GM 2.8 V6 vs 2.0 4 banger,witch one is more reliable ??

[Clive Apps Techno-Logicals 416 510 0020]

> 
> having received a call from my cousin who found a good car for sale (i'm
> in search of one) not too expensive (i plan to take some holiday time in
> vancouver in july),he found a old's ciera 83 having'bout 225 000 KM ( 140
> 000 milles,yes the car has lot o'milleage but then,i've got not much money
> to spend on it,but at last,i'm not going to vancouver with him),but now,i
> have a problem arging with mom's chum,he states that the car fuel milleage
> is very low (in the V8 teritory) and the engine is a lot less reliable
> than his 4 banger ( cavalier and sunbird 2.0L ),i want to set the record
> straight,does the cavalier 4 banger is more reliable than the oldsmobile
> 2.8 V6 ?????

the 2.8 was somewhat of a dog
it is probably almost ready for at least a valve job
Clive