looking at a 98 pontiac sunfire, question for anyone that knows about this car

[jetmech]

I have the opportunity to purchase a 98 sunfire with 199k on the clock. It does run and drive and shift good. Whats the life expectency of this motor> i can get it cheap and im looking to clean it up and flip it but am concerned no one will want it w/ 200k on the clock. I would be selling it for a minimum of 1200 bucks

 

[ZNix]

I had a very hard time selling a car with 200k on the clock. The first question is ALWAYS about mileage.. Once they hear 200k, "Thank you, but I am not interested". I would steer clear imho.

Zack

 

[GNTIM]

what he said...unless It's been meticulously maintained, even then...

 

[TurboTGuy]

you can't polish one of those turds enough..........

 

[jetmech]

Yeah i hear you. I am going to stay clear of it. Thanks

 

[chopped39]

My moms 95 sunfire has 265,000 and runs good. at a 180,000 I pulled engine and resealed it with a new timing chain. But I was all over the maintence on this car from day one. The biggest problem is the body is rusting under neath in the rear. It still gets 36mpg. The 2.2 is a great engine as long as you take care of it. The ecotech that replaced it is junk. If the body is mint I will buy it but not for 1200 maybe 500.

 

[machinegun]

The sunfire and the z24 cavalier of course are the same car.

The 2.4 is an excelolent engine and of course parts are dirt cheap

Not sure why some bash these cars, either they hear stuff or have had a bad experience that was odd

I have had 3 of these cars over the years and all were excellent

My 1 had 245,000 when I gave it to someone to help them out. 4 years later I still see it from time to time

My second one I bought with 16,000 miles. at 270,000 the bumper fell off the body. I bet a person we could put a battery in the car and start it. I won 50 bucks even after it sat for over a year.

My third one was sold to a buddy it needed a k member. 75 bucks 4 hours and with 250,000 the car runs like a top

I have gotten over 750,000 miles out of these cars with total investments including purchase of less than 20,000 dollars over 12 years.

I call that a bargain

I say if the car is not rotted runs good and has had good service records it is good for another 50k plus
Parts are dirt cheap.
Major issues were brakes watre pump and the ignition distriution block

The water pump is a pain in the arse but everything else was easy as pie

I will buy another one just as a gas saver.

hope this helps

 

[TurboTGuy]

The sunfire and the z24 cavalier of course are the same car.

The 2.4 is an excelolent engine and of course parts are dirt cheap

Not sure why some bash these cars, either they hear stuff or have had a bad experience that was odd

I have had 3 of these cars over the years and all were excellent

My 1 had 245,000 when I gave it to someone to help them out. 4 years later I still see it from time to time

My second one I bought with 16,000 miles. at 270,000 the bumper fell off the body. I bet a person we could put a battery in the car and start it. I won 50 bucks even after it sat for over a year.

My third one was sold to a buddy it needed a k member. 75 bucks 4 hours and with 250,000 the car runs like a top

I have gotten over 750,000 miles out of these cars with total investments including purchase of less than 20,000 dollars over 12 years.

I call that a bargain

I say if the car is not rotted runs good and has had good service records it is good for another 50k plus
Parts are dirt cheap.
Major issues were brakes watre pump and the ignition distriution block

The water pump is a pain in the arse but everything else was easy as pie

I will buy another one just as a gas saver.

hope this helps

I'm thinkin' most people on the road with you gave those POS's a WIDE birth when following or passing......

Betcha looked pretty cool driving 'em too.........had your "lean on" going and all..........:biggrin:

Would you pay over 500 bucks for ANY one of those cars now?

You GAVE one of them away donated the other for parts at nearly the same milage....

I just don't think this Kat, JetMech, will get the $1200 resale he wants, no matter what kind of endorsement you post up.

Am I wrong?

P.S. I just had to go over to the "Best Car Names........" thread and throw the Sunfire up, woot woot!

 

[novaderrik]

if it's a 2.2 car, it will probably run forever. those engines are simple and essentially bulletproof- and if it does blow a head gasket, it's $100 and an afternoon to fix it.. timing chains also go from time to tome- but those are under $50 and a couple of hours to fix.
i'm a fan of simplcity- and a 2.2 is about as simple as a modern engine gets.. probably because it evolved from an engine designed for fork lifts in the 70's and GM decided to throw in the fwd econoboxes they started pounding out by the millions in the early 80's.
i don't know about the 2.4- but it's an OHC engine in the Quad 4 family, so it's definitely got a lot of unnecessary complexity and probably pokes holes in pistons and breaks valves when the timing chain (or belt, or whatever) breaks.

if it's a convertible, i'd probably get it just because they are rare and fairly desirable to the right teenage girl that's looking for a cute convertible.. bonus if it's a red convertible..

 

[jetmech]

His bottom line was 700 bucks but the bottom of doors were rusted and the trunk had rust. The return on investment is not there. But i did just get a call from my cousin his neighbor has a convertable cavilier for 200 bucks. hopefully this will make a few bucks. Thanks.