Times are tough for most people financially these days. In order to make ends meet, many Americans are turning to cars we normally would've thrown away just a year previously. Now, these clunkers that survived the government buyback program could serve as lifelines for people in desperate need of transportation and don't have the luxury of a robust mass transit system.
This is where the final generation Pontiac Grand Am comes into its own in a way nobody previously expected. A car that was lauded as boring and not as nice as a Toyota or a Volkswagen when it was new is now a hot commodity on websites like Craigslist and eBay Motors. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind if you're looking at a Grand Am as a cheap daily driver. Before you spend your hard-earned money, give this little guide a read.
If you've faced financial hardships as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and are in desperate need of four wheels, there are far worse choices than the Pontiac Grand Am. Sit back, get comfy, and let us tell you why.
Origins In The Malaise Era
The original Pontiac Grand Am came just a shade bit late for the muscle car era. By 1973, emissions standards choked the ever-loving life out of massive V8 engines across America. Even a 455 cubic inch V8 couldn't save the first Grand Ams having the same amount of grace as a cargo ship and the cornering capability to match
The Grand Am would fight an uphill battle against emissions regulations for nearly two decades. Before a dramatic redesign into an ugly, transverse front-wheel-drive economy car that didn't even try to be remotely sporty or muscle car-like.
Any of these generations of Grand-Am are bound to be wasteful and unreliable to drive on a daily basis. This brings our attention back to the four-door fifth and final generation.
Still Not Sporty, But Not Bad Looking Either
The final Generation Grand Am was released at a crossroads moment for General Motors and the American auto industry as a whole. Pontiac knew that making fire breathing muscle cars wouldn't be any good if there wasn't a solid base of affordable and reliable cars that Americans actually wanted to buy.
Bucking the trend of crossover SUVs just for the period, the Grand Am was available in both sedan and coupe models. Allowing the budding new family to travel around in a stylish and funky Pontiac. Unfortunately, that didn't translate into enough sales to make the Grand Am a viable competitor. The car was axed for good in 2005 along with the entire Pontiac brand a few years later.
Mediocre In Its Day, But Vitally Important Now
This latest financial crisis brought on by the covid virus is getting people reconsidering their next auto purchases. In droves, people are turning in their BMW, Infiniti, and Audi leases, and not renewing them. Not because they don't want to, but because it's no longer financially possible.
In this scary new world, the Grand Am Suddenly sounds like not too bad of a bargain. The slushy L61 Ecotec four-cylinder that came in many Grand Ams was sluggish and not fun, to say the least. But in a world where the price of petroleum could explode at a moment's notice. The 30 plus MPG potential makes the Grand Am a reasonable idea in a post covid economy.
Used Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords, and Mazda 6 sedans are also available for around the same money as the Grand Am. But these cars are so reliable that they maintain their value phenomenally well. Meaning that one you may find for the same price as a Grand Am is bound to be absolutely ragged out and beaten up.
Ready To Buy One?
If we've piqued your interest in the Grand-Am and you're in desperate need of wheels, just remember a few things before breaking out the checkbook. For one thing, General Motors products historically haven't always been the most reliable things in the world. So make sure the car you pick out has as detailed of service history as possible.
The four Cylinder engine in the Grand Am is known for sludge buildup and excessive oil consumption if the oil isn't changed at regular intervals. We'll always recommend that the average person change their oil every three months or three thousand miles under normal conditions. Make sure your seller has proof that this maintenance is done before you even consider a Grand Am as a daily driver.
You can get your hands on a fifth-generation Grand Am for a paltry four thousand dollars on Carfax.com. If you need four wheels and an engine and in short order, we can think of far more drab and boring rides than a fifth-gen Grand Am. So maybe think again before poo-pooing them.
Sources: The Truth About Cars, zombdrive.com