1995 Chevrolet Corsica Base 3.1L SFI V6 from North America
Summary:
Great car, especially if found in a great deal
Faults:
I bought the car with a misfire, later diagnosed to be a fuel injector on the #4 cylinder. Bought the parts (fuel injector, O-rings, and intake plenum gasket) for about 100 bucks and replaced at 40,500 miles.
Car ran hot (between the middle line and the third line on a typical cruise, and in traffic it would near the red zone, but if I revved the engine the temp would go down) I later diagnosed as a bad thermostat. Replace thermostat with a 10* cooler rating that cost 10 bucks. I also bought it with this condition. Fixed it at about 41,500 miles.
Car had bad brakes to begin with, rotors so warped that the right front of the car shook when braking from high speeds. I replaced pads and rotors for 75 bucks.
Car also had worn front tires from lack of rotation, so I replaced all four tires with new 50,000 mile rated ones for 300 bucks.
Car had a loud popping noise from right side of the vehicle. This was at first diagnosed as a bad strut, but later re-diagnosed as a bad sway bar end link on the right side. So I bought the link for 5 bucks and replaced it myself. Also was bought with this condition. Fixed at about 41,750 miles.
Car sat for about ten years in Idaho collecting dust and rust. The condition of the paint is still perfect however the underside of the car is rusted, mainly the exhaust, so the exhaust is a bit louder than it should be. Will replace that when I get the time to and the money as I can't do that one myself. Again bought the car like this.
I also bought the car after a T-boned collision with someone who had no insurance. My friend offered to sell it to me when my transmission went on my old car. I later found the parts to fix everything used, same color and condition as the rest of the car, for 150 bucks (thanks to a ton of searching.) Fixed at 44,000 miles. No frame damage was found upon inspection.
General Comments:
OK, first I would like to point out everything that was wrong with it was already wrong at time of purchasing. I am 18 and bought this car from my 17 year old friend who did not take good care of it at all. So I knew it would need some work to get it back in good condition.
So after purchasing the car for a measly 350 bucks, I was actually able to afford to fix everything within the first 3,000 miles or so. And since I did that the car has had no problems.
I know how to take care of a car, upon purchase I replaced (not including the above) all six spark plugs with 100,000 mile plugs, all six spark plug wires, the serpentine belt and belt tensioner and changed the oil with full synthetic motor oil at 41,000 miles. Currently at 47,690, I am about to do my second oil change (I love synthetic for the longer service life)
So after fixing everything that is wrong I got one hell of a deal. Total spent on the car is roughly 1,000 bucks. For a car with a V6 and only 40,000 (confirmed) miles at the time, with working A/C and everything else works too... I got lucky.
Love the car and am glad I was able to replace my Nissan Stanza with this awesome car.
I plan to keep this car for years to come. I will never buy a car from a dealership, they are a rip off. You find better deals searching on your own and doing a little TLC yourself.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st January, 2010
2nd Jan 2010, 04:20
All that work you put into that car was totally worth it. You have a vehicle that'll take 300,000 on the original powertrain if properly serviced. I've owned several 3.1 MPFI Chevy's including a Lumina and Celebrity, and can attest to the durability and reliability at high mileage.
2nd Jan 2010, 10:07
If buying old beaters for a few hundred bucks makes you a "very rich man"-- I should be a friggin millionaire by now.
10th Jul 2010, 02:22
I'm looking at replacing my dear old '95 Corsica with *another* '95 Corsica!
She died gallantly (totaled in a crash) at 171,061 miles, 140,000 of which I put on her over 13 years of ownership, and while she'd required a few hundred dollars in repairs over the years, I've never owned a better car -- I fully expected to go well over 200,000 with her.
And buying inexpensive cars and investing the money wisely, rather than shoveling it into car payments, WILL make one a rich man!
10th Jul 2010, 22:36
You are richer finding a low mile used car vs payments, high depreciation and higher insurance. Bank the savings on interest and loans.
1st Jan 2010, 21:26
You are going to be a very rich man. Congrats on your near-new ride!