Nice to see a sensible and informative road test again, instead of showing cars which virtually nobody can afford being thrashed in ego trips. I had a G reg Cavalier 2 litre CD saloon, and it was the best car I have ever had; quiet, reliable, fast and reasonably economical (38 - 46 mpg).
I wonder why GM never offered the Quad 4 on any cars in Europe, it was a very high tech engine and produced lots of power for its size. In High Output form, it made 180BHP in 2.3 liter form back in the early 90s. and you guys think we Americans couldn't make engines that made lots of power for their size.
@TheVx490 Why because it doesnt contain Clarkson or Hammond Tyre smoking it round a test track and saying how crap it is because its not a Turbo Charged Supercar?
@TheVx490 Yeah mainly because its more of a comedy show these days (or attempts to be and sometimes fails badly with its rubbish humour). Old Top Gear was a factual show about motoring. Even though I was very young during the time this would have been broadcast I still would prefer a car show that talks about NORMAL cars and Road issues/fuel etc and not just some idiots in Supercars finding an amazing road somewhere that ill never go to and never drive the car they use!
@djdavedoc what are you talking about? it's very funny. And besides there really isn't a demand for Televised car advice anymore because people just use the internet
I remember watching this when i was a teen i loved this car and the Belmont, they were the bollocks. Loved old Top Gear too those were the days when you could get excited about a car.
i had an f plater i got rid of it with 175,000 miles on it and it was still going pity vauxhall didnt carry that thru to the vectra the vectra gave vauxhall a bad name
@5ballwrld Opel Vectra is known as a Vauxhal Cavalier in the UK... now they dropped the name Cavalier and its called a Vaxhaull Vectra, as was the Nova.. now called the Corsa
@5ballwrld vauxhall and opel have always been linked but until recently they had different names, like vauxhall nova- opel corsa, vauxhall arena-opel vivaro
Why couldn't GM have brought this Cavalier to the US to replace the Chevrolet Cavalier during the same years? This car was FAR BETTER THAN THE CAVALIER THAT CHEVROLET SOLD HERE IN AMERICA.
@carwrtr1 despite the name, this cavalier is actually in a different class than the Chevy, this Vauxhall was the European equivalent to the Chevrolet LUMINA
I bought a mk3 cav off my brother, only let me down once when a radiator hose burst on the m1. Can't moan tho' had many miles on the dials. K371 WDH was scrapped with shot bushes shot brakes shot suspension but it still drove to the scrappies with a good 1.7 izuzu td engine. Final mileage was 475000!
@monkeyboy27476 Well I have never seen an SRI 130 mk3 cav I thought they only put that engine in the mk2 130 and after that they concentrated on the 16v engines, maybe I'm wrong....?
(THE SILVER ONE) The enquiry is complete The vehicle details for F43 GNM are: Date of Liability 01 08 1989 Date of First Registration 01 08 1988 Year of Manufacture 1988 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1998CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Unlicensed Vehicle Colour SILVER Vehicle Type Approval (ONLY ON THE ROAD FOR A YEAR!!)
(THE RED ONE) The enquiry is complete The vehicle details for F40 GNM are: Date of Liability 01 05 2001 Date of First Registration 17 08 1988 Year of Manufacture 1988 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1998CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Unlicensed Vehicle Colour RED Vehicle Type Approval
Still got my metallic silver Cav, a 1.8LS now at 15 years old and 82K miles on the clock its one sweet machine. When its had a bucket of water chucked over it it looks good, and theres no rust either ;)
I do agree "new" Top Gear is getting a little silly, but supposedly 5th Gear has the informative approach, but I just can't bring myself to watch 5th Gear! New series of TG a few weeks away, btw.
I used to love stealing your families virginities but I got tired of listening to their chavvy mouths. you must be a silly ford fan eh? Another douche jealous of being left for dead by a 2.0l redtop.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Clarkson talks a load of rubbish these days, gone are the days when the BBC made factual and sensible motoring programmes which informed the average motorist.
I had a 1.7TD model that finally retired at 200k+ still running sweetly.
I'm a Ford fan to the end, my Cavalier was the only Vauxhall I ever owned, but I honestly would say its the best car I ever owned.
Compared to the Sierra in 1988, the Cavalier suddenly looked a class apart, and drove considerably better. The testament is the fact there are lot more early Cavaliers parked in Sainsburys car park than late Sierra's.
They were the days eh Drewerz,I was only 20 in '88.......maybe wouldn't have the "Peasant" spec one on here but a "Mint" ......2LTR GSI saloon..yes please.......a sought after classic for sure....Oggster.........
Greetings Oggster nice to hear from you again, glad you agree with me on the Cavalier, I'm sure if you thought hard about it you'd remember that the GSI was only ever available as a Saloon with the C20XE engine (Vauxhalls first 16v, the SFI "Red Top") I would love to build a John Cleland replica one day, Definitely a classic!
I agree. They were very informative yet still entertaining. Nowadays, Top Gear is just a comedy show which you can't rely on for automotive information.
They look pretty fresh there, as though they were made 10 years ago, but if I saw one in the street today with faded paint and bumpers and dents and stuff it would look ancient. Only now have Vauxhall really changed their saloons. There wasn't much difference between the first Cavalier and the last Vectra in shape or advances.
Shouldn't ever compare the Cavalier with that wanky miserable unreliable piece of shit disaster they called the Vectra! The Cavalier is and always will be a far superior car in every way, I'd still take a Cavalier over anything Vauxhall are currently making!
The Cavalier had a .29 coefficient if I remember rightly, good by todays standards. I remember seeing this model launched at the NEC Birmingham Motorshow, and it was a good loooking car at the time. Drove an SRI once, which was a nice machine. It was a great car. The 1991 1600 L I owned was a really good car to live with.
aah how much i so love these wonderful gorgeous mid-size family cars. My Kings Blue LS is just beautiful. Fantastic cars, my great compliments to General Motors!!
I've got a 91 Cav 4x4 in brilliant very original condition. Had it 14 years but I still get a kick out of driving it and it doesn't feel old fashioned to drive and still has a lot of poke. Feels kinda special now actually !! Can't William Woolard come back onto Top Gear to replace the idiotic curly haired gobsh**e we have to put up with now !
My previous car got written off in an accuident a while back, and with me having only a couple of hundred quid to buy a "new" car I bought a Cavalier. Glad I did, as it's the best car I've ever owned. I remember watching this vid a few days before I ended up buying it randomly enough, perhaps William Woolard's review stuck in my mind? Perhaps not.
about as aero dynamic as my left arse cheek. they obiously hadn't seen the porche speedsters zipping around the place. still thoughh 1165 pounds; not bad lol
look like the silver cav was only on the road for a year Date of Liability 01 08 1989 Date of First Registration 01 08 1988 Year of Manufacture 1988 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1998CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Unlicensed Vehicle Colour SILVER Vehicle Type Approval null
ive got a cav 1.8 gls at the mo with 142,000 miles on the clock its 14 years old very reliable its got more things on it than my r plate escort been traveling to wales every week for last 3 months from kent .
The red Cav is no more... The vehicle details for F40 GNM are: Date of Liability 25 05 2001 Date of First Registration 17 08 1988 Year of Manufacture 1988 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1998CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Unlicensed Vehicle Colour RED Vehicle Type Approval null
I travelled 900 mile round trip last week to buy my second cavalier sri. Its 14 years old, 1 owner and only 69k. Delighted with it. Previously had a vectra 2.6 sri and didn't realise quite how bad it was until i drove a cav again.
I own both a cavalier gsi 2000 and a sierra 3dr cosworth and i love um both just as much, the cavs are a great for munching up the miles and for everyday use but the sierra is more of a play toy for weekends etc, the cosworth engine is 100 times more tunable than any c20xe or c20let but the xe's and let's are very good motors they seem to go forever! its everyone to there own! and about the rust thing, older vauxhalls rust just as bad as old fords end off!! Both Cracking cars though!
My Cavs 13 years old and just refuses to rust!even round the wheelarches.they are as tough as old boots and just keep on going.Try finding a 13 year old Ford with no rust on it !.One of the most comfortable cars I have ever owned GM don,t make them like this anymore.
MK2 cav was just as good - just a decade older design. Sold just as well too! The mk3 was a good all round evolution of the J platform with most of the components interchangeable between the two.
mk2 cavs were great, my dad had a 1.6L which would happily leave a 1.8 sierra for dead. plus it did 165k miles before giving up, my dad said it was probably because he changed the oil about 4 times! i'd have it now if i could
I owned two different Sierras and one Mk3 Cav and now a Calibra (same as the Cav underneath) It's difficult to properly compare to be honest, the Sierra was several yrs old when this Cav was released. Front drive against rear drive. Modern rust proofing against, well, almost none. I just wish my Calibra was rear wheel drive! ;-)
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
fucking hell people are so thick. the cavalier was NOT better than the sierra, it handled worse, was softer, less reliable, less tuneable, the cavalier is a heap of shite and so is the vectra. why do you think the sierra outsold it 2/1 ? coz its 20x better!!!
The only time Cavalier's were outsold by a sierra was when the MK2 was 7 years old! The rest of the time it outsold it completely. It needed over a 1/3 less routine maintenance.
You must be some kind of fool. Like the man says below you, Cavaliers are still everywhere. I can't remember the last time I even saw a Sierra. I've owned both Sierras and Cavaliers in the past of various ages, and the Cavaliers are better cars. Cavs are far more reliable with MUCH better engines - Sierra using the old Pinto and the CVH (the latter being a bit of a joke). The fact that they are still everywhere and Sierras aren't is a testament to that reliability.
what a complete retard! you listed this post 3 weeks ago and how many sierra's you see still going these days compared to cav's? less tunable lol! ever heard of the C20LET engine that people still use to beef up there Corsa's, Nova's, etc mate you're a complete cock who knows diddly squat!
It just goes to show how standards and benchmarks of cars have changed in the last 20 years, whilist general apparence and shape hasn't changed much certainly build quality has gone up and safety has increase considrably.. Everyones mentioned about the latest Mondeo is as big a the old Granny!
Whilist on the subject of Grannies Top Gear and Will Woolard did a feature on the 85 Granny/Scorpio anyone got that?
Thats a really good point. I'll have a dig around mate. It's also worth pointing out that despite the comparitive panning the vectras have since recieved a lot of motoring jornalists have returned to the Vectra B andrealised they were harsh. Some have even cited a comparison between the early vectras and early mondeo's on th roads today. They Vectras have stood up far better in most respects and certainly cosmetically.
hahaha ma dad used 2 have one of these be 4 is was born said it was a gd car before he crashed it was the gsi 1 tho so was quite quick (apparantly)although he reconed his lotus cortina was quick lol.
Here's a quick translation into ENGLISH, for those of you who can't read 'illiterate':
"My father used to have one of these before I was born.
He said it was a good car, before he crashed it. It was the GSi version and was quite quick, apparently, although he reckoned his Lotus Cortina was also quick."
When this came out they had no idea of things like the V6 and the Turbo in the pipeline, the car did the job too - even in 2005 it was still in the top 5 used cars in the UK. Fast disappearing now tho..
Nice to see a sensible and informative road test again, instead of showing cars which virtually nobody can afford being thrashed in ego trips. I had a G reg Cavalier 2 litre CD saloon, and it was the best car I have ever had; quiet, reliable, fast and reasonably economical (38 - 46 mpg).
CottferLAD22 4 months ago
I wonder why GM never offered the Quad 4 on any cars in Europe, it was a very high tech engine and produced lots of power for its size. In High Output form, it made 180BHP in 2.3 liter form back in the early 90s. and you guys think we Americans couldn't make engines that made lots of power for their size.
kernals12 5 months ago
@kernals12 180bhp from a 2.3 is shit. You could get that from a 1.8 with a few simple mods.
2491cc 2 months ago
@2491cc In 1991?
kernals12 2 months ago
@2491cc Yep.
2491cc 2 months ago
Good review by Woolard. He was spot on the money with that comment about cars becoming "jelly moulded".
In my opinion, car design took a turn for the worse in the late 80's and didn't really recover until well past the millennium.
Just my opinion of course.
Jarren202 6 months ago
what a boring video,not like todays top gear thank god
TheVx490 8 months ago
@TheVx490 Why because it doesnt contain Clarkson or Hammond Tyre smoking it round a test track and saying how crap it is because its not a Turbo Charged Supercar?
djdavedoc 5 months ago
@djdavedoc well they must be doing something right,its watched across the world and viewing figures have never been higher
TheVx490 5 months ago
@TheVx490 Yeah mainly because its more of a comedy show these days (or attempts to be and sometimes fails badly with its rubbish humour). Old Top Gear was a factual show about motoring. Even though I was very young during the time this would have been broadcast I still would prefer a car show that talks about NORMAL cars and Road issues/fuel etc and not just some idiots in Supercars finding an amazing road somewhere that ill never go to and never drive the car they use!
djdavedoc 5 months ago
@djdavedoc what are you talking about? it's very funny. And besides there really isn't a demand for Televised car advice anymore because people just use the internet
kernals12 5 months ago
@djdavedoc dont recall where it failed badly with rubbish humour,stick to 5th gear or wheeler dealers then
TheVx490 4 months ago
@TheVx490 Wheeler Dealers it is then :)
djdavedoc 4 months ago
I drove a Vauxhall Cavalier Mk.III on the The Getaway: Black Monday. :)
MrWalterMendoza 8 months ago
I remember watching this when i was a teen i loved this car and the Belmont, they were the bollocks. Loved old Top Gear too those were the days when you could get excited about a car.
Azureecosse 9 months ago
Was this a Saab 9000 in the US?
hockalougie 1 year ago
@hockalougie no. sorry
dimb9 1 year ago
@hockalougie No....
BlackMountainScar 8 months ago
Sierra is GOLD!
GM572 1 year ago
i had an f plater i got rid of it with 175,000 miles on it and it was still going pity vauxhall didnt carry that thru to the vectra the vectra gave vauxhall a bad name
M374EVL 1 year ago
I am getting an M reg cavalier cdx model saloon..... Is this a mark 3 and also is the car any good. From what i can see is its 138BHP. Is this true?
rvsgamer 1 year ago
@rvsgamer Oh its also a 2.0 16v ecotec engine.
rvsgamer 1 year ago
the tailights on the US cavalier looked better than these tailights,
stonehopper1067 1 year ago
in Europe this car is called Opel Vectra A
dziadek8724 1 year ago
The Cavalier was always a popular target amongst car thieves because apparently they were easy to break into?
Vervian1992 1 year ago
then what is the difference between opel and vauxhall?
Cipry16 1 year ago
as for the sierra you still see a fair few now
MidlandNinja 1 year ago
cool never knew top gear has been going for so long! (yeh didn't watch it coz i wasn't born yet lol) but wow where cars cheap then!
CyberNetTV 1 year ago
wtf i thought this was a opel vectra??
5ballwrld 1 year ago
@5ballwrld Also known as Opel Vectra A, just as Cavalier MK2 was Opel Ascona C :)
jtypecav 1 year ago 6
@jtypecav ohh ok..but why they got diff names for it??
5ballwrld 1 year ago
@jtypecav next old upload, could u leave the other part, id like to know what chris goffe had to say bout insurance
mikeluscher159 11 months ago
@jtypecav Do you maybe have a Video of the Cavalier/Ascona which you could upload?
Hackmannhasstaudi 10 months ago
@5ballwrld Opel Vectra is known as a Vauxhal Cavalier in the UK... now they dropped the name Cavalier and its called a Vaxhaull Vectra, as was the Nova.. now called the Corsa
GDWGlos 1 year ago
@5ballwrld vauxhall and opel have always been linked but until recently they had different names, like vauxhall nova- opel corsa, vauxhall arena-opel vivaro
dimb9 1 year ago
@icfireplace no offense, but have you seen the state of it?!
VOLVORULEZ1995 1 year ago
Why couldn't GM have brought this Cavalier to the US to replace the Chevrolet Cavalier during the same years? This car was FAR BETTER THAN THE CAVALIER THAT CHEVROLET SOLD HERE IN AMERICA.
carwrtr1 1 year ago
@carwrtr1 despite the name, this cavalier is actually in a different class than the Chevy, this Vauxhall was the European equivalent to the Chevrolet LUMINA
kernals12 5 months ago
@kernals12 In Europe, it's known as an Opel Vectra. It's only in Britain it was rebadged as a Vauxhall Cavalier.
2491cc 2 months ago
@2491cc Ok take what I said and replace Cavalier with Vectra
kernals12 2 months ago
I bought a mk3 cav off my brother, only let me down once when a radiator hose burst on the m1. Can't moan tho' had many miles on the dials. K371 WDH was scrapped with shot bushes shot brakes shot suspension but it still drove to the scrappies with a good 1.7 izuzu td engine. Final mileage was 475000!
jochen538 1 year ago
aha thats why i got 135 out of my sri saloon down hill on the M4, I must have also had the wind behind me!!
ScepticalStoat 1 year ago
Ah, the glory days of Vauxhall. It all went wrong from the Vectra onwards..
dirkdiggler19781 1 year ago 3
130bhp on the 8v version, i think they got their figures wrong there somehow...
ScepticalStoat 2 years ago
it was the Astra GTE 8v engine, which was 130bhp, also fitted to the mk2 SRI130 model.
monkeyboy27476 1 year ago
@monkeyboy27476 Well I have never seen an SRI 130 mk3 cav I thought they only put that engine in the mk2 130 and after that they concentrated on the 16v engines, maybe I'm wrong....?
ScepticalStoat 1 year ago
@ScepticalStoat The SRi had the 20SEH 130BHP 8v NA engine, all other 2l engines were the 20NE which was a lower compression 115BHP 8v
dirkdiggler19781 1 year ago
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causeway999 2 years ago
Comment removed
causeway999 2 years ago
causeway999 2 years ago 2
Still got my metallic silver Cav, a 1.8LS now at 15 years old and 82K miles on the clock its one sweet machine. When its had a bucket of water chucked over it it looks good, and theres no rust either ;)
I do agree "new" Top Gear is getting a little silly, but supposedly 5th Gear has the informative approach, but I just can't bring myself to watch 5th Gear! New series of TG a few weeks away, btw.
BobM925 2 years ago 2
i used to love stealing those shit boxes
jimmyt0urs 2 years ago
Yeah, a common prob on the older Vauxhalls were they were stupidly easy to pinch. Mine has a very good immobiliser on it, so good luck ;)
BobM925 2 years ago
I used to love stealing your families virginities but I got tired of listening to their chavvy mouths. you must be a silly ford fan eh? Another douche jealous of being left for dead by a 2.0l redtop.
MageKing289IsBack 2 years ago
lol they are me dad had one i used to call it a vauxhall diarrhoea they are shite
bboygoldenboy 2 years ago
@bboygoldenboy no they are not i have one in a gargage in risca been there for 7 years great car :)
kieranwebb98 2 years ago
5th gear is finished for good. Top gear is by far the best show I have ever seen and just seems to get better every week. (IMO)
QuickProfits 2 years ago
I prefered this older format whilst the new version is ok it still looks like a bunch of guys mid life crisis getting paid for having pubecent fun!
huvander 2 years ago
didnt they do a cnvertable?
daryl4classic 2 years ago
I agree , the programme is strangely slanted towards power, status, expense and stupidity .
vidpop 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Clarkson talks a load of rubbish these days, gone are the days when the BBC made factual and sensible motoring programmes which informed the average motorist.
Paintheshed 2 years ago
I had a 1.7TD model that finally retired at 200k+ still running sweetly.
I'm a Ford fan to the end, my Cavalier was the only Vauxhall I ever owned, but I honestly would say its the best car I ever owned.
Compared to the Sierra in 1988, the Cavalier suddenly looked a class apart, and drove considerably better. The testament is the fact there are lot more early Cavaliers parked in Sainsburys car park than late Sierra's.
benham3160 2 years ago
william woodenhead.. what a tosser, no wonder he was dumped for clarkson!
imagos 2 years ago
The SRi is a beast
megaman2000 2 years ago
They were the days eh Drewerz,I was only 20 in '88.......maybe wouldn't have the "Peasant" spec one on here but a "Mint" ......2LTR GSI saloon..yes please.......a sought after classic for sure....Oggster.........
m0ogy 2 years ago
Greetings Oggster nice to hear from you again, glad you agree with me on the Cavalier, I'm sure if you thought hard about it you'd remember that the GSI was only ever available as a Saloon with the C20XE engine (Vauxhalls first 16v, the SFI "Red Top") I would love to build a John Cleland replica one day, Definitely a classic!
drewerz01 2 years ago
Brilliant, love old TG vids :)
vincelockyer 2 years ago 5
I agree. They were very informative yet still entertaining. Nowadays, Top Gear is just a comedy show which you can't rely on for automotive information.
superauctionstar 2 years ago 3
They look pretty fresh there, as though they were made 10 years ago, but if I saw one in the street today with faded paint and bumpers and dents and stuff it would look ancient. Only now have Vauxhall really changed their saloons. There wasn't much difference between the first Cavalier and the last Vectra in shape or advances.
mrhosehose 2 years ago 3
Shouldn't ever compare the Cavalier with that wanky miserable unreliable piece of shit disaster they called the Vectra! The Cavalier is and always will be a far superior car in every way, I'd still take a Cavalier over anything Vauxhall are currently making!
drewerz01 2 years ago
All the same
mrhosehose 2 years ago
Good luck with the rust.
repo4 2 years ago
LOL - Willy Woolard.
postie2003 2 years ago
Ehhhhhhhh. F reg. Still driving a shitty F reg Escort these days :)
LilSerenity1983 2 years ago
he looks like steve mcqueen!
14051996 2 years ago
may lok shit nw but were good when i was kid in the 80's. had power steering and all that. my dad had a J reg senator and it went like a bullet
PeaveyPV20 3 years ago
My dad had one of these when i first passed my test, a Black 2.0 GL Saloon, was like a fanny magnet,
rich17279 3 years ago
The Cavalier had a .29 coefficient if I remember rightly, good by todays standards. I remember seeing this model launched at the NEC Birmingham Motorshow, and it was a good loooking car at the time. Drove an SRI once, which was a nice machine. It was a great car. The 1991 1600 L I owned was a really good car to live with.
Paintheshed 3 years ago
aah how much i so love these wonderful gorgeous mid-size family cars. My Kings Blue LS is just beautiful. Fantastic cars, my great compliments to General Motors!!
Eagle1ZX 3 years ago
I've got a 91 Cav 4x4 in brilliant very original condition. Had it 14 years but I still get a kick out of driving it and it doesn't feel old fashioned to drive and still has a lot of poke. Feels kinda special now actually !! Can't William Woolard come back onto Top Gear to replace the idiotic curly haired gobsh**e we have to put up with now !
Allard741 3 years ago 2
My previous car got written off in an accuident a while back, and with me having only a couple of hundred quid to buy a "new" car I bought a Cavalier. Glad I did, as it's the best car I've ever owned. I remember watching this vid a few days before I ended up buying it randomly enough, perhaps William Woolard's review stuck in my mind? Perhaps not.
BobM925 3 years ago
I recognise the narrator. He did GHOSTHUNTERS, the 1980's production from Inca Productions.
BFCboi 3 years ago
That's William Woolard.
nevwhile 3 years ago
about as aero dynamic as my left arse cheek. they obiously hadn't seen the porche speedsters zipping around the place. still thoughh 1165 pounds; not bad lol
Pendor42 3 years ago
oldchap34 3 years ago
It's quite common for car makers to crush a press car after they've finished "lending" it to to reviewers
nwobhmrobert 3 years ago
why?
Sanderniet 3 years ago
They are very trashed after the launch media circus. My school got an ex press car donated to teach students mechanics.
vpole 3 years ago
ive got a cav 1.8 gls at the mo with 142,000 miles on the clock its 14 years old very reliable its got more things on it than my r plate escort been traveling to wales every week for last 3 months from kent .
moakes1978 3 years ago
kazimann 3 years ago
HAHA!
Cool. how did you find that out?
weekendoff 3 years ago
search dvla car check on google
nipperoid 3 years ago
cheers for that!
weekendoff 3 years ago
Holdens Camira Replacement If they had not been forced into sharing a Camry.
snoopy99990 3 years ago
I travelled 900 mile round trip last week to buy my second cavalier sri. Its 14 years old, 1 owner and only 69k. Delighted with it. Previously had a vectra 2.6 sri and didn't realise quite how bad it was until i drove a cav again.
krispast8 3 years ago
the cavalier was a more modern car..the sierra feels too much of the eighties..
aravikipita 3 years ago
Amazing that the earliest MK3 Cavs are hitting 20 years old and you still see a number on the road!!
Quality cars and tough as old boots!! :)
MackMacProductions 3 years ago 3
I own both a cavalier gsi 2000 and a sierra 3dr cosworth and i love um both just as much, the cavs are a great for munching up the miles and for everyday use but the sierra is more of a play toy for weekends etc, the cosworth engine is 100 times more tunable than any c20xe or c20let but the xe's and let's are very good motors they seem to go forever! its everyone to there own! and about the rust thing, older vauxhalls rust just as bad as old fords end off!! Both Cracking cars though!
damaster316 3 years ago
that 4 speed auto box lasted a long time. they finally pulled it off the line when the mk4 astra stopped.
misterinley 3 years ago
My Cavs 13 years old and just refuses to rust!even round the wheelarches.they are as tough as old boots and just keep on going.Try finding a 13 year old Ford with no rust on it !.One of the most comfortable cars I have ever owned GM don,t make them like this anymore.
vidpop 3 years ago 2
still see more sierra's round here. rubbery fwd handling of the cav is hateful...
kimosaaaabe 3 years ago
Rubbery fwd?! something wrong with the one you drove then. Get those bushes changed! :)
krispast8 3 years ago
This Cavalier was good, loads are left, Sierra was good too there are loads left too, but MK2 Cavalier wasn't very good, not many left now
MidlandNinja 3 years ago
MK2 cav was just as good - just a decade older design. Sold just as well too! The mk3 was a good all round evolution of the J platform with most of the components interchangeable between the two.
jtypecav 3 years ago
mk2 cavs were great, my dad had a 1.6L which would happily leave a 1.8 sierra for dead. plus it did 165k miles before giving up, my dad said it was probably because he changed the oil about 4 times! i'd have it now if i could
burton76 2 years ago
I owned two different Sierras and one Mk3 Cav and now a Calibra (same as the Cav underneath) It's difficult to properly compare to be honest, the Sierra was several yrs old when this Cav was released. Front drive against rear drive. Modern rust proofing against, well, almost none. I just wish my Calibra was rear wheel drive! ;-)
sikorski 3 years ago
I'm a died in the wool Ford man...
The best I ever owned?
A mkIII Vauxhall Cavalier.
It had the Isuzu Turbodiesel lump, did 50mpg all day, wasn't "that" slow, and was smoother than any modern diesel I've driven.
Not to mention it covered over 300,000 miles without a hitch.
benham3160 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
fucking hell people are so thick. the cavalier was NOT better than the sierra, it handled worse, was softer, less reliable, less tuneable, the cavalier is a heap of shite and so is the vectra. why do you think the sierra outsold it 2/1 ? coz its 20x better!!!
checkerz18 4 years ago
I see about 5 cavaliers on the road everytime I go out.
So can you explain why i never see Sierra's even though they outsold the Cavalier so technically there should be more?
Let me answer that question. The Sierra was bullshit, and they have all fallen apart and been scrapped.
Go figure.
listenpal1 4 years ago 13
The only time Cavalier's were outsold by a sierra was when the MK2 was 7 years old! The rest of the time it outsold it completely. It needed over a 1/3 less routine maintenance.
jtypecav 4 years ago
You must be some kind of fool. Like the man says below you, Cavaliers are still everywhere. I can't remember the last time I even saw a Sierra. I've owned both Sierras and Cavaliers in the past of various ages, and the Cavaliers are better cars. Cavs are far more reliable with MUCH better engines - Sierra using the old Pinto and the CVH (the latter being a bit of a joke). The fact that they are still everywhere and Sierras aren't is a testament to that reliability.
eradeziel 4 years ago
what a complete retard! you listed this post 3 weeks ago and how many sierra's you see still going these days compared to cav's? less tunable lol! ever heard of the C20LET engine that people still use to beef up there Corsa's, Nova's, etc mate you're a complete cock who knows diddly squat!
slinky270306 3 years ago 4
all they used to talk about back then was the importance of low drag co-efficients. they never seem to mention them in modern car reviews.
balsingh1 4 years ago
cavalier was a fine car...better than a sierra which was dated.
were can i find a test of those medium family cars? or a test of the sierra?
batiriskaiasxhmos 4 years ago
It just goes to show how standards and benchmarks of cars have changed in the last 20 years, whilist general apparence and shape hasn't changed much certainly build quality has gone up and safety has increase considrably.. Everyones mentioned about the latest Mondeo is as big a the old Granny!
Whilist on the subject of Grannies Top Gear and Will Woolard did a feature on the 85 Granny/Scorpio anyone got that?
ianmax69 4 years ago
i all found the mk3 was a bit lacking in head room
jcb180 4 years ago
big head
gavinksmith 4 years ago 3
Vectra or Cavalier.I own one and i must say that she is quite good car.Greetings from Macedonia
NikiVal 4 years ago 2
I've got to say AM IMPRESSED ;)
tiemour 4 years ago
cheers pal
listenpal1 4 years ago
Thats a really good point. I'll have a dig around mate. It's also worth pointing out that despite the comparitive panning the vectras have since recieved a lot of motoring jornalists have returned to the Vectra B andrealised they were harsh. Some have even cited a comparison between the early vectras and early mondeo's on th roads today. They Vectras have stood up far better in most respects and certainly cosmetically.
jtypecav 4 years ago
Have you got the video of clarkson slagging off the vectra?
Would be good to compare the very good review this one gets with the supposed bad one of the vectra. Ive never seen the vectra one but am interested..
listenpal1 4 years ago
hahaha ma dad used 2 have one of these be 4 is was born said it was a gd car before he crashed it was the gsi 1 tho so was quite quick (apparantly)although he reconed his lotus cortina was quick lol.
greggy50 4 years ago
Here's a quick translation into ENGLISH, for those of you who can't read 'illiterate':
"My father used to have one of these before I was born.
He said it was a good car, before he crashed it. It was the GSi version and was quite quick, apparently, although he reckoned his Lotus Cortina was also quick."
conversely123 4 years ago 2
I remember these cars well, great for their time.
hugenjikko 4 years ago
When this came out they had no idea of things like the V6 and the Turbo in the pipeline, the car did the job too - even in 2005 it was still in the top 5 used cars in the UK. Fast disappearing now tho..
jtypecav 4 years ago
The 16v has 150 bhp and 196 nm, it was kindof fast :P
TGseason10 4 years ago