REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Look at Me!

Whether you love ‘ em or hate ‘ em, feel shame or feel pride, the Pontiac Grand Am GT has only one purpose in life: to attract our collective hatred and appreciation. It is exactly what a lot of people are looking for—its sales are up 60% thanks to its attractive compact form, but its look at me attitude often rubs critics the wrong way.In order not to disappoint a clientele attracted to its extravagant frame, the interior of the Grand Am has been decorated in a similarly delirious style. The original, slightly sporty design of the dashboard breaks the traditional mould. The complete and easy-to-read instrumentation is mounted inside two circles which, at night, glow with a spectacular orange light. I would have liked to see a gear indicator there, to avoid having to lower your eyes from the console when you want to see what gear you ’ re in. And as for the gear shift itself, strangely enough, it was impossible to slide into first gear on our test model without ripping the sheath that surrounds the lever.

Unbelievable. I would also criticize the impractical small storage pouches on the front doors, the low and uncomfortable rear seats which, while they may be fine for young kids, are quite uncomfortable for grown passengers, and the very soft front seats which don ’ t provide enough support. Taking a closer look, there are also several glitches in the finishing, never mind the fact that the assembly is not always rigorous or precise. On the other hand, the interior also has its good points, such as a spacious trunk whose opening, interior walls and low threshold makes it easy to load. It is also possible to lower part or all of the rear seat backs. The standard equipment is also quite complete for the GT model.Aside from equipment and flourishes, what does the GT have to offer that makes it stand apart from the more economical SE model? The GT ’ s suspension is more firm (it has stiffer springs, fatter anti-sway bars), tires with more grip on dry roads (though you ’ ll still need snow tires for winter driving), rear disc brakes for more powerful stops (the SE makes do with drums), and modified mechanics to ensure faster acceleration. What ’ s more, the 3.4-litre Ram Air-type engine has only five more horses than the V6, with the same capacity, which slogs away under the hood of the SE. That said, even if the Grand Am GT will never win the Nobel prize for engine refinement (there ’ s nary a camshaft to be found), it has enough energy and vigour to make one forget the primitive nature of its team. Still, there ’ s one problem: the engine can only be paired with an automatic transmission, which is, thankfully, excellent. Could there be a manual transmission in the works? For now, it is only available with the noisy, but inoffensive four-cylinder, 2.2-litre engine that comes standard with the SE.

Awakened by a flick of the starter, the exhaust system roars with the deep, throaty sound of the old-school V8. The GT reaches 100 km/hr in less than 8 seconds, a feat which is out of the reach of the SE series equipped with a V6.

Compared to the V6 engines of the competition, the Grand Am GT definitely lacks subtlety and softness. But it exceeds them all in terms of acceleration, pickup and fuel consumption, on that score, this Pontiac ’ s reduced tank capacity makes frequent fill-ups necessary.

And what of the sportiness of the Grand Am GT? Well, it ’ s easy to guide through  the desired trajectory, and it likes taking on one curve after another, as long as you leave it enough time. It would be useless to rush it, for its heavy, sluggish chassis has an inertia that weighs heavily on the steering, creating a sort of waltzing motion. With the new version, it is more fun to take on the fast curves, and you ’ ll appreciate the increased stability. The power steering could however be more precise, as the wheel feels a little clumsy. The modified suspension has a beneficial effect on road behaviour, better drivability, shock absorption and filtration. And as an added bonus, the vehicle ’ s handling gains in both neutrality and safety. As for the braking system, it ensures definite, effective stops, but is not the most powerful, such that you must press very hard on the pedal to slow down. All in all, while it may not be the most rigorous car around, the Grand Am GT has a charming personality that, over a few kilometres, really grows on you.

PROS
Generous V6
Solid and safe handling
 Complete instrumentation

CONS
Limited capacity gas tank
Uncomfortable rear seats
Lack of aesthetic finesse and restraint

L4 « Ecotec » engine 2,2 L DOHC
New exterior colour

2003