1989 Chevrolet Beretta GT from North America - Comments

Ignition switch broke at about 65K miles. Had to be replaced at a cost of nearly $300.

The paint (blue) peeled badly. This is why I eventually got rid of the car. GM refused to acknowledge this was a problem. Even though I didn't buy the car new, it was well cared for and the paint looked new. I tried the dealer and even called GM. They all acted like this was a total surprise and that it had to do with how I cared for the car. That didn't sit well with me so I later sold it at a loss rather than repaint it. I understand there were several class action lawsuits regarding this problem.

Windshield mysteriously cracked. I think this was caused by running the defrost at full on a particularly cold morning.

Needed muffler at only 60K miles which is a little early.

Dash started to creak and warp a little. Driver's seat started to wear. Door panel started to come loose, no doubt from pulling those ridiculously big and heavy doors closed - typical for GM cars.

Very fun car to drive. Very nice looking. Engine had good pickup. Transmission needed an overdrive and a lockup defeat to prevent gear hunting. Excellent freeway car - would easily hold 80 mph and was relatively quiet and very comfortable. Good stereo.

Cheap and plasticky feel to everything. Crude and clunky controls, numb steering, cartoonish dash (non digital). The turn signal felt like it was going to break every time I used it. Not the end of the world, but I expected better from the first car I spent quite a bit of money to buy.

Generally got 18 mpg in the city and about 27 on the highway, with the automatic, which didn't have overdrive.

Very comfortable seats. The best I've ever had in a car. I'm considering finding a pair for a classic car I'm restoring.

Handled very good, but was too firm on rough roads. Should have had independent rear suspension, but alas. Also handled very well in the snow if tires had good tread.

Except for the paint, a rather decent and reliable car. Compared well to my current '92 Honda Civic. As a used car they're fine if the paint has been dealt with. I would recommend a 5 speed manual as the automatic lacked a lot of refinement that year.

I sold the car to a friend who gave it to his mom as a commuter car. She's got close to 200K miles on it and it's still going strong. The car was never painted and is now starting to rust and really looks bad, but she doesn't care.

I think that Berettas are great cars and shouldn't be so badly talked about. I have a Beretta and the paint is fine.

I agree with you. I have an 89 Beretta and the paint is peeling and chipping like there is no tomorrow. I can't wait to sell this car!!!

I have an 89 beretta that's repainted, and that seems 2 do the trick.. for now at least, but iit looks good.

Got a 89 GT for our daughter. Needed all lights on the whole car to be replaced and that added up. The dashboard is in bad shape and the windshield visors are misshaped. Interior seems to all be falling apart. We got it for 400.00 so won't complain too much. Now we are leaking some type of fluid under the front end. Not sure yet what that is. After finally driving it on her own last week for one day the muffler is now making noises. We are told it will need to be replaced. I guess once we get it out and can finally drive it maybe things will get better. You get what you pay for, but I'm sure once all the bugs are out it will be a nice car to last maybe a few more years. She likes it cause its so sporty... (smile)

I own an 89 GT I bought it for 300.00 and it seems like ever since I got it everything has gone wrong. The ignition switch broke and I had to replace it, it cost me 365.00 which is more than I paid for the car. Now if I drive it for more than 15 miles in town at one time it starts to sputter and eventually it will die. They paint looks good, but the interior is starting to fall apart. The dash is cracking and starting to come unglued. So it looks terrible. It is a fun car to drive because it is sporty, but I cannot wait to get rid of it.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but if you paid $300 for an '89 it's a safe assumption that it has been beat, so that's the chance you take. At that price, there's not a lot of justification to complain about the interior falling apart because it's just basic transportation. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just accept that you won't get something for nothing. On the other hand, you would have felt even worse to have paid $3,500 for it, and then had to pay $365 to have the ignition fixed. As for the running/stalling problem, have you done the routine maintenance: new spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, fuel injection cleaner, changed the fuel filter? Change all that and it will probably run better. If not, then you can start thinking about the coil or other more detailed problems.

Hey I am the one that my daughter got her car for 400.00 and we are having the same problem. She has had a oil change and all that goes with that, and the car is still losing oil pressure on her gauge and the car will stall out on her. Her uncle works for GM and has replaced a lot, and I mean a lot, of parts on the car for her, and now we are having this problem. I have tried to search on why the engine is stalling, but seem to get nowhere. If anyone has a idea, please let me know on here. Thanks... hate to sell the car after so much has gone into it, and it seems to drive so nice.

I bought a 1989 Beretta a year or so ago to use as a winter car and to save mileage on my main vehicle. It ran well for a while and is a fun car to drive.

The heater core went out, but as this happended during mild weather I just crossed the hoses. I got a new heater core for only $25 but it's buried under the dash and is a pain to gt to. I replaced the cluch, tune it up, and replaced the front brake pads.

It failed the smog test and the mechanic said it was a bad computer, bought $30 off ebay. The engine kept dying. It turned out to be the altenater. It runs pretty good for basic maintenace with 137,000. It should go many more miles.

To the people that has the engine shut of after driving it for a certain period of time.

It could be a sensor called a crankshaft position sensor.

When I had my gtz 3.1 in order for me to "revive" my engine I held down the egr valve and relive the fuel pressure.

Plus i own a 94 grand am gt paid $200 for the car and it gave me very little problems.

Berettas a good cars.

The engine last longer than the tranny and body... looks like you can't say that about hondas anymore.

I have a problem My 1989 Beretta runs great for 400 bucks but it won't idle below 1250 and I can't get on it,from a dead stop, it without the car atempting to die. In motion I can get on it and it will do just fine.