Faults:
Gas pedal got stuck twice. Dealer had no clue why this happened. Got re-call notice for the floor mat 2 years later.
Rubber lining around left headlight came loose (70k miles)
Check engine light came on around 75k miles (Car was re-called for some EPA issue)
Once in a great while the engine won't even turn over when I go to start it. However, it does start within 3 minutes after the first attempt.
Driver side window jumped the track. Seems to happen in cold weather.
Both power windows roll up and down slowly in cold weather. Sometimes windows can't roll all the way down.
Recently been hearing the rear springs creaking.
General Comments:
I bought this car new right after I graduated college and have been very pleased with it.
Reliability has been excellent. I have never missed work with this car because the engine has never failed me.
It's not very fast off the line, but it does much better when you are in 3rd or 4th gear. There is some body roll, but you gotta remember that this is no Porche.
My biggest complaint is the interior noise level when riding on the freeway. It can get loud and I have noticed it to be louder as the car has gotten older. It maybe just the cheap tires I put on it, but it's always had a higher degree of road noise than other cars I have ridden in.
I think it is a comfortable ride though. The suspension is not so soft that you feel like a beached whale. It's semi-tight with some roll in tight turns. It's nice if you like having a semi-sporty feel to your daily commute. Ohio roads suck though so I also feel the pot holes!
The gas mileage has been great. I recently adjusted my driving habits so I can get even better gas mileage than what is advertised. I have been averaging 38 mpg in combined 50/50 city/highway.
Interior is well laid out. Typical Japanese philosophy having an ergonomically correct layout.
Exterior paint job has held up awesome through the years. I think it's shinier than some of the newer cars out there. The thin sheet metal does tend to ding up easy though.
I have been considering buying a new car (Pontiac Vibe) but I just can't force myself to get rid of this perfectly good car. I think I will keep it another 2 years and get rid of it when it hits 150,000 miles.
It has served me well and I will miss it when it's time for it to go.
6th Feb 2005, 07:03
How many miles??