1989 Vauxhall Cavalier li 2.0i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Fast efficient and reliable

Faults:

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.

General Comments:

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.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th March, 2004

1989 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi 2.0 Li 8v from UK and Ireland

Summary:

The Tim Montgomery of road cars

Faults:

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.

General Comments:

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.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st January, 2004

18th Mar 2004, 06:37

I think the original review must have been meant as a joke. 0-60 in 4.5 seconds? I think not.

14th Dec 2004, 04:08

What a completely rubbish filled review. Utter rot on performance stats, utter rot on Super chip info. Thank you very much, I feel dumber for reading that!!!

14th Dec 2004, 07:32

I assume that the car runs on a Tesco prune juice / rocket fuel mix, hence how are you able to extract the 200bhp. Also you don't mention how you manage to achieve traction to reach 60mph in 4.5 seconds from a heavy front wheel drive car. Please tell us, do you work for NASA or the Daily Sport?

Donkey.

14th Dec 2004, 08:08

Er come on lads you forgot about the Max Power Sticker and the Neons they give a car at least 75 bhp on a cold day.

14th Dec 2004, 09:50

30th Oct 2014, 15:49

Can someone tell me what an SRi 8v Li is??? Never heard of it!!! 200 BHP; I've heard of turbo ones hitting 200 BHP, but not an N/A one without a lot more money spent. You can turbo them, a C20NE is easier to do, but a 20SEH can be done; just boost them different. 4.5 0-60, never mind Cosworths and Scoobys, that's motorcycle territory nearly. Sorry that's not happening!!! 200 BHP will make it difficult to keep the front wheels from spinning!!!

These are fantastic cars, but please talk to someone who talks the truth!

1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Well built and reliable!

Faults:

Head gasket went at 69,000 miles.

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

General Comments:

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.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd May, 2003