1989 Vauxhall Cavalier Reviews

The only thing that has gone wrong is the fuel hose connecting the fuel pressure regulator to the fuel injector rail started leaking at 184.000 miles cost me £5.40 to fix myself.

Never been able to get the sunroof to retract it only tilts.

For a standard model the car is fast and has a real high torque.

Bumpers are strong although I want to change them for the 1990 model's colour coded bumpers instead of old Grey ones.

The only thing that has gone wrong with this car is the water pump, and that has lasted 14 years, as it was the original.

If you buy a tidy SRI G reg, you will pay about £800 standard, but you will have just bought a very reliable car.

I have a G reg Vauxhall Cavalier SRI.

It is a 2 litre multi-point injection

8 valve engine (the 8 valve engine is stronger than the 16 valve).

The 8 valve SRI comes with 130bhp, the 16 valve SRI comes with 135 bhp, and they both have the same torque.

My SRI is red with a full body kit and Calibra spoiler. It has 17 inch alloys, a Scorpion Monza exhaust system, racing mod plugs, leads, racing hoses, Piper Cross induction kit, FSE power boost valve, racing piston rings, it's been port polished, it has 2 Superchips, one is for fuel economy, and one for performance enhancement. I've had it lowered 70 mm, which is 10 mm too much, but it is now hovering along.

This car now has 200bhp, 0-60 in 4.5sec, and a top end of 150 mph. It will go faster, but I need the 5th gear ratio changed.

All in all, I have spent £2000 on this beast, and it was well worth it.

You cannot give this car NITROS or a TURBO it, because the engine will not last. Now this car eats Cosworths for breakfast, and can hold a Subaru up to 135 mph.

So let's recap; including buying the car standard, to what it is today, it's cost me as a project £2800, and it's safe to say it's fully loaded.

Head gasket went at 69,000 miles.

Oil leaks onto my drive a bit, a new top rocker gasket fixed that.

This is my second 'banger' and I have to say it's a remarkable car for it's age. It's cheap and reliable to own and very comfortable on long journeys.

I'd definitely recommend them to anyone wanting a cheap car and aren't to bothered about performance or looks.

Even though the car is now 14 years old there are only a few little surface rust patchs on the bodywork!

Vauxhalls are well built and reliable cars and I won't hesitate to look for another Vauxhall when I change this one.