Faults:

I had a 1980 Colt 1.4 I bought used in 81. It was a hate / love relationship right from the get go.

First week it left me stranded to walk 7 km home (vapor lock). Cold start circuit had it rev out to 4000 plus rpm, eventually requiring a valve job within first two months.

The engine suffered from pinging (pre-ignition) such that it would quit at exactly 36 km on the highway. Same place several times. 10 min shut off it would restart.

The doors would freeze shut in winter.

The gear shift lever one time fell through the floor on the highway when an underneath mounting plate went bye, bye.

The steering column seized such that the steering wheel wouldn't spin back to center after a turn.

The local Dodge dealer couldn't recognize a broken belt in the OEM rear tire when I reported a bad vibration. In turn I was given to OK for a 500km highway round trip. On return the tire was egg shaped.

General Comments:

After sorting the engine ignition problems I delivered pizzas in that car in the worst weather and temperatures. It always started. The body never had any rust in my years of ownership despite me living in a road salted maritime climate (a Honda I owned later on pretty much turned to dust).

The car would go anywhere in the snow until it hung up, at which point you could lift and free it in 5 minutes. In frigid temps, a few frost heaves on the main route formed an impromptu ramp and the Colt jumped quite nicely.

The most fun trait the car had, was with its light weight and squarish body, it would allow lift off oversteer in the turns even on dry pavement. I scared the boss once well sliding through an "S" bend.

Despite all my early troubles I sold the car to a college student and she drove it for years only needing to replace the rear brake shoes.

General Comments:

I bought it new in 1980 and drove it for 265,000 miles. Wonderful, dependable car.

Faults:

This car has hardly any problems in 17 years.

Not worth it to fix after it slammed into a tree in 2001. Engine still started after being totalled in the wreck though.

General Comments:

This is the greatest value car out there. Owned for 17 years, put on 170,000 miles. Lots of power, always started up every time. Had a little trouble in the winter around 160,000 miles.

Paid $2000 dollars in 1984, got plenty of usage, and sold it for 50 bucks to a wrecker in 2001 after totalling it.

Great front wheel drive, and boy you could squeal those tires! The Power-Economy shifter was a creative Low-High gear, to make the 4 speed like a 5 speed.

This was the greatest car for the value, and a lot of fun.