When’s the last time you saw a Pontiac Sunfire? Better yet, how about a Sunfire convertible? Around these parts, the midwest, they’re uncommon. Rust has taken to rotting them away and took whatever driving pleasure was present with them.
When it was new, MotorWeek actually had some nice things to say, evident from the latest retro review. Looking back on a pristine example, we begin to appreciate the design more so. The curvy, wedge-shaped Sunfire convertible looks easier on the eyes than we remember, but we don’t miss the sea of gray that was GM’s interior design motif of the era. We suppose the liquid red interior panels and seats break it up, but it’s dismal at best.
But, to not to downplay engineering laziness, the base 2.2-liter four-cylinder was available yet with a three-speed automatic … in 1995. However, stepping up to the more powerful 2.3-liter quad-four garnered a four-speed automatic. A five-speed manual do-it-yourself was available with either engine.
It’s clear America has largely fallen out of love with the convertible body style for a number of reasons. However, we miss the economy convertible, even if it became every high school cheerleader’s first car. The love affair is likely something Buick hopes to capitalize on with the 2016 Cascada.
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I still have a ’95 Pontiac Sunfire coupe – in purple. And yes, I got it in high school, but I wasn’t a cheerleader. 🙂 It is garaged, and only has 80K on it…still a fun car to take around town! It has held up really well.