Too bad nothing gm has sold for economy cars has been as good as the Cavalier/Sunfire since they stopped making them. I know a guy with an 03 Cavalier ecotec with almost 400k miles. He runs it low on oil all the time and hasn't changed it since he got it from his uncle like 40k miles ago. Timing chain is starting to rattle. The previous 99 Sunfire 2.2/auto he had ran fine until the subframe rusted out. The ecotec probably won't take the abuse as long as the old 2.2.
Sadly would have to agree. All the J bodies I have owned ended up at the yard rusted out, with great running drivetrains.
My Cobalt has been okay- but the Cavaliers outshine it in almost every way. Cobalts were always iffy , and the only good stories I hear about the Cruze was with the 1.8, not the 1.4 Turbo.
Seems like the cars went from junky bodies and great power trains to greater bodies and junkier drivetrains.... Pays to keep it simple with your intro cars!