Vauxhall Cavalier Hatchback 1981-
  • Economy

    Value

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Biggest problem now is trying to find one that is out of your price range.

    Costs

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Being a front wheel drive 4 stud Vauxhall, everything else with other front wheel drive Vauxhalls is interchangeable.

  • On the road

    Driving

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Predictable and safe. Does what you'd expect it to.

    Performance

    3 out of 5 3.0

    With nothing like airbags, side impact protection bars and other modern bits to slow it down, it's surprisingly competant. Swap a bigger engine in for big grins :-)

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Being an early mechanically injected unit, there isn't an awful lot to go wrong with them. What does go wrong is easily (and cheaply) fixed by your local spanner man.

    Image

    1 out of 5 1.0

    Yeah, well, you can't have everything but then they are beginning to be very thin on the ground now.

    Comfort

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Put seats from a sporty model in such as the SRi and it'll stop you falling off the seats when you go round bends. Did I mention you can interchange bits from other Vauxhalls?

  • Security and Service

    Security

    1 out of 5 1.0

    Buy a big dog.

    Service

    3 out of 5 3.0

    N/A (never took it to the dealer, so easy to fix yourself.)

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Changed that years ago. Easily swaps for a 2.0 lump.

    Other

    After 14 years of ownership it's probably best to email me for a list, but all were easy to fix. I still own it after all! :-)

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    Used

    Would you buy the same model again?

    Yes

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    Yes