Faults:
I purchased this car 5 years ago, and while I have certainly put a fair amount of money into it, if I added up actual repair costs, I would expect it to be under $200.
Purchased with a bad driver window motor - $60 with lifetime warranty.
Purchased with bad exhaust hanger - free weld.
At around 125,000 miles, an idler pulley started making a noise. I replaced both at a cost of $20 each.
Has a minor oil pan leak (never even registers as a drop on the dipstick after 3k miles).
A bolt came loose on the flywheel and made a clanking noise occasionally. It wasn't exactly easy to drop the transmission to access the flywheel, however all that was required to fix it was re-torquing the bolt -- free.
General Comments:
Poor headlight design. I replaced the lights with Hella FF75 driving lights, and added Hella 90mm projectors for fog lights. Lighting is now better than anything I've ever seen or driven.
Seats can become uncomfortable after extended driving periods (3+ hours), but nothing a quick stop at a rest stop can't fix.
Interior is sub-par, but completely manageable.
Very good handling, and with a bit of suspension work it can be great.
T-tops are great, no leaks and a very nice addition to the car.
Excellent styling -- one of the best looking cars of its time by far, and I've been asked if the car is 05+ before, which just shows that styling was beyond its time.
Windshield angle takes a bit to get used to after driving other cars, but viewing is actually quite good, and the blind spots can easily be eliminated with proper mirror adjustment.
All kinds of aftermarket if you want the car to stand out from the rest.
I really couldn't ask for more.
3rd Mar 2012, 21:31
Update:
This vehicle now has over 200,000 miles on the clock. It's still running great with the original motor, original transmission, original shock absorbers, and even the original exhaust.
I did replace the rear end at about 195,000 miles, because it was getting a little noisy, and I opted to replace the original radiator hoses because they were old, but that was basically preventative maintenance.
It still starts on the first try, takes me wherever I want to go without leaving me stranded, and looks good doing it. More reliable than my coworkers' Japanese cars, despite the fact that it's much older.
Gets lots of compliments on the style, performance for a V6, and how clean it looks for its age. The original paint still shines, the SMC body panels are of course ding free, and the seats are holding up very well. No rips or tears yet, even on the driver's side bolster closest to the door where these cars usually show wear.
With an aftermarket intake, I've managed to get up to 34 mpg on the highway. That said, this car is a lot of fun. I drove the Tail of the Dragon (Deals Gap) in 2010, and lately I've even taken it to a few local car meets and shows. Not bad. The longer I own it, the more I like it.