KGH, mine wasn't smoking at ALL...and still ran OK around town...it was the idle that killed me. In all honesty, the tired old 4 banger had 145,000 on her, so I wasn't surprised when I found out that she was toast.

You can't expect reliabilty out of a 14 year old vehicle!!!

My next vehicle will be a Toyota or Ford pickup (we sold WAY less parts for those trucks than any other) or a Honda, umm, Accord?

American 4-bangers vibrate the fillings out of your head, i.e. Chevy Cobalts, Saturns, Escorts, Neons. There is NO comparison!!!