1998 Pontiac Sunfire SE 2.4 from North America
Summary:
Sporty and cute, definitely a chicks car!
Faults:
The LED on the stereo went out, you have to take the stereo apart to fix it, it would cost around $300. CAD.
The light for the trunk broke when trunk was full, there was no cover on it.
The head gasket wore before 90,000 km.
The alternator had to be replaced at 100,000 kms.
The alternator is not powerful enough to sustain the electronics (bulletin from GM). There is nothing you can do except recharge the battery every so often.
Depending on the color, the paint is very thin, a small rock could scratch it.
All the belts had to be replaced at 100,000 km.
General Comments:
The car overall, is an economical gas saver. However, compared to my previous vehicle (Honda, Accord), it is not as good for mileage.
The seats hug (if you like that). The back seats are compact, not a lot of leg room.
I would suggest this car to other people, if they do not plan to keep the car for its lifetime.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th September, 2003
23rd Mar 2006, 11:11
Yes I have a sunfire gt, the paint is very thin, sometimes I see little scratches that I don't know where they came from, it seems that any little rock or stone can do minor paint damage also the body is not as hard as the other cars I been driving... i think the metals they used for the body are very cheap.. if you have a crash about running 70 mph of speed I think the only think they will find is your teeth..sad, but true : (
16th Mar 2004, 22:30
Why is it a chick car? Well maybe the Sunbird is, but its identical brother, the Cavalier isn't a chick car, just a commuter/econobox. Since both cars are exactly the same (under the hood, engine and chassis wise, the bodies are slightly different) then the Sunbird can be thought of as a cheap commuter car.
As for the alternators, get this, you can put in a more powerful alternator, you don't need the expensive OEM one! Also to get more life out of it, make sure the battery terminals are clean and make sure the battery is good. Also minimize (or eliminate) the amount of jump starts you have to do. Making an alternator charge a dead battery is murder.