Faults:
Front ball joints needed to be replaced.
AC system was leaking (originally diagnosed as needing a new compressor - much cheaper to fix leaks, thanks to a second opinion from my great independent mechanic).
Oil leak onto spark plugs fouled plugs and left me stranded. Another oil leak in crankshaft case, which requires removing timing belt. I'm waiting on that repair until it's closer mileage-wise to replacing the timing belt (again - it's already been replaced once at 100K).
Rear defroster does not work.
Dash light warning something about my taillights is on for no reason.
General Comments:
I loved the idea of a small wagon. I've driven lots of vans and trucks in the past, so I was attracted to having something with some hauling capabilities that was more fuel-efficient. And in that department, this car has been great. With the back seat folded down, I've comfortably slept in this car and hauled large items. It's great on gas.
As far as interior design goes, I think it leaves something to be desired. It infuriates me that there are NO CUP HOLDERS. The seats are comfy in the short-term, but over long trips my back hurts from lack of lower back support.
The transmission shifts roughly. I'm hesitant to blame the car too much, because I'm not sure if it's been maintained properly by previous owners, but it definitely bucks a little bit and I'm not sure how long it's going to last. It gets stuck in park sometimes, but I can usually get it out by jiggling the shift lock release.
I'm good with keeping up on routine maintenance, I have a great mechanic, and I think I'm realistic about what I expect from my vehicles. I've had other cars stand up better to similar mileage and abuse. This car is not on my list of favorites that I've had. Which is a bummer, because I had high hopes for it.
23rd Jan 2012, 23:49
Update:
Now at 165,000 miles, it's on its third timing belt.
Check engine light comes and goes (diagnosis: EGR valve or sensor).
Driver's side window motor struggles.
Both keyless entry remotes have failed (which is only annoying because of a feature that doesn't allow the interior power lock to lock the driver's side door, so you need to use the key to lock it).
Speakers are all blown, since road noise is loud inside, and you sort of have to crank the volume to hear anything on the highway.
I have decided the seats are terrible after 2 hours.
But the trans is still chugging along like a champ, and the engine is still running solid.
Regardless, this car has grown on me. Despite all of the little things that have gone wrong, it seems if I take care of it, and just fix things as they come up, it'll continue to serve me well.
If I get some new speakers and some memory foam seat covers, I might just think it's worth a new transmission when the time comes.