Faults:

Interior passenger handle broke, easily fixed.

A/C needs to be "recharged" according to the dealer - haven't done so, not usually needed.

Engine has recently started needing a lot of oil - needs a "ring job" once again according to the dealer. However, the mechanic feels as long as the car still gets up and goes without problem, don't fix the engine.

Seats and carpet are worn - but the car is 10 years old. Seems to be normal wear.

Canvas top and plastic window needed replacing two years ago - seemed normal enough.

No other problems that weren't general wear (replaced brakes, worked on transmission, worked on clutch)

General Comments:

Peppy little fun car. I got the car at 16 and am still driving it. It's mainly an in-city driving type car, but I've driven in back and forth to college, from middle US to California, Las Vegas, NY, Maine, Montreal and Vancouver.

It's TINY, but I can fit all my gear and two Labradors in the car without too much struggle.

It runs even if it's feeling sick - various parts have started to wear out and I couldn't fix them right away.

A bit sluggish and grumpy in snow, but give it time to warm up and it will go through a reasonable amount.

It's just a nice little car that's willing to work even when it's been kicked around quite a bit.

Faults:

I have had only one repair within the first 5 years (70K) :throttle position sensor needed to be replaced (150$ +labor).

Otherwise only maintenance stuff (tires, battery replacement, timing belt, muffler/exhaust if you live in snow country)

Now after 10 years and 130K miles the front wheel ball joints are worn out and I will part with the car to get a new Geo Metro!

General Comments:

Most economical, fuel-efficient non-hybrid car available in the US, easy to park in the smallest spots.

Faults:

Driver's side interior door handle broke.

Driver's side window sticking, and is hard to roll up and down.

Recent minor oil leak has been noted.

Corrosion around upper radiator hose at the water neck has been noted.

After two of the hubcaps fell off, I gave in and took the other two off myself for uniformity.

General Comments:

When I bought this car, the previous owner has already replaced the clutch and the timing belt, so it was running great.

I have driven this car for 3 years now, both around town and on the L.A. freeways.

Nothing major has gone wrong with it so far. I did replace the brake pads and had the rotors turned ($120.00) had done a wheel alignment ($29.00), and new radial tires all around at 85k miles. (4 for $69.00!) I have the oil and filter replaced about every 6,000 miles.

The car is fair acceleration for a 3 cylinder, but is dangerously slow with the a/c on. You have to disengage it when starting off to avoid being rear ended.

The interior has held up well. There's one 1/4 inch rip in the seat from when I was playing around with a cork screw someone gave me.

It was the cleanest Metro in town until a few months ago. I was driving in rush hour, stop and go traffic on the freeway and rear ended a truck. Now, the front end is all smashed up and the windshield is broken.

I figure it's totaled, as my cost estimate is a conservative $1,000.

The inner body was kinked under the upper control arm in the accident, so it will need to be pulled and squared by a frame shop.

However, it is still being driven daily!

With all the damage it has, its hard to believe this puppy still runs the same as it did the day I drove it home.