Faults:

First engine just got replaced in August 2012. Rod knock, oil leak, head gasket leak, and began burning oil.

Seats edges wore out.

Tranny first gear ground out.

General Comments:

I would marry this car if I could. The first engine has been in the car since it left the factory...

This car handles like a Mini Cooper with the strap suspension, but can handle its fair share of off road too.

It loves mud and sand.

This car is 23 years old and still drives like it's 16, and I do too when I'm behind the wheel.

The turbo upgrade is an adrenaline rush every time I get on an on ramp, or when I pull up to a Honda ricer at a red light.

Faults:

Head gasket blew at 312,000km.

Rear speakers blew at 315,000km.

Front drivers wheel bearing went at 320,000km.

Fan cuts on and off randomly. Started around 327,000.

Catalytic converter is toast at 331,000km.

General Comments:

Bought my Sprint from my mechanic 2 years ago for $700.

A lower kilometer engine was dropped into it a year before I purchased it, which was followed by my mechanic installing a new clutch, shocks, various filters, and given a general check over before I purchased it.

Doesn't have much gusto (48 horsepower will do that), but returns approximately 40mpg.

Costs just over 20 dollars to fill it up from empty (gas at 89.9 cents/liter) and lasts around 2 weeks driving around local cities.

Great car for students or anyone looking for cheap transportation. Also great for anyone who wants to learn how to repair their own car. I personally did my first head gasket, and wheel bearings on this car.

Everything is easily accessible on the car for repairs, especially the engine, and is as basic a car as you'll get.

Squeaks, rattles, clunks, and has poor sound insulation (worse now since my car leaks, so I removed the carpeting due to mildew) but refuses to die, even after rallying it for fun.

Seats are thinly padded and not too comfy for long distances.

Decent interior room for a car this size, especially after removing the rear seat (managed to take my friend and myself, with both our mopeds, spare moped engine, clothes, gas, and other stuff to Seattle last summer).

Parking is a piece of cake, makes all other cars seem like trucks.

Take care of it, and it will pay you back in no time.

Faults:

When I bought my car, the clutch was going bad and it bombed emissions - note that I only paid 500$ for it so I KNEW that it would need work.

The alternator went bad before the transmission.

The Distributer went bad.

Parts were VERY expensive and are often deemed 'obsolete'.

General Comments:

I bought it cheap and drove it forever. On Saturday, the tired engine finally said "enough" yet for the third major breakdown she had, she gave her all to get me home. When the clutch went out, I got 'done' doing 90 on the freeway in my three banger, she only died as I rolled into my parking space.

I need a car that doesn't require the overhaul she does, but definitely no regrets with owning this car. It was always quick, gas saving and could work like a dog hauling cargo.

Excellent little goer!

Faults:

I slid across a road into a barrier with it. My Dad and I fixed it back up, and since then the only other problem has been my distributor cap. Oh, and I blew out a cylinder at 200,000km when I was 4x4ing up a mountain last spring.

General Comments:

This car has been my first car, and I would recommend it as a first car for any responsible teen. Being such a small car, you have to constantly be aware of the people around you on the road. It's taught me a lot of good driving skills so I can be as defensive as possible. As long as you treat this car right, it will live (what seems like) forever.

I have had a lot of fun in this car. Being my first, I spent a summer ripping around in it all day and night whenever I wasn't working. It's not power steering, but you don't need it, I'm an average sized female and I can turn the wheel with one hand.

It fits anywhere. Not much need to worry about finding a parking spot, I managed to fit between two SUVs parked in small car spots out infront of Starbuck's on numerous occasions.

The car saved me from having to be up for the 6:45 bus to school (about 25km out of town) by being so cheap on gas and insurance that I was able to pay for it while working only 6 hours a week.

The only thing I would want to improve about the car is the way it looks, and I've put some serious thought into this and come up with some pretty sweet designs; but non the less, my car is now crooked because I went down a windy road on a rainy night and tapped the brakes around a corner.

I really wouldn't mind keeping this car as long as it will live, but I'm now moving on to bigger and (potentially) better things, I want a car that doesn't rain on the inside because my boyfriend locked my keys in the car one time when he borrowed it.