Faults:

Great little car that I have owned since new. Never drove it in winter, always garaged next to my antique car collection... just drove it for long trips in summer. Did have problems with the original head / flashing check engine light. I'm mechanical so I found low compression in cylinder 1; 75 instead of 150. The motor was skipping at 83,000 miles; replaced head gaskets, timing belt and water pump while I had it apart. Replaced the A/C compressor also.

It locked up from low usage 1 year prior. Ran great again after that; parts cost 800.00. The car was in great shape so I thought it was worth it.

At 130,000, the engine light came on again... this time emissions. Replaced the catalytic converter and both O2 sensors; I cheaped out and used aftermarket; that was a mistake... The cat was junk and so were the O2 sensors... went to OEM; haven't had any problems so far.

No engine light with 153 000 miles on it; it runs like new... but I took excellent care of this car; I never beat on it, always took great care in keeping it waxed and super clean inside. Changed the oil every 3-4 thousand miles and changed the automatic trans fluid every 2-3 years. Replaced C/V joints and both front wheel bearings and a few other things. It will make it to 200,000 miles easily... I just wish it had 15-20 more HP...

Great looks and is comfortable for a small car. I still love driving it on weekends and I get good comments on it.

I did replace the ugly plastic wheel covers and 13 inch rims with 15 inch ASA BMW wheels... it really dressed it up nice. I did this at 50,000 miles.

I am keeping this car; I do not like the new Accents.. the back is too pointy and the windshield is at too much of a slant... so is the back window. They can have the car payments. They have cheapened the new ones, and the Accent before my new 2000 body style sucked.

General Comments:

Great car, but keep up on the maintenance and you will get a lot of years and miles out of it...

Faults:

Previous owner pulled relay from the fan rendering it useless (30 dollar fix).

Temp gage had to be replaced with cluster (140 dollars).

Needs an alignment and new tires as of right now.

Transmission grinds from first to second occasionally.

General Comments:

Great car overall; mileage is superb, reliability is great (would not buy an auto though).

Performance is decent for a car with its engine size.

Oil consumption has started at around 130000, but not bad at a quart every 3000 miles.

Would buy another in a heart beat, but would make sure to get options next time though.

Faults:

- Burning oil smell at around 75,000 miles.

- Replaced head gasket due to oil leak, and the problem continued.

- Had to fill oil up frequently due to leak.

- Replaced engine cover at 100,000 miles because it was warped (source of oil leak).

- Latch on hood broke (i think someone damaged it though)

- Very loud sound at around 60,000 miles. Had some part replaced (don't remember name)...cost about $200.

- Engine overheated once at about 95,000 miles. Replaced radiator cap.

- Check engine light came on at about 90,000 miles. Needs cat. converter and oxygen sensor replaced they said. ($800)

- Very jerky transmission sometimes while driving and ideling (started around 90,000 miles).

- Dents/scratches very easily.

- Car shakes if you go above 70 miles per hour.

- When you have people in the back seat the acceleration is noticeably slower. Really have to push down on pedal to get the car to move.

- Got into car accident and airbags did not deploy. Maybe not car's problem though... could have been position of the impact?

(totaled car)

General Comments:

This car was my first car and lasted for a good 4 years.

The only real serious problem was the oil leak, and after replacing the engine cover it was fine.

Acceleration is slow, but expected.

Had I not totaled the car, the check engine light was a problem. I was not about to pay $800 to fix it since the car was only worth around $2,300. Could not pass inspection with the light on.

Also, had I not totaled the car when I did, the transmission was becoming an issue. The jerkiness was a little scary on the highway randomly. I wondered if the car would one day break down while driving or ideling.

Back seat is cramped and small.

Seats are kind of stiff and uncomfortable... but you get used to it I guess.

Considering this car lasted 117,000 miles and would have gone further, it was perfect for me. I drove all over New Jersey with this car. Primarily needed a car to drive to school (one hour commute)

Mpg was pretty good (30 mpg)...could have been better if I changed the cat. converter they say.