Distributor shaft seal failed causing major oil leakage. One liter every 1000 kms initially (previous owner never told me - lucky I found out or else I'd have blown my engine) ; one liter every 200 kms before I got it fixed - which costed me $500. Now it leaks one liter every 2500 kms - better. Buyers of cars with this 3.4 DOHC should be ware!
Alternator died at 130,000 kms.
Recently I got only 14 mpg (20L/100km) Though, if I do a lot of highway driving I can get 20 mpg.
This car handles very well and is relatively fast. Suprisingly, though, I once raced a 1996-9 Cavalier Z24 with standard and it was just as fast. If you want performance and less fuel consumption, consider the Cavalier though I heard the engine is failure prone and the car is no better.
I don't know what was plaguing your z, but I raced a cavalierz24 (1998 5 speed)with my z and waxed it hands down. lumina z's have the tendency to have air leaks around the fuel injectors which causes loss of power and poor performance. this car will outrun a stock 1992 ford mustang 5.0. I am sorry you had a bad experience with your Lumina, but they are complicated in the engine dept. cause of general motors wild idea to cram such a big motor into such a small space. hence making the alts overheat and die they could have designed a few things different in my book.
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