1989 Pontiac Tempest review from North America

The radiator sprung a leak at 170,000 km.

The turn signals went out a long time ago, but I didn't bother getting them fixed.

That's it, except for regular maintenance.

This is and has been a great car. In seven years the only thing I had to spend money on was maintenance and a new radiator ($200). The car has been extremely reliable, enjoyable, and versatile.

I've used it as a student car, a kennel, a grocery getter, and a daily commuter.

Mine has quite a pick up, even with 190K km on it! I have caught many unsuspecting people by surprise. With its small displacement, you get the gas mileage of a four banger with the low-end torque of a V6. The best of both worlds!

The stock stereo is amazing. Don't expect to use it to win any competitions, but the bass is unbelievable for something without a subwofer. The radio reception is quite poor. I have a hard time picking up a station 40 km away, on a hill. But it is loud enough to suppress the squeaks and rattles.

But who needs a stereo when you can listen to the sweet sound the engine makes when you floor the accelerator at 100 km/hr... 60 mph for our American audience. '89 was the last year for the 2.8 and all the kinks seem to have been worked out by then.

To be fair, I have heard some bad things about the 2.8. Such as the head gaskets blowing, timing belts shredding, and many other things asymptomatic of a neglected power-train. If you change the oil, monitor your other fluids, and clean the fuel system once and again... I don't see why you wouldn't have as care free and enjoyable an owners experience like mine.