2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon

Discussions about other vehicles other than the Vibe & Matrix.
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wrmason3
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Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 8:46 pm

2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon

Post by wrmason3 »

With the new Ecotec 140 hp 4 banger, and GM talking superchargers 4 it, I am saving up to buy a new Sunfire. I used to have a Cavalier and it was discounted cheap and never gave me any problems and was a basic but fun car. Why not a Vibe? Well, I guess I just want something a little lower profile, a little more resembling the ol' Firebird - less "tall wagon" looking. Anyway, I have a 2001 Chevy Express van for "utility" -- the Sunfire is just a little sport-about for me, not my main or only mode of transport. If I had to choose a good compromise, though, the Vibe would probably be it.I've never been a Toyota fan, but the Vibe has enough Pontiac flavor to it to satisfy me.For now, I see myself in a Black or a Mayan Gold Metallic 2003 Sunfire...I like the new look for 2003.
lopers
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (fritzburg)

Post by lopers »

The Sunfire is being discontinued...so is the Firebird.
2003 Satellite Vibe
Sputnik
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (lopers)

Post by Sputnik »

What model year will it be discontinued?I've seen a photo of the 2003 Sunfire. Very... sporty looking.
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NSimkins
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (Cristen)

Post by NSimkins »

I believe either 2004 or 2005 will be the last year of the current Sunfire/Cavalier body before it is replaced by one of GM's European company designed vehicles (Opel, I believe) and imported/tamed to US standards.
[Modified by NSimkins, 7:31 PM 7/15/2002]
NSimkins
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (fritzburg)

Post by NSimkins »

Yeah, I live about 20 mins from the Lordstown Assembly plant... you see a Cavalier/Sunfire in about a 1:5 ratio around here. They are not hard to find and cheap to buy. My first 2 cars were Cavalier's before I bought my Vibe. The Vibe was definately a great and wise upgrade but didn't have too many problems with the Cavalier's besides their poor build quality. I have heard stories from people I know that work there about the quality control. 2003 Sunfire2003 CavalierIm my opinion, the Cavalier redesign is horrible.. but sometimes things like that grow on people after you are exposed to the design. As for the Sunfire, not too bad... to me it looks more like a Saturn at the front-end.
[Modified by NSimkins, 10:24 PM 7/15/2002]
black widow
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (fritzburg)

Post by black widow »

if you are looking for a car looks like a mini trans am, then youmay wanna look at the grand am with the sc/t hood and spoiler.
[Modified by black widow, 8:08 AM 7/18/2002]
99 black Grand am.vibe fan
BanditWS6
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (black widow)

Post by BanditWS6 »

Yesssss, yes yes I looovvveee those options on the Grand Am.
-B.J.Shadow Duotone Base VibePower Pkg, Moon & Tunes, Automatic, 16" RimsPics here: http://www.bjrowan.com/home/vibepics1.htm
2fatty
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (NSimkins)

Post by 2fatty »

cripes, that cavlier looks almost identical to the current 4 door sunfire... yuk.I wonder if the 2003 sunfire will have the "sqeaks" as bad as my 2000 SF GT did. Something different rattled on that car every day. That plastic on plastic sounds.I enjoyed my SF while I had it, but I'm glad its gone now. If only I had my new Vibe now. Ridding my bike everywere is getting old real fast..
NSimkins
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (2fatty)

Post by NSimkins »

quote:I wonder if the 2003 sunfire will have the "sqeaks" as bad as my 2000 SF GT did. Something different rattled on that car every day. That plastic on plastic sounds.I enjoyed my SF while I had it, but I'm glad its gone now.Unfortunately the changes on the interior of the vehicle probably won't be changed from the many years it is been basically the same. My 2001 Cavalier Z-24 has squeaks and rattles galore and is basically the same as brand new Cavalier/Sunfire's also. My sister has a 98 Cavalier, same interior basically, with the same noises.You get what you pay for ... and in this case it is very accurate.
cohocarl
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (wrmason3)

Post by cohocarl »

I'm replacing my 97 Z-24 5-speed with a Shadow Vibe (when/if it comes in). We bought the Z-24 new, and hasn't given us any major problems. Within the last 5,000 miles or so a few little things have surfaced though. The blower motor switch on the heat/ac has lost it's #2 setting, and the drivers power window switch doesn't like to work sometimes (electrical components built in Mexico I believe). Other than those 2 problems, it's been a blast to drive. The 2.4 dohc motor with the 5 speed will do the 1/4 mi in the high 15's. I also bought a upper front strut brace (gm part from the convertible J-car) which noticeably tightens up the front end.Before ordering the Vibe, I seriously considered a new Cav. (that $3,000 rebate is hard to pass up).Later,Carl
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
NovaResource
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon

Post by NovaResource »

It sure sounds like alot of Vibe buyers are ex-Cavalier/Sunbird/Sunfire/Grand Am drivers. Very interesting. I wonder if that trend holds true for other Vibe buyers not on this board.As much as I love the J-bodies, the Cavalier and Sunfire were not options I considered when replacing my 93 Sunbird. I didn't like the new 95-up body style as much. And at 6'2", I didn't fit in them as well as I did the older ones (82-95). The Grand Am GT, however, I did consider but I couldn't get past the stupid rear-deck spoiler:The Olds Alero (same car as the Grand Am) was what I was leaning towards:My other choice was going to be a used Grand Prix GTP (couldn't afford a new one AND the insurance).People who know my speed tendencies thought I was crazy going with the much slower Vibe over the quicker Alero/Grand AM GT and the much quicker GTP. Yes, my Vibe at 17.1@87 isn't as fast as the Alero/Grand AM GT (15.9), my old Sunbird (15.5) or the GTP (15.0) but a factory blower might change all that and except for the Alero, my Vibe won't be as common on the road as those other cars.
[Modified by NovaResource, 9:11 AM 7/24/2002]
NSimkins
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (NovaResource)

Post by NSimkins »

quote:It sure sounds like alot of Vibe buyers are ex-Cavalier/Sunbird/Sunfire/Grand Am drivers. Very interesting. I wonder if that trend holds true for other Vibe buyers not on this board.Well as you could have told from my previous posts in this thread, I am one of them. quote:The Grand Am GT, however, I did consider but I couldn't get past the stupid rear-deck spoiler. The Olds Alero (same car as the Grand Am) was what I was leaning towards. My other choice was going to be a used Grand Am GTP (couldn't afford a new one AND the insurance).I was also considering the Grand Am GT before my Vibe, but from the consumer complaints (nhtsa.gov) and other information I was hearing, people were having the same suspension problems that I was having with my Cavalier, so that was out of the picture.Thankfully Toyota has the stronghold of the mechanics of the Vibe so I was safe to assume my GM-related issued would not carry over to the Vibe. ... and so far this is holding true.
cohocarl
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (NSimkins)

Post by cohocarl »

quote:I did consider but I couldn't get past the stupid rear-deck spoiler. When we ordered my wife's 01 Dodge Stratus R/T 5-speed, I looked at the Grand Am GT, Grand Prix GTP, & Monte Carlo SS, and I couldn't get passed the stupid automatic transmissions. Even though I get an employee discount on GM vehicles, we wanted a stick.quote:and other information I was hearing, people were having the same suspension problems that I was having with my Cavalier,NSimkins, What type of suspension problems were you having with your Cavalier? Thanks,Carl
[Modified by cohocarl, 2:40 AM 7/26/2002]
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
NSimkins
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (cohocarl)

Post by NSimkins »

quote:NSimkins, What type of suspension problems were you having with your Cavalier?Well alot of creaking and popping noises when maneuvering. The explanation I consistently received (after being serviced about 5 times with no fix) was that the sway bar design on the Z-24's (all years apparently) was defective, but not enough to fix completely.GM Customer Service and my dealer both said there is nothing you can do but live with it and turn your radio up. So after about a year, I finally got rid of it and got my Vibe. No problems to report as of yet.
cohocarl
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (NSimkins)

Post by cohocarl »

Nick, Thanks. I was just wondering because just within the last couple weeks, I've had an odd "clank" in the front right of my Z-24. I first thought it was the brake caliper, but I'm also wondering about the strut. I've got new pads in the box but haven't had time to put them on to see if that's the problem. I haven't had too much time to work on my Z-24 or my C-4 lately....(see below) Thanks again,Carl
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
NSimkins
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (cohocarl)

Post by NSimkins »

quote:Thanks. I was just wondering because just within the last couple weeks, I've had an odd "clank" in the front right of my Z-24. I first thought it was the brake caliper, but I'm also wondering about the strut. I've got new pads in the box but haven't had time to put them on to see if that's the problem. I haven't had too much time to work on my Z-24 or my C-4 lately....(see below) Let me know if you find out the source of the clanking noise. I know there are a few things that could be the problem, as you mentioned, the brake caliper or strut. I had bushions (spelling?) replaced on my Z-24 under warranty (technical service bulletin for them) and that fixed my problem temporarily, but they reappeared shortly thereafter.By the way, the image you posted did not work.
[Modified by NSimkins, 9:04 AM 7/26/2002]
cohocarl
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (NSimkins)

Post by cohocarl »

quote:Let me know if you find out the source of the clanking noise.I backed out my drive last night, and it really "clanked", and heard that old grinding noise when the brakes were applied. I didn't have the time, but I jacked it up, found my tools, and changed the brake pads on both sides in approx 1/2 hr. The inside brake pad had separated from the metal plate....on both sides!!! The passanger side was the one that was making the noise, and finally decided to break apart last night. (luckily it happened in my driveway, and not out on I-75) I'll have to go out and check tonight, but I think there was still enough "pad" left that the noisemaker thing wasn't touching the rotor yet. The "outside" pad on both passanger and driver's sides looked fine.(????)Drives & brakes fine (now). I just went out and took a pic. I don't know if you can see, but neither the inside or outside "noisemaker" had started to hit the rotor yet. Any ideas why this would happen????quote:By the way, the image you posted did not work.Sorry about that, I need to ftp some images to another location....Thanks,Carl
[Modified by cohocarl, 1:24 AM 7/31/2002]
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
Lori19
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - going to get one soon (fritzburg)

Post by Lori19 »

And he lives to tell the tale!
Lori Abyss,monotone,moon & tunes, power pkg
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