1996 Pontiac Sunfire GT from North America - Comments

This car is pretty good for the money I bought a 96 sunfire and I use it as my beater and the car is pretty tough when I step back and look at all the stuff I put it through,,, paid 150 bucks for it and only did an alternator and starter on it,, it moves OK, needs tires and motor mounts, but I ll just wait till the engine falls out of it,,, all the lights on the dash are on which makes me thing the airbags won't work, but I've ran over a lot of stuff and it hasn't messed up once, go team sunfire.

I have a 96 Sunfire GT (purchased new), and this car has been great for the most part. I get really good gas mileage (except on the Garden State Parkway... stupid tolls) and lots of get-up-and-go. I had very few problems until recently when things started to go, but after 12 years, what can you expect. I believe I have replaced an alternator, passenger window motor, fan motor, air-compressor, timing chain, struts, water pump and one of the wheel joint thingies (I don't remember the name).

At 120k miles, I began having some transmission problems, where after the car has been driven for a while (say 40 miles) I am cruising along at 65, and it decides it wants to be in neutral. I have to slow down under 40 and test the accelerator for it to kick into 3rd, then I can go on my way again for maybe another 40 miles or so before it does it again. Needless to say, I don't drive long distances any longer, but it is great for back and forth to work.

I am wary of spending 3 grand for a new trans in a 12 year old car, so I am just hoping it lasts another 6 months or so.

3 grand for a tranny for a 96 Sunfire.. hmm.. don't sound right to me. I will take my tranny out and ship it to you if you are paying 3 grand, other than that, someone is trying to take you for a ride.

I bought a 96 Pontiac Sunfire GT in 2002. It had 80,000 on it when I bought it. It really surprised me at how fast it was for a 4 banger.

Yeah the water pump is a pain, especially if you change it yourself.

The other problems with it that have happened more than once are the coil pack housing and the water outlet housing.

Now it has 275,000 and this 5 speed will still break traction in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd! No joke!!!

I love this car, but not more than my Nissan 300ZX. It's faster and handles better.

380,000 miles and all it needs is a back seat!!!

Have a 1996 Sunfire. Bought it brand new for my wife who only travels 6 miles to work.

The car has been nothing but a headache. At 19k miles it blew the head gasket. Mind you this was after the car was 4 years old; like I said she doesn't travel far.

So OK had the 5 year warranty, so the dealer fixed it, wanted to trade it in; they only offered me 4k for the car. OK forget that, was paid for, since then has blown the alternator, the A/C, power steering pump and 2 water pumps, the A/C and alternator wear shortly after the head gasket was replaced, so the warranty covered them. Also has been through 3 sets of O2 sensors, and twice the valve cover gasket.

Shame the car still only has 60k miles on it, not a scratch.