Faults:

There has been no major problems with this car. I had to change the catalytic converter a few years ago and that's about it.

General Comments:

This has been a great car to own. It has traveled around Canada and the USA. It has wintered in Yellow Knife without any starting problems, and has traveled the dirt roads of the Dempster Highway in the North West Territories and holidayed in sunny Florida. It has made dozens of trips from Ottawa Ontario to the great white north.

It is a reliable comfortable car.

As it ages I have to plug it in wintertime.

It has not had a tuneup in over 5 years, but still runs smooth.

It does not burn oil, and it sounds like a newer car.

I would not hesitate to buy another Pontiac car.

Faults:

Driver's side wheel flew off on highway due to seized wheel bearing!!! (my fault... drove for another two days after warning signs!! Turned simple wheel bearing replacement into front brake job due to skidding on rotor at 100km/h!)

Replaced timing chain... didn't really need it but thought it would get rid of what sounded like lifter noise... (I know, they don't have lifters, so I'm told but ticking noise kinda sounded the same!!) Wasn't a big deal, just a little annoying... noise is a bit quieter but I'm told that these engines are never exactly "Honda smooth".

ABS actually locked up rears prematurely so I pulled the relay. Never liked anti-lock in the snow anyway!! :)

General Comments:

Reliable car!!!

Handling a bit mushy and underpowered for a 2.2 The GT model probably would cure this, I'm told the 2.4 was a smoother engine too.

Not a rev happy engine, very buzzy/brash!

Shifter felt a bit vague.

Interior panels rattle/squeak.

Awesome gas mileage.

I'm sure I've driven imports with smaller cc engines that seemed to have more power, or at least more usable??? I got this car (in mint condition too) for cheaper than any import in comparable shape, and it's done everything asked of it!!! Just not the same feel, fit/finish, or smoothness of a Honda or Toyota. Definitely cheaper to fix and none of the repairs I made were the fault of the car really.

I own a 50th anniversary Corvette, and really love American muscle... IROC's and such!!! I'm not knocking US cars, but it seems you have to pay much more for the same level of refinement.

Overall, I would recommend one to a friend. Biggest knock against it is that no matter how well it is maintained and how shiny and spotless it is... it's still a bright teal Sunfire!!! Can't shake the "high school girls car" image. Oh well. :)

Faults:

Alternator died the second day I had the car, the used car place I bought it from replaced it for me for $0.

Rust on my gas line caused a leak. I fixed it myself for $3.

General Comments:

Read a lot of reviews posted here and people seem to be giving this car a lot of grief, its almost like they don't understand this is a base model cheap American car, don't expect Audi quality when buying a GM.

From a mechanical/reliability standpoint, I seriously have nothing bad to say about this car, I am religious about maintaining it, and it's been very good to me.

My previous car was an old 94 Suzuki Swift, that I had driven to death. I had a baby on the way, and needed something bigger and safer than that thing. Found the Sunfire for $3500 with a new set of all seasons, and a new set of winter tires on rims. Talked the guy down to $3k cash and bought it.

I have never regretted the purchase. The only things I don't like about the car are really quite superficial, its cabin is a little noisy on the highway, certain plastic pieces rattle in the interior but really it's just stupid things I don't like. Mechanically speaking, it's fine, and the only place that has had any rust on it was where the gas line leak occurred. Which is incredible for a car of its age, I live in Montreal Qc Canada, our winters are murder.

I would recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a cheap practical car to get them from Point A to Point B, and occasionally Point C on the weekends. My sons car seat is mounted in the center of the backseat, and I can still fit a person on each side, the trunk space fits a grocery order, his stroller and my 12" sub with amp in box. I really like the trunk on this thing.