Chevrolet Cavalier

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from crowley

Year / Model Reviewed:
1998 2 dr coupe

Summary:
I got my cavi at 80,000 miles and its at 100,000 now. I've loved this car as long as ive had it. no major problems..

Strengths:
no major problems within the time ive owned it. I've never seen the check engine light come on. its a good car for a teenager (like me). compared to my boyfriends 98 VW jetta, it is GOLD. something always happens to that POS. this chevy is perfect for a 10 year old car.

Weaknesses:
cant adjust my steering wheel, no power locks or windows. slow pick up after 50 mph.

Similar Products Used:
none.

Price Paid:  $800.00 from Private Party

Year / Model Reviewed:
1995 Cavalier

Summary:
Best car I ever owned, even if the starter died the day I bought it. When I started it before the purchase, I heard the starter whining and knew it was on the way out. A quick check on AutoZone showed a starter for $100.00. I knew I was getting a great deal even with the dying starter and happily forked over the $800.00 after road testing it. (They must have thought they were getting rid of a lemon. So wrong they were)

Starter did die the same day I bought it where I worked and had to have it push started by AAA (It's a 5 speed manual) With the car started, I made the beeline to AutoZone and paid the $100.00 for a new starter and installed the starter the next day.

Here it is 2 years (and two New England winters) later and the car is very solid. Very reliable and excellent on gas. Only other "major" problem was the heater blower motor went south the other day, requiring another trip to AutoZone. $45.00 and 30 minutes of my time fixed that little problem.

The car itself is in very good shape body wise. Mechanically, it won't die as long as you follow the maintenance schedules. Driving in the snow was a pure joy, even though I hate driving in winter. The handling of the car is so good, it was almost like piloting a well controlled sled and with the front wheel drive, ABS, and 5 speed manual transmission, I was in total control, and not the car controlling me. I was able to make it home in a bad snowstorn last winter only taking 10 minutes longer. My co-workers told me the next day it took them over an hour longer. I told them to get a Cavalier.

The only downsides to this car are first, the cup holders are in strange locations. The front holder is too shallow and wide to adaquately hold a standard sized McD coffee cup. The rear cup holder is UNDER the center console lid. I would not place a hot cup of coffee in either holders while the vehicle is in motion, or risk having the hot coffee spilling when driving.

The second weakness is the rear seating. A bit cramped and with the two door, entering and exiting can be quite a chore.

Do it yourself mechanics will find that it is not that difficult to change major parts, although changing the starter was a bit of a pain with the sway bar in the way. The spark plugs seem to be well spaced and easily accessable, unlike most newer cars where you practically have to lift the engine to get to all the plugs.

I've owned this car for a little over two years and if presented with the offer to buy another, even with a bad starter, I would do so in a heartbeat.

Strengths:
Handling, reliability, excellent gas mileage. I can go two weeks between fill ups.

Weaknesses:
Rear seating cramped and not vyer convieniant to get in or out. Cupholders in strange locations and not very good at holding a coffee cup securely.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $3400.00 from First Owner

Year / Model Reviewed:
2001 Cavalier Z24

Summary:
This car is awesome! My parents bought it for me to drive and I am working at buying it off of them. It doesn't have the best gas milage (I would expect better than 25 MPG city and 30 MPG hwy, but maybe I expect too much). Stereo is great. Heat and A/C are perfect! It drives like a dream. Even though it's a 4 cyl., it accelorates wonderfully. The keyless entry remote's battery died (replaced and is now fine). It has a slight leak in the washer fluid holder, but my dad (mechanic) says he can fix that this weekend.
This is my first car and I drive the heck out of it. The car handles beautifully, even on extremely curvy roads at high speeds. Also, it fits me great. I am 5ft even and it has been hard to find a car that I don't require a booster seat to drive!

I would love more power, although the 4 cyl. has quite enough kick, but I'm a teenager and I like fast cars haha. Better gas milage would also be great. Otherwise, it is a great first car and I hope to never need to replace it.

Strengths:
stereo, heat and A/C, great kick for a 4 cyl., reliable, sporty looking.

Weaknesses:
this car would have been better suited to a v6 engine

Similar Products Used:
Parents have only owned Chevy

Price Paid:  $8500.00 from small car lot

Year / Model Reviewed:
1998 chevy cavalier

Summary:
My cavalier has been an awsome car. I have owned it for 7 years and probobly only put about 500 dollars into it since i owned it. I put two velve cover seals on it, a heater resister and a couple of wheel bearings. I would recamend this car to any one. ths car is very reliable.

Strengths:
EVRYTHING

Weaknesses:
the body is starting to get a little rust. (fixing soon)

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $18000.00 from Lunghamer Chevrolet

Year / Model Reviewed:
2001 Cavalier Z24

Summary:
Cav has 140,000 on it now. From my previous posts if anyone has been keeping track, the maintenance issues have been few. 120,000 on the OEM Goodyear Eagles, finally swapped them out. Bought some steel rims and put Goodyear Assurance tires on them for the winter months. New maintenance development. The bearing caps on the the struts crapped out, no big deal. Beating the car down wash board roads at 50mph may have helped in that issue. I had to put a new fan relay in. Other than that, car is doin great. I drove the car to Tennessee about 1 1/2 months ago, great mileage. I averaged 77mph on my trip home and still maintained 34mpg. A little rust bubble appeared this fall passenger side behind door. Fixed with a little POR-15. Thats about it. I have to say that after the abuse I and my wife have put this car through, it still runs so strong. I am opting out of the trans flushes. Still changing oil every 2000-2500 miles. No oil leaks or burning.

Strengths:
Dependability

Weaknesses:
Its gonna get tired sooner or later.