Faults:

At about 95,000 miles, the heater core blew and I had to have it replaced.

I also replaced the thermostat.

At about 110,00 miles, the radiator blew and I had to have that replaced.

At the current moment, my car just cuts out on me. If I have the air on, it will shut off in about 5 minutes. If the air is off, I can drive for about 45 minutes to an hour, but if I get stuck in traffic or at a lot of lights, it will shut off. I'm not too sure what the problem is.

Also, the dash has separated just above the radio which is a bit annoying.

General Comments:

The car has been reliable besides the current problem that I am having with it which is listed above.

It gets excellent gas mileage.

Although I think the car has been very safe, reliable, and economical, I would not buy another Sunbird.

Faults:

Since I've owned this car I have had to replace the starter, catalytic converter and fuel pump. All these were replaced at around 200,000km. I have just now replaced the brakes for the first time since I have owned the car. Other than a bit of body rust theres nothing wrong with it.

General Comments:

The car does not have the best suspension in the world, but it is sufficient for normal daily driving.

I love the gas mileage. On the highway I get about 45 - 50 mpg, which with the age of the engine is rather spectacular in my mind.

It does not burn oil and is very reliable. It starts in any weather and has never failed to get me to where I'm going.

The back seat is a bit cramped for larger people if you have the front seats all the way back.

All in all I'm quite happy with this car and will continue driving it until it finally does give out.

Faults:

The A/C has stopped working every summer, without fault, since I got the car. I've had it fixed before, but now I'm just learning to live without A/C.

Severe "clunking" noise whenever I make a left turn. My mechanic says it's nothing, but it sure doesn't sound like nothing.

The parking brake is just for show. It's never worked.

The driver's side door won't shut properly and unless you kick it a few times after you push it shut, it'll stay ajar.

The cassette player has a lot of static, and the speakers are very low-quality.

Power door locks don't work well. You can push the "unlock" button all you want, but they won't unlock enough for you to be able to open the door.

General Comments:

Absolutely atrocious gas mileage. The fact that the car weighs something like 100,000 tons doesn't help.

No airbags.

The seats are moderately comfortable, and the backseat is big enough for a 6'2", 180 lb. male.

The steering is deft and precise.

Handles very well on the road at lower speeds, but if I take it above 70 mph, it feels like the car is going to fall apart.

This thing is really quick, and the V6 delivers great performance, especially at 45-55 mph. Although that's not good news for the gas mileage.

The paint job is excellent- no chips and it still shines even if I go for a long time without washing it (although the color of my car- turquoise- is cringe-inducing).

I don't think this car is a lemon- it's got over 124,000 miles and nothing *major* has gone wrong- but the little things really add up to a major annoyance. It cost me $4500, and I've spent at least $5000 in repairs. Plus, this Sunbird will really cost you at the pump.