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Car Forum / GMC Cars / September 2006Sunfire vs Cavalier - reliable transporation ??
I'm looking to pick up a relatively inexpensive car for my daughter to use to get to and from work and school. Single mother of an 8 year old. Reliability counts as she is about 80 miles away... and I'm the one she calls for service and maintenance. Are there any known issues with the Sunfire or Cavalier ?? They seem to be appropriate in terms of styling.... looking at the 2.2 engine with 4 spd xmision. How is the reliability of these cars ??? How about the 2.2 engine.... I'm assuming it has a timing belt which needs to be changed on a regular basis....are there any gasket or bearing problems ?? As always...thanks for your recommendations and advice...they are well appreciated !! Peter i have a 2000 cavalier i bought new not one problem. Also there is no timming belt to replace as the 2.2l eng has a chain which is great. Brian - Las Vegas Reliability is more based on the previous owner than on the car. You don't state year or mileage you are looking at. Age and location have a lot to do with reliability also. Salt areas start having rust problems after 6 or 7 years. Not the body so much as the brake, fuel, power steering lines and gas tank. I have had about half a dozen Cavaliers with no major problems. My current Cav is a 96 which I just had the head gasket replaced on. > I'm looking to pick up a relatively inexpensive car for my daughter to use > to [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Peter If you want a small GM car for her, I'd also recommend that you check out a 1996 to 2004 Saturn S series. The SL and SL1 have 8 valve engines. The SL2 has a 16V engine. It'd be about the same price as a Cavalier. I think the reliability is better with a Saturn. Saturns are smoother and more refined than Cavaliers. The Saturns get almost 10mpg highway more than the Cavalier. >If you want a small GM car for her, I'd also recommend that you check out a >1996 to 2004 Saturn S series. The SL and SL1 have 8 valve engines. The [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups >----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- Thanks... I didn't even consider a Saturn... Nice to know they are reliable cars. How easy are they to work on ?? Peter >>If you want a small GM car for her, I'd also recommend that you check >>out a 1996 to 2004 Saturn S series. The SL and SL1 have 8 valve [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Peter Not any harder than any other car. But I only did maintenence stuff to mine because it never gave me any trouble. Their reliability has always been a notch above the other GM divisions because one of their founding philosophies was to compete with Honda and Toyota. There's a reason why Saturn owners are so loyal and love their Saturns so much. http://www.6thplanetusedparts.com/ This is a great place for used parts for Saturns. They ship coast to coast. I remember in automotive technology class the instructor recommended that if you were going to work in a dealership, Saturn would be the one...the reason, among others, being that there are a relatively few different models, versus working in a Dodge, GM, etc, each of which have a myriad of different model cars, trucks, etc. So in buying one, and having to have it repaired at the dealer, you'd have a considerably higher likelihood of having it repaired correctly the first time. Nothing wrong with a GM, though :-)) "James Goforth" <jamiegoforth@webtv.net> wrote in message > I remember in automotive technology class the instructor recommended > that if you were going to work in a dealership, Saturn would be the > one...the reason, among others, being that there are a relatively few > different models, versus working in a Dodge, GM, etc, each of which have > a myriad of different model cars, trucks, etc. Even better would be working on an assembly line building toasters. All you have to do is put in your two screws and a knob as it goes buy again and again, for the next 30 years of your working career. Apples and oranges. 30 yrs putting knobs and screws in a toaster - I think I would kill myself. Sometimes life feels like 30 yrs of putting knobs and screws on a toaster AND YOU CANNOT TAKE IT ANYMORE !!!!! Sorry - I lost control a bit. Now back to work - Knob and 2 screws, Knob and 2 screws ..... Its going to be alright...One day at a time - You can do it. Brian - Las Vegas Have you heard about that new concept? It's called "getting a different job." People can now do this when they are somehow dissatisfied with their current one. And I think it's catching on. It might be the Next Big Thing. Check it out ! >30 yrs putting knobs and screws in a toaster - I think I would kill >myself. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >to be alright...One day at a time - You can do it. >Brian - Las Vegas Not all that bad.... You Unionize with the UAW Draw a salary of $65,000 a year. Full family medical benefits, Paid vacation and holidays. And SENIORITY... lets not forget seniority. Retire after 30 years, with a generous pension, and lifetime medical.... I think you can "tough it out"....... <rj> >>30 yrs putting knobs and screws in a toaster - I think I would kill >>myself. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > <rj> Have you ever spent time working on a car assembly line? Some people can do it quite fine, others can't. Not even for your $65,000 a year figure. "80 Knight" <80_knightREMOVEMEPLEASE@rogers.com> wrote in message >> Retire after 30 years, with a generous pension, >> and lifetime medical.... [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Have you ever spent time working on a car assembly line? Some people can > do it quite fine, others can't. Not even for your $65,000 a year figure. Exactly why I made my comment about working on Saturns all day every day. I hate repetitive work and grow bored very fast. The challenge of troubleshooting and working on different makes of car is much more stimulating that doing plug changes on the same car every day, every week, every year. In addition, if you become proficient with more vehicles, the potential to earn more is there also.  SignatureEd http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/ > "80 Knight" <80_knightREMOVEMEPLEASE@rogers.com> wrote in message >>> Retire after 30 years, with a generous pension, [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > every year. In addition, if you become proficient with more vehicles, the > potential to earn more is there also. Exactly. I don't think '<RJ>' gets it though. >>>30 yrs putting knobs and screws in a toaster - I think I would kill >>>myself. [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >Have you ever spent time working on a car assembly line? Some people can do >it quite fine, others can't. Not even for your $65,000 a year figure. You'd be surprised at how many people tough it out at crappy jobs they can't stand. Obligations, family, bills, insurance coverage are all reasons to keep going to work. My point was, a crappy job at UAW wages/benefits is better than a crappy job at McDonalds wages/benefits. <rj> "<RJ>" <baranick@localnet.com> wrote in message > My point was, > a crappy job at UAW wages/benefits > is better than a crappy job at McDonalds wages/benefits. > > <rj> Big difference. At GM, on the line, you just make cars every day and think about the money you are making. At McDonalds, you have the feeling of worth and satisfaction that comes from knowing you are making society better by helping to feed them a nutritious meal. Ranks right up with a surgeon saving lives. >"<RJ>" <baranick@localnet.com> wrote in message >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >helping to feed them a nutritious meal. Ranks right up with a surgeon >saving lives. That, and a dime...... ( now a buck ) <rj> >>> On Sat, 2 Sep 2006 01:47:51 -0700, FlyinBrianSR71@webtv.net (Brian >>> Bower) [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > <rj> I understand your point. Mine, however, is that working on the line isn't as easy as you make it seem. I live 5 minutes away from GM's Oshawa, Ontario plant, and most of my family works there. They have seen first hand how much a line job can eat away at you, and so have I. Cavalier yr 2000 4dr 2.2 L is a good car. eventhough it has Nippondenso ignition parts and not USA parts. >Cavalier yr 2000 4dr 2.2 L is a good car. >eventhough it has Nippondenso ignition parts and not USA parts. > > > > Thanks for your recommendation Brian. I've started looking for either the cavalier or sunfire. With a little luck, and a close inspection, I'm pretty confident about picking up a reliable one. Thanks again !! Peter Hey people---Lighten UP----I worked for GM--USA---I was paid $3,75 per hr when I "started" there---YOU people are "complaining" about $16 bucks per hour ???!!!! Oh--I started in 1968---Was "laid--off" in 1973--OIL emabargo--WAS NEVER "called" back till 4 yrs later--HOW do YOU think I "survived" //felt about GM//UAW finally "calling--me" "back" ??? Sure would like to hear from you all--- >Oh--I started in 1968---Was "laid--off" in 1973--OIL emabargo--WAS NEVER >"called" back till 4 yrs later--HOW do YOU think I "survived" //felt >about GM//UAW finally "calling--me" "back" ??? Sure would like to hear >from you all--- So what DO you think about the reliability of Cavalier versus Sunfire vs Saturn ??? I would like to have peace of mind while my daughter is driving around instead of spending weekends with my shoes under the car. > So what DO you think about the reliability of Cavalier versus Sunfire vs Saturn ??? > > I would like to have peace of mind while my daughter is driving around instead > of spending weekends with my shoes under the car. For what it's worth Peter, my oldest daughter owned a Sunfire for 5 years and has now sold it to her younger daughter. Like you, I keep all of the cars running in the family, so reliability is important to me. As well, the oldest daughter is 2 1/2 hours away and the one who bought the Sunfire from her is soon to move 4 1/2 hours away. The Sunfire (a 2000) has proven to be very reliable. Basically the same car as a Cavalier. Either one should make a good reliable car. Signature-Mike- mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net >> So what DO you think about the reliability of Cavalier versus Sunfire vs >Saturn ??? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >The Sunfire (a 2000) has proven to be very reliable. Basically the same car >as a Cavalier. Either one should make a good reliable car. Thanks Mike.... I've looked at a few of them. They seem to be nice cars at a reasonable price. And I'm glad to hear they're reliable.... it's nice to do planned maintenance, instead of emergency road calls. Thanks for your advice !!! Peter > Thanks Mike.... I've looked at a few of them. They seem to be nice > cars at a reasonable price. And I'm glad to hear they're reliable.... it's > nice to do planned maintenance, instead of emergency road calls. > > Thanks for your advice !!! You bet Pete. BTW, I should have stated that the Sunfire has ~110,000 miles on it at this point. Signature-Mike- mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net >I'm looking to pick up a relatively inexpensive car for my daughter to use to >get to and from work and school. Single mother of an 8 year old. Reliability [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >Peter Thanks to every one who responded...including those going off on a tangent.... When it comes to repairing or maintaining vehicles, I prefer those which are easy to work on..... Life already has enough difficult problems without adding a car to the mix. The Cavaliers and Sunfires sound good.... I like the styling and as everyone has mentioned....they are reliable. Also going to look at a few Saturns thanks to the suggestions and recommendations that were given. Again...thanking you all for your help, suggestions, and recommendations !!! Peter |
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