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Chevrolet Cavalier: Meet the Owners

25 messages,  Last post on Jun 09, 2009 at 2:26 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Cavalier Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Cavalier, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 4

#2 of 25 Re: Chevrolet Cavalier: Meet the Owners [KarenS] by georgecavalier

Apr 29, 2007 (9:40 am)

Replying to: KarenS (Oct 19, 2006 6:10 am)
My names Matt and I have owned 2 Cavaliers. My first one was a 1992 RS 3.1 wagon. It looked like junk (red primer, tons of rust) but that motor was downright quick and reliable. It only left me stranded once (bad fuel pump wiring harness). I once ran it out of oil (an unknown-at-the-time oil leak) and it still ran like there was no problem (of course I put oll in it as soon as I could). It was a real tire burner and I shocked alot of people who thought it was just a granny car. I sadly had to give it up for $150 because of all the rust issues.
I currently own my second Cavalier: a 2001 Z24. It has all of the factory options excpept the sunroof (the only Z24 I've seen without one). It has the power of a V6 although sadly the fuel economy too. My old 1992 got around 30MPG with the V6 while this one gets 24. The radio has RDS which is awsome. It's black and looks grat when it's clean. Sadly I had to replace the engine because the old one died at only 93K. It has been trouble free since then (knock on wood). After the engine issue I did research and some of my own experience found that the 2.2 (OHV and EcoTech) and the 3.1 are much more reliable motors. So if I get another Cavi it would have to be the Ecotech or the 3.1. The 2.2OHV is a bullet proof motor but it's too slow for my driving (my famlily had/has a 1990 wagon and 2002 sedan both with the 2.2). Overall though I would recommend a Cavalier (along with the other J-bodies) to anyone looking for a cheap reliable car that will leave the imports in the dust. Just make sure to inspect the body for rust on the early models and have a mechanic inspect the Twin Cam motors.

#3 of 25 My Cavalier is a 1997 by maryaw

May 01, 2007 (8:48 pm)

This is also the second Cavalier we've bought. The first was a light blue metallic 1989 2 door. It was a great car...we had it 13 years, went through 5 Midas "lifetime" mufflers, BUT the rust was a problem. I had to all but bite the local Chevy manager on the ankle and hang on like a terrier before he offered new door skins and repainted both sides of the car (this was in 1994). We traded it with well over 100K on it.
The current 1997 Cavalier is a 4-door dark green with 2.2 engine. It has 132K on it and is still very reliable. It drives nicely and looks good. MDH misses the "sporty" looking 2 door model but he has quieted down since I bought us a Mustang last week.
The Mustang was a sentimental purchase. It belonged to my father. My neice got it when he passed on 10 months ago and I made her an offer she couldn't refuse.
Our third car is a 1999 Ford Escort Wagon, also Dark Green, a very utilitarian car for hauling dogs and home improvement supplies. It also has over 100K on it but is very reliable.
 
We keep our cars a long time, and as you said, even though the Cavaliers are inexpensive they are reliable and they will keep you going from point A to point B for many miles, as long as you treat them well and do your maintenance. On the 1989, we only went over the 3,000 mile mark for an oil change ONCE in 13 years.
 
Hey, I wouldn't mind having a used Z24 one of these days! Maybe when the 1997 hits 200K....

#4 of 25 I've got a 2000 4 door by arebours

May 03, 2007 (7:37 pm)

Replying to: maryaw (May 01, 2007 8:48 pm)
anyone looking for a cheap reliable and good car that can be made into anything you want, needs to get a cavalier. My parents have had mine since probably 2002. we bought it used. it has about 75,000 miles on it right now. Its a great car to get from point A to B with really good gas milage.
 
but these cars are good for much more. you can make even a 4 door look pretty sporty for about 300-500 dollars, and you don't even need to get a body kit. All you need is coilovers, a small profile fyberglass spoiler, and old spoke hubcaps make it look sweet.
and its also cheap to make it a bit more sportier. With the accelaration you already get from the stock inline 4 ( a pretty spunky 115 horsepower) you can get a cold air intake, new exauhst system, voltage stabalizer, and maybe even a supercharger, and you've got a car that can leave any other compact in the dust.
 
over all any cavalier could fit anyones wants, and they aren't expensive and are very simple to fix.
 
get one. they're great

#5 of 25 My love affair with Poobox by cav_rider666

Aug 12, 2007 (1:01 pm)

Hello peoples! My name is JP and I own a 2002 Cavalier VL sedan (black). I adore this litle car; its cheap on gas,looks good runs well. Her name is Poobox and other than an alternator and battery, its been pretty reliable.">

#6 of 25 Hello from a new Cavalier owner! by marleenk

Oct 09, 2007 (7:11 pm)

Greetings!
  I just wanted to say hello to fellow Cavalier owners. I am only a few months into ownership of a 2004 Cavalier 2 door LS and I couldn't be happier with my wonderful little treasure. It is my upgrade to a cherished 1991 Geo Storm GSI I had for 11 years and loved to pieces. My new Cavalier is in excellent shape with only 13500 miles from one previous owner. It's orange metallic but soon to be changed to Rally Yellow. One question I have been wondering about is the difference between the LS and the LS Sport. Is there really a difference?
 Anyway, I just wanted to say hello to all. I hope to glean lots of information from other Cavalier owners about their experiences.
  Kind regards,
    Marleen

#7 of 25 Welcome Marleen by maryaw

Oct 09, 2007 (7:36 pm)

Replying to: marleenk (Oct 09, 2007 7:11 pm)
I can't answer your question on the difference between the LS and the LS sport. I do wish we'd gotten a 2 door, but at the time we thought my parents were moving to town and would be riding in this car and couldn't see them climbing in and out of a coupe.
 
My husband just put new 80,000 mile tires on our 1997 Cavalier sedan. He is doing a big "reconditioning" project on it before winter hits. It now has 135K on it, and we hope to get many more miles on it. Such a reliable commuter car, and comfortable to drive!
 
I applaud your decision to repaint your car - Metallic orange sounds boring...like a fleet car. My sympathies on your Geo Storm. Those were nicely styled cars. I don't know why they were dicontinued. Sometimes Chevy has their head in a dark spot.
 
One difference I see in some Cavaliers - don't know if this may feed into the trim levels - some bumpers are color-keyed and others are flat black. Maybe someone will answer that question, too!
 
MaryAW

#8 of 25 Re: Hello from a new Cavalier owner! [marleenk] by georgecavalier

Oct 10, 2007 (10:06 am)

Replying to: marleenk (Oct 09, 2007 7:11 pm)
The difference between the LS Sport and the LS is just equipment and cosmetic. The LS Sport has standard alloy rims, spoiler, nicer interior, ground effects, a better sound system and I think a standard moonroof. Mechanically they are identical although I'm not sure if the LS Sport has a different suspension. It could since it replaced the Z24 and that had a different suspension from regular Cavalier.

#9 of 25 Re: Welcome Marleen [maryaw] by georgecavalier

Oct 10, 2007 (10:09 am)

Replying to: maryaw (Oct 09, 2007 7:36 pm)
To answer you question about the bumpers the first few years of this design 1995-1996 or 1997, the Cavalier VL (base model) had the grey bumpers. Chevy changed this to give the car a nicer and less rental look.

#10 of 25 Re: bumpers by maryaw

Oct 15, 2007 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: georgecavalier (Oct 10, 2007 10:09 am)
AHA! Thanks for the info. Ours is a 1997 4-door sedan, base model, and it has the color-keyed bumpers so that gives us the year they cut the grey bumpers.
Mary

#11 of 25 2000 wierd noise under acceleration oil pressure lite by vandusen

Oct 17, 2007 (4:34 pm)

Help thinking of buying a 2000 model, 118,000 miles on it car is clean and good interior, drives well but makes a weird vibrating sound under acceleration and then quits after high gear. Also low oil pressure lite came on at idle, so I changed the oil and filter. Light still came on after driving a few miles and stop (at Idle) soon as you touch the gas the light goes out! So i know theres oil pressure.. Replaced sending unit but light still comes on! I think engine is idleing to low, but theres no adjustment acording to the repair manual.. Help I need to know if theres a fix before I buy this car ... Thanks VanDusen

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