Vauxhall Cavalier Hatchback (1988 - 1995) 1.7 LS TD 5d (1993/L) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I HAVE NO MONEY. I was a student nurse when I bought the £20 Cavalier, with a whopping 168,000 miles on it. Having belonged to a building firm for the first 14 years of its life, she is more than a little tatty and battlescarred.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My girlfriend refuses to get in it. I have had people in work tell me a "Blue Vauxhall has been abandoned in the car park." You should see their faces when I tell them, its my car. Its a bit of a joke, nasty ugly looking car. Most of the interior has been removed, and has a missing NSF wing mirror. Leaks from sump gasket annoy neighbours, but I don't like them anyway.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, because Marion has done me proud, and for £20 if she fell apart tomorrow, I'd just sand the numbers off, and leave her at the side of the road and walk away.

What are you likely to buy next?

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£20

When did you buy the car?

August 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Very, very cheap.

What was the dealer like?

What's it like to drive?

Dull, steering wheel feels like it has no more than a passing relationship with the roadwheels. Imagine how slow you think a 1.7TD designed in the early 1990's is, pulling a Cavalier.... It's slightly faster than that. Body rolls like most Vauxhalls from this era, definately designed to get Mr. Junior-Manager from Colchester to Manchester in reasonable comfort, and least expense. Well, this was the case nearly 20 years ago, when the Cavalier mkIII hit the roads.

What's it like to park?

Lovely and easy to reverse into a parking space.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Needed complete brake pipe renewal for last MOT. Speedo cable snapped at 180,000. Electric windows have both been stuck half open for the last few weeks, no ignition barrel, easily started with 2p coin.

What's most practical about your car?

Very good on fuel, I average about 50MPG on a steady run. Boot is large! I'd love to use it, if only the boot-lock wasn't jammed on.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?