1990 Pontiac Sunbird LE review from North America

Well this is the story. I was 15 years old looking for my first car. I had $500.00 in my pocket and started looking. It didn't take me long to find a 1990 Pontiac Sunbird LE, 2 door black and rocker panels rusted. I was a bit skeptical at first because head gaskets are the most important issue on this particular car.

Well I went into the dealership by myself with $500.00 cash in my pocket. The car was listed as $799.99 As is. The car had just gotten 4 new Toyo tires, which aren't cheap, catalytic converter, radiator, belts, heater core, Head gaskets, valve cover gasket and came with its complete maintenance journal. It was a one owner car.

I didn't like the fact that the hood was all scratched and it really looked bad, but I thought I would just paint it anyway. So after driving it around in the parking lot and wondering what it would need for a safety, I realised the brakes were shot and probably just needed pads.

Well the next week later I went back to the dealer, and I said do you want to sell that car today, because I have the cash in my pocket? The dealer was like, yeah sure, you're just a kid. I'm like no and I pulled $500.00 out of my pocket and he looked at me and said it's yours. I said no, I'll give you $250.00 because its been sitting their all winter. He said sure since it's your first car. He drove it to my house for me. That was the end of that.

The following day I cleaned the whole entire car out, shampooed the interior, put a CD player in it and bought some sunboard aluminum rims for 100 for a set of 4 at a junkyard. Then showed my dad. He was furious at first thinking I bought a car behind his back all by myself.

He eventually got over it, and I went and got it safetied the following week later. It needed an emergency brake cable, front brake pads, and the turned the rotors. I also got new rockerpanels welded on, which only cost me a total of $350.00 everything included, no inside deals. I sandblasted the hood also, which wasn't included and painted it. The car looked amazing!!

I got a car for $600.00 all together, mechanically sound, runs like a dream.

My sister owns a 1989 Pontiac Sunbird, same model and everything, has put 40 000km's in one year and has had minor problems, yet she paid $1725.00 certified. Mine has less km's than she's ever had and is in much better shape. Hers is now off the road due to a mysterious coolant leak somewhere, and she thinks it's the head gasket.

2 months after having my car, I decided to sell it to my friend, seeing how she wanted it so bad. I ended up with $2500.00 in my pocket for my next car and made us both happy. She is driving it on a daily basis and is absolutely in love with it. I still Am, but I like to see that it is getting good use.

$33.00 fills the tank up when the gas light is on, and gas is 78.9 cents a litre.

Fun to driving, reliable, parts are cheap, lots of these cars around and just won't die, other than rust!!

I recommend doing your research before buying any car, and making sure you know how much money you will be spending on it.

This little black bird will never be forgotten.