Pontiac Sunfire
Purchased a Pontiac Sunfire 2005 on 31 December 04. MSRP $18,9XX and cost after rebates was $8,7XX. Was a bit surprised with the vehicle. It is equipped with ABS, traction control, RDS equipped stereo, sunroof, fog lights, power windows & mirrors & trunk release, sunroof, cruise, tilt wheel, 4 spd auto w/overdrive and alloy wheels. The motor is the ecotec 2.2L and I've found it to be both powerful and fuel efficient.
Overall the car is better than it's reputation led me to believe and a decent value with incentives.
Fit and finish and ergonomics are still no match for even a 90's Toyota or Honda, however, for less than $9,000 I don't expect a Civic.
Sunfire is worth a look if seeking an inexpensive new car.
Overall the car is better than it's reputation led me to believe and a decent value with incentives.
Fit and finish and ergonomics are still no match for even a 90's Toyota or Honda, however, for less than $9,000 I don't expect a Civic.
Sunfire is worth a look if seeking an inexpensive new car.
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No more Sunfire and no replacement.
Can you give us the math between those two numbers?
Dealer sold it for $17,200, minus $8500 in rebates and incentives, equals the $8700 price (before sales tax).
moparbad, "Rebates, Incentives, APRs - Questions & Comments" #2354, 3 Jan 2005 2:35 pm
$3000 GM Card (including the $2000 "bump" in earnings)
$1500 GMAC Financing bonus
$500 GM Instant Value
$500 Military
$3000 Sunfire Rebate
This car has 110,000 miles on the engine.
Those cars are noted for a lot of suspension problems, brakes, struts etc. Also if you are buying it from a private party you will have NO recourse if it goes "belly-up" the day after you buy whereas if you get it from a dealer you may be able to get some warranty but @ that mileage iI doubt it, At 110,000 it should be dirt cheap but you WILL have to put some money into it pretty soon @ those kind of miles
believer
Thanks for the correction. Reagrds Believer
Well, you may ask why did I buy the thing in the first place? I didn't! It was bought for an employee as a company car. The employee was called up for duty in the military so we have a spare car on our hands. My Sunfire was about to roll over 100K miles so I took over the Mustang.
The Mustang is a ok car just don't expect it to be a true sports car, a sporty car yes, but not in the 6 cyl version. I have not driven the 2005 Mustang but I bet it will have a lot of the same "genes" as the 2004 even tho it's "all new".
Believer
I'd go more with the fan because your car was being cooled at high speed with onrushing cold air and didn't need the fan to cool it, but as soon as the air stopped, it got hot. This indicates to me a fan problem. A stuck thermostat usually causes very rapid overheating at any speed.
One Sunfire has "Wipers, controlled cycle" the other does not. Does this mean the one without only has 2 speed wipers, no delay?
The window sticker for the VIN on GM Buypower shows "4 speed auto w/ enhanced traction control" The sticker on the car does not list traction control. Is there a way to tell? Like traction control switch?
moparbrad: What ended up being your total cost of GMAC loan, to get $1500 rebate and pay right off?
Make sure you have the old GM card to be able to use your $3000 GM earnings, the redemption allowance on the new GM Card program is $1000 for the Sunfire. Only reason I was able to use the full $3000 was a "special" program GM offered to select cardholders end of 2004.
So far, no problems with the Sunfire other than a squeaky dash when the weather is cold.
Thanks for the response. I was worried they may have some sort of set up fee or pay off early fee. As far as the GM card goes, I have 2 old ones, one in my wifes name and one in my name. We get max rebates on both. I got $6000 off my Alero when I bought it back in 2000 (just used my card). When GM first came out with the card you could get a max of $1000 a year for 7.5 years or $7500. They now lowered the old card to $500/year which is still $3500. My wifes card had $3000 on it but I couldn't combine them. I checked the rules and it clearly stated that only one the card owners or immediate family in the same household could use it. I called GM customer service and added my brother-in-laws name to the account which made him one of the owners. Within hours he was able to use the rebate to buy a car and he lives in another state.
Problem with the Sunfire is I think all the incentives run out today. I decided to wait and see if they get any better considering the problems GM is having and the fact that it is almost over for the Sunfire. Would you happen to know the answer to my traction control and wiper question above? Keep me updated with any Sunfire issues.
thanks,
Mike
Bad thermostats are also a "fast overheat".
Good way to diagnose things.
Glad you guys are solving these problems!
My question is where is the fuse box located at for the rear lights? Thanks.
lemme see, where to start, bought it year and a half ago it drove NIICEE for 2 months.. then the motor blew. had to take my warranty company to court and finally won and got a new motor over a year later FINALLY get it back. drive it home, very nicely, not over 55 and over 4000 rpm, then next day went to go DOWNHILL and get fuel and food. and boom. motor blew again. Just got it back again last night. and the electric fan doesn't work, when going up hills the thing misfires like a mofo, check engine light flashes, I am just praying for the thing to blow up catch on fire and burn to the ground.
Thanks,
Butkus
:lemon:
Believer
Any ideas, it has 85,000 kms.
gkneebone