I'm getting my car back!

[55Test]

Don't know if any of you remember (or care

) but last July I bought a 96 Sunfire and to make a long story short, my brother's car had terminal transmission trouble so he ended up buying the Sunfire from me with the promise he'd sell it back to me in the Spring once he got his car fixed. For the longest time it was looking to me like he wasn't going to bother fixing his car, he didn't seem to care about it, and that he'd just run the Sunfire into the ground, so to speak. Well, now he's got his car in the shop getting the transmission replaced. Gonna cost about $1200 bucks for parts and labor with tax. It should be done by Monday, the transmission is all ready to go in. This means he'll no longer need the Sunfire and that I can FINALLY get my car back! I was so reluctant to sell it after only having it a short time and I was sure that I'd never have it back but now I will! I'm sure this all sounds silly to you but I'm excited to get my car back. I've been through 3 different cars since I sold the Sunfire and none of them have been very good. The Sunfire doesn't seem too much worse for wear. My brother was putting roughly 1000 km on it a week just driving back and forth to work. The motor sounds a little noisier and the rear brakes are worn but the ol' thing seems to have pulled through quite well. My brother wasn't abusive on it but he wasn't too fastidious about maintenance either. It's had maybe 2 oil changed in the time he's had it. Oh well, I'll try to make up for it. I see Canadian Tire has a sale on Saturday on synthetic Maxlife, and that's what I'll be putting in it as soon as I get it. The car needs a good wash too.

 

[Aldaris]

What's so exciting about a $500 Sunfire?

 

[ediamiam]

It's paid for, runs, and cheap to keep ?

 

[Cutehumor]

Quote:

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What's so exciting about a $500 Sunfire?

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These cheap cars have been pretty reliable for me. When I married my wife, I took over this car. It was on 100k spark plugs, 90k coolant, transmission filter not changed just trans flushed every 50k. Maintenance not up to snuf and the car didn't miss a beat.
I see sunfires everywhere I live. In fact, one pulled up to the stoplight right beside me same color too.

 

[The_Jeff]

Guy I work with knows nothing about cars. He lives 2 or 3 miles away and never warms it up all the way. Changes the oil once a year or so. Lets his state inspection lapse for months at a time. Has a 98 sunfire that takes it all and comes back for more. He just added antifreeze on my recommendation after mentioning a warning light had been on a while.

I may or may not be doing brakes on the thing, hoping to get him hooked on better maintenance with a demo on how easy and cool it can be.

 

[Cutehumor]

when I first met my wife 7 yrs ago, she was 21 at the time and driving this 96 sunfire. When I first rode in the car with her, here's what she does. She started the car in 20 degree weather with no warm up and drove like a bat out of #@$%!. piston slappin loud and I ask her about it, she had no clue. the engine could have been decentrigrating. lol She slams on the brakes all the time and when she backs out of a driveway, she doesn't come to a complete stop, she puts the car from Reverse to drive while the car is still rolling backwards. Looks like she learned that from her dad! I've trained her about the warning lights. It's funny, you mention the coolant light. a few years ago, she called to tell me a light was on and she kept driving the work like it was nothing. I added coolant problem was solved. glad, it wasn't the low oil light

 

[cousincletus]

I'm a big fan of the GM J-body too. I've owned 3 over the past 20+ years. Very cheap to keep on the road and probably the most reliable/durable small car in existence.

 

[Tosh]

Quote:

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I may or may not be doing brakes on the thing, hoping to get him hooked on better maintenance with a demo on how easy and cool it can be.

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If you need more drama in your life, then go for it! But remember, No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[alreadygone]

Quote:

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when I first met my wife 7 yrs ago, she was 21 at the time and driving this 96 sunfire. When I first rode in the car with her, here's what she does. She started the car in 20 degree weather with no warm up and drove like a bat out of #@$%!. piston slappin loud and I ask her about it, she had no clue. the engine could have been decentrigrating. lol She slams on the brakes all the time and when she backs out of a driveway, she doesn't come to a complete stop, she puts the car from Reverse to drive while the car is still rolling backwards. Looks like she learned that from her dad!

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Cutehumor,

Wife and now I have together put over 220,000mi on a '95 Blazer driving just as you describe. Has original drive train,nevercheck oil between 3,500 mile oil changes. Still totally reliable. How much longer do your vehicles last?

Bob

 

[Warlord]

My family had a 95 cavalier that was traded at 400000kms. That thing ran great and only needed an alternator once at around 300k. Most reliable vehicle ever.