Faults:

A small spring on the Clutch pedal popped back into wiring harness causing sparking resulting in a harness fire.

Alternator went out, but the one I replaced was a replacement itself.

Replaced both rear struts.

Replaced driver side CV Axle.

Heater controls broke and needed to be replaced.

Emergency brake cable broke and was replaced (best at a junkyard as the dealers seemed clueless)

Keep on your alignment, something big can knock it out.

Mine seems to be abnormally strong on Front brakes.

General Comments:

The 80's Nova was a Toyota Corolla import. That said my particular car has been very reliable. It's showing it's age, but only once hasn't gotten me home. The keys are worn down and I can remove them with the car on. I locked myself out and 1 coat hanger and 30 seconds later I was back in (Not that safe). The headliner I just tore out as it was falling on my head, I replaced the sun visors as they had rotted out, and the car is noisy on the road, the seats are deteriorating, and rust spots and the lack of a clear coat give it a definite "American Pride" color. It hates the cold and will only live on the second try. Now that all the bad has been said the car is completely reliable. I have taken it from Utah to California and back, on camping trips to State parks. I've hauled a canoe on top with 4 people in the car and it still happily went 75 mph on a flat freeway (and 60 up a small canyon). I've had fun dusting pimped out Civics at the lights with their loud mufflers (I wasn't even trying). I've stored two bikes inside the car with it's fold down seats and two bikes on the back and driven up steep canyon roads. It's turn radius is to die for, and even at 20 years old it's getting 30 mph in the City and 35-40 on the freeway.

Faults:

Gas gauge doesn't work over 1/2 tank, but accurate under 1/2 tank.

Exhaust was very rusted.

A/C doesn't work.

Clutch is going.

Stock stereo would come off and on.

General Comments:

I drive a lot. I deliver pizza and work for UPS 20 miles from my house. I've had the car for 4 months and put 12000 miles on it already.

This car gets very good gas mileage. I get 30+ around town and 37 on the highway with 4 people in it.

I'm 6'2" and fit in the car more comfortably than my Gram's Chevy Cavalier.

The clutch is starting to go, but I was told this before I bought the car, and it's still going after 12000 miles.

The engine gets the oil changed EVERY 3000 miles and doesn't burn oil.

This car meets my expectations, because I owned a 1986 Toyota Corolla before this which is the reason I bought this car. I had the Corolla last year and put 55000 miles on the car in that year I did little to it besides maintenance. It blew the head gasket with more than triple the maximum weight for cargo and passengers while going over a mountain it overheated and the head gasket blew 700 mile later.

Faults:

I have had to have the axiel boots replaced on both sides.

If idle (e.g. stopped at a stoplight), the car tends to die when gas is pushed again.

Windshield wipes sometimes don't work.

Needs tune-ups regularly.

Gas gauge does not work, although, the light will fuel light does turn on within 2-3 gallons of empty.

Rear window defogger connection broke and despite several attempts will not reattach.

I had to replace the timing belt, but that's normal for the age of the car.

General Comments:

My grandmother purchased this car brand new off the lot and I got when she stopped driving.

It has always been a slow starter and sometimes dies, but overall is in pretty good shape.

I regularly average over 30 mpg, which is fantastic considering the age.

In actuality, I haven't had to spend too much to keep the car running and it tends to do pretty well for me.