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Chevrolet Cavalier

2171 messages,  Last post on Aug 23, 2012 at 6:41 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Cavalier Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Cavalier, Sedan

Messages Page 25 of 218

#233 of 2171 Matty, please reconsider your decision by matto2000

Aug 28, 2000 (3:03 pm)

   Matty, please listen to my warning before buying that Cavalier.
   Nearly three years ago, I celebrated my 16th birthday and used my life savings (at the time) to buy my first car, a brand new 1998 cavalier. That may very well have been the worst decision I ever made.
   Within the car's first 4,000 miles, it contracted a very annoying and rather dangerous stalling problem, and just to clarify it's an automatic. Though GM claimed to have fixed the problem, it continued on and off for the next two years. Finally, the whole thing culminated when I was driving home from my college orientation last June. The car not only stalled but died on me in Columbus, OH (about an hour and half drive from my house in Dayton). After having to drive home in a rental car, yet again, and then having to drive an hour and a half back, I was informed the car's entire computer was replaced, in addition to a plethora of other things.
   The stalling problem was not, however, an isolated thing. Other repairs included the muffler, the gaskets, the seatbelts, two recalls, and the radio (twice). I don't believe I'm leaving anything out, but it's difficult to keep track of them all.
   While my Cavalier was a particularly bad one (I can't imagine you'd have that kind of trouble), it's indicative of the type of car the Cavalier is. Every friend I have who owns the 1995- redesigned Cavalier has had some sort of serious problem with their car. The car, for the most part, just isn't reliable. Granted, the car is cute, it lacks substance and build quality. And it doesn't drive badly, but other cars in its class drive much better. If you want to stick with Chevy, check out the Prism, it's not as cute, but a much better driving and more reliable car.
   As for my Cavalier, I traded it in after the last incident, I had had enough and GM was unwilling to even acknowledge the problems. So towards the end of June, I traded in the Cavalier and bought a 2000 Mazda Protege. I couldn't be happier. The car drives very very well and has a nice solid feel to it, as well. I couldn't believe the difference between it and my Cavalier.
   Take it from someone who was your age not too long ago, spend your last few years in high school having fun, not in the repair shop.


-Matt

#234 of 2171 matto2000 by dindak

Aug 28, 2000 (6:42 pm)

I think you are more the exception than the norm. Like I've said before, Cavalier has average reliability and is generally a good car. It's too bad you had a lemon. My neighbor has a 99 Accord and he will tell you over and over how bad Accords are. He got a lemon, cause the Accord is a good car. Just bad luck.

#235 of 2171 no he is right! mine is a lemon too! by sassy10

Aug 29, 2000 (4:25 am)

In 1998, I had a base model Toyota Tercel that was totaled in an accident. It was reliable but had no "extra" features so I used the insurance money to buy a 1998 Cavalier Coupe. BIG MISTAKE!!! The car now has all of 27,000 miles on it and it has been to the dealer 3 times in the last 3 months for repairs! The first time, there was a defect in the gas tank so my dash reported over 1/4 a tank of gas but the tank was actually empty. Then at 20,000 miles, the radiator hose sprung a leak, and today, my alternator died! Minor repairs you might say, but lots of aggravation and haggling with GM who did not want to pay for a rental car unless the car actually died and was towed to a dealership. I found this sight today because I am looking at unloading my American lemon and buying Japanese again!

#236 of 2171 sassy by dindak

Aug 29, 2000 (1:46 pm)

I agree the alternator should not have gone, but the other two things are pretty minor problems. My neighbor's 99 Accord lost the transmission after 4000 kms. It was in the shop for 2 weeks. Sounds like you have a poor dealership also as most will give you a loaner. If you can, try getting it serviced at a different dealer.

#237 of 2171 . by malibu99

Aug 29, 2000 (2:39 pm)

yea, yea here comes this song again. Hope your new "japanese" car proves to be a good choice because I have heard just as many complaints about the japanese cars, yea yea.
MAtty, regardless of what people say buy what YOU like, what YOU feel is a good choice. Then again you can go ahead and follow the whiners who complain but keep in mind that the Cavalier is a great car, sells like hotcakes even in it's old age, and most buyers buy another one when they are done with theirs. Either way do what YOU want not what the lemmings do. Good Luck!

#238 of 2171 Sales figures... by vocus

Aug 29, 2000 (2:52 pm)

There are a lot of repeat buyers to the Cavalier. I cannot argue with that statement. But, it would be an all-around better car if Chevrolet would improve the workmanship of the vehicle. Also, the Cavalier sells in large numbers because of all the ones sold in fleet sales. Rental car companies buy them. I also know that BGE (Baltimore Gas & Electric) and Baltimore City use them for company cars too. That's why they sell so many.

#239 of 2171 . by malibu99

Aug 29, 2000 (6:14 pm)

Taking away those sales it still sells a hell of a lot. The redesign on the Cavalier is coming in 2 years so hopefully it will improve a lot. The sales figures from autosite.com do not include fleet sales so really that argument doesn't hold, it's just an excuse that import buyers come out with to justify their purchase. But yes I agree the workmanship of the car can improve and I'm sure it will with the re design however Chevy does not pride itself on small cars, it makes excellent full size and midsize cars and trucks. With the average income in the US growing and the economy booming who needs a small car.

#240 of 2171 Who needs a small car??? by vocus

Aug 29, 2000 (6:50 pm)

A twenty-something single person with no kids who doesn't want a big behemoth SUV that gets 8 mpg and takes 3 football fields to park. At this time in my life, I see no use for a larger car. I want something better when I get older (I am 22 now), but have no kids and no one to carry around except friends. So why waste money on a larger car for nothing?

#241 of 2171 I agree by dindak

Aug 29, 2000 (7:34 pm)

With spiraling gas prices and no need for anything other than a way to get to work and back, I wanted nothing but a small reliable second car. Why waste money on something bigger?

#242 of 2171 Me too... by vocus

Aug 29, 2000 (7:41 pm)

I commute 100 miles a day back and forth to work. With the rising gas prices, why get a larger car? My 1999 Protege is huge inside, has great handling, is reliable, and comfortable for me and three or four friends if the need arises. Plus, working where parking is tight, its small size helps me in the parking lot and in heavy traffic on the Capital Beltway as well. No need for a larger car.

Messages Page 25 of 218

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