1996 Pontiac Sunfire GT from North America - Comments

Blown engine.

Bad alternator.

Window motor works and then doesn't.

Key-less entry works half the time and has a very short range.

I own a 96 sunfire gt and have had to replace the engine $2400 and change the alternator. I also had a vacuume leak which took me almost 3 days to find. the engine has very little room around it to work on. it took me 3 days to change my alternator. my battery terminals won't come off for me to change the battery. but other than those things I've suffered other minor problems. I am a racer and I love working on cars, but this car uses about as much work as it does to drive. I'm kinda scared to put performance mods in it because of the time it would take me just to put in an exhaust or header. and also if the car would come up with any problems in the process. my alternator died on the highway in the middle of traffic. luckily I was close to an exit and had enough speed to get off. this car has a lot of power and I have raced and beat mustangs in it. if you know what your doing this car can be fun to work on and turn out very fast. if you're not the kinda person who has the time or money this car isn't for you. this car can be compared to the chevy cavalier. which when they were made were hot in the racing industry and racing requires a lot of maintenance. due to parts always fouling or breaking. this car was made to be ran ruff and repaired often.

This is a crappy car. It's on the same premise as the cavalier. That should tell you something. This is NOT a race car or a fast car or a good car by any means. It's a cheap get around car. Second of all, if you're a racer... you don't drive automatic sunfires.

And how did you beat this mustang or mustangs? Passing them on the highway or taking off quickly from a light when no one is looking does not qualify as a race.

I also own a 1996 GT it has been one of the easiest cars to work on, maintain, and repair. everything that has ever gone wrong with it I have been able to find, and fix. At 145000 miles the clutch went out, I would have thought that it would have happened sooner the way I drive a stick shift sometimes. I was able to buy the whole clutch assy. kit at a great price, had the flywheel turned in half a day, then did all the rest in 1 and a half days. I now have over 175000 miles on this car and I can still smoke the tires thru 1st and 2nd gears. I have had to replace the normal wear stuff like batteries, tires, belts, brakes, coils, shocks, etc... but I love this little car it has been better to me then I have been to it, going across country both north and south from Florida to Maine, and west to Idaho and back a number of times. Yep the paint (clear coat) is starting to fall off, but this car is in the weather all the time and I haven't found a company that can put clear coat on correctly yet. The way its going I will probably be driving this car a long time to come. It also gets great gas mileage.

2400 for replacing the engine? Gotta be smart about it.. what did you put in, like a Corvette engine? And no Sunfire can beat Mustangs.