Need a cheap used car...how is the Sunbird?

[Flip-Side]

I will be buying a super cheap car when I get back to michigan in a few months. There are a few Pontiac Sunbirds for sale near my home for very little, and I was wondering if they were very good cars. I have heard mixed stories over the years, and I just want something that won't be totally unreliable. Anyone here have one or use to? Pros and Cons perhaps?

[MoonDogg]

Sunbird same as Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Chevrolet Cavalier Oldsmobile Firenza, Pontiac J-2000. I had a Caviler... bought it for $500 ran it for 1.5 yrs.. only problems.. water pump, power steering pump, and at the end it was folwing out spark plugs.. but I traveled over 150 miles a day for most of the time I had it... had 190K miles on it... it was good to me... hell when I got it... it only ran on 2 1/2 cylinders.. the previous owner was very negligent... but with tune up... it ran fine... my friend had a sunbird.... and he had no problems with it... I think they were pretty solid cars... good luck..

[MJN2]

If you rear-end a Vibe with one, the front end tends to go under the bumper of the Vibe Had a Sunbird rear-end my Vibe June of '03 heh.

[ragingfish]

My brother's first car was an 80-something sunbird...Ran without a problem, except for the small problem of a mystery oil leak they repeatedly tried to fix, but never could find...

[Flip-Side]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »Ran without a problem, except for the small problem of a mystery oil leak they repeatedly tried to fix, but never could find...I've heard that the head gaskets on those old 2.0 I4 engines crack, and tend to leak oil. I was just eyeing a couple of them in michigan since I need a cheap, economical car that doesn't have major issues. Anyone who knows anything about that 2 liter engine, and any problems I should look for before I buy would be a big help. Thanks for the replys everyone. I know I may be asking a bit much since my price range is 1000-2000 dollars, but Sunbirds are super cheap even with low miles.

[B18B]

Now I understand this is a Vibe/Pontiac board, but if you're looking for some reliable used transportation, I think you should look to Honda/Toyota. I understand that the whole automotive industry, GM included, have improved their reliability records to date, but for the model years you're looking at (I'm assuming early-mid 90s) IMHO, I think the gap in reliability for that particular era between automakers was larger than it is today (which is a much closer race).My $0.02!

[pmh013]

My husband had a 92 Sunbird which he traded off to get his 97 Jetta diesel. The Sunbird was very good to him. He owned it about 4 years (1998 to 2002) and had very little work done on it. Brakes, exhaust ... had a tranny issue near the end, but it also had 160,000 km on it when he bought it, and over 200,000 when he traded it off. The suckers at VW gave him $1500 for it.

[scherry2]

I traded a 92 sunbird in on my 03 vibe. I drove the car since it was new and put 100,000 + and only put in torsion bar bushings.

[Flip-Side]

Quote, originally posted by B18B »IMHO, I think the gap in reliability for that particular era between automakers was larger than it is today (which is a much closer race).I agree with the early 90's lacking decent build quality, but there are a few sunbirds right down the road from where my family lives and I just need a beater to get me around for a year or so. Gms are super cheap used, while honda and toyota cars are expensive from high resale and tuners. The ones I am looking at have less than or close to 100,000 miles so I should be safe. I want to stick with Gms since I know parts are cheap, and I know how to fix most of the basic stuff. Thanks for the info guys.

[Indy VibeGT]

I had a 94 that I bought in 98. My buddy bought it from me and is still running it today. Runs great, only problem is he had to replace the Tranny, but I don't know if that's a normal problem or not. Plus it had the V6, which had good get up and go.

[Stang2Vibe]

Around '92-'93 they made the Sunbird GT with the 3.1 V6 and a 5 speed manual. I knew someone that had one and it was quick for the money. Surprisingly so. And generally, reliability of the 3.1 V6 is higher than the old 2.0 L4. My old next door neighbors had a '93 Sunbird 4 cylinder that they bought new. They usually kept their cars for a while and took pretty good care of them. They always complained about the Sunbird and eventually gave it to their daughter. I had to drive it for them once and the thing really was a dog. And it didn't get very good gas mileage considering the lack of power.

[Flip-Side]

Thanks Stang. You just verified what I suspected. The V6 models have great resale because the 3.1L V6 was a dependable workhorse, while the 2.0L 4 cylinder was rated one of the worst of its time. Guess I'll keep looking.

[hman33]

my wife had a 94 sunbird se wit 3.1 and a 5 speed that i ended up driving for a while. it was a great little car. only probs is had was the alt. kept goin bad. other than some rust great little car. traded it in with 90k miles on it.

[Merzbow]

My couisin had an old Sunbird. We used to use it's rear bumper as a grind rail when we used to skateboard. Held up pertty good!

[Flip-Side]

Bought a 93' Dodge Shadow ES, with the 3.0 v6 for $1200. 120,000 miles, but its just a point A to B car...plus it's pretty quick. I was looking for a sunbird but I bought the competitor becuase it was super cheap and ran decent for a beater. It's faster than the vibe, and its a 5 speed which is rather rare in the v6 shadows. It actually looks like crap, so I'll post pictures of it soon. I am soo proud.

[zionzr2]

wife's got a 02 caviler we have had for 4years. no major issuses 2.2L I4. great little car...Seats are uncomfortable on long trips, but a great little cheap to operate car!!

[Waxler6942]

Still have a 94 sunbird with a 3.1 v6 in it, has been a great car. Just the normal wear the that you need to fix but still runs great and has 120,000+

[nortsr]

Right now, with the Employee discount pricing, the $2000.00 rebate and the $1000.00 conquest incentive, you are looking at a brand new Sunbird for about 15 to $16,00.00 loaded. I was originally looking at the 2005 Sunbirds, but after sitting in one...and...then needing a crane to get up and out...( I didn't realize that they were as low to the ground as a Corvette)...I decided to look at the Vibe instead!!! I, personally, think thay are a sharp looking vehicle...Just remember! This is their last year of production (in fact,they are no longer produced) and within the next couple of months, you can bet your mortgage that there will be heavy incentives or mfg. to dealer incentives to move what is left of them. I don't know where you live, but there are several 'loaded" ones still available in the Tampa, Florida area.

[nortsr]

My mistake, I notice you live in Michigan. If you go to any GM Pontiac dealer, they can do a "search" for you as to the exact Sunbird you are looking for. When I was looking, I did a search of almost all of Florida by typing in various large city zipcodes USPS.com. Hope this helps.

[tangerine]

Quote, originally posted by nortsr »Right now, with the Employee discount pricing, the $2000.00 rebate and the $1000.00 conquest incentive, you are looking at a brand new Sunbird for about 15 to $16,00.00 loaded. I was originally looking at the 2005 Sunbirds, but after sitting in one...and...then needing a crane to get up and out...( I didn't realize that they were as low to the ground as a Corvette)...I decided to look at the Vibe instead!!! I, personally, think thay are a sharp looking vehicle...Just remember! This is their last year of production (in fact,they are no longer produced) and within the next couple of months, you can bet your mortgage that there will be heavy incentives or mfg. to dealer incentives to move what is left of them. I don't know where you live, but there are several 'loaded" ones still available in the Tampa, Florida area.They still make Sunbirds? I thought they stopped making those years ago.

[Flip-Side]

I am sure he means the Sunfire, which is what replaced the Sunbird. I don't plan on buying a new car any time soon, because I am simply too poor after leaving the service. Hence "The Dodge".

[nortsr]

Yes, I meant Sunfire. My mistake.

[Flip-Side]

I am surprised at the number of people buying used compact cars now with the gas so high. Even my father wants to buy a year old cavelier to drive instead of his truck. Cheap beaters are the way to go man.

[ToolGuy]

Early Sunfires and Cavaliers in the 1995-1998 range with the 2.4L engine could have water pump issues. Seems the pumps were not that good and went out prematurely around 40,000 miles. Some 2.2L's had head issues... I had a 1998 Z24 for 33,000 miles before trading it in and my pump never failed. Just watch that but if you buy one with higher mileage chances are the pump has been replaced. This was my second Cav, first was a 1987 RS 130,000 miles on it and I never had issues with either one!