1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Base 2.2 from North America

Summary:

Reliable

Faults:

Radiator went out at 76,000 miles.

Windshield wiper motor went out at 56,000 / 107,000 / and 113,000 miles.

Exhaust sounds like the car is a piece of crap.

12,000 miles new tires (4).

42,000 miles new tires (4).

50,000 miles new tires (4).

67,000 miles new tires (4) - Wreck.

89,000 miles new tires (4) - Wreck.

116,000 miles new tires (4) - Wreck.

124,000 miles new tires (4).

Air conditioning stopped working at 67,000 miles, hasn't worked since.

Bumper got very dis-color of a off-grey.. around 50,000 miles.

Lug nuts fell off at 2,000 miles as soon as I got it.

Dealership I bought from offered no warranty, etc.

Seats are small, and inside is dinky.

Stalled on me 4 times; got repaired.

Struts and brakes had to be replaced every year. (4)

General Comments:

This car is very easy to handle.

The car stops fast and easy.

Good in winter weather.

Wrecked this car 4 times owning it...

Hit by truck head on (guy was drunk) (67,000 miles).

T-boned on highway (girl was going too fast) (96,000 miles).

I hit a curb going 45 mph. Flipped and had >$7500 damage (116,000 miles).

Fender bender in a drive thru, air bags deployed only... (121,000).

As you can see, with all that has been done, I'm still here. It is a safe car, and easy on insurance.

Insurance people never gave me any car replacement, because the car was always fixable, I have always had full coverage protection for this car.

Airbags are reliable. Seat belts are too..

This car overall is uncomfortable for an all day drive etc,. but if you have a first time driver, I would recommend this vehicle for in city driving..

Although many things have gone wrong since I've owned this car, it has done so much to keep me safe.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th September, 2010

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Sedan 2.2 Liter 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Perfect first car! Reliable and good looking!

Faults:

Had to fix a gas leak, caused because the car didn't move for like 5 months before I got it. It cost me $200 to fix that.

All the speakers weren't working. Otherwise the car was incredibly reliable; just done regular maintenance like change brake pads, and oil changes.

I have done 10 000 km in the first month of ownership; that's a lot, especially when the car is more than 12 year old and already has 277 000 km on it, but this car is very reliable!

General Comments:

It was my first car; my grandmother gave me this car, I was so happy, but the car hadn't moved for like 5 months before she gave it to me, so when I went to pick it up, I realize that gas was leaking, so in 3 days, I spent like $90 on gas!!

I fixed that, and then the car was running very well.

I learned a lot of thing with this car, like how mechanics work basically, audio, because I have changed all the speakers and the stereo by myself, how to drive in winter, because here in Quebec, we get a lot of snow, and finally I was involved in a car accident on the highway, after one month of ownership. I sold it for $100, and after that I got a 93 Plymouth Acclaim (I will write the review for this car too)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd August, 2010

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Base 4dr 2.2 from North America

Summary:

Not a very good car from Chevy

Faults:

Rear struts make a lot of noise and cause a rough ride.

CV joint went bad.

Put in new plugs and wires, but still random cylinder misfire.

Seats have no cushion left.

Burns a quart of oil a week, and gets 17 MPG average.

Very slow acceleration.

Rear doors do not work (unknown why).

Oil pressure light pops on when warm or hot.

General Comments:

It's a good running car, but has some problems like very slow pick up, and a very loud engine. (Not exhaust loud, but under the hood loud).

The price was right, so I bought it for $900, but the car gets horrible gas mileage, poor pick up and sucks down a quart of oil a week, so I guess the pistons are shot, which I did not find out until I had to fill up with oil and gas 2 days later after traveling about 160 miles.

The dash is all cracked from sun damage, the glove box is a pain to open, and there is a very annoying squeaking coming from the dash.

This car is a plane Jane with no power options. The only gauges are the speedo, temp, and gas, no tach or voltage or oil pressure gauges.

All in all, it has been reliable and runs, but I won't be buying a Cavalier again, I would go with an older Lumina if I go with Chevy again! Maybe I just got a beater.

Riding in this car is a headache, from the thumping of the rear struts, which I got fixed twice and did not help, to the squeaking in the dash, to the rough ride, to the very uncomfortable seats. This car is not worth owning after 100,000 miles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd March, 2010

8th Apr 2010, 14:46

I agree with your statement. I have a 97 and I have had to replace the head gasket twice within 3 months.

22nd Nov 2012, 00:35

I have to wonder two things here... First off, who was the person that replaced the head gasket on this car, and secondly, how hard is this car driven? If the head gasket was installed by a licensed mechanic and the car isn't driven hard, then there's no way that the head gasket would go after a month and a half of being in the car!!! I think the owner of this car probably does a little illegal street racing with it.