Faults:

Paint chipped off in some spots, (de-lamination).

Crank shaft sensor went (on the 401, it was a nightmare).

Cat clogged up.

General Comments:

Other than that, the cars was pretty damn good for an 88. Was slow but comfortable, and got good gas mileage. It was a hand me down from my grandma who didn't trust the car for some reason (the lifters maybe? It sounded rough).

Anyway, I got up to 330000 before I packed it in with the car. Power steering pump was leaking and the heater core went. The engine and tranny turned out to be bullet proof as I abused and neglected to change the oil on time etc etc.

The only thing that annoyed me was the crank shaft sensor going. It shut the whole car down on the freeway at night, could have killed me or someone else.

And the paint, but I didn't care because I got it for next to nothing.

Another thing, GM screwed up the paint, but they seemed to have used decent metal back then compared to the Japanese cars.

Faults:

MANY THINGS!!

A/C right around 100k miles

Trans died 101K (fixed under warranty @ Aamoc, NEVER GO THERE)

Trans died 101001 miles, that's right. The next day it went out again, took it home from Aamoc, parked it in the garage, the next day was going to school and as soon as I put it in reverse the trans died again.

110-112k miles ignition coils/module went out, got wet somehow, you will see how later.

113k Tensioner pulley seized up

115k water pump

120k blew a head gasket, was leaking outside the block, remember when I said the ignition coils get wet and shorted out??

Brakes, tires, usual stuff.

General Comments:

I killed it!!!

Me and my buddies used to ramp this thing on pretty much a daily basis!!! I did most of the work on the car myself. Was nice the day I bought it.

No power, although I would drag race every metro or escort that came my way!! LOL.

Roomy.

OK on gas.

Faults:

The fuel pump went at about 92,000 miles. Its replacement cost more than the car.

I replaced the alternator twice. I don't recall the mileage for each replacement, but I did the job myself both times. The second replacement was warranteed by Advance Auto Parts.

The headlight switch was bad when I bought it and I replaced it with a makeshift kluge which worked great, though a little challenging for my wife to get used to when she occasionally drove the car.

The engine developed an oil leak and a bad oil pressure switch which both were fixed at the same time, but for a considerable amount of money. Again, I think I paid more for that than I paid for the car.

General Comments:

This car was one of the least expensive cars to own that I've ever had. I bought it for $350 though at the time the interior was shabby, the radio was missing, and the steering was dangerous.

The steering gear I replaced myself, and never had any further difficulty with it other than having to replace the low-pressure hydraulic line a few times.

In spite of a couple of repairs in the $400 to $500 range, I still put 100,000 miles on the car, and the engine and transmission worked as well the day I sold it as the day I bought it. The A/C worked throughout its time with me without needing recharging. It did fail after a frontal collision the year I sold it. It was a very reliable car, and I'd gladly buy another.

The 2.8 V6 motor was a good balance of power and fuel economy. I regularly got 25MPG.

I sold the car for $350, which is the same price I paid for it.