Greetings all and, thanks for the feedback ahead of time. 
Automatic shift, SE 2-door, ~125,000 miles, SW Ohio (rust belt), front quarter-panel wreck damage, needs brake lines (rusted and/or dry-rotted). This is for a nervous, first-time driving Niece. Engine runs, no obvious noises from cold-start. Transmission supposedly good, but yet unconfirmed. Not yet inspected it, but will soon.
1) What are the common issues (transmission, engine, suspension, body) with these vehicles and what should I look for ?
2) Do the 2.2L engines have a timing belt, or chain ? SOHC or DOHC ??
3) Do these engines have an interference design ? (do valves meet with pistons if belt/chain breaks and ruin head)
4) Is this an all aluminum engine, or does it have an iron block on aluminum head ?
(which usually results in much higher failure rates for head gaskets)
5) Did this vehicle originally come with that orange Dex-Cool crap in the cooling system, instead of the normal Green coolant ?
Automatic shift, SE 2-door, ~125,000 miles, SW Ohio (rust belt), front quarter-panel wreck damage, needs brake lines (rusted and/or dry-rotted). This is for a nervous, first-time driving Niece. Engine runs, no obvious noises from cold-start. Transmission supposedly good, but yet unconfirmed. Not yet inspected it, but will soon.
1) What are the common issues (transmission, engine, suspension, body) with these vehicles and what should I look for ?
2) Do the 2.2L engines have a timing belt, or chain ? SOHC or DOHC ??
3) Do these engines have an interference design ? (do valves meet with pistons if belt/chain breaks and ruin head)
4) Is this an all aluminum engine, or does it have an iron block on aluminum head ?
(which usually results in much higher failure rates for head gaskets)
5) Did this vehicle originally come with that orange Dex-Cool crap in the cooling system, instead of the normal Green coolant ?
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