Faults:

Spark plug hole needed rethreaded.

Transmission slips when turning.

Back right brake grips.

ABS occasionally does not work.

Leaks in coolant and windshield wiper fluid hoses.

General Comments:

Important note - My car has the LN2 2.2L 4 cylinder engine. This was the lower of two engine options available when the car was manufactured at the beginning of the 2002 year model, and is NOT the 2.2L Ecotec L61 found in the latter half of this year model and all future year models. Though I imagine the performance difference is minor, I can not speak on the reliability of this later 2.2L engine.

When I first bought this car, I purchased it knowing it was cheap and poorly taken care of.

Even so, I have never had this car fail on me. It drove a thousand miles on only three cylinders with the wrong spark plug and no noticeable drop in performance. I ran it sideways into a curb at a roundabout, and it drove away with minimal damage, needing only an alignment. I can not stress enough how absolutely reliable this car has been.

This car is not fast. As much as I'd like it to be, it just simply is not. Though new it should do 0-60 in about 9 seconds, mine takes 11+. That said, it is still a very light car. Off the line it has enough power for daily driving, and can accelerate quick enough. You won't be doing any burnouts, and it's hardly more suited to the track than any other base-model entry-level car, but I've found it actually excels as a daily driver.

Though it might seem odd given first impressions on the suspension, the handling is the best part of this car and the reason I gave it such a high score on performance. In general, the car rolls a fair amount -- nearly rivaling the Grand Marquis I used to drive -- but otherwise actually feels tight and responsive. All of the weight in this car is in the front, so oversteer is nearly impossible. I have tried to oversteer, both with the handbrake and by simply turning very fast, and it simply will not. As such, you can throw this car around corners WAY faster than you'd think you could.

On the topic of corners, there is one issue which mine has, though I can't say whether it is common or not. When accelerating out of a turn, the transmission slips. This is not exactly a big deal, but it can mean that sometimes I have to anticipate this. In many ways, this slows down the car. That said, this is an issue relating to shifting gears, and would likely not be an issue with any manual transmission.

Visually, the '02 Sunfire actually looks really good. Though the back is a little too large and rounded in my opinion, the side and front both look well designed and sporty. The back 'spoiler' does add a bit to the look of the car, but it's the front point and the headlights that follow it that really complete this look. The 'Pontiac' on the back lighting up isn't half bad either. As far as things go, though I feel that it's less visually appealing than the Sunbird which came before it, it manages to avoid the early 2000's bubble shape that plagued so many cars, including to some degree the Cavalier.

The interior is cheap but not uncomfortable. The steering wheel, gear select lever, and other similar controls all feel good and work as they seem like they should. The seats are actually very comfortable, even for my 6'3, 265 lb frame. Though I would personally like it if the pedals were positioned slightly further back, they are likely in the correct spot for someone shorter than me. One of the previous owners of mine had installed an aftermarket radio with the original speakers, and the sound quality is actually very good. Both the glove box and center compartment are quite large, and the overall amount of storage space is actually incredible for such a small car.

The only real sticking point -- and it is a minor one -- on the interior is the back seat. This is a bench seat that can be accessed by folding forwards one of the front seats. It will fit three average sized adults, I can say first-hand, but for how long it would remain comfortable is questionable. Having said that, it will fit children very well, and would make a perfect car for a family of 2 adults and 3 children. As well, the rear seat folds down, opening up to the trunk. This expands the already overly-spacious trunk to the point that it could be used to easily fit long-handled tools, wood, or any similar items. I can lay down in it and have a fair amount of room left.

Overall, though I bought it as a cheap, crappy daily, it has quickly become my favorite car. It is highly likely that I will be looking for a convertible GT model. If you are in the market for a cheap car, whether it be for a family, daily driver, or a first car, I would strongly consider this. There are a lot of these out there, if you include the Cavaliers, with no shortage either in cars or in parts.

Faults:

ECU at about 100,000.

Alternator at 250,000.

Brakes, tires and rotors.

General Comments:

The best car I ever owned. This is an amazing little car that just keeps going and going.