22nd Jul 2002, 20:41

I disagree with the initial comment, the 8 valve SRi is a fantastic car to drive and as second comment it can take on competition like calibra & vectra 16 valves. I am currently running a J plate @ 134,000 miles!! This car will go any distance and sit comfy at 70, 80 or 90 mph and top out about 135. It is very hard to get the valves to touch the pistons even on the limiter for this engine.

I highly recommend it for someone who is looking for a sporty car, but practicality. It gets 40mpg easy on long journeys and about 34 round town. Parts are cheap and mechanics like them as they have 'normal' wear and tear parts to check for problems. If modifying is the game then the list is endless to what you can do. I currently have the car lowered on stiffer suspension and 17" alloy wheels fitted with no arch mods, a superchip controls the ECU and a K&N air induction kit provides colder denser air to the engine and a fat performance exhaust to whisk away the gases.

But look out for rust rear arches. I guarantee they will have been replaced or have some rust.

12th Oct 2002, 07:56

Hmmm, I believe that many of you have to realise the potential of the car.

I am running a 1989 SRi 8v, with the following mods, I have never been beaten on a straight run, even by a V6 Calibra!!

Fuel rail boost valve - dirt cheap.

K&N kit - also peanuts.

Superchipped brains - I gave a dodgy bloke down the scrappy £15 for the ECU outta a pranged Cavvy.

The cam job (top secret); approx £600 spent on cam.

So you see, not a lot of work for a 147 top end Cavvy with no bouncy valves.

19th Aug 2003, 08:40

I have had a Cav SRi 8V for over a year now, and I have got to say, the only let down on the car, is that it does not come with alloys as standard!!!

Performance wise, the car is a dream. My mate has a 1998 ex-police Vectra 2.0SRi, and it keeps up with that no problems, the only mod I have made with mine is put a K&N kit on it.

Regards to problems, over the last year, with 160,000 miles on the clock, I have had to replace the back box and had the front suspension bushes changed, That's IT!!!

A common fault I have found with all 2 8V Cauxhalls I have come across, is the idle control valve gets clogged easily and needs a clean every so often. This just results in making the car a bit of a dog to start, and some performance reduction.

FIRST CLASS CAR, DEFINITELY!!!

3rd Jan 2004, 13:02

OK... Cav eh? Well I agree it's a good car, but I have a Vectra 2.6 SRi, and trust me that there is no comparison.

My Veccy will totally destroy any Cav, 0-60 or top end, it really doesn't matter. I note that your cars are modded and I like that. I see these cars out, and when they come up beside me chomping at the bit, it tickles me... Foot down, and no Cav for 3 miles. While your car was great in its day, it has no chance with the big boys.

25th Mar 2004, 09:49

Hmmm, OK Vectra boys, what are you talking about? Do you know your Vauxhalls at all?

I have two Cavaliers. The first one is a near standard SRi with one of the best engines ever made by Vauxhall, the C20XE, which has a 0-60 of 7.5 seconds. The Vectra comes in at 8.0 seconds. I have had a 152 mph out of it, whereas the Vectra has a top speed of 148, which is very good, but not good enough.

I have to laugh at your last comment, saying you can beat any Cav. My second Cav is the turbo 4 wheel drive with 202 bhp as standard (Vectra is 178bhp ha ha), but with mods it's now 278bhp with a 0-60 of around 6 seconds. In other words, it will kill any Vectra.

7th May 2004, 13:27

I am the proud owner of a 1993 red topped engine SRi Cavalier. The performance is excellent and I have surprised many a more modern car driver.

My only criticism is I've got a very annoying intermittent ticking, which I'm guessing is tappet related. The engine had a top end overhaul at 90,000 miles and has now done 115,000. I've tried changing oil viscosity and hydraulic tappet fluid to no avail. Has anybody got any suggestions? Apart from selling it and buying a 3.0L Omega MV6, which I'm considering!!!