Faults:
Cracked exhaust manifold, expensive to replace.
Driver’s side window, does not close properly unless you put it up slowly while guiding it from the outside of the car.
Struts – car was used at one point for carrying heavy loads which killed the rear struts. After 300K, the front struts are also in need of being replaced.
The leather on the steering wheel and shifter handle is completely worn down, almost right through. This is purely aesthetic however, and is only due to the amount of use the car has gotten.
The roof racks are corroding which is causing the paint on them to peel, which is ugly.
The rear wiper sometimes ceases in very cold, wet weather (-10 Celsius or colder)
General Comments:
Car was bought for an excellent price, has lasted longer and better than any car our family has ever owned. It is excellent on gas, cheap on insurance, and is fun to drive! People can’t tell that it is almost 10 years old, and the distinctive “bullet nose” is really cool! The SE package also included the 14” aluminium rims and CD/tape player, adding to the overall effect of this great little car.
Proper maintenance was performed on it – oil was changed every 5000km, car was rust-sprayed every winter, tires rotated.
The manual transmission has lasted almost perfectly. It resists shifting into first sometimes, but is never a serious issue, and clutch is original. The rear brakes are entirely original, front brakes have been serviced twice.
There is no rust on the car’s body, the exhaust however has rusted somewhat and the manifold needs replacing, which if I recall correctly will cost $400 Canadian (~$450 US)
The car is perfect for all types of driving. It’s great in the city, but also has plenty of power for passing on the highway. It can carry huge amounts of cargo in the back, and we had a trailer hitch put on the car to tow even more cargo. This car recently did a trip from Toronto to Montreal and back without any trouble.
Unfortunately, the combination of repairs required for this car, combined with some body damage from a recent minor accident, will cost more to repair than the car is worth. It served our family incredibly well for the many years and hundreds of thousands of kilometres we put on it. It will be a shame to let this car go, but we have made it last longer than we ever imagined it would!
