Vauxhall Cavalier Hatchback 1.8i LS Cat 5d (1995/M) Owner Review
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Economy
Value
Can be bought for peanuts and come with a very good spec, considering age and trim level.
Costs
Very cheap to run and when things do go wrong (which they rarely do), it doesn't cost much to sort out. Can get nearly 400 miles to £40 worth of petrol if driven lightly.
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On the road
Driving
Very nice to drive - smooth and comfortable. I do a lot of motorway driving and it's never a problem. Standard suspension makes it handle like a boat, but that is easier sorted by updating it.
Performance
It's a 9 year old 1.8 8 valve - so performance was never going to be good for such a big car - it's adequate for town and motorway driving, but starts power drops off near the top of the rev range. Very good mid range pull though.
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Living with it
Reliability
I've done over 30,000 miles in the past 18 months that I've owned it and it's never missed a beat. Just general service stuff that needed doing.
Image
As standard, it looks ok, but a bit dated. Not surprising when you consider the car first came out in 1988. I put some sri skirts and spoiler along with some nice alloys on mine - made it look 10 times better.
Comfort
It's a big car, so comes with the comfort that big cars provide. I frequently have a full car (5 people) and never get complaints about it being cramped.
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Security and Service
Security
Has central locking and deadlocks, that about it. With a few DIY upgrades it can be made much more secure.
Service
Vauxhall dealerships are ok, but can be very expensive. Parts are much cheaper from motor factors.
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Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
Had to change water pump about 6 months after owning, but it was rattling when I got it.
Other
Clutch could do with replacing soon and it's getting jerky and the bite is too high. Had to change outside air temp sensor too.
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