1997 Chevrolet S-10 LT review from North America

Trim is flimsy. Door and seat handles break, grille fades from black to white plastic, seats get too soft.

The front shocks went at 30,000 miles.

It started to become unreliable as soon as the warranty was up.

The leaf springs sag.

The U joints went at 65,000 miles.

The door mirrors wore out and started to flop and bounce so badly on the highway that I couldn't see anything, and GM wanted $300 each for replacements.

The flexible foil pipe between the exhaust manifold and the exhaust pipe tore and needed to be replaced at 80,000 miles and cost $250 in parts and $250 in labor - it looks like the foil pipe on a household dryer which costs $10 and that's probably why it tore.

Now at 85,000 miles my father spends an average of $250 a month maintaining it. He'd dump it, but the resale value is very low and it's nice to have a truck around.

The engine is underpowered, not particularly efficient, outdated even for 1997 and generally lacking on the highway or when hauling loads.

The interior is too small and I'm only 5'11".

This was my first car, a gift to me while I was in college. I wanted a used Japanese coupe like an Integra which would have been less money, but my family wanted a new car because it would have a warranty.

It would have been cheaper to buy the used Japanese car, which would probably still be running strongly with twice as many miles.

It's good looking, has a nice interior, is OK around town and has not rusted at all. I realize it was a cheap truck, but compared to a similar Toyota or Nissan it is underpowered and unreliable.