OT: Pontiac Sunfire - Opinions please

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Thomas Rogers

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Anyone have any opinion on a Pontiac Sunfire?



I know, I know...GM!



Our son (16 years old with a permit) test drove a 2001 Sunfire with 56k miles. It's a little pricey, but I know that I can get at least $500 off the dealer price, maybe more.



If we can get total cost w/ tax, tags and title for $5k then it fits in our son's budget...barely.



We are hoping the car lasts him through college. He has 2 years of highschool left starting this fall).



I'm more inclined to get him a cheap beater. There is a 2000 Ford Contour with 100k miles for 2 grand that he would feel a whole lot better owning when he has his first accident...



But ultimately, it's his money. We are still looking.



Thoughts on the Sunfire?
 
a buddy of mine got a sunfire as a beater his senior year of highschool after he blew the engine in 2other cars.



so far this is car has lasted the longest.



um... in my opinion im not a big fan of it for my own reasons, i dont know anything about your son but i would say as just a beater not too bad of a choice
 
Well, personal taste aside. That Sunfire is very low mileage and it is very clean looking.



I stress the fact that this is just my opinion.



I would go with the cheapest of the two. It is for a HS student, why spend the extra cash? I think the Contour, or something like it, would be just fine. I have a friend that purchased a brand new Mazda 3 (great car) for his kid and he just wrecked it. Like I said, why spend the extra $$$.
 
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Never owned a Sunfire but I did have a Sunbird convertible. Nothing outstanding to say about it.



But, I do think that is way too much for an 01 Sunfire even if had for $5K! Heck go with a post 96 Taurus SE. Sporty look and good gas mileage to boot. Contours, nah, heard nothing but bad about them. What about Tom's favorite? An Escort, ZX2 style. Sure to be a chick magnet @ 16 years old! Those Ford's can be had for less than the Sunfire. And like you stated, both you and he will feel better after the 1st impending wreck!



Hell, here I go again, but even a same year Civic EX, Corolla or Sentra SE can be had for less or the same $.



Good luck in whatever you decide...
 
Dave S,



I just missed an oppty to get a red Escort Zx2, a 2000 I think, with 60k miles on it for $2800. That was what I wanted him to get. It was listed in a local eBay classified and sold in one day. Argh!



I'm having trouble finding any import made in this decade with less than 100k miles for sale around here for less than $5k. Especially not Japanese imports.



Found a '99 Passat that is super, super clean (looks showroom), tricked out with leather, moonroof and all the trimmings for $4,200...but it has 150k miles on it, and it's a Volkswagen which means all future repairs will be big bucks. And, it was white...kids seem to not like white cars.



Anyway, I did test drive the Sunfire with him. It drove nice. I like them better (in the looks dept) than the their cousin, the Cavalier.



Still, $5k for a first car is pricey...that's our #1 concern.



But it's his money and he plans to work again all summer, so I suspect if this car sits on that lot for a while, his funds will rise and its price will drop, and who knows...



TJR



 
Have known many people around me that have owned them. They seem to be able to handle miles and most of them look pretty roughed up. (not taken care of) So, I'd say, just like any "entry level" GM vehicle, just keep up with the preventive maint. and you'll get your use out of it.;)
 
Oh, one other thing...



For $1500 he can get a '92 Saturn coupe, blue, that needs some paint work. Only 70k miles, and it runs well. The rear bumper cover needs to be taken off and sprayed, as as long as doing that the hood and front cover could use a touch up. That, and the black metal trim around the door windows needs to be sanded down, primed and sprayed with black high-gloss (easily something he could do with touch-up spray cans) as they have some light surface rust. And, the windshield is cracked and might not pass inspection, but the crack is NOT in the driver's field of vision or the wiper path, so who knows.



I told my son IF we could find a body shop to do the work (probably less than $400 total) and a replacement window cheap, if needed, from a junkyard and then that would be a good first car.



He wasn't too hot on that idea. Nor was his mother. Again, there they both hope this car will last him the next 6 years. I am much more skeptical on that account.



TJR
 
I had a 83 Pontiac Sunbird Convertible as well, what a crappy car that was.

It blew a head gasket and had half metric and helf standard parts?!?

Brazillian made engine.

5 grand sounds kinda high for that car. even with low mileage.

I'd keep looking....

I've seen decent 90-91 Miatas for less than that.

Far funner car, and only seats two for less distractions.

Bud
 
i know it probably wouldn't be what a 16 year old would want, but why not a ford taurus. here in kansas city, you can buy a very nice low mileage one for $2-3k, and imo, they are a good reliable car.

i inherited my mom'96 that they bought new. it had 56k miles last year when i got it and it's never had a problem. i see them on craigslist with low mileage all the time.

dutch
 
Skepticism on your part is warranted at this 1st car purchase.



I guess I overlooked the fact that your son was laying his $ out for it though. With that realization, you can only pursuade so much.



But really, if there are no mishaps and it (whatever he decides on) goes 6 years without needing replaced then he will be aglow about it. If an incident occurs, he'll experience a real life learned lesson.



Let him decide after hearing your recommendations and "if" the time comes, you can say "I told you so"!...:lol:;)
 
Sunfire and Cavalier have brake issues. We used some here for commissionaires and summons officers and they broke down constantly. When the ABS brake module fails, I said when not if, it has a $1500 price tag. Several failed in the first 30,000 KM. There are many good entry level autos that will provide many miles of service for the same or less money.



When my son was 16 I got him a 4 cyl, 5 spd Ranger. Easy to fix, cheaper insurance, good fuel economy and only one passenger.

 
A Ranger is an excellent suggestion Gerry, but in a 16 yo male mind, it won't be conducive to the female pursuasion!!! I'm supposin' of course...:D
 
Nah, Ben, nah...



I don't believe I implied that!!!



BUT, compared to a Ranger...Yeah I do...
 
My wife had a 97' sunfire when we got married. It was a 5 speed and got killer gas mileage. It had about 110,000 miles on it when we sold it 6 years ago. I still see it around town.
 
TJR. If he wants a car that has somewhat of a cool factor yet still has the reliability. I would look at an 84-91 BMW e30 that includes 318 and 325. This may be a little older than the other cars you are looking at but that can be had a good bit under the 5k budget and they can run forever. also they have a pretty good forum following. Closest I have found to this site. E30tech.com
 
Clay,



Here's a local 525 that I found in that price range:



http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1182761054.html



And another in a quick link below:
 
I had a 93 honda civic with from about 2001-2004 with 235k miles on it. Previous owner nor I drove it lightly. Engine ran great and started every morning first turn of the key. Only reason I got rid of it was because it got damaged from a wheel flying into it after the vehicle traveling in front of me kicked it in the air while driving on an expressway. Didnt want to bother repairing it as there was some pretty bad damage. Honda makes very reliable cars. After the civic I got a 91 accord which had a broken odometer so I dont know the milage, but it ran great also for a couple of years and my sisterinlaw still drives it. Had to fix an AC leak and a sensor had to be replaced because the tranny wasnt shifting right, cost less then $200 replace the sensor at a mechanic she told me.



Civics are very popular with young kids in Miami FL where I live and there are tons of aftermarket stuff you can buy for them. Sunfire is kinda lame for a teen IMHO.
 

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