Faults:

Has deteriorated greatly over the last few years, quarter panel is rusted, exhaust system is nearly completely off of the bottom of the car, dashboard is in pieces.

General Comments:

Amazing car. My mom got it back it 2001, looked like it came right off of the showroom floor. It was in excellent shape. This car has been an everyday driver since. Unfortunately though, within the last couple years, it's taken a turn for the worse. The dashboard (as in every other Cavalier), is completely destroyed, the quarter panel on the driver's side has rusted up the body about 4 inches, and within the last couple weeks, the whole exhaust pipe has fallen off clear up to the engine manifold. Therefore it's been sitting for the last week or so. But at the end of the day, this amazing vehicle still starts in one turn, and drives off like brand new.

Faults:

Most reliable car I ever had.

The 2.4 engine had OK power in the 5 speed.

Good steering response.

Definitely nothing luxurious about it. It sounds like a jet plane on the highway, but I was looking for cheap, reliable ride, exactly what it was.

Recommend it to anybody who just needs a commuter.

Faults:

Interior plastic started cracking.

The car had a premature death at 89,000. The mechanics told me the car had a crack on the engine/coolant area, and told me to take it to a junk shop.

General Comments:

Performance was okay for a teenager's car. Bought the car for $3k at 75,000, and rode it around for a year until it died the next year, around 89,000.

I liked the car because it was roomy, and the MPG I got on the car wasn't bad (around 23~27mpg).. until suddenly it broke down one day.

Faults:

Head gasket blew at 110k. This car is very unreliable, do not buy this car ever...

General Comments:

This car does not have any quality. It is cheaply made. I did all the maintenance meticulously, but still the car failed. Do not buy this car and this car manufacturer.

Faults:

Changed motor in my car. After that I have had the following lights coming on: theft system, air bag, service, check gauges. Also my heater isn't running correctly.

I also have the issue with things going dim on me when I have all of them working at once. The wipers on it are also moving slowly. With checked gauges, all my needles will go up and down. I have checked to make sure all the wiring in the car was properly in place. Made sure nothing was loose. Checked relays and fuses. Still I am not able to know what is going on. Just confused.

Love my car to death. I had over 200,000 on the last motor. Got this motor at 66,000. Also used the same wiring harness on this motor from the last motor, because they cut the air bag wires and two other wires, and didn't want to start tracing them back.

General Comments:

I love my Cavalier. Yes, you can get a bad one, but overall I only paid $500, and just paid another $350 for a motor, and had it for 3 years.

It handles great on the road, and I do put a lot of hard miles on my cars.

As for putting money in the car; only general maintenance. Only other thing replaced was the wheel bearings.

Faults:

I got this car in April 2009 as a back up car for my 94 Corsica. I finally sold the Corsica. This car sat unused for the most part for eight months.

Upon use, I discovered some problems. The front suspension and brakes seem to need work... lots of popping noise. Not CV joints.. ball joints/bushings? The dome light comes on while driving for no apparent reason. The dash plastic near the windshield has like nine cracks in it! The headrests are loose and floppy.

It does not ride as well as my 94 Corsica that had 184K. It has lots of wind and road noise, but the engine is very smooth and quiet. Gas mileage seems bad so far. Had to replace the transmission cooler lines and radiator hoses.

General Comments:

Not that impressed so far, other than how quiet and smooth the engine is. I do not think it drives as good as my Corsica four cylinder.. same engine... did.

I paid $1100 for it and it was 9 years old. Not a bad deal at that price. Had I bought it new... I would not be so pleased. If it lasts as long as the Corsica, THEN I will be happy!