The right rear wheel bearing was replaced.
I purchased the car due to the rising fuel costs, and it has been the best decision I have ever made. I purchased the car from the second owner, whom purchased it at 80,000 miles. To this date the car has had nothing but oil changes, tune-ups, and tires with the exception of a new alternator six months ago.
Personally, I think the car looks like a hot wheels, and actually drives like a golf cart, but it can cruise at 75MPH with great ease.
I am very happy with it, and with over 220000 miles on the original engine and tranny, it runs out quite well and still gets 39MPG regularly.
Overall:
If you can find one, buy it. You can't go wrong. I am gonna literally drive the wheels off this thing, and glue it back together and keep on wheelin!
Don't expect anything special. It is as plain as they come, but it will beat every small car on the market today as far as fuel economy, and if you want to get any better, you will shell out a cool 30 grand on a Honda Civic Hybrid, which by the way, will not save much money if you factor in full coverage insurance, interest, and maintenance costs.
30 grand for a Civic Hybrid? Don't think so -- there are plenty available around here at or below the MSRP of $22,500.
A better comparison would be the Honda Fit, anyway, which starts out at under $14K and doesn't sacrifice acceleration for mpg, unlike the feeble Aspire.