1995 Chevrolet Cavalier Coupe 2.2 from North America

Summary:

A big hassle and not worth the price

Faults:

Where do I begin? The head gasket blew at 24,000 and again at 70,000 and yet again at 115,000.

The water pump went at 100,000.

I've replaced the brakes twice.

The interior trim has fallen off. The dashboard rattles and squeaks.

The flaps on both driver and passenger side seats have broken off.

The passenger side seat is temper-mental - sometimes it will slide forward and sometimes you have to fight with it to slide forward.

The front marker light leaks and it blows the light bulb constantly.

The elastic strap on the visors have stretched so they are unusable.

The driver side floor mat curls up under the gas pedal - only annoying when you want to press the gas pedal. I have replaced them several times with mats from the dealer and they all do it.

General Comments:

I loved the idea of the Cavalier, but the constant need to service big ticket items is annoying. If GM does not warranty the head gasket this time then I will never buy another Chevrolet vehicle again. I still may take this to arbitration under the lemon law.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 9th October, 2002

1995 Chevrolet Cavalier 2.2 V4 from North America

Summary:

A great buy under 6,000

Faults:

Only maitenance (had to change tires and brakes to certify the vehicle).

Antifreeze is leaking, but it is not a major problem. It was, however, annoying in the winter because it is cold outside and you have to add antifreeze about once a month.

General Comments:

Compared to my old Buick, it is much cheaper to maintain (the 1987 Buick was 3.8L V6 and ate gas like crazy).

It is much more comfortable than the 2001 Mazda Protege (1.3L) my parents own. It is also much more comfortable than Japanese cars in the same category (Mazda Protege, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic etc.), due mainly to the fact that it is an American car.

It is relatively small, making it easier to park, but the room inside is great. I'm very tall (5'10" and even taller with heels on), but the car has enough leg room for both: the driver and the passenger. Even the seat at the back provides a comfortable ride.

It takes about 10L for 100KM (mixture of city + highway) of gas, which is not as little as the Protege, but the comfert you get from this car is worth the extra money.

As far as power is concerned, it comes very close to the Buick I owned. Great on highways (I reached 170km/h once, and the car didn't even shake). It is also very stable on slippery roads (rain and snow) and turns.

The quality of the paint is amazing, it looks clean and shine even when it's not so clean. I'm not sure though if its my car in particular or every '95 Cavaliers are like that. But considering the fact that mine is a simple model (nothing is power except automatic transmission and air conditioner) I would assume that the quality of paint applies to all '95 Cavaliers.

Overall, being a fan of domestic vehicles, I would recommend this car. It's worth the money and it is very comfortable. I only paid 4,300$ Canadian for mine, but I would pay more if I didn't find a bargain.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th May, 2002

7th Jul 2004, 10:05

If your leaking Anti-Freeze, you have a cracked head gasket or head on your engine. It needs to be fixed, believe me. Anti Freeze can leak down to other components (ie. the starter) and will result in more repairs.

1995 Chevrolet Cavalier Base 2.0 gas from North America

Summary:

Good reliable economy car

Faults:

Rack and pinion leak at 5000 kilometers, replaced in five days, had a courtesy car.

Several water leaks in the trunk area.

Car was assembled poorly in Mexico.

I kept taking car back to dealer to straighten body parts.

General Comments:

I've had no mech. problems but it's basically still a new car with only 42000 kilometers.

Seats are small and it's a real chore for riders to exit the rear seats in a coupe.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th June, 2001