1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Base review from North America
"If your looking for basic reliable transportation, a Cavalier is the way to go"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Had the car for around 7 years and over 50 thousand miles, and here is what has been fixed.
Alternator around 100 bucks.
Starter around 130 bucks.
Valve cover gasket 8 bucks.
Converter (warranty) free.
EGR valve 115 bucks.
General comments?
So for owning the car for that long, and having this little amount in repairs, all which I was able to do myself since the car is easy to work on. I could not be more pleased with the reliability.
Car gets 40+ mpg on the highway, and will average around 29 in a mix of highway and city driving (way over what it's rated).
Acceleration is OK; my best 1/4 mile time was a 16.8@86mph which for a base model economy car, is not too shabby. It has enough power for daily driving, which is all that really matters in a car like this.
Biggest issue are the interior rattles, which really do not bother me too much. Handling is also a little sloppy.
Overall I love this car. For the price you cannot beat it. Take care of it and this car seems like it will run forever!
Recommended reviews
| A dependable, good-looking car |
|
| It's great to drive to softball practice, or even to visit college -- just not constantly reliable |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.2L Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 56000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 111000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 10th November, 2008 |