Faults:
Shifter cables wore out, one at 70,000 miles, the other around 95,000 miles.
Alternator failed around 80,000 miles.
Water pump leaks.
Both cam cover gaskets leak oil.
Both cam housing to head gaskets leak oil.
Right front vertical lower control arm bushing replaced at 122,000 miles.
Front brake pads at 103,000 miles.
Front brake pads and rotors at 125,000 miles.
Driver's side window regulator broken 115,000 miles.
Car depreciates in value badly.
Exhaust hangers have rusted and the mufflers are hanging on by a thread.
General Comments:
Bought this car for $9000 in 2002 with 49,000 miles, it's now worth like $2500-3000, these cars don't hold their value very well.
Car has a stupid ashtray, sits in the cup holder.
Water pump leaks, but that's a common problem for this engine (2.4 twin cam)
As long as you keep the coolant level up, you can drive it anywhere. Quote from dealer to replace is over $800.
Also leaks oil, but not even enough to have to add any between oil changes.
Heater and a/c work perfect after 126,000 miles.
Some people say that the brakes wear out on these cars fast. I didn't change the original front pads until 103,000 miles. I had to change them again at 125,000, but it was my own fault because I used cheap pads and didn't replace the rotors.
Interior has a lot of plastic crap that breaks easily and rattles, but what car doesn't?
The car has great power, even with a 4 cylinder engine in a car that weighs about 3700 pounds. It's not a race car, but it has more than enough power to get it around and not have to down shift from 5th gear when you pass someone on the freeway.
The car gets awesome gas mileage.
It's not a bad looking car, just looks sportier than it really is.
Both shifter cables have worn out and had to be replaced. The only place you can get them is at a GM dealer and they usually have to be shipped there and cost about $100 each.
One of the bushings one the right front lower control arm popped out, causing a clunking noise anytime you hit a bump, or hit the brakes coming off the freeway because the rotors were bad. Cost over $200 to fix at a GM dealer.
The car has manual windows, but it has a power sunroof. Yeah, I don't know.
I can't roll down my driver's window because I'm afraid I won't be able to get it back up.
The car doesn't have cruise control, which I don't like because I drive on the freeway quite a bit.
Overall, I would say it's a decent car. I would trust it to drive anywhere. I could jump in it right now and drive from Minnesota to California and I would trust it to get me there.
This car only left me stranded once, and that was when the serpentine belt snapped, which was my own fault for not checking its condition.
Tires for this car are expensive, the cheapest I could find were $75 each, and that's what I bought.
GM Dealers are expensive, but compared to other makes, especially imports, they aren't too steep.