| Pontiac Motor
Division General Motors Corporation Pontiac, Michigan |
| Engine |
375-hp, 428
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
3-speed automatic |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Heavy-duty |
| Brakes |
Disc F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Very
Good |
| Noise Insulation |
Excellent |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Very
Good |
| Shift Smoothness |
Excellent |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Excellent |
| Response |
Very
Good |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Excellent |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Very
Good |
| Fade Resistance |
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Very
Good |
| Driving Position |
Very
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Excellent |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Very
Good |
| General |
| Vision |
Very
Good |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Excellent |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Very
Good |
|
The Pontiac Grand
Prix is the world's biggest sporty car. In fact, the word "Grand"
rings of understatement. If Mercedes-Benz built it, they wouldn't
hesitate to call it the Grosser Preis. Pontiac is both more
gallic and more modest. First
impressions of the Grand Prix are dominated almost entirely
by style-every visible part of the car exudes the stylists'
influence. Typical of the attention Pontiac pays to detail
are the letters "GP" etched in the corner of the
door glass where the now-removed vent windows used to be.
Nor has anyone let his attention
wander when it came to doing the interior of the car. The
seats, in contrast to those in some of the smaller Pontiac
models, give excellent support. And we were particularly impressed
by the car's quiet, smooth ride, supporting Pontiac's claims
as to superiority of frame-type construction over the integral
body/chassis approach.
The performance and roadability
of the Grand Prix are excellent. Only its size (a 121-inch
wheelbase) and its weight (well over 4000 ground-crushing
pounds) keep the Grand Prix from being a Super Car.
A Grand Prix, liberally endowed
with some of the many available optional extras, has to be
one of the nicest ways to go to watch real Formula One Grand
Prix that we can think of. |
