a few people at work have them, the one was the eco with the turbo. it was a nice car and he was getting 40mpg until about 2 years old the miles started going down. he took it back a number of times and they coulnt fix it he said so he sold it and got a focus. he said i would rather get a 2000 car that gets 30mpg than a 20k one

From what I've read online, the turbo cars (not sure about the 1. came from the factory with improperly gapped spark plugs. Apparently changing the plugs and using premium gas increases performance and improves gas mileage.

I love the color too. My girlfriend recently bought a 2011 LT in the same color. It looks amazing in pictures with the right lighting and background.

On the water pump, their is a small cap that covers a pocket inside the water pump located below the pulley that leaks coolant. Its just a bad design.

Pic below.

Are you talking about the weep hole that most water pumps have?
If so that is not bad design, it actually works as intended, it helps keep the coolant from getting to the bearings in the center of the pump, it is supposed to help it last a little longer before totally failing.
Of course I am not familiar with the Cruz'*, I have had experience with water pump weep holes leaking though, and if they did not leak when the coolant gets to them, then the coolant would get to the bearings and totally ruin the pump a lot faster.

Nice car Bill. I used to run a computer store in Mesa across from the B of A bldg at Alma School & Southern and hang out with the local Grand Prix Club. Do they still have the huge azz car meet on the weekends up by Scottsdale at that huge shopping center? There used to be hundreds of cars there all segregated in groups/clubs/models etc.

Yes, every Saturday night at The Pavilions at Scottsdale, NE corner of Indian Bend & the 101...I'm usually up there with my wife checking things out..

My brother lives in Queen Creek still/ Next time we come down, maybe we can cruise over there and meet you two. The Pavillions had some BADD AZZ rides over there and was fun.

We're going up there tonight, and, also bringing our little Chihuahua with us....sometimes, people bring their pets up there, too, when they're walking around checking out the nice cars...