Hi Guys! My hubby and I are looking at a used car for our son to drive to work and back daily. The car has 4 cyls and is a 2002 model Pontiac Sunfire. If the car has been reasonably taken care of, is 82,000 miles too much for that small engine? Another thing, the milage display is out but you can see the miles if you shine a light on it. How easy is this to fix?
I know this is mostly a zcar forum and I would trade my 2003 model car any day for my zcar to drive, but it is still down and out until I can get someone to do some body work on it. :(
Thanks very much!
Patti
1980 280zx 5 speed 2+2 my baby :)
1980 280zx automatic 2+2 for parts
1983 280zx automatic coupe for parts
I hope to make one good car out of three! :)

82000 isn't very much.....for a good 4 cyl DD...i would get a civic....those things can't be beat as far as reliability and gas mielage is really good also....20 bux will fill me up and i can drive about 350 miles and still have a 1/4 tank. i have just ridden in too many cavaliers/sunfires that feel like total piecs of junk

I would definitely find something else. I agree with bama16, I have ridden in a few and they are complete pieces of GM crap. I would look to the foreign market for DD 4-bangers. Nissan, Honda, and Toyota all make excellent cars with 4-cylinders that will last for 200K+.
My guardian angel has twin turbos. . .
1995 Cobalt Green NA
1988 Maroon 300ZX NA (sold)

A lot of miles? for a 4-cylinder j-body? yes. Personally I wouldnt drive a j-body if you gave it to me. I'd rather have an escort or neon if I were to buy an american ecconomy car.
---
Justin T
72 240Z L28, 5-speed
77 280Z 5-speed (t-boned 8-25-04)
80 280ZX automatic(retired)

The size of the engine is irrelavent to the durability of an engine. If anything, smaller ones last longer when it comes to cars.
Next, that car is POS and is probably ready to fall apart. Major issues are common on that car around the 100k mark, significantly more costly to repair than the vehicle is probably even worth at that point. My cousin bought one against my advice, it was an 02 model, she purchased it from an older gentleman [well taken care of.. yeah..] last year. THe transmission failed at 95k and the timing belt slipped and screwed her cam(s) up a few months after. My uncle spent almost 5 months fixing the POS then sold it.
They are cheap for a reason. They only exist because of ignorance and foolishness IMO.
Get a mid to late 90's accord, civic, camry, or coralla, should be same price or cheaper than that POS and a lot more reliable, even with the extra age.
Make sure the brakes don't need anything right away [$$$ on imports] and that the timing belt/water pump job has been done or you are ready to pay for it when the time comes [90k, 400-500$].
Personally, I'd get him a 93 or 94 accord. Probably the most reliable cars ever built, right next to the toyota tercel.
19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...
aka SAHTT

That oddometer thing must be common. My girlfriends is on the blink @ 60k. My observation is most of these are not owned by people who do nice to their cars. But should be ok for a kid for a year or two, they ussaully kill them anyway. I wouldn't dump more than $3k. I mean for that price you can get a prism, a much better car.

A friend of mine's sunfire is at about 40k miles and only has a few minor electrical issues. I guess that it's just a matter of who can take care of a car. Just like (goldfish) said, the people that own these are not nice to cars.
1976 280Z
Draw-Through Turbo, 10 PSI, 4 Bbl Holley, E88, L28 (Flat), 10:1 CR, 5 Spd
1974 Corvette Stingray:
350, 400 Automatic, T-Tops, 8.5:1 CR, 78,000 Miles
1994 Acura Integra:
1.8L, 5 Spd, 189,000 and Counting!

I'd hope it would be ok at 40k miles, no new car should have problems within 50-60k miles, even korean built [besides benz and jaguar, it is expected with them, ironically]. It's crunch time, around the 80-100k mark that is the true test of a car's durability and structural integrity. Anything with pontiac on it is just screaming failed waterpump and blown power steering pump at that mileage.
19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...
aka SAHTT

One of my girlfriend's friends' sunfire sits at about 48k and has had knocking issues already because she thinks that it is a sports car and pounds the piss out of it all the time.
1976 280Z
Draw-Through Turbo, 10 PSI, 4 Bbl Holley, E88, L28 (Flat), 10:1 CR, 5 Spd
1974 Corvette Stingray:
350, 400 Automatic, T-Tops, 8.5:1 CR, 78,000 Miles
1994 Acura Integra:
1.8L, 5 Spd, 189,000 and Counting!

It will throw a rod sooner or later.
1976 280Z
Draw-Through Turbo, 10 PSI, 4 Bbl Holley, E88, L28 (Flat), 10:1 CR, 5 Spd
1974 Corvette Stingray:
350, 400 Automatic, T-Tops, 8.5:1 CR, 78,000 Miles
1994 Acura Integra:
1.8L, 5 Spd, 189,000 and Counting!

>2002 model Pontiac Sunfire
Stop right there. I owned one (late model) and the problems started immediately. Stay FAR away from that POS, it will cost you money like no tomorrow. And yes, the EcoTec 4-banger in those cars does not last all that long, especially if you push it.

Buy him a Toyota Corolla or Honda. Most dependable and will last a long time!!!!!
80 280zx 10th Anniversary Edition Rust Free
4 previous z's
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2301692


I have heard nothing good regarding Pontiac Sunfires. I think it best to stay as far away as possible. For everyday, 4 cyl. cars, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are the most dependable. I personally have a 2001 Focus ZX2 for everyday and I have run 160,000 with just regular maintenance work and nothing else. But when mine was built it was located in Hirmosa, Mexico. After 2002, they are built in Wayne Michigan and I can tell you first hand, JUNK! Neon's are no longer made, but their high mileage starts around 100,000 if you're looking for used. Basically, if you're not getting an 8 cyl., don't buy American. They just don't make them well at all.
1981 280ZX Turbo
60,000 original miles
Still OEM (except for tires, fluids, and filters or course)
Swartz Creek, Michigan
It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and I'm wearing milk bone underpants.

Second EVERYTHING said above.
Previously owned: 2005 Z Enthusiast, Super Black, 6 spd.
Currently lease: 2006 Pathfinder S, Silver, Auto
"She is (and always will be) my little deuce coupe, you don't know what I got!"

Third...
'78 280Z 2+2 R.I.P. August 29, 2005
'75 280Z Coupe 4-speed
"Never been there, didn't do that."
"The harder you try, the dumber you look."

Thanks guys! I'm glad to get yout input.
Oh, one thing though, that car has a timing chain, not a belt. I thought that most cars built now days have belts.
Patti
1980 280zx 5 speed 2+2 my baby :)
1980 280zx automatic 2+2 for parts
1983 280zx automatic coupe for parts
I hope to make one good car out of three! :)

Just rebuilt and sold one. OK car. 82000. Time to change the spark plugs. That mileage is not squat.