Practical, low maintenance and sporty.
Felt a "buck" sensation when putting the car in reverse, only when cold.
Very reliable and sharp-looking. Received numerous compliments.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd June, 2004
Expected more than it can deliver
Wheel wobbles on stopping. Dealer said it was tire balance, but problem persists.
A/C broke down after 1st year and needed to replace compressor (under warranty)
Had starting problems twice in cold damp weather, and dealer replaced sensor temperature first time, and second time they found no problem and claimed I flooded engine on start-up.
Car suspension is very rough on road and bumpy ride.
Not enough horsepower, in my opinion, and to slow from 0 to 60. Slowly achieves high speed in highway and not as stable.
Gas mileage is excellent.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 22nd March, 2004
This car is way too expensive for the quality of this fine piece of plastic
My car makes very funny noises while driving, but the sounds can never be duplicated when I go into the dealership.
I had to have my window controls replaced because my window would not go all the way down as it was supposed to.
My CD player does not always want to work for me.
My windshield washer fluid has frozen for weeks at a time when I have needed it the most.
My passenger door does not always close perfectly and a rattling noise can be heard.
When my gears shift, a bump can be felt. It is as if my gears are hitting each other.
After 2 months of driving, my rotors were oval shaped.
My brakes do not want to work all the time.
The car does not have a quick pick up and it seems as if it struggles to pick up speed.
The back seats are very cramped and there is hardly any room for back seat passengers.
I cannot say there is a lack of cup holders, 2 in the front and 5 in the rear. There are more places for drinks then there are for people.
The car is nice for the fact that it is dent proof; this has worked several times for me.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 17th January, 2004
Affordable performance with style to spare
The one and only thing that has gone wrong is it not starting in the dead of winter the morning after a car wash and sitting all night. Throw in a bottle of HEET water remover and that is no longer a problem.
Some may say the suspension is too stiff. Well, this is a sporty car, not a luxury sedan. The suspension is stiff for a reason; cornering and handling. The stiffer the suspension, the less body roll when cornering; i.e. you won't be seeing this coupe on two wheels.
Welcome to the best naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine of the 90s. Fantastic low end torque gets you quick off the line and really picks up after 4000 rpms. Replaced by the more versatile Ecotec engine in the ION, I'm sorry to see it go.
Inside and out, this car screams style. The sleek, dent resistant body gives an aggressive stance and the engine and powertrain don't disappoint. Nothing beats the satisfying growl of the engine under heavy acceleration, unless the intake is replaced with a short ram configuration. The interior provides comfortable seats and a comprehendable console interface.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 8th December, 2003
21st Dec 2007, 11:37
Great review comments.
I had the exact same problem with the AC, which the dealer repaired. They also refilled the coolant. The AC still seems unreliable and not as cold as my wife's Hyundai, but I'm giving up on fixing it since I've tried over three times.
I also had the steering wheel wobbling. This was fixed when the dealer replaced tires (older and needed replacing) and some rotor work.
I agree with the great gas mileage. I commute everyday, and it's been about $25 - $35 a week from North County to Del Mar.
My Moon Roof has also locked up. Makes loud clicking sound and doesn't move, when I attempt to use it.
I wouldn't buy this car again because of the driving noise, and lack of room in the car for anyone above 5 feet 10 inches in height.