Faults:

Fuel filter were leaking when I first purchased the car. £9, which I fitted myself.

Centre section exhaust blowing at 113,000 miles; got it done for £23, including fitting.

Mot due April 2nd 2007 failed on 1 front brake pipe and 2 front bushes; cost me £142 including the MOT fee.

Rocker cover gasket changed at 113,000 miles.

Ignition leads and spark plugs changed at 113,000 miles.

Replaced exhaust back box at 114,000 miles.

Automatic drive belt tensioner started to become noisy; still apparent.

Radiator leaking still apparent.

General Comments:

A very good reliable car for 13 year olds, and the 1.8 8 valve fuel injected engine is still quick.

I bought mine in December 2006 for only £180, and it had a full service history with it, which was a bargain.

However the inside of the car is very modern than for a car which was released in 1988. There is a lot of legroom in both front and back, and it has decent safety kit. The one I have has electric front windows, drivers airbag, outside temperature display and digital time.

However on lots of Cavaliers, when the car is cold, the gears can be a little heavy, and if you're not careful, they can sometimes crunch.

Faults:

Four blown coolant hoses, all within a week. Replaced all hoses as a precaution.

Thermostat was nearly £50 from dealers and they omitted to mention that the recently fitted cam belt would have to be removed to change it.

Needed new shock absorbers, external temp sensor (apparently a known problem).

Washer motor failed.

Car used to cut out often when turning a corner leaving no PAS...

Cooling system marginal, used to border the temperature gauge red zone in any traffic, despite a new radiator and flushing. Became paranoid in Summer or traffic jams!

General Comments:

Excellent acceleration, reasonable economy, but handling was not up to the power.

Seats very supportive, good trim.

A lot of consumables in the engine were awkward to get at, involving costly and involved dismantling, IE, thermostat and plugs. Changing the coolant hoses was a nightmare.

Parts availability mainly dealer only, and then you had to wait. Not cheap either.

Faults:

Worst problem was brake judder. It broke 2 clutch cables in 2 years and it went through brake light bulbs like sweets. Every MOT it needed CV gaiters.

It leaked oil on the rocker cover and filler cap. It leaked water in the front foot-well.

General Comments:

Despite the mechanical niggles it (one flat battery aside) always started and never actually broke down. A reasonably torquey engine means that you do not have to rev it hard and its quite good on petrol.

Quite tough, but has an old fashioned image.

Faults:

Nothing mayor has gone wrong, the worst being a front wishbone repaired for 35 pounds.

General Comments:

I have had the car since September 2004, and it has cost me 35 pounds to run since the car is reliable no matter what the weather. It's comfortable for long journeys, returning good mpg at motorway speeds, and has enough performance to cruise at 95-100 all day long.