1998 Chevrolet Cavalier RS from North America - Comments

Whatever you do, whatever you read or hear or see, this includes other Cavaliers riding down the road (and around me there are A lot of Saturns and Crapoliers), DO NOT BUY ONE! TRUST ME ON THIS! Want to pay $1800 for a new fuel pump that failed miserably at 60,000 miles? Buy a Crapolier. Want a car that will fail whenever rain falls or air pressure changes? Buy a Crapolier. GM.. your days are numbered. If you're want to go with GM..you're gonna have GM problems. The behavior of this car company is almost treasonous against the American Public!

The Dealers are a bunch of Grifters who will say WHATEVER it takes to separate you from your money, then they will throw you aside like yesterday's newspaper and move on to their next mark... a sucker walking into the dealership. Just go buy a Honda and be done with it.

This car is seriously troubled as well as most GM Cars and Trucks. GM is the worst example of what American Unions and overpaid no brain Executives are up to at the wheel. Total Disaster.

Just think about what you said!!!...honda...HAHAHA.

I think that your comments are totally out of line and you should give specific examples of your troubles other than your "$1800 fuel pump". I think that you've become so blinded by having to pay money to repair something that is so costly, but so important. I've worked at an Acura dealership and people who comment or make comments like "Crapolier" don't want to do any extra work for people like you. I don't hate imports, I actually like them, but please stick to the car that you are giving your epinion on. Thank you.

I can't believe a fuel pump costs $1800. That's preposterous.

When they switched to in-tank pumps the cost of a fuel pump did skyrocket because of the labor mostly. Some of the worst vehicles can cost $7-900 for this service at the dealer. On the other hand, if the dealer made several incorrect repairs before diagnosing the fuel pump, the cost to solve the original problem could be anything.

The poster simply should have given more specifics of that $1800 repair to help out the viewers.

A local auto parts chain lists a fuel pump for the 2.2 liter at $273.99!!

Can anyone explain WHY they switched to in-tank pumps?

Could there be a genuine safety reason?

Although the reviewer is obviously a bit worked-up, it is clear that even the 700-900 dollar cost for replacing the pump quoted above is outrageous when you consider that it might be in excess of the value of the car.

It's one thing to find your car needs a new engine and that the car is therefore beyond economic repair and should be scrapped.

It's quite another to have to scrap it because of a minor component like a fuel pump which SHOULD cost no more than $75-00 anyway.

Maybe the whole idea is to encourage cars to be junked after a few years, so the reviewer is correct in his assessment that we are being screwed.

I own a 1998 cavi 2.2L coup with 92000 miles. the car was a first car present with 62000 miles back in 2004.

First of all a fuel pump lists online at 45 dollars for a aftermarket highperformance pump for around 100, yes I know it is not OEM, the aftermarket pumps have served friends well.

Secondly the transfer to internal pumps its to reduce operating noise. if you listen closely as you turn the ignition into forward acessory you will hear a whine coming from the rear passenger compartment floor. this is the pump bringing the fuel system up to pressure.

Part replaced:

starter, soon after purchase

alternator upgraded to a high amperage unit (for car audio)

due to contact with a curb last winter I replaced the front left rim along with the bearing assembly approx. 350 with labor.

Parts that need to be replaced.

Left CV shaft.

Rotors need to be trued.

Front struts are beginning to get spongy.

This is a great almost sporty vehicle if you ignore the 0-60 times. the soild rear beam axle does make highspeed corning over anything, but flat tarmac a little exciting.

For all those wondering- top speed is 109 before the limiter kicks in hard.

$1800 for a fuel pump.....Can you say exaggeration?

A fuel pump on a Chevrolet Cavalier does NOT cost 1800$. I had the bad luck of it going on my 2002 Cavalier VL. Parts and labour added up to around 550$ (Canadian dollars). If you paid 1800$ for a fuel pump you got SERIOUSLY over charged. Most head gasket jobs go for less than that.

Design and engineering of the third-gen stage one Cavaliers. Well, I'll have to say.. manufacturing and production is all about money. The whole world revolves around money. So when you have cheaper materials, less attentive to detail (such as poor tolerances, finish, design/engineering, body stiffness and torsion values could also be improved) things are produced with cost and profit number one. It's manufacturing. Try Tim McAmis or Jerry Bickey and build your own! Custom NHRA PRO STOCK car. That would be the best thing to do.

<<So when you have cheaper materials, less attentive to detail (such as poor tolerances, finish, design/engineering, body stiffness and torsion values could also be improved) things are produced with cost and profit number one. It's manufacturing.>.

Funny how Toyota and Honda figured out that you get more return customers by building in quality up front even if it costs more.

But you've just pointed out why American manufacturers will never, ever be successful again. They let accountants run wild.