SO here's the dealie. I was planning on trading up my current Sunfire for a "newer" '03 Cavalier, but it's no longer the "steal of a deal" at a thousand bucks difference. I plan on acquiring another 2000 to 2002 Sunfire next year as a daily driver, and make the current Sunfire or '03 Cav as a project car.
My current '02 Sunfire is a base model, five-speed, power nothing. It has an aftermarket steering wheel which would stay in it, as the original wheel and airbag were mangled in the removal process.
Current items that need replacing in the '02 'fire:
-The struts are shot in the rear, one strut mount is gone on the front.
-Slight rust on the passenger door well. Minor dings on the side. Nothing unusual for a lease-return that was purchased a year ago.
-One front wheel bearing is shot, one rear is on the way out.
Now I have the Tokico D-Spec setup sitting in my room, which I was planning on installing new strut mounts all-around on 'em. I was hoping to salvage the used Sunfire suspension to re-use when my future DD has it's craptastic suspension go out as well, but if I keep my current Fire, there wont be much of anything to re-use.
(We have some crappy-ass roads cratered out up here.)
Figure I'd "lose" about $400 on the suspension (to re-use), $200 on the wheel bearings. Loss of $600 bucks. Plus I was planning on buying an Eco for a swap. Add another $800 for a total of $1400.
Now buying the 03 Cav, the suspension is good, everything seem tight. I believe I may have seen a bit of grey smoke on start up, but it ran strong and it was a cold day after all (not to mention, the engine is going to be ripped apart within half a year anyways for a future-boost overhaul).
On top, I'd gain a set of winter radials for my future DD.
What I lose with this choice is a spare 2200 SFI engine (even though they only cost about 400 bucks, 600 with a tranny). The suspension should be g2g in a future DD (as far as I understand, suspension components 95-05 are interchangeable).
'Non-valued' item is mainly the body style. The '03 has nice, clean-looking aftermarket body trim. The stuff for my '02 can only be described as... riceroney.
The difference to re-finance is 2000 bucks from the dealer (auction value difference + $200). Main thing is that it will be refinanced at a higher payment (12 months), with lower interest then previous.
Should I keep the '02 or buy the '03?
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2002 Sunfire -->
- Ractive steering wheel
- ASA 17" EM9 + Nexen N5000 215/45/17 (steelies for winter)
- D-Spec Lowering kit @ 1.4" (issues currently
)
- Rockford P250.1 + MTX MZS1004 + Panasonic CQ-C8313U head unit
- Barely legal tint.
Try and buy a nice car. Dont go with a jbody of any kind
I forgot to mention, the reason why I dont just keep the '02 as a DD is that it's a 5-speed, and I (well, the wife mostly) wants auto and A/C. It's something I agreed to, as I'd much prefer if she drove me to work, and picked me up, then leaving a car in an unattended parking lot for days on end (I'm a Greyhound driver).
--------------------------------------------------------
2002 Sunfire -->
- Ractive steering wheel
- ASA 17" EM9 + Nexen N5000 215/45/17 (steelies for winter)
- D-Spec Lowering kit @ 1.4" (issues currently
)
- Rockford P250.1 + MTX MZS1004 + Panasonic CQ-C8313U head unit
- Barely legal tint.
trade it in fast!!!!!!!!!
Decided I'd keep the 02 and buy the DD in April/May. Eco swap is a definite, and I'm pretty anxious at trying custom fiberglass.
--------------------------------------------------------
2002 Sunfire -->
- Ractive steering wheel
- ASA 17" EM9 + Nexen N5000 215/45/17 (steelies for winter)
- D-Spec Lowering kit @ 1.4" (issues currently
)
- Rockford P250.1 + MTX MZS1004 + Panasonic CQ-C8313U head unit
- Barely legal tint.
J-bodies are really starter cars... I'd work up to something newer like a Malibu/G6 or something else. If you keep building, you're doing it purely for personal pleasure, not to have a reliable daily driver.
My thoughts: don't buy another J-Body unless you have a cheap parts source.
But they're so CHEEEEEEEEP!
I'm building my car strictly for personal pleasure now, and I'm looking for something post '00, good mileage, for under $3K. Not many cars that fill that void, other then your beloved j-bodies.
The fact that major components are so bountiful used (motors, trannys etc.) is what's steering me torwards another j-body. That and the price. They're polluting the dealer lots so much nowadays, I can off-hand name two dozen j's that have been collecting rain and shine for over 5 months between two dealers.
--------------------------------------------------------
2002 Sunfire -->
- Ractive steering wheel
- ASA 17" EM9 + Nexen N5000 215/45/17 (steelies for winter)
- D-Spec Lowering kit @ 1.4" (issues currently
)
- Rockford P250.1 + MTX MZS1004 + Panasonic CQ-C8313U head unit
- Barely legal tint.
