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1999
Pontiac Grand Am

Starts at:
$16,130
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New 1999 Pontiac Grand Am
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2dr Cpe SE
    Starts at
    $16,130
    22 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 4-Cyl
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SE
    Starts at
    $16,530
    22 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 4-Cyl
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe SE1
    Starts at
    $17,530
    22 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 4-Cyl
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SE1
    Starts at
    $17,930
    22 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 4-Cyl
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe SE2
    Starts at
    $19,090
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe GT
    Starts at
    $19,190
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SE2
    Starts at
    $19,490
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GT
    Starts at
    $19,590
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe GT1
    Starts at
    $20,690
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GT1
    Starts at
    $21,090
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

The good & the bad

This vehicle doesn't have any good or bad insights yet.

Use our comparison tool to look at this model side-by-side with other vehicles or view the full specifications list .

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Expert 1999 Pontiac Grand Am review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

And now, “A Tale of Two Grand Ams”:

“It was the best of cars, it was the worst of cars.”

No kidding. Truth be told, the two Grand Ams in question – the sportier GT model and the standard-issue SE – were like Cain and Abel, Yin and Yang.

One that’s hot, one that’s not.

The Grand Am for ’99 is Pontiac’s completely redesigned sport compact, a budget-priced coupe or sedan that vies to uphold the marquee’s “excitement division” reputation in the General Motors paddock.

Yes, you do get a lot of car for the money. Stylish bodies, well-furnished interiors, dynamite stereo systems and enough panache to help attract members of the opposite sex.

Aimed at the hearts of under-30 drivers, male and female, the Grand Am is affordable enough to be a reasonable longing. Even J.D. Powers, the high-profile arbiter of automotive quality, favors the Grand Am, bestowing upon it the APEAL award as the most appealing entry-level midsize car.

I, on the other hand, thought the SE sedan was just OK, and then only if you don’t mind a rubbery suspension, vague steering, mediocre engine power and plastic interior parts that seem ready to fall off.

Worst of all, I found the SE to be boring to drive, not exciting, as one might expect from the excitement division. After my pleasant experiences last year with the new Grand Prix, I was highly disappointed by the Grand Am’s lack of spirit.

So I complained to the Pontiac people, who were hurt and confused by my lack of appreciation for a car the division had worked so hard to update, and which is such an important part of its product line.

A Pontiac flack told me the SE model was a softer approach to sports coupes and sedans, one designed to appeal to women, as shown through a number of focus groups. It provides the comfort and ease of operation of a compact car coupled with sporty road manners for driving fun.

I must have missed the sporty-road-manners part.

Saying that the brand-new GT version would suit me better, the Pontiac people sent out a GT coupe to test. It’s comparably priced to the SE but with tighter steering, stiffer suspension and greater responsiveness all around. The GT is the guy car, they said.

And the GT is indeed a car I could deal with. Even like. The suspension was firm, not mushy, and the steering felt direct and connected, not vague and too light to the touch. With just five more horsepower, the GT engine felt noticeably stronger, though still fairly raucous under acceleration. Even the transmission shifted more precisely.

The GT handled nicely, with decent road feel. And it was fun to drive, which is what I thought a Grand Am was supposed to be in the first place.

So what am I to conclude from this? That the guy car is cooler than the girl car? Now, that seems like a rather backward notion in this age of equality. Besides, most of the women I know like cars that drive as well as the GT, not as poorly as the SE. My wife, for instance, who concluded independently that the GT was hot and the SE was not.

Either version is available in a two-door coupe or four-door sedan, which are the exact same size, with the sedan providing the advantage of back doors. The interior in either version is comfortable and roomy, with enough space in the back seat for regulation-size humans.

The interior styling is modernistic, with a dashboard shape that consciously calls up past sports-car forms, with gauges and air-conditioning ducts each raised in a round hump. It works as such and should appeal to its young audience, but it’s a bit over-the-top for me.

The exterior styling is suitably aggressive and sporty, Pontiac-style, with contoured lower-body cladding giving it a broad and purposeful look. The Pontiac flaring-nostril grille is strongly pronounced, and the whole body seems to be bulging with muscle.

The rear-deck spoiler is atrip. Instead of the usual flat, contoured shape, this one has a pair of raised, aerodynamic-lo oking pr otrusions on either side that look suspiciously like tail fins. In the rearview mirror, they look exactly like tail fins.

The Grand Am is sure to make quite a splash in the broad pool of sporty compacts. No one can beat the price for these well-equipped, personable cars. A less-expensive model can be had with a 150-horsepower, four-cylinder engine.

For ’99, all Grand Ams have automatic transmission; stick shift is expected to be offered next year.

The GT version is greatly improved over previous Grand Ams, though the SE fails to move the ball forward in any fashion. Guys will like the guy car, but girls should prefer the guy car, too.

1999 Pontiac Grand Am

Vehicle type: Five passenger, two-door coupe (sedan), front-wheel drive. Base price: $19,070 ($18,970). Price as tested: $19,745 ($19,900). Engine: 3.4-liter V-6, 175 (170) horsepower at 5,200 (4,800) rpm, 205 (195) pound-feet of torque at 4,000 (same) rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic. Curb weight: 3,050 (3,116) pounds. Length: 186.3 inches. Wheelbase: 70.4 inches. EPA fuel economy: 20 (19) city, 28 highway. Highs: Good value. GT’s driveability. Interior space. Lows: SE much less appealing than GT. Weird spoiler.

1999 Pontiac Grand Am review: Our expert's take
By

And now, “A Tale of Two Grand Ams”:

“It was the best of cars, it was the worst of cars.”

No kidding. Truth be told, the two Grand Ams in question – the sportier GT model and the standard-issue SE – were like Cain and Abel, Yin and Yang.

One that’s hot, one that’s not.

The Grand Am for ’99 is Pontiac’s completely redesigned sport compact, a budget-priced coupe or sedan that vies to uphold the marquee’s “excitement division” reputation in the General Motors paddock.

Yes, you do get a lot of car for the money. Stylish bodies, well-furnished interiors, dynamite stereo systems and enough panache to help attract members of the opposite sex.

Aimed at the hearts of under-30 drivers, male and female, the Grand Am is affordable enough to be a reasonable longing. Even J.D. Powers, the high-profile arbiter of automotive quality, favors the Grand Am, bestowing upon it the APEAL award as the most appealing entry-level midsize car.

I, on the other hand, thought the SE sedan was just OK, and then only if you don’t mind a rubbery suspension, vague steering, mediocre engine power and plastic interior parts that seem ready to fall off.

Worst of all, I found the SE to be boring to drive, not exciting, as one might expect from the excitement division. After my pleasant experiences last year with the new Grand Prix, I was highly disappointed by the Grand Am’s lack of spirit.

So I complained to the Pontiac people, who were hurt and confused by my lack of appreciation for a car the division had worked so hard to update, and which is such an important part of its product line.

A Pontiac flack told me the SE model was a softer approach to sports coupes and sedans, one designed to appeal to women, as shown through a number of focus groups. It provides the comfort and ease of operation of a compact car coupled with sporty road manners for driving fun.

I must have missed the sporty-road-manners part.

Saying that the brand-new GT version would suit me better, the Pontiac people sent out a GT coupe to test. It’s comparably priced to the SE but with tighter steering, stiffer suspension and greater responsiveness all around. The GT is the guy car, they said.

And the GT is indeed a car I could deal with. Even like. The suspension was firm, not mushy, and the steering felt direct and connected, not vague and too light to the touch. With just five more horsepower, the GT engine felt noticeably stronger, though still fairly raucous under acceleration. Even the transmission shifted more precisely.

The GT handled nicely, with decent road feel. And it was fun to drive, which is what I thought a Grand Am was supposed to be in the first place.

So what am I to conclude from this? That the guy car is cooler than the girl car? Now, that seems like a rather backward notion in this age of equality. Besides, most of the women I know like cars that drive as well as the GT, not as poorly as the SE. My wife, for instance, who concluded independently that the GT was hot and the SE was not.

Either version is available in a two-door coupe or four-door sedan, which are the exact same size, with the sedan providing the advantage of back doors. The interior in either version is comfortable and roomy, with enough space in the back seat for regulation-size humans.

The interior styling is modernistic, with a dashboard shape that consciously calls up past sports-car forms, with gauges and air-conditioning ducts each raised in a round hump. It works as such and should appeal to its young audience, but it’s a bit over-the-top for me.

The exterior styling is suitably aggressive and sporty, Pontiac-style, with contoured lower-body cladding giving it a broad and purposeful look. The Pontiac flaring-nostril grille is strongly pronounced, and the whole body seems to be bulging with muscle.

The rear-deck spoiler is atrip. Instead of the usual flat, contoured shape, this one has a pair of raised, aerodynamic-lo oking pr otrusions on either side that look suspiciously like tail fins. In the rearview mirror, they look exactly like tail fins.

The Grand Am is sure to make quite a splash in the broad pool of sporty compacts. No one can beat the price for these well-equipped, personable cars. A less-expensive model can be had with a 150-horsepower, four-cylinder engine.

For ’99, all Grand Ams have automatic transmission; stick shift is expected to be offered next year.

The GT version is greatly improved over previous Grand Ams, though the SE fails to move the ball forward in any fashion. Guys will like the guy car, but girls should prefer the guy car, too.

1999 Pontiac Grand Am

Vehicle type: Five passenger, two-door coupe (sedan), front-wheel drive. Base price: $19,070 ($18,970). Price as tested: $19,745 ($19,900). Engine: 3.4-liter V-6, 175 (170) horsepower at 5,200 (4,800) rpm, 205 (195) pound-feet of torque at 4,000 (same) rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic. Curb weight: 3,050 (3,116) pounds. Length: 186.3 inches. Wheelbase: 70.4 inches. EPA fuel economy: 20 (19) city, 28 highway. Highs: Good value. GT’s driveability. Interior space. Lows: SE much less appealing than GT. Weird spoiler.

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Consumer reviews

4.4 / 5
Based on 25 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.2
Interior 4.0
Performance 4.3
Value 4.3
Exterior 4.6
Reliability 4.0

Most recent

  • I am original owner and purchased the 3.

    I am original owner and purchased the 3.4L V6 sedan with moonroof Memorial Day weekend 1999 from Stephen Pontiac in Bristol Connecticut. Just reached 65,000 miles as of March 2025. Yes it has only 65,000 miles on it. Other than regular maintenance only the A/C compressor needed replacement and the O2 sensor valve. Amazing, isn’t it!? My wife’s car from day one and currently.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Most reliable car I ever owned.

    Very spendy, but met my needs. Ofcourse was talked into it. It was so easy to drive and awesome on gas mileage. The color is amazing and a great car for anyone.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    9 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Best and most dependable car I've ever owned.

    I have 307,342 miles on my Grand Am GT with all leather and still have the original motor, transmission, and mufflers on it. No engine noise and runs perfect not using oil. I used Mobil 1 from the beginning, now the extended version, and change the oil about every 15, 000 miles.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    6 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Just bought 1999 grand am

    Just bought 1999 grand am today it has 121,122 miles on it drove it bout a hundred miles today no problems yet. Only paid 1300 for it and it is super clean and drives smooth . hopefully will get a 100 k miles out of it.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    4 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • nic car

    I have a white for door GT. Right when we got the car it had a radiator problem( It coast 1,200 to fix). After that the it was a good little car. When it was my moms it go spun into dich by a microburst( not a tornado)which left my mom stranded in the rain. Me and my dad went got the car and it drove right out like it was nothing with on dents or scratches( tuff car for a pontiac lol) just a clean white car. In summer the car wood overheat ( hot summers in Kansas) which led to a bigger problem. In 2015 after 9 years the had a engen problem( could be head gasket not sere?). My dad did not have the money to fix it so he put the car in our shed and that is were it stayed till 2019. Now I am trying to get her back in driving condition this coming friday going to take her to a mechanic to see what is wrong and how much it will take to fix my white Ghost.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • My endless love- Grand AM

    My uncle gave me my first car it was a purple 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE and I was in love with it, it only took $20 to fill up the tank every other week and got me to school and to my part-time job. I used to love this car the only reason I had to get a new car was because one day in the year 2011 I went outside to go grocery shopping and the car wouldn't start! I still don't know what was wrong with the car- ended up giving it away for 500 bucks and bought a new car but I did have it for about two or three years before having to get a new one. great vehicle !
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Did everything I wanted it to do

    It was not as flashy as many of the other cars on the market, but it got me from A to B with little to no expensive repairs or malfunctions.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 3.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • I will cry when it dies.

    I LOVE my car, I've had it for 16 years, and have only had a few understandable replacements. Fuel pump, power steering assembly, rack, alternator. Aside from regular maintenance. A few small hiccups and weirdness, but it just adds character I guess, and never caused problems. For example, sometimes when backing out of a driveway, between shifting from reverse to drive, it would hesitate and the speedometer flipped all the way to 150mph when I wasn't moving. It happened a handful of times, and brought it up to a shop, but they didn't understand what I was trying to tell them and just kept saying how the car never went that fast.....derrr. It's showing it's age, and I'm afraid it won't make it another year, which is sad since I've only JUST gotten 167,000 on it yesterday. I really can't complain about it, I expect most cars have some parts that need replacing after so long, and for the most part, this one has just been such a great car, and I still think it's pretty even after all these years. I am not joking when I say I will cry when it dies. I could barely stomach it the first time it had to be towed.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Great value and style

    This car has great styling, handles good and gets really good mileage. It is a four cylinder but has a lot of pep. It has a little over 100k miles and I expect to add 50k. There is plenty room for five people and the trunk is big. I am very pleased with this car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Ponti

    I saw the car and drove it , it is enjoyable to have a ride..if i would have the money i buy it..Good&Sport for a university student !!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 2.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Grand Am

    I owned a 2001 Grand Am. Bought it used in 2001. Best car I ever owned. Had over 150,ooo miles on it when I totalled it. Excellent car, never had any problems with it. Was in new condition mechanically and visually. Looking to buy another!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Great Car

    If you keep up with the schedule maintenance then this car will last a long time. I own have owned a 2004 Pontiac Grand AM that was totaled and it was such a nice car I went out and bought a 1999 since a friend of mine was selling it for cheap. These grand am's are great ! My 1999 grand am has over 182000 miles and runs and drives great!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am?

The 1999 Pontiac Grand Am is available in 5 trim levels:

  • GT (2 styles)
  • GT1 (2 styles)
  • SE (2 styles)
  • SE1 (2 styles)
  • SE2 (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am?

The 1999 Pontiac Grand Am offers up to 22 MPG in city driving and 30 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am reliable?

The 1999 Pontiac Grand Am has an average reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1999 Pontiac Grand Am owners.

Is the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am a good Coupe?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. 84.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.4 / 5
Based on 25 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.2
  • Interior: 4.0
  • Performance: 4.3
  • Value: 4.3
  • Exterior: 4.6
  • Reliability: 4.0
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