if you are looking to buy a 4x4 cavalier gsi or turbo etc take care, although these are very quick cars they can be troublesome as i have found myself, make sure that you get a good warranty or have it proffessionally inspected before buying and then enjoy.
I'm over the moon with my Cav 2.0i GL - bought for a mere £500 it's been a joy to own. Fuel economy is staggering - it's got over 100,000 on the clock - yet still makes ~50mpg sensibly driven on the motorway. Also very quiet, comfortable, well equipped. My only complaint is security - 2 break-ins already, only my Barrier Deadlock stopped the car from being taken.
the model i own is a gsi2000 and for a family type car goes like stink when its floored i jave fitted an ecotek valve over the net which improves olw to midrange and gives an extra 4-5mpg and really has no downsides to sum up a fast and very reliable car apart from the 4x4 box which is giving me some hassle
My 1990 1.6 L Cav is the best car I have ever owned. Its always ready to go whenever I need it and the ride and comfort is great. Its really quiet and a pleasure to drive. It has loads of boot space and easily fits the role of a family car. I would definetly go for one again, but next time its got to be a larger engine and higher spec.
The Vauxhall Cavalier... loved by sales reps.... now replaced by the vile Vectra... and mourned by many.
There are millions of these about and the floods of fleet Vectras mean they can be had at bargain prices. But is it worth it? Would you not be better off with a more expensive Vectra?
At first glance, you don't even notice that it is a Cavalier and not a Vectra. Second glance, you realise that the Vectra is only really a sharpened version of the old stager; in real terms of street cred, you lose around 10%, but then 10% of bugger all is still bugger all.
The Vectra may have the dullest, cheapest , nastiest interior short of a twenty year old caravan, but that's still light years ahead of this donkey. The interior would look (and probably does) much more at home in an Astra Van. It's not all bad though, the seats are definitely better than in the new car and the driving position much the same. There also seems to be rafts of little storage holes just the thing for storing ermm ermmm lots of little things in lots of separate places. Inside it seems just as roomy as the Vectra, though the boot maybe a little more compact.
The driving experience is as uniformly dull as the Vectra's. The steering is somewhat weightier around town, but similar at speed. The handling seems to oppose the Vectra's though. At slower speeds, the Cavalier displays better body control but can still be pushed to terminal oversteer very easily. At higher speeds - 80ish - where the Vectra is rock solid, the Cavalier starts to lose the plot. Motorway expansion joints shudder through the suspension, and gentle motorway dips and bends set the Cavalier gently rocking to and fro like a rowing boat.
The engine was a big disappointment, booming and gutless over 4000 revs. Having just stepped out of a diesel Vectra, that was just the point - I expected the petrol to become sharper; sadly it doesn't.
There is very little to say about a Cavalier, the plus sides are:
cheap to buy cheap to run easy to service loads of spares at the scrap yard it's not a Vectra
The downsides are
it's still rubbish it's not a mondeo A nice 2.0 with all the toys might be worth it - if it's cheap!!
My cavalier overheated for some time. After several parts in the water system being changed including the water pump and making no difference; I gave up.
I then changed the exhaust system, and the overheating problem was cured.
My mechanic friend says it has something to do with catalytic converter?
Owned for more than 5 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed March 2004.
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VAUXHALL CAVALIER what a car i have had 2.5i 1.4 1.8 and a e reg sri,130 and now a 2.0i sri j reg the same lump as the 130, 130bhp........../ ford fix or repaired dayly. old yes but what a car?
Owned for 5 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed March 2004.
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cheap family car and very reliable for its age
Owned for 6 months.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed March 2004.
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How can you tell an Izuzu engine TD cavalier from a non Izuzu engine version, I have skoke to no end of people and no one knows!!!!!
i have a TD Envoy (izuzu engine) i think this thing is amzing done 20,000 miles in 8 months, so far apart from tyhe obvious changes brakes etc, i've had to have a new master cylinder, and water pipe, (that burst on the motorway but i still managed to drive 40 miles home without it overheating... to much) amazing on fuel, i only wish they still made them new :(
for a diesel i think its amazing, it seems to be comparable and slightly faster than a 1.4 (petrol) 306, at least in straight lines :p
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed February 2004.
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hi there i just bought my 3rd cavalier this time the motorsport cesaro on a 1993 plate when i bought it locks were ok but went out to start it today and the deadlocks seemed to have developed a problem they are jammed on, the only way i can get into car is through the boot all the other doors won't open any ideas if this is a common problem or what?
Owned for 1 month.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2004.
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I have a G reg Cav 1.6 GL. It's been a dream. Got it with 163,000 miles on it and it now has 190,000 and runs fine. These things were built to last.
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2004.
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I,ve got a kreg1.7td l.s (isuzu)cav with 495,000(second engine,300,000 on first)why does it just keep going?
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed November 2003.
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Have owned my M reg 16v SRi now for 4 years buying it at 44,000 miles and currently on 135,000 miles apart from the standard couple of sensor issues and 1 head gasket i cant really complain about it its always got me where i want to go and has yet, touch wood, never broken down and had to be recovered, "probably going to regret saying that now". The only problem i have a the moment is that when starting up in the mornings as the egr and cold start are working the lights seem to dim occasionally ie dash lights head lights the lot,as sson as the egr and cold start finish its ok, anybody else had this problem ?
Owned for 4 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed November 2003.
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cavalier 95 m 16v ecotec sri ,had a few cavs all been great,8 valve sri previous no problems bulletproof engine.love the ecotec sounds nice when warmed up comfy seats and goes well,top end rattles briefly in morning,fan comes on too often,idles roughly exhaust rattles on speed humps.had one cam sensor and occaisonaly management light comes on,i just disconect battery for half hour and it solves it for a few months.apart from few snags still love the car and when you floor it,it revs forever and takes you to ton in no time.
Owned for 2 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed November 2003.
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hate these, had one once for 2 months got rid, unreliable, kept missing and loud. the seats were uncomfortable ater about an hour and this was in a highly specced ones, went back to the blue oval. 2.0 Sierra 150,000 miles never missed a beat - why did i sell it
Owned for 3 months.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed November 2003.
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hate these, had one once for 2 months got rid, unreliable, kept missing and loud. the seats were uncomfortable ater about an hour and this was in a highly specced ones, went back to the blue oval. 2.0 Sierra 150,000 miles never missed a beat - why did i sell it
Owned for 3 months.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed October 2003.
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I am on my fifth cavalier and its a cracker, its a 1993 k plate 1.8lsi it cost 400 quid and its done 13800 miles and still drives like its new.I've tried other motors like peugeots and fords but i always seem to come back to the trusty old cavalier.Excellent its a credit to vauxhall,shame they stopped making it.
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed August 2003.
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I love my 1995 2.0 gls cavalier It looks great, handles great and will go very very fast. Also cheap to run. Roomy and comfortable, sleek and quiet, with those 16 valves purring away. I've never driven a better car. Just go and take a look at one. It's the best cavalier ever made. Period.
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