Which 2 cars are better a 1999 pontiac grand am or a 1999 altima.?

Question

I am in the market of buying a car and im interested in one of these cars. which one do you think will give me the longevity that i want. or are either cars good investments.

Answer 1

I think you'll be so pleased if you go with the 99 Altima. In general, I would always opt for a Japanese manufacturer over domestic. Even though many of the Japanese cars are built right here, they're still better in overall design and dependability. All used cars however need a little research before you lay down your hard earned money. Nothing bites, like a large purchase that comes back with major problems.

When purchasing a used car I always look it over and under real good. On the underside I am usually checking for rust. One time I opened the trunk of a car and it had standing water in it. Yeoow! No thanks.
Next thing is a test drive, checking it's responsiveness and manueverability. It's also a great time to open your ears to any strange sounds coming from the car. There are so many used cars out there to choose from, don't settle for anything with a quirk you're not crazy about.

You can enter the VIN of the car you are interested in on CARFAX.com, to see if there are records of flood damage, odometer verification, history of ownership and more. Ownership can be an eye-opener. If they lived near the ocean or far north where it snows so much, then you could have some rust problems.

You can also have a mechanic check it out. I've never gone this far because I'm fairly confident in my own evaluation and test drive with CARFAX to back me up.

At 60-90,000 miles there could be a timing belt ready to bust if it hasn't already been changed. That would be great to know if purchasing from a previous owner with the mechanics bill to prove it. (If the timing belt busts, you will be left on side of the road, with tow trip cost, and a day or two in shop for your ride.)

Answer 2

The 2007 Consumer Reports Used car Guide gives the 1999 Altima a 'Above Average' rating, and the 1999 Grand Am a 'Worst' rating. No question the Altima has a better history of reliability and longevity. Still, get it checked by a mechanic for any major problems. Any used car that old may have some minor problems, but check for major ones. Good luck.

Answer 3

I am a diehard American made car fan, but I would have to say the Nissan. Pontiacs are crap and they basically build them to last 80,000-120,000 miles. After that, you will have tons of problems...transmission, suspension, brakes, engine leaks, etc. If you can find a Nissan for a good price and with low miles, and if it was taken care of, you should have no problems (except for routine maintenance). Also look at Toyotas. Their used cars are also very good and reliable. But please stay away from Pontiacs especially a cheap one like the grand am. Maybe if you found a nice Bonneville or Grand Prix GT, but not a grand am.

Answer 4

Pontiac Grand Am SUX!
Don't buy it.
They have all kinds of problems.

Answer 5

ALTIMA