Faults:

This thing rejects alternator belts unbelievably often.

I never actually witnessed any oil burning or leaking, but it somehow needed it constantly. (fill the oil and check the gas...)

Assorted engine parts cracked at random one evening 9 months after I bought it. (Seriously...there was NO warning...)

Awful, awful peeling paint.

The speakers crackled and popped even after being replaced.

Speedometer/mileage counter sometimes didn't work until after going over a hill.

Temperature display sometimes briefly claimed it was either 99 or -27 on nice, temperate days.

General Comments:

This was my first real car (I started with a free orange-brown 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and kept trading up (mostly free) until I got a license) and I was so happy to get it. I got it from some oldish people for about $1000, they bought it new and took it to Florida a few times. It was immaculate, very well-loved and maintained. They kept a record of every bit of maintenance (including filling the tires), in fact...

The ride is actually quite comfortable. The seats are nice, backseat is roomy enough for tall people, minimal road noises, easy to get over 100mph and not feel like you're in a moving thing at all. It's also really fun to be a girl in a boxy old 90s car and come up next to a souped-up Honda Civic full of boys, and then smoke them completely while they're still trying to compensate for the drag from their body kit. (btw, I didn't drive it like that all the time... just once or twice)

Stellar gas mileage.

Devours hills as though they were flat surfaces.

It's only a midsize to begin with, but maneuvers like a rollerskate. Three cars (one long, long series of bad luck) later I have a 1989 Honda Accord, which is a much smaller car, and they handle nearly the same.

I finally shelved it forever when a piece of the turbocharger locked only a week after the exhaust randomly opened up and began filling the interior with fumes that irritated my skin, plus I happened to come across a free Ford Aerostar...incidentally, I do not recommend going from a sedan to an extended-length van.

Faults:

Transmission replaced.

Timing belt, various valve replacements on numerous occasions.

Heater core developed a leak inside and outside the car.

A/C no longer works and has not for a few years.

Fan stopped working.

Front and rear brakes needed replacement and rear ones need to be replaced again.

Dome light stayed on when car was on or off with doors closed and the bulb had to be removed.

Ball joints replaced on numerous occasions.

Muffler replaced on a few occasions.

One rear door is stuck closed and will not open (child lock is not on)

Leaks oil, transmission fluid.

Turn signals work when they want to.

Belts squeal when it rains.

General Comments:

Although there is an extensive list of repairs that have been done and need to be done to the car, considering the amount of km's on this car, it has done an outstanding job. With over 340 000kms, she still starts every morning whether it's 40C or -50C.

I didn't pay anything for the car when I originally got it and it might not have the appearance of a sporty younger car, the seats are super comfortable for long drives, heats up quick in the winter, and handles very well.

It's not a fast car by an means, but she gets around town and hasn't failed yet. The previous owner had been in 2 accidents with it, but that was over 10 years ago and I have had no accidents and drove it on the highway daily about 80 kms/day for almost 2 years and she never shuddered, broke down or slowed down. The gas mileage on it wasn't so great, but that's due to the age and the amount of repairs needed.

All in all it was a great car, almost time for her to retire, but it's very reliable if you treat it right and even if you don't..she's pretty good.