Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior The body of this car is quite sturdy and resists corrosion for a long time. Its weak spots are the sills, if they rust through, they will decay completely. Rust spots are also often found under the floor and inside the trunk. The interior is nice, but the trim materials are cheap and wear out very quickly. The car's interior equipment often fails due to worn-out wiring. Engine Pre-restyling engines are simple, reliable, and easy to maintain. Their only downside is the low timing belt lifespan and regular lubricant leaks. The post-restyling 1.6-liter engine has also earned a good reputation. It has a chain-driven timing system and can stretch up to 100,000 km with active driving. Transmission Pre-restyling manual transmissions are reliable and trouble-free. After the update, significantly weaker manual gearboxes of the M5CF1/M5CF2 series appeared. As for automatics, there are minimal complaints; they are very strong and have a good lifespan. Suspension The suspension of the car is quite reliable, and its spare parts are inexpensive and widely available. Only the front strut mounts and wheel bearings last less than 100,000 km. The car does not tolerate overloading, and the shock absorber lifespan decreases to a minimum. The steering rack lasts a long time, but the power steering often suffers from fluid leaks and makes noise. The brake system has quick rusting pipes and a weak ABS unit as drawbacks.