Learn me: Sunfire Convertibles

Hi everyone,

I've been keeping my eye out for a cheap convertible that can seat up to five for a while. Yesterday, I ran across the following relatively bare craigslist ad for a 97 Sunfire convertible

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/4467938831.html

I'm going to contact the seller and take a look at it, but I want to see what GRM has to say about 3rd gen J-Bodys (Cavaliers/Sunfires). I know the ad says needs brake lines. Is there anything else I should look out for? Any problem areas? Rusty brake lines worry me a little (what other rust is there) but is it a terrible job to do?

Not looking for this to be a DD or a track special. Just a fun little project car to work on with my boys, take ice cream runs, and maybe the occasional drive along the beach/drive-in. I figure for a <$600 buy-in, might not be too risky.

Rust is likely to be the main enemy. I think those cars have zero driving character but being a convertible may alleviate the boredom of driving one. The coupes and sedans tend to fold up like a tin can in a collision and I'm sure the verts are worse. Just something to think about.

Note that in any recent convertible (with the exception of possibly the 4 door Jeep), you only have 4 seatbelts.

If the rust issues are OK, that's a great little car for you. The drive train is Chevy and will run forever with no inherent problems at all. My sister sold her's out of boredom, just got tired of looking at the road over that cheesy dash board. The car wouldn't die.

Great find at a TERRIFIC price.

In reply to mtn:

The lack of a fifth belt has been a huge sticking point for finding something with a drop top. These are the last convertible since the 91-95 Olds Cutlass Supreme vert (with the rear bench and not the buckets) with a center belt. I've even gone so far as to check out the shop manual for the Cavalier/Sunfire and it does have a rear center lap belt.

Having 5 belts also helps getting SWMBO to sign off on it. That and its Red.

In reply to nicksta43:

I hear you about the lack of driving excitement. But I have no sporting intentions for this purchase. My hope is that a good turnout on this project will open the door(s) to other more fun things.

The verts are so wobbly that the company that converted them to verts (ASC) had to do some chassis re-engineering in order to get them to actually drive down the road without coming apart.

Since it's a GM product, the extent of the "re-engineering" was limited to building front and rear strut tower braces - which are okay junkyard finds if you have a hardtop j-body that you want to add some extra stiffness to.

The powertrain will, however, run basically forever.

If the brake lines are rusted there is a good chance the floor is too. My quarter panels looked solid but they were just paint with most of the Metal behind it gone and the frame rails over the rear wheels were pretty much gone.

Though keep in mind that Wally lives in New England where there is lots of road salt.

In reply to jstein77:

Me too. Been there. Done that. Have the rusting cars to prove it.

Wxdude10 wrote: In reply to nicksta43: I hear you about the lack of driving excitement. But I have no sporting intentions for this purchase. My hope is that a good turnout on this project will open the door(s) to other more fun things.

I don't believe a car has to be a sports car or have sporting intentions to be a rewarding experience. I had '64 Buick Electra 225 that was full of character and personality. Not a performance car by any stretch of the imagination and I didn't drive it like it was. I can find joy in most cars. The last Gen J-Bodies just leave me cold. I may be odd but I prefer the previous generation.

nicksta43 wrote: I can find joy in most cars.

I tend to compare all cars to walking everywhere. As such, I can find good stuff to say about ANY car. Even when they are broken, the are more fun than a walk.

Why is a Saab 900/9-3 convertible not the answer? Seats five, incredibly safer, and more entertaining to drive as well.

NOHOME wrote:

nicksta43 wrote: I can find joy in most cars.

I tend to compare all cars to walking everywhere. As such, I can find good stuff to say about ANY car. Even when they are broken, the are more fun than a walk.

A hike in the mountains is way better than riding in a Sunfire convertible. But that's just my .02, and I understand the OP's reasoning for looking at the car and wanting something like this.

AW HELL NAW, I had the hardtop, it was bad enough!

Don't buy it without pulling back the trunk carpet and looking at the inner fenders.

In reply to SlickDizzy:

I've never been able to determine that the Saab was a 5 seater. Every pic of the rear seat I've seen has only had 2 belts

In reply to JamesMcD:

Great tip! Thanks

Sorry, have to chime in since I'm also the father of 3 and work in auto insurance claims. The Cadavalier/Sunonfire are legendarily horrific in crashes. The convertibles are even worse. Also, a center lap belt is as bad as...or can be worse than...no belt at all.

That said, they're cheap convertibles. I also always thought the old Sunbird turbo 'verts were cool looking.

Klayfish wrote: Sorry, have to chime in since I'm also the father of 3 and work in auto insurance claims. The Cadavalier/Sunonfire are legendarily horrific in crashes. The convertibles are even worse. Also, a center lap belt is as bad as...or can be worse than...no belt at all. That said, they're cheap convertibles. I also always thought the old Sunbird turbo 'verts were cool looking.

This^^^^. Not that any convertible is great in a crash but these are particularly bad. Plus they are notoriously creaky, wobbly and loose with just a general feeling of sloppiness. So much flex the doors barely shut. The coupe versions were/are bad so you can only imagine what the vert is like. At that price who knows what other "secrets" are hiding in that thing. Sorry, for the bummer opinion but you asked. Shield your eyes and walk away.

I have three kids and would NEVER feel safe in that car. Even in short trips.

I've been in the same boat as you and the only good answer is get a 4 seater with two shoulder belts in the rear and take turns with the kids.