1993 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi 2.0i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Overall, excellent value for money

Faults:

Head gasket needed replacing.

Water pump needed replacing.

Fitted new cam belt as a precaution - as there was no evidence of it ever being replaced!

Boot has damp areas - suspect a leaking seal!

Exhaust needs replacing - baffles worn!

Dash bulb blown - a bug-bear!

Windscreen wipers are poor.

General Comments:

I was surprised how solid, quiet and comfortable the car was to drive. There are no annoying squeaks inside the cabin (not bad for an 8 year old car).

The driver's seat doesn't offer the best comfort - and never feels quite in the right place.

Power is adequate - though not impressive.

Now the repairs are fixed the car drives like new, and will hopefully last me a good few years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st June, 2001

1993 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi 2.0i 8v from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Fast, refined and very economical

Faults:

Water pump disintegrated at 100,000 miles.

Wipers fell apart at 80,000 miles. Apparently, water drains down the driver's side directly onto the ball joint between the wiper arm and the mechanism, causing the joint to wear and separate.

Locked indicators, caused by a defective hazard warning switch.

Power steering pipes corroded through at 170,000 miles (not cheap).

Electrics can have a mind of their own. Bulbs blow at will, and get an uprated battery when the old one dies.

Exhausts, especially the back box, only last ~25,000 miles. Fork out for a stainless rear, and save in the long run.

Starting to rust a little. Rear wheel arch seams are always the first to go.

General Comments:

125mph and 40-50mpg - pretty good (but not at the same time). Can get 500+ miles from a full tank.

Not a great fan of corners, especially in the wet. Find a motorway, and will cruise all day at little over tickover. Does not like dawdling traffic, as progress can be jerky. This is due to the engine running extremely lean on light throttle openings.

Never actually broken down and left me stranded in 180,000 miles. Regular servicing (including cam belt change) and oil changes mean engine goes on forever, and still on its original clutch.

Generally comfortable and pleasant to drive, although the seats not very supportive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th April, 2001

1993 Vauxhall Cavalier 2.5 V6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A high performance flop

Faults:

Four weeks after buying the cambelt went. It has been in two garages now, off the road for at least six months. It is still not fixed, nobody wants to work on the engine. Paid £650 for an engine off a scrap dealer, got ripped off. Just had a quote for another engine - £1000, beginning to think is it worth it again? I really think it's a great car, but I do not think I have really had the best out of it yet.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th January, 2001

12th Oct 2005, 15:00

Unfortunately I think this car's been clocked and the cam belt has been run long beyond its design life.

1993 Vauxhall Cavalier GLSi 2.0 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A long lasting economical family car

Faults:

Lower ball joint within the first month had to be changed (under warranty). Other than that, a back box last month.

General Comments:

An all round reliable, economical family car. 32mpg round town and 46mpg on a run.

Not a head turner, but if you are looking for something that is going to last, then a Cavalier is the car to go for, especially at today's prices.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th November, 2000

1993 Vauxhall Cavalier GLSi 2.0 8V from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Superb value for money, top marks!

Faults:

Abosolutly nothing. It was owned by my Grandparents before me, and it has had no major, or minor faults, Just normal wear and tear.

General Comments:

What can I say. The Cavalier is a truly fantastic car. Not the greatest looker in the world, but it does everything you would expect and more. They are fast and reliable, comfortable, and never fail to surprise passengers. A far better car than the Vectra which followed it up.

The biggest flaw with the 93 model is the lack of alloy wheels and ABS brakes, which came later on.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th September, 2000

28th Aug 2001, 21:07

I've owned my 1993 for 6 years and it has ABS brakes, they turn on 10 seconds after the ignition is switched on.

28th Feb 2002, 15:29

Early 93 models (like mine) didn't have the ABS, alloys or 16v engine - they came later that year.

21st Jan 2005, 19:36

I have owned my 1993 cavalier GLS TD since November 1998 & it has never given me any trouble at all, just niggly things, mileage was 117000 & is now on 199500, still runs perfect

Registered in April 1993 it also has the airbag & ABS, neither of which have ever given any problems.

What more can I say, excellent car & I will keep it till it drops, bodywork is still very good as well, including the rear arches (washing the arches out every couple of weeks with a hosepipe really does help), the metallic grey paint still outshines cars half its age.

27th Oct 2008, 18:41

That was my comment above, I sold the old TD to my mate about 18 months ago, it was then on 220,000 miles.

He ran it into the ground quicker than I could have ever imagined, then scrapped it.