How bizzare. I posted this in here (other cars) but when i hit post it went into the "First Generation" forum. Odd glitch.
Anyway, like the subject says.
I have a chance to scoop up a 2005 GA SC-T loaded for $10,000. It's in mint condition and has the ram-air and all that good stuff.
I guess I’m not sure what the SC-T package is...I plan to investigate a bit more online. But really I’m wondering what's good and bad about the Grand-Am GT's?
I know some of the bad (head gaskets) but is that exaggerated a bit or do they really just blow like clockwork at 30,000 miles? And are any redeeming qualities about them? I hear a lot of bad thing about them as of late, especially on here, so I’m a bit weary about if I should get it.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
my friend she has a 1999 GT grand am its just turned over to 150k on it. stock motor and tranny. she has a few things done to it like a borla exhaust intake and lowered. she has had no major proplems with it but she is now selling it. she wants something 4 wheel drive, i would by the car for me but i already have a cavalier and g5 siting in my driveway.
Nice cars. never heard of the sc-t package. my wife has an 01 alero fully loaded. runs fine. and she loves it.
My buddy just picked up a 03, 04, whatever "Ram Air" GT and loves it. It only has 20K on it, so im not sure about the reliablity of it. I can only guess at to what the SC-T package is(if its not dealer rice). Maybe a supercharged GT? That was my 1st thought.
"Project 69'"
1969 Chevrolet C/10, 1/2 ton, 2wd
-Boosted LS1?
-Richmond ROD 6-speed(will get sometime)
-Posi 12-bolt(built w/eaton posi unit and richmond 3.73 gears)
-Disc brake and 5 lug swap
+little extras
GA SC/T Concept
It looks like its just an apperance package. Its still a great looking car.
"Project 69'"
1969 Chevrolet C/10, 1/2 ton, 2wd
-Boosted LS1?
-Richmond ROD 6-speed(will get sometime)
-Posi 12-bolt(built w/eaton posi unit and richmond 3.73 gears)
-Disc brake and 5 lug swap
+little extras
SC-T package is a ram air hood and a different spoiler for the rear. GM acutally made a show vehicle which also had a lip kit and I believe a supercharger. GM released the hood and spoiler as options on the newer GTs. I had a 00 GA GT back in the day. Everytime I would run it hard I would find oil on my driveway, car only had like 26k miles too. I got rid of it quick and will never again buy a gm 3400 engine car. EVER. BTW its slow as @!#$ too.
ya sc-t isd just a hood and spolier.i know cause i looked into it when i loooked at oen.my mom has a 2004 grand am with a v6 3400 and she has like 300000 km on hers and now probs at all yet.very good cars
^^^^Well i'm not looking for a drag car so that's cool.^^^
It's not supercharged....that's for sure. I just want something comfortable i can road trip in from Detroit to Chicago, or sit in traffic and be comfortable. And maybe have a little oomph when i need to pass another car or semi. I visit with family in Chicago and Ohio at least once a month and my Suzuki Sidekick can be a bit daunting as a distance runner. This is a really great looking car, but i just don't want a great looking peice of crap. My Z24 was an awesome looking car but broke down every other month (it seemed) So i don't need another car that looks good but is in the shop every 3 months.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
Sorry... I replied on the other post. But I'm posting it here too.
The SC-T Is an Appearance package. Includes ground effects, hood and spoiler. It's a really good looking kit.
As for GAGT's, they really are terrible cars. And it's not the head gaskets that go. It's the lower and upper intake manifold gaskets that go. There's a suit going on about Dex-col anti-freeze causing the gaskets to blow. They also have problems with the wheel hubs. The sensors for ABS and traction control's are always going bad. In the 6 months I owned my GAGT, I had 3 out of 4 replaced. I also bought it just after (I'm talking 1000 miles here) the intake gaskets were replaced. When I traded it in, the gaskets were shot again only 15,000 miles later. Granted mine was a lemon, but check out www.grandamgt.com, as well as www.grandamownersclub.com.
In all honesty, they are very crappy cars. The reliability is terrible. the transmission in mine was also starting to slip, and I took great care of that car.
And on a side note, stock for stock, your Z-24 is faster.... they are extremely slow IMO, and very hard to get anything out of when modifying without getting into the manifolds, and heads.
I would not buy it. Let it be someone else's headache.
perfect, this just hit on exactly what my gut was saying.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
I'll go on the other side: I've had 4 N-bodies, and have yet to have enough of a problem to stop me from using them again.
The lim/uim gasket problem is well known and it's easy (albeit long) fix, and the gaskets are $175 from GM, if you don't torque down the bolts tight enough, then you're going to have problems again (I think the factory build manual states 30ft/lbs, but I've had no problems after having it torqued to 45ft/lbs).
As far as ABS sensors going, it does happen, but it's not common that I've seen, I've had GT/SE models and never had a problem with it on either (the Alero is the first one I've had the problem with, and it's because the mechanic I went to to get a CV boot replaced used a Zip-tie instead of the clamp you're supposed to use, and the tail clipped the wire for the VSS, and that's $190 CDN to replace).
Other than that, the wheel hubs become a problem, but after 200,000 kms (or about 160,000) I've found. I've had to get the wheel bearings replaced on my Alero once, and even then it was only the front ones. I've found that keeping that whole area cleaned with under spray and periodic cleanings with a garden hose keeps that problem at bay.
The only problem I've had with every one is the brakes... the rotors are cheap Chinese pig iron... replace with the Brembo OEM's and a good set of ceramic pads, and you're set.
If you want a REAL SC/T (with a supercharger, and the full body kit which was the front/rear lips and side skirts) then $10k isn't too bad if it's got really low miles.
ya my p;arents have had several grand am had i not smashed their old one it would prob still be goin andit had 350 000 km without any engine or tranny trouble.i would deffinatly reccomend.thats what i was loking for but i decided on something bigger
if they where that bad of cars do you think they would have sold as many as they did? every car has proplems. the grand ams are good cars i would take a grand prix over a grand am any day but thats just me.
my wifes has the issue with wheel bearings but thats becuase she went in a ditch.
good car
my friend had a grand am GT and lived in jersey, drove it to here (ct) and back several times over, had decent mileage on it, no problems whatsoever
A grand am with the "sc/t" option does not come from the factory with the ground effects kit as seen on the concept car...hood and spoiler only. There is an aftermarket "sc/t" kit that matches the concept, but not factory issue if the car you're looking at is stock.
buddy of mine has a gagt as well. we did the lower intake manifold gaskets (really not all that complicated to do) on his. other than that, it's been a great car for him.
I have always liked the GA. The SE is a perfect example of amazing milleage with a slow spinning v6. With a few goodies, they make a very decent highway car. The GT does have a sportier feel with the different gear ratio. Too bad they never made the v6 with a stick in the last gen car.
I love the ram air hood. It's a perfect match for the car. The SC-t Kit is a tastefull addition.
The aftermarket is decent with most everything you might need. Raiding the GM parts bin can be rewarding and a cheaper way to make things better. 60 degree v6's are well balanced. I like the engine.
The LIM is the only real issue with the car. An easy fix with good work and a better quality gasket.
A well maintaned N body can be a great used car. I would pay particular attention to any sign of lack of maintenance. Even the best cars turn to @!#$ when ignored.
The grand am GT SC/t package isn't a whole lot in difference when in comes to performance, it's mainly appearance. the dual hood scoops, sometimes the spoiler under the front lip, a different style wing, leather interior (sometimes 2 tone), etc.
THE SC/T
THE GT
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The SC/T package was the Hood a spoiler.
The chin spoiler, side skirts and rear lip are aftermarket. The SC/T was supposed to be a supercharged GT, but that fell through.
you have to admit though...that hood makes ALL the difference in the world to that cars over all look. IMHO next to the late 90's Trans-Am's these are the best looking Pontiac cars they made in the 90's
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
In that Motor Trend article they said there was also a manual version of the supercharged concept, which would have been awesome. They said it was a Getrag 5spd, but wouldn't the 289 lb ft of torque destroy it? or was there another Getrag 5spd that GM uses?
Jookycola wrote:you have to admit though...that hood makes ALL the difference in the world to that cars over all look. IMHO next to the late 90's Trans-Am's these are the best looking Pontiac cars they made in the 90's
I'd have to agree with that, even after 11 years, or whatever it's been since they came out, I've never gotten tired of staring at a shiny Grand Am GT. I still wish I had put more effort into trying to locate a new Grand Am SE 5spd before settling for my Z24.
The SE's were fun, I had an auto one, and it was pretty peppy for a mid-size. There was word of a 5spd, but the concept that made the rounds (I think even at the J-bash... don't quote me though) was the regular auto.
Jooky: Yeah, the hood definitely was a good touch, I'd have liked it a LOT better if it had made it into the Pontiac gene pool as it was supposed to have been: Supercharged, manual, and full aesthetic treatment (hood, lip kit, Spoiler)...
