated the intake gaskets are a real common problem. My mom has a 3.4 in a 1995 buick skylark, basically same thing as grand am. The intake gasked started leaking at about 150k and I fixed it for her and she drove that car for another 100,000 miles until she got into and accedent with it. The insurance company called it totaled gave her a check and my uncle bought the car for a $100...this was in 2005 and he put a new hood, bumper, fenders ect ect on it and has put like another 30k on that car...280,000 miles and still going strong. The only work that ever needed to be done on that car besides the intake gasket was brakes, oil changes, new tires and wiper blades...thats it nothing else not even a tail lite bulb!

[Mrs. OC]

The real question is does she like it... and cant ya talk her into a truck? some have 4 doors... and they can haul alot more stuff...  Seriously it looks like a nice car.. probly gets good gas millage...

[Darkman]

She likes that body style, we didn't end up buying that one we bought a '99 Grand Am se it looks the same as the one in the picture only its white. It has fresh paint, he fixed some minor cosmetic damage (dings on the body kit, crack in bumper) and sprayed it. It has 117K, decent tires (Mastercraft), alloys, and power everything. we paid $2,600 cash.

[Darkman]

We got the car a day late because they had to relace the front calipers and brake pads. We have it for one day and it starts pissing antifreeze everywhere. I look under the hood and see antifreeze all over everything but can't pin point the leak. I call the guy I bought it from and he told me to imeaditly bring it to his mechanic. So we dropped it off tonite so they can work on it first thing in the morning. I can't wait to hear what they tell me is wrong.

[PathWayMan]

haven't owned one yet but they are a nice looking ride for sure

[Darkman]

That car was junk so he went out and got us a 2001 Grand Am 2.4. Real nice one, we've put about 8,000 miles on it so far and the only complaint so far is the 2.4 is pretty sackless.