1997 Pontiac Sunfire SE review from North America
"You get what you pay for, a good reliable second/starter/winter car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
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. :)
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| Looks nice - but looks can be deceiving!!! |
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| Brutal! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.2 litre 4 cylinder Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 203000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 229000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Corvette |
| Date of Entry | 18th February, 2009 |