1994 Vauxhall Calibra SE 2.0 8v from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Almost as good as the looks suggest
Faults:
It was 10 years old when I bought it, and it came with history and appeared to be looked after, needing only servicing and essentials. Over my 10 year ownership however there was the following:
New driveshafts.
Alternator.
Driver's side door trim was very worn and replaced.
Suspension and brakes pretty much entirely; oddly the handbrake was still weak after all this, maybe needed new cables.
Timing belt.
There was more, but nothing disastrous, and not too costly. Small rust spots, but never an MOT failure.
General Comments:
What a stunning looking car in black with multi spoke BBS alloy wheels. I always liked the look of these cars, but was told to stay away from them due to poor reliability. Mines had its share of problems and wear and tear, but it never left me stranded. When I bought the car I was initially after the 16v, but this standard 8v was too good to pass. Having driven both now, and a friend's V6, I can confirm the only problems with the 8v is that it is obviously slower, but the simpler engine was more reliable. I believe most of the bigger engined versions were more problematic.
Speaking of driving this car, the reviews at the time said it was just a good looking Cavalier. I beg to differ, the suspension was sharper and the overall feel of the car was very different from driving a standard Cavalier. Not that there is anything wrong with a Cavalier anyway - it was a good reliable car, if a little dull. And you'll get close to 40 MPG if you take it easy.
The Calibra was also compared to the VW Corrado, Ford Probe and Honda Prelude in reviews, car magazines and famously in Top Gear by Clarkson. Usually it came last or in the middle, but I reckon it was almost as good as those cars, having since driven some of them.
The interior looks great with black dash, and beige leather seats. I do not know if this was standard or added later on; they were in the car when I bought it. The interior was a nice place to be.
Overall I cannot fault this car. I sold it back in 2014. It's funny that some laughed at it back in the day when new, but I got comments in my last few years of ownership on how good looking and rare it is, and their value is only rising. My advice on anyone wanting to buy a Calibra is go for it, but it must be well looked after with history, and have a lot of spare cash if you go for a V6 in case there are any disasters. Or play it safe and get the 2.0 4 cylinder and just enjoy the looks and smooth drive.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th July, 2020
23rd Sep 2020, 13:32
Vauxhall's from this time period are underrated. They had their issues (as any cars do), but the simplicity and reliability of cars in general from this time period is something I have not seen replicated in my experience having more modern cars to this day, which are always back and forth to the dealer for niggling electronics and even more serious issues. I do miss the 90's.