Faults:
Dash rattles sometimes when its cold outside.
One front wheel bearing had to be replaced, total cost of repair $220.
Interior plastic pieces painted with metallic-looking paint scratch very easily.
Storage bin which flips out below the gear shift has a flimsy latch causing the bin to fall open by itself if something slightly heavy is in it.
Gas tank door hinge snapped off, had to replace the whole gas tank door assembly. Ever since I bought the car the hinge didn't open smoothly, but I'm not sure why this was.
General Comments:
Front seats are very comfortable & supportive, even on long trips sitting hours at a time. The seat cushions are relatively high off the floor which means your legs are less likely to be cramped up like in most cars, as they are resting at a more comfortable angle. I have minor back problems so I am very conscious and picky about which seats truly offer support and which ones don't.
Engine achieves fuel economy numbers as advertised but part of the tradeoff is there's not as much low-end grunt/torque as you would enjoy in most larger cars. My previous car was a Chevy Beretta 5-spd 6-cyl so you can imagine the difference!
The car is very easy to get in and out of even for people who are taller or wider than average.
Visibility around the car is excellent.
Handling is pretty good with the right tires (I found the Falken's to be great for non-winter driving) but with the car's high ride height, stability is understandably reduced which is noticeable when going around curves.
Trunk space is great when the seats are folded down. I'm amazed at the various pieces of furniture, carpet and other stuff I was able to fit in.
A/C and heating worked like a charm - We had a really hot summer this year and we've already had few very cold weeks even before winter officially begins here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Overall though if you're considering buying one, stop thinking about it too much and just get one - you won't regret it!
30th Nov 2007, 16:08
GM couldn't build a good car if their life depended on it! That's why they have every other manufacturer do it for them...Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Isuzu just to name a few. Infact they're just like the Borg on Star Trek, they incorporate other technology into their already failing technology!...LOL, no wonder they're doing so bad! LOL.