Car Gazing
Grand Prix grows up with better looks, practical design
By Derek Price
Like with people, there comes a point in every car's life when it's time to
grow up.
Pontiac knows this. The company looked at its aging Grand Prix complete
with tacky plastic slapped onto its sides and a cheap, boy-racer image
when it came to the obvious conclusion: it's time to leave Never Never Land.
Gone are the ugly plastic ripples and busy, adolescent styling that
characterized Pontiacs starting in the mid O90s. In their place is a clean,
taut, refined body that mimics today's great European sports sedans, making
the 2004 Grand Prix look strikingly similar to its BMW counterpart.
Finally, after nine generations of scrapes and bruises, the Grand Prix is an
adult.
But adults have more fun, right? They get to stay up late, eat dessert
whenever they want, and don't eat veggies unless they choose to. Yup, grown
ups know how to have a good time, as does this new Pontiac.
Its terrific drivetrain brings the biggest smiles, as a splendid 3.8-liter
V6 makes 200 horsepower in the base model. Even with an automatic
transmission its acceleration is inspirational, its response instant, and
its exhaust note enchanting, bringing some much-needed excitement to
Pontiac's performance crop that's painfully missing the flagship Firebird.
But that's just the start. The real Grand Prix party machine is the
high-performance GTP version with an optional Competition Group package. Its
supercharged V6 belts out 260 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque for
blistering speed, and its upgraded suspension can handle a very impressive
.83 "G"s of lateral acceleration. It even includes Formula 1-style paddle
shifters on the steering wheel for a bit of racetrack whimsy, if not true
performance enhancement.
Grand Prix GT the base version isn't as aggressive but is much more
livable in the real world. Its suspension can still be fun on twisty roads,
but it's surprisingly compliant, comfortable, and quiet on the highway. Its
greatest weakness is its steering feel, which isn't quite sloppy, but it
doesn't provide the kind of communicative driving feedback one would expect
from such a sporty, driver-oriented sedan.
Inside, this focus on the driver is made obvious by a wrap-around dash that
puts all controls within easy reach from the left seat. Passengers may not
be so happy about this, though, because several controls, like those for the
radio and temperature, are angled in a way that makes them more difficult to
see and change.
Despite its clear emphasis on performance, practicality isn't sacrificed.
The back seat has comfortable knee and head room, and a 60/40 split bench
can fold forward and allow access through the trunk with enough space for a
nine-foot ladder or a kayak, Pontiac claims.
Of all the changes for 2004, the best has to be styling. Designers did a
great job with the front end, wisely keeping the brand's signature split
grille, with elongated headlights, large fog lamps, and a muscular bulge
down the center of the hood. An almost coupe-like roofline looks sporty and
sleek, while the triangular taillights are classy and smart looking. Only a
hint of the ugly ripples remains on the rear decklid and on the taillight
lenses.
While it's not a low-priced BMW, as Pontiac was aiming for, it is a vast
improvement in terms of style and image over its predecessor. It's more of a
real sports sedan than a plastic-clad wannabe, and that's sure to bring
excitement for both young and old.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.
Contact him at dprice@cargazingonline.com)
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