Faults:

The only thing that has ever gone wrong with the car, is at 125,000 the water pump went out and caused the belt to break, and then just recently the fuel pump went bad due to me running the car out of gas. The cost to fix the items above was very cheap. When I changed the fuel pump, I also changed the fuel filter and I put new plugs and wires in. Nothing had been done since the car was bought, other than the regular oil changes and brakes and tires.

General Comments:

I love the car! The car was originally bought by my grandfather new and then passed along to me. I took it on a trip last year with some friends to Florida, and the average gas mileage on the highway was around 45. In the city I average 30. The engine has been put through a lot since I have owned it, and it is still running strong.

I just make sure that the oil is changed regular, and every once in a while I will run 93 octane and some cleaner in it, and it keeps on purring.

Faults:

Body/Model: light gauge metal dents easily.

Chassis: replaced a nut and bolt on the rear anti-sway bar. It now needs struts & shocks.

Brakes: all 4 stock calipers rust at the pistons, causing poor brake performance (must keep checking for pad replacement).

Engine: replaced timing chain 1x, alternator 3x, distributor shaft cover leak 1x, starter 3x, motor mounts 1x.

Transmission: Dealer said it needed replacement for $3000.00 (I didn’t think so), so I had it serviced, and BAM it’s been fine since then (at least 100000K and still going).

Recently: Catalytic converter,

General Comments:

Clean and mean! But some say it looks like Grandmas car! How 'bout the lil old Lady from Pasadena? YEAH buddy, except she had a super stock Dodge with a tiger in her tank!

Originally a 300+ Hp. design, GM decided to re-chip the computer down to 210 Hp. Two reasons

1: Competition for the Camaro (not good); the Lumina cost less for the HP it provided.

2: They couldn't design a transmission that could handle the 300+ HP for the front wheel drive in time for marketing.

Excellent handling with low profile design & 60/16 tires - it really bites the road.

Now in the USA, the 2002 Pontiac GTO is actually the “Lumina SS Coupe” from Australia, designed after the Holden Monaro.

Faults:

Since I got the car at 153,000 miles (I got it from a lady who babied it) :

Fuel tank was replaced at 169,000 miles... it leaked and that was no good.

Cruise control stopped working at about 172,000 miles... more of an inconvenience really, I haven't even bothered to fix it. I think a simple fuse would do the trick.

Water pump went at 179,000 miles.

Alternator went at 186,000 miles.

General Comments:

This car is very reliable and the repair costs have been minimal! :)

This car does what I do most, cruising down the highway, very well. In fact, sometimes it does this a little too well, at those times when I find myself going 75mph. It has enough power where it's easy to get carried away!

Driving down the highway I also get a great ride and great gas mileage as well! I'm a student and this was my first car and I plan to drive it for many years to come, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good solid vehicle for not a lot of money. I don't see any need to buy a fancy new car when you have Luminas around.

If I could have one thing, though, it would be power windows... I believe the Euro package has this standard.