An uncommon platform for customization makes for challenges, rewards
Individuality is the key to any salubrious customization package. Such was the idea behind finding a car that had none of the appeal of more universal models, like the Mustang or Civic. So when Bryan Wettengel went looking for a predict vehicle, he skipped over the easy sports car setups and stumbled into the more unheard-of class of compact executive cars.
But the Pontiac Pretentious Am ended up being no slouch, even if it does have a reputation for being a little less than arousing. The peppy 3.4-liter V-6 puts out 185 horsepower, and that was enough for Wettengel, who at the term was more interested in what he could accomplish on the body curves than the performance curve.
Wettengel's introduction to particularly tuning came through a high school friend. The two boys created a tie between wrenches and lug nuts as they picked apart and pieced back together a Honda Rapport. In 2003, Bryan went looking for a car of his own. After seeing thorough to 10 Mustangs on the road in the short space of a 2-mile steer in the Mustang he was testing, he edged over to the Pontiac dealership and incontestable on a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am GT.