Faults:
I own a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire 2.2lt SE. There have only been two repairs other than brakes, spark plugs and wires. 154,645 miles and it's 13 years old.
The two parts that were replaced were a water pump around 120,000 miles, due to it slightly leaking. Its repair price was 159.99 plus tax, and the second part that was replaced was a pulley tensioner assembly, that was around 152,000 miles. Repair cost was $230, and at 110,000 miles I upgraded the exhaust system with a 80s series performance Flowmaster exhaust system, and I upgraded the air intake with an AEM cold air intake system, and I have added multiple color ledglow underbody and interior lighting, and all my upgrades mentioned were not necessary; it is something I have done to make my Sunfire unique, and that's why I'm NOT listing my upgrades as a repair, because there was nothing wrong with the original exhaust or air intake system.
The 1998 Pontiac Sunfire SE with the 2.2lt engine is very well built, and extremely reliable. Mine has 154,645 miles, and still running strong, and my Sunfire that is 13 years old, and has 154,645 miles.
The service engine light has never been on, and yes, the light itself works, which that just furthermore proves to me the 2.2lt 98 Sunfire was extremely well built!!
This Sunfire is the most trouble free and well built vehicle I have owned!! I highly recommend the 98 2.2lt Sunfire!!
7th Jan 2011, 19:47
Your vehicle is 13 years old, and just because you have only about 74,000 miles, doesn't mean anything. It is actually worse to own an aged car by year wise that has low miles, because that means the vehicle hasn't been drove much within 13 years, which would allow for excessive moisture/corrosion to build up, and ruin pulley bearings and ruin water pumps.
And as for the timing chain, all 98 Sunfires had timing belts, not chains, but a very likely cause to that is oil not being changed regularly; oil deteriorates while sitting (loses its viscosity/lubrication properties); it's just as bad as driving without changing the oil, and oil starts to thicken when it's not started, warmed and changed regularly.
It's that funny ya say don't buy a Pontiac, buy a Saturn; well Saturn and Pontiac are owned by the same company, GM, and Pontiac and Saturn used the same exact engines and transmissions, and there hasn't been a true Pontiac motor since 1989, and Saturn never had its own motor!! And since 89, Pontiac has used Chevy motors and transmissions, and ever since Saturn was created, they have used what is considered the lower class Chevy motors and transmissions.
It is just difficult for me to understand how this reviewer can come to the justification that this car is junk, just because it needed a few parts replaced, and they have only owned it for about 3,000 miles.