1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 review from North America
"Very reliable/forgiving car with plenty of power"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Paint started cracking on the fiberglass hood at 45,000 miles.
Muffler needed to be replaced at 50,000 miles.
Electronic ignition module failed at 60,000 miles.
Rack and pinion steering gear went out at 65,000 miles.
Manual clutch plate went out at 75,000 miles.
Had original brake pads replaced at 80,000 miles on front disk and rear drums.
General comments?
I drove this car for 12 winter seasons up in North Dakota. The car only failed to start once when it was 50 below zero. Otherwise engine turned over every time regardless of outside temperature.
Very reliable vehicle. Great gas mileage, averaged around 29 highway and 20 in town. The engine never used a drop of oil even after not letting the engine warm up properly in the wintertime before driving off.
Manual transmission was very quick shifting and smooth. Sure had a lot of torque in first and second gears.
Front seats could get tiring after long distance driving though since not a lot of back/side support.
The tires on the car always seemed to stay in the proper alignment even after going over rough/gravel roads after many miles of driving.
Cabin heater warmed up fast in cold weather.
Recommended reviews
| A great reliable sporty little car for the money. |
|
| 1987 - Cavalier Wagon 4 cylinder Most Reliable Car - wb |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1988 |
| Year of manufacture | 1988 |
| First year of ownership | 1988 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1999 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8 MPFI Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 25 miles |
| Most recent distance | 128000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Monte Carlo |
| Date of Entry | 16th January, 2006 |