Roof and door seals leaked.
Transmission, engine, power steering, master cylinder, all leaked.
Ugly.
Exhaust had a horrible stink (smelled like rotten eggs, puke, and hot diesel).
Many, many wiring problems.
Alternator went out twice when I had it.
Poorly designed brakes (wore out a lot).
Stalling occasionally.
Overheating (thermostat and radiator were clogged)
Wipers came on by themselves.
Dimmer switch didn't work.
Rust, rust, rust.
Not too bad a car, I've heard worse stories from Citation owners. I got an OK deal, paying only $350 for it. It lasted quite a while, considering it was one of GM's worst cars ever, and the old witch I bought it from didn't really believe in maintenance.
This car wasn't as slow as you'd expect, quite quick off the line. I had it doing nearly 120 MPH one day (my friend followed in his dad's BMW 7 Series.) I was kind of happy the night a drunkard in a Blazer smacked it at nearly 80 MPH while it was parked. I got nearly twice what I paid for it from the insurance company.
This is what Happens when you do not take care of your car, or don't care about it period. The Citation was a very reliable car, especially 1983 and up.
-CK.
Citations are NOT reliable, They are HORRIBLE cars, GM's worst!! I wouldn't recommend one to my worst enemy!!!
I special ordered my 1983 Citation CL Hatchback 18 years ago and with over 120,000 miles am still driving it daily. Most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Sure it has rust on it now but it still drives, accelerates, and handles well.
It looks like the Citations on average ARE quite reliable, even when people don't maintain them. Mine had 323,000 miles on it when I finally gave it to a friend who needed reliable basic transportation...
Not only would I recommend one as basic transportation, I'd own another one (like the X11 version, with the SCCA SSB suspension and chassis)
I don't think think this guy is being fair, he paid very little for a car that was by his own admission not well looked after. It'd probably been left sit for long periods and what happens people? Seals degrade hence the leaking, brake rotors were probably warped hence the wearing out.
The citation wasn't even close to being the worst car GM ever made. Some 60s models were real stinkers. The Vega is probably the worst vehicle of any maker for reliability (our Honda lawn mower engine would last in it better than the aluminum piece of crap in them.)
The citation's finish just wasn't very good, the interior falls apart easily, it is built fairly cheaply yet the engine and transmission are excellent. The iron duke 4 can't be killed (push rod iron block, iron head with gear driven camshaft, can't be simpler) The transmission is a simple 3 speed auto, fairly hard to ruin it if you maintain it.
Just because some cosmetic stuff in the interior falls apart doesn't mean the whole car is the worst ever. Would you rather have a super nice car with an amazing interior, but with a crappy engine that dies everywhere, or a cheap interior with an excellent drive train? I would rather have the second since with the first all you will be doing is admiring the interior while stuck on the side of the road with a blown head gasket.
I had a 1983 Citation about 15 years ago I bought it for $500.00..I tell you what It was probably one of the most reliable cars I have ever had.. Granted she was a little rusty and it took all your strength to turn the steering wheel. But I tell you what I went through hell and back with her.. I sold her about 2 years later with 233,000 miles on her. I put just under 100,000 on her... very reliable transportation...
I live in Salt Lake City and have found a 1983 Citation hatchback for sale locally. It has been garage kept and is a one owner. The actual mileage is 15,000 It looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. What do you think a fair price would be for this car? He wants $3900.00 Isn't that what they were new 25 years ago?
If you pay $3900 for an '83 Citation, I have some oceanfront property you would be interested in. Right in Salt Lake City, too.
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