How has it been two years?

"mazda616" (mazda616) 08/03/2020 at 10:11 • Filed to: Jolene the Sunbird

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August 4, 2018: I brought the Sunbird home and named it “Jolene” after my favorite Dolly Parton song.

It had just over 56,000 miles at the time. As of today, it has 58,740.

I’ve treated it to the following:

- New windshield

- New tires

- New front brakes

- Tinted windows

- New valve cover gasket

- New front speakers (from a junkyard ‘94 Cavalier with 24k miles)

- New/used cassette player (from a ‘93 Sunbird on eBay)

- New amp for the factory radio (from an ‘88 Chevy truck)

- New coolant reservoir

- New oxygen sensor

- New MAP sensor

- New air filter

- AVS window visors

- New A/C and serpentine belts

- New wiper blades (clearance Rain-X from Rural King)

- WKU floor mats (my alma mater)

- Three rear window decals (Jolene, Pontiac “We Build Excitement”, and The Golden Girls )

It still needs new shocks and struts - the ones on there are old, floaty/bouncy, and squeaky. But, that’s not high on the list because it drives fine as is and is aligned well. It doesn’t handle like my 6, by any means, but it is far from dangerous.

Overall, it’s a fun little toy to cruise in and tinker with. My three-year-old son adores it and requests to ride in it constantly. The fact that it’s one of the VERY few ones left in this world in this condition makes it extra special to me.

Behold, the first and latest photos I’ve taken.

July 31, 2018:

August 2, 2020:

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > mazda616 08/03/2020 at 10:34

5

That design has aged very well. Jolene is really more charming than most people would expect, especially given how are Sunbirds have become. 

Nibby > mazda616 08/03/2020 at 10:36

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looks like your neighbor’s getting their AC unit(s) checked

mazda616 > Nibby 08/03/2020 at 10:53

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He is an HVAC tech. That’s his work van.

Tripper > mazda616 08/03/2020 at 10:54

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What an awesome neighbor to have. I get a case of the angrys when I’m overheated.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > mazda616 08/03/2020 at 11:24

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that’s gotta be the best kept J-body out there. I blinked and they were all gone. 

mazda616 > Tripper 08/03/2020 at 11:35

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Amen. Our unit is original to the house (built in 2001) and is living on borrowed time.

Long_Voyager94 > mazda616 08/03/2020 at 12:01

1

It’s crazy how fast time goes.

We were just talking about the Rally Van this weekend and realized we’ll have 10 years with her this year.

benn454 > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 08/03/2020 at 12:13

6

 They were all either driven into the ground by the original owner, or passed down to a teenager to be promptly destroyed. 

mazda616 > benn454 08/03/2020 at 12:31

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Or they rusted away before either of those could happen. This one has never seen snow and rarely sees rain, which is why it lived.

benn454 > mazda616 08/03/2020 at 13:13

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 Yes, being from the Rust Belt myself, I have watched the salt claim many a sacrifice. 

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > benn454 08/03/2020 at 13:32

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I was a teenager in the 90's and saw many of them beaten into the ground.  v6 5speed examples are quick enough. 

benn454 > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 08/03/2020 at 15:16

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 Same here. Also watched many a Z-28 and GT get smoked by grandma's SSEi/GS.