Faults:

The alternator gave out, $20 cdn @ pick-your-part. Needs rear brake pads soon. Leaking oil sending unit, $2 cdn @ Kelowna pick-your-part. Hatch back shock, $7 cdn @ pick-your part. All new ignition parts and oil change when I bought the car. Total including Amsoil racing oil $150 cdn. This car did not come with a block heater, as it is a southern B.C. car. That is why I opted for a high quality synthetic motor oil. It is going to require a complete exhaust system from Pick-your-part, which is only $25 cdn., when the snow stops flying.

General Comments:

This car is fantastic. Very reliable. I find the performance more than adequate, I have had this car up to 150 km/hr on a regular basis on the mountain highways of the interior of B.C. The transmission works flawlessly. The body roll in tight corners leaves a bit to be desired. I installed a brand new JVC CD player, works great. The car starts excellent, even at -20 Celsius, with the manual choke carburetor. The interior parts quality is quite low, but this car is really reliable and I like it a lot. There is absolutely no rust on this car. It is also very economical to drive. It only cost me $5.66 cdn to drive to Kelowna and back, which is 120 kms, round trip.

Faults:

In 12 years:

It got a new alternator.

It needed the signal indicator switch replaced.

It got a new battery.

It needed new brake pads.

General Comments:

This car wasn't taken care of when I got my license and got to use it, and it basically became my car. It only had semi-regular oil changes as maintenance over a span of 10 years. When I got my hands on it the transmission was dying, it was badly rusted through, the electrical system wasn't working properly (the right signal didn't work in the rain), the tires were soooo old they were cracking (finally replaced them), the shocks were pretty bad and the radiator leaked only when I was driving (so I never found the source). It still ran 12 000km and would've gone more if I could afford to buy it off my adoptive parents and pay for the insurance, but I couldn't afford it.

My little girl went to the wrecking yard :(

Of all the dozen or so different types of cars I've driven this was my favourite, no power ANYTHING, no amenities of any kind, and no show off gimmicky interior. If I could I would buy another Pony, even though I'm not likely to get one that would work so well.

Faults:

Some body rust.

Leaking oil severely.

The heater core blew 3 times.

Fifty percent of the exhaust system rotted out and had to be replaced.

General Comments:

This car can move quick enough if I want it to, but I would probably kill it.

However it is the most reliable car that I have ever owned.

It is also very easy to work on.

Parts are also super cheap. Any part for example filters, are the cheapest of any car listed at the auto parts stores. The heater core being an exception. It was priced out at 350 dollars canadian. Albeit an auto wrecker will ask roughly 20 dollars.

It is very uncomfortable, especially when taking sharp corners.

Faults:

No maintenance was done by the previous owner. Associated problems as can be expected by not replacing oil/tranny fluid/radiator fluid, etc.

Brakes were likely never replaced. Needed replacement @ about $400CDN.

Leaks oil with 5W30 all over the place. Switched to 10W30, and not a drop escapes.

Heater core is cooked. Blows radiator fluid into cab. Threw jar of leak sealer into the rad instead of replacing the heater core. $3.50 instead of $400...

General Comments:

This is a great car. I admittedly have babied it out of necessity more than anything. I am a student, and can't afford for this car to die on me. My wife liked it way more than me, because I hate automatics. But I have spent a bit of time and money on it, and can see the value in it. It is very simple, and a great car to tinker with. I have taught myself to replace the spark plugs, wires, thermostat. I have changed the oil, flushed the rad, and some other tinkering here and there. The plan is to keep it running, and when I get a decent vehicle, sell it to some student for $5 with a new stereo installed, and all fluids replaced.