1989 Pontiac Grand Prix SE Review - The Future Was Bright! 

Impressive that the radio deck also had a dedicated button for CrO2 cassettes. For those of you kids who have no idea what that was, CrO2 (chromium dioxide) was something of a HiFi material in a cassette tape. It basically made music recorded in CrO2 tape sound better than on regular tape.

Wow!! I actually can't believe how sophisticated the GP is!! Those seats look like you could melt into them and I cannot believe how they are 12 way adjustable! The back seats even look like you could melt into them! The radio and dash stuff, the interior as a whole, the exterior! Wow!

80's Pontiac was and still is as cool as American Cars have ever been. I had several Pontiacs and nothing I own today brings the same joy behind the wheel.

no wonder the 80s felt so optimistic

I'm so glad you covered this. I inherited my uncle's 89 it's exactly like this one only it has 89k miles and is gray, to heck it still has the original Pontiac mudflaps

Great video! Thank you for the plug for our Classic GM FWD Society group!

I remember seeing these as a kid and thinking they were so futuristic... not because of the slick styling or the space-age interior, but because the door handles were hidden in the B-pillar. That meant "futuristic" to me.

Mr Zack: For a long time, I thought that the realm of doing automotive content on RU-vid through the crucibles of literary reference, pop cultural analogy and the odd splash of deconstructvism was the sole realm of Mr Regular of Regularcars. I am pleased to see you emerging as a valiant contender, thus expanding the boundaries for this type of videos quite a lot. I'm looking forward to more content in this style.

As a teen, a boss of mine had a 91 2 doors GTP loaded in white, i was in shock! That was when cars had that something special, something that makes you drool! I miss 90's gm coolness...that company has gone away in a sea of suv...

My first car was a 1989 red Pontiac Grand Prix LE. I started driving in December 1996, but my mom was the only previous owner. I even went with the dealership with my parents when they bought it. I LOVED that car! It was destroyed in a bad car accident in 2002, but that car saved my life. I even dreamed that it was somehow still stashed away in my parent's pole barn. Awesome review! It brought back SO many memories! Mine wasn't quite as tricked out, but I did have pull out cupholders. Why didn't you show the backseat access in the trunk? I always that was awesome! We used to use it for skis. I ended up with a 2002 Grand Prix after the 89. So miss Pontiac!

😍😍 man I miss my 1g GPs. Totally unique driving experience. The exhaust tone, the powerband, the seats, the handling, just wonderful.

I love these older w body GMs, glad to see you get your hands on a clean one and interview it, I have a 92 regal and it is very similar

That grand prix is awesome! I've seen it in person and the owner has done a great job of preserving it.

Good friend of mine owns this car. It’s just as clean in person! I think the compass is so neat in these

Obviously the 60s muscle era is where Pontiac had more brawn and guts but the late 80s early 90s was a neat era for Pontiac design imo, even though it was more posturing than power.

Just discovered your channel today. I watch RU-vid on my TV which is logged in under my wife's name, but I just had to grab my phone so I could comment. I watch lots and lots of car review videos, literally over 100 per week, by several RU-vidrs like Doug DeMuro, Carwow, Throttle House, Hagerty, and on and on. I have watched several of yours today and I really like them. BUT......when I watched this video on the '89 Grand Prix, I have to say that of the thousands and thousands of videos I have watched, this is my favorite video EVER! Bar none! I felt the same excitement that you were feeling. I have always loved the futuristic technology of this car, and especially the bottom screen in front of the shifter! You did a phenomenal job on this one. Like I said...my absolute favorite car video of all time! Keep up the fantastic work! Keep doing videos of any xar you can get your hands on! That's the best part about your channel. And no matter what...NEVER STOP ROCKIN

I have always like side cladding and/or red mouldings around a car, and Pontiac did them well.

I’m currently sick and feeling like I need to be 6 feet under but seeing old cars always makes me feel happy idk why 😂😂😂😂 old cars are just so cool

The period correct Rinke Pontiac GMC dealer frame is the cherry on top. Dealer location was in Warren, MI.

My friend had one in college and it was the coolest car ever. I loved the buttons on the steering wheel.

Fantastic review! Brings back a ton of memories when I worked at a GM dealership in the late 80s. Love it!

My brother in-law used to have one of these in blue, I used to love the interior: all the buttons & switches!

DNR signifies Delco Dynamic Noise Reduction (not Dolby in this case). DNR was produced by National Semiconductor as an alternative to Dolby Noise Reduction for use in GM vehicles.

I love those cars.

I had a 1984 and 1989 and a1992 Pontiac grand prix I love those cars

Zach, I just wanted to say, you are on fire! Just loving your awesome reviews and your style, keep up the good work bro!

Hey GM...bring back Pontiac!! Sincerely, those of us who have always been Pontiac fans.

We had an '89 base model, black in color. I remember the stock Goodyear Eagle GT+4 tires howled and didn't last long. My father replaced them with Michelins and it rode a lot better and quieter. Loved the digital dash, but as a Canadian, there was a miles/kilometers switch and had it at miles most of the time. The dash had to be replaced because there was a recall on them at the time.

I have a 96 of the same generation but mine has the set in headlights and not as much future stuff. I do have heads up display and trip computer though

I love love love this! My first car was a white 1990 Grand Prix 2+2 with the 3.1. I loved that car so much!

Got to see this car and meet the owner at GM Nationals this past year. It is a super nice example!

One of my earliest memories is riding in the back of my grandmother's Grand Prix coupe sitting on a pillow so I could see out of the window. I remember it being white with a blue interior, almost certainly a lesser trim with cloth because she was extremely frugal and would never have splurged for leather or all the gadgets. I remember those sliders by the gauge cluster. GM went all out here as a tech showcase. I'm amazed that they fit so much tech and features in. For the time this was an incredible car. This is probably one of the cleanest survivors left. These weren't made to last or be collectable.

I like your explanation of the feelings evoked by the grand prixs design✌

Time Capsule car here. Interior looks perfect.

Going from a 85 fb rx7 to a 2000 grand prix gt with a tune that i loved, i now run a 2004 grand prix gt daily and building a 2002 gt into a turbo 3800 monster

Thanks for covering this one! Have always loved this version of theGrand Prix!!

My step-dad had bought a 1988 model in Maroon back in 1997 and when I drove it that's when I fell back in love with Pontiac years after I last rode in my dad's 1987 Firebird back in Summer 1989 before he traded it in for a Ford Econoline Van. It was cooler than my 1989 Toyota Corolla I was driving at the time but eventually that Grand Prix started having problems like one time when I was on a date night with my girlfriend the car was overheating I pulled into a gas station to one of those air and water kiosks and she took the waterhose and just started spraying water all over the engine compartment. I didn't think it would work since I didn't know much about cars but it did and we made it home. Then there was this other time I was with my mom on our way home from the store and the brakes had completely failed to where we couldn't stop so she had to pull off the road to slow down and ran into a wall to stop the car. The car sat for months because my step-dad didn't want to fix it so he sold it and bought a 1985 Pontiac Fiero which drove fine for a while but it wasn't no better.

The automated home we wanted: It does the dishes for you and folds your laundry The automated home we got: dozens of devices listening into your personal conversations so that you can receive more targeted advertising.

I grew up with several generations of the GP. My favorite was the 1981 with the V8.

They were very high tech looking when new. Unfortunately An Aunt and Uncle of mine bought an ‘88-‘89 one of these new, then a first year ‘97 Chevrolet Venture minivan new. Both were lemons. They also had a ‘90-‘93 style Integra about the same time that they run for years, handing it down to my cousin who drove it through college. They have both been Honda owners ever since

Beautiful car!!!!!!!!! That is the best looking grand Prix ever made!!!!!!!! Still my favorite car!!!!!!!!!!!I always wanted one!!!!!!!!!!!! I like the grand Prix 2 door in white year 1988-1990 !!!!!!!!!!

My buddy had this in HS! love it!! :)

Was hoping the steering wheel would have all those crazy buttons

Thanks!

My car is Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1989 (Doraville,GA) . and I love her very much) This is a single model of W-body

that front is beautiful. got some BMW and early 3rd gen Camaro vibe

I had an 89 cutlass Sierra that had that same GM 2.8 V6....pretty stout little engine. It loved to rev to redline.

Not sure I'd ever buy this car, but cool to see, especially the peanut butter interior, the grid pattern on the dash and taillights. There's a nearly identical one in my neighborhood. From a time when cars came fully equipped with built-in ashtrays and lighters in the front and back!

He forgot his 90s GM pack out kit. 10w30, power steering fluid, coolant, ATF, booster cables, and rags. All of which conveniently held by a milk crate in the trunk.

You are a fantastic reviewer and I’m addicted! 😊

Just found one of these with original 26,000 miles to $8,800 in NY Has GPS and seat massager! And heated seats, but I didn’t think came in and 88

Can’t believe you didn’t open the back seat armrest to find the cup holders. Perhaps it could pass the BFB test!

wow im actually in the fwd society group too! crazy

As a 40 year old, I just love how the 6th gen Grand Prix was optimistic about the future. All I can say is we need to apologise the Grand Prix for failing to fulfill the great expectations we have set.

It's a such a cool car, I love the looks of these things, but man that 2.8L V6 was absolute junk. The 3.1 was a little better. But the 3.4L DOHC was actually really good. Not to mention the bulletproof 3.8L and supercharged versions, which are basically bulletproof. Sadly they were never offered in that generation of Grand Prix.

those leather seats are insane

It’s in amazing shape I must say

This generation GP was (and is) just great, and you nailed it as to why! I wonder how hard it would be to swap the LS4 drivetrain from the 2005-2008 GP GXP into this generation?

Cool video. Love 80's cars

One of the good cars for me to drive Zack.

Love these!

i like your channel bc you review attainable cheaper quirky cars. That niche in youtube has yet to be taken advantage of. good shit bro 👍🫡

This was a great pick.

So epic I love the 80”s tech

So much orange! 😮

I had a 93 loved it except the door handles always broke.

These cars are so fucking badass

I had a 1990 grand prix se with a 3.1 V6 with a getrag 5 speed manual. In the same color and spec.

I LOVED this review and I love that car

I wonder what the reaction of fans was when they heard the Grand Prix was going front wheel drive. Remember when Ford said that the front wheel drive Probe was to replace the Mustang?

Where are the wrap around seats?mine had a seat warmer ti

I can feel and hear the plastics now

I had a 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix. The most unreliable car I have ever owned. The brakes would fail all the time. They were computer controlled and would sometimes just not work The windows would also fall off the tracks. Even the compass would not stay calibrated. Looked very cool but so dangerous with the brake issue.

And here I was thinking DNR meant “Do Not Resuscitate”.

I use to own a 93 same color missed that car

Can’t wait till you hit 100k

That’s one cool car for sure loved it

A couple years ago there was a Grand Prix of this generation for sale here at some shady used car lot. It was also white but - bonus - it was a 5-spd manual. How rare is that?? Less then 100k on it and they were only asking $5k. I would have loved to have it, but I didn't pursue it because I knew my wife would not go for it.

Only thing missing is the head up display

Mi hunco have the Pontiac Grand prix le from 1988 cupé and 2 sedáns and i have the turbo edition cupé from 1990

Needs more buttons. I tried to buy a used one of these from a local dealer when it was about 6 years old. Showed up twice to try and test drive it. And both times the salesman couldn't start it. Hard pass. Too bad. I wanted to like it.

How reliable are these? I've heard that 80's GM was often known for reliable engines, but poor build quality. Although there were a few lemon engines like the Oldsmobile Diesel, V8-9-4, and Quad 4. Some people have been skeptical about the 2.8 as well...

All but disappeared in Salt States.

Very Good!... #88 ✝ {9-4-2023}

I had a 87 Buick Century with that same engine and it was a total piece of JUNK