The car had been searched by the police or DEA and the inside was pulled all apart. The rear seat was hollowed out for???. A trip to a local junk yard and $250.00 got me a whole new interior (seems as though gray was the standard color) including an almost new rear and passenger seat and a jack and handle. I replaced the timing belt myself (wasn't sure how many miles it had on it, better to be safe) It had three different used tires on it, so it got new tires and a front end alignment. When I got it the thermostat was bad and the car wouldn't heat up properly causing idle problems. It's easy to replace though.
Somewhat under powered, but it's a sprightly and fun car to drive, handles the snow well. Body is prone to dents (thin steel) but appears to be very rust resistant. Very good gas mileage, 40 mpg, but it has a small gas tank so you have to fill up just as often as a larger car. Easy to work on, and parts are easy to find at junk yards, at least where I live. Very good heater, but since the engine is so small I would not recommend air conditioning or an automatic transmission.
Appendum to my review: Front wheel bearings started getting noisy at 176,000 miles so I replaced them (rather I took the front wheel spindles off and took them to a machine shop to have the bearings and seals pressed in, $50.00 labor plus $18.00 for the seals and bearings) and since it was apart, I put in rebuilt half shafts (C.V.s)
Append um to my append um : My Aspire now has over 273,000 miles on it and is starting to burn a little oil, not bad though. I suspect that the valve guides are worn out, I installed new valve stem seals and it stopped burning oil for about a month, then it started burning again. Oh well, not too bad for the mileage it's got on it. Painted the hood with pickup truck bed liner to keep the paint chips at bay.
I have a 1996 Aspire and I have loved it, but it is time for a new owner to take over - any ideas on what it's worth?
Miles - 235,000 yep and I just got my best mpg ever - 49
dents - of course, esp. the hood where you close it
paint - could use a paint job - rock pits etc.
I have replaced the ERG valve, brakes, gas pump and filter, and it now has a heel-a-coil so the spark plug, #3 will stay it, but it does 65 -70 on the highway. I drive 85 miles round trip to work every day so it has been a great blessings and God has kept it running for me - and people are lined up to buy it - but what is it worth. I tried to buy another one, but they wanted over $2500 for it... any suggestions?
Append-um to my comments. Finally major problems with 297,000 on the odometer. I was so hoping to get 300,000 out of the original engine. #4 cylinder lost all compression, I went to the junk yard and got a whole new engine with only 45.000 miles on it for $450.00 dollars, pulled it's head off and put it on the old block. The exhaust valve (on the old head) had a piece missing from it. Luckily it did no damage to the cylinder or piston, it just spit the missing piece out the exhaust. Put it all together and I'm back on the road again, but about $575.00 lighter. Beats buying a new car.
Append-um: My Aspire now has 340,000 miles on it, the used replacement head is holding up well but it still burns a little oil. Rings? It still gives, on average, 40 miles to the gallon and the engine sets no codes. Just a little rust in the upper rear wheel arches but nothing else major is wrong with it. Now I'm shooting for the magic 400000.
Appendum to my appendums... The engine finally lost compression in... of all places East St.Louis, it still ran but roughly and had a hard time on hills. 365,000 miles, the engine is out and I'm going to replace the short block with the one I got from the junk yard and used the head off of. I bought a new Kia Rio, but after my Aspire is rebuilt, I'll use it as a winter car.
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