Cavalier GSI... who remembers?..
Discussion
mph1977 said:
vit4 said:
Out of interest did any Cavaliers come with air conditioning?
I ask because I would seriously consider a mk3 as a replacement for the Astra at some point - one of the things that has been fantastic about the Astra is the comfort of the seats and I imagine that the Cavalier will be just as comfortable and presumably pretty frugal on motorways?
The thought of a Vectra B is not one that I will entertain
Edit: Calibra is pretty much identical isn't it? Is there room in the back for real people though?
can;t remember if my Dad's M plate LS Dti had air con or if it was just the P plate Dti Vectra that replaced it that didI ask because I would seriously consider a mk3 as a replacement for the Astra at some point - one of the things that has been fantastic about the Astra is the comfort of the seats and I imagine that the Cavalier will be just as comfortable and presumably pretty frugal on motorways?
The thought of a Vectra B is not one that I will entertain
Edit: Calibra is pretty much identical isn't it? Is there room in the back for real people though?
Edited by vit4 on Saturday 18th May 12:39
vit4 said:
Out of interest did any Cavaliers come with air conditioning?
I ask because I would seriously consider a mk3 as a replacement for the Astra at some point - one of the things that has been fantastic about the Astra is the comfort of the seats and I imagine that the Cavalier will be just as comfortable and presumably pretty frugal on motorways?
The thought of a Vectra B is not one that I will entertain
Edit: Calibra is pretty much identical isn't it? Is there room in the back for real people though?
L plate onward turbos had air con, not sure it was an option but I think V6 hi spec cars came with it and "Diplomat" models too IIRC.I ask because I would seriously consider a mk3 as a replacement for the Astra at some point - one of the things that has been fantastic about the Astra is the comfort of the seats and I imagine that the Cavalier will be just as comfortable and presumably pretty frugal on motorways?
The thought of a Vectra B is not one that I will entertain
Edit: Calibra is pretty much identical isn't it? Is there room in the back for real people though?
Edited by vit4 on Saturday 18th May 12:39
Calibra drives completely differently to a Cavalier, headlights are s
te (and they aren't great on a cavalier!) and visibility is crap. They always felt more floppy to me.Davie said:
Ahhhhh! That was from your good self. My emails died a month or so back so I had to start from scratch so never did get round to thanking you for them. My apologies and thanks again sir!
No worries, hope they are of use 
A mate of mine moved from the North East to Oxford back in the 90s and left his mk2 Commander at home. After six months or so, I drove him back home to collect it. I took a bootload of tools and we allowed a day to resurrect it. It had been sitting on the drive through winter and had been completely untouched. We put the jump leads on and it fired up after 10 seconds of cranking. The hydraulic tappets clattered for a few seconds and went quiet, and it sounded just fine. Freed off the brakes, inflated the tyres, filled it up with fresh petrol, and it drove the 250-odd miles home without missing a beat.
He replaced that with a mk3 2.0iL 4x4 which was effectively an SRi 8 valve in L trim with the 4wd drivetrain. I don't think in all the time he had it the 4wd system managed a week without the warning light coming on, fluid leaking from the transfer box, or some other catastrophe. It really was a lousy transmission.
It's 15 years since I got rid of my mk2 SRi (early 1.8i model) but what I still remember was that engine. So crisp in its responses, and so sweet revving. Always felt really lively, and soaked up abuse without ever complaining.
He replaced that with a mk3 2.0iL 4x4 which was effectively an SRi 8 valve in L trim with the 4wd drivetrain. I don't think in all the time he had it the 4wd system managed a week without the warning light coming on, fluid leaking from the transfer box, or some other catastrophe. It really was a lousy transmission.
It's 15 years since I got rid of my mk2 SRi (early 1.8i model) but what I still remember was that engine. So crisp in its responses, and so sweet revving. Always felt really lively, and soaked up abuse without ever complaining.
My first job was at a large company (ICL mainframes).
Vauxhall Cavaliers were standard issue company cars for managers.
The PA of the Director of our group asked her boss what car he wanted. He wasn't bothered about cars, and just pointed out the window at one of the Cavaliers, and said, "Just one of those.".
Naturally, the company car budget entitlement that went with his grade allowed for something a little more fancy, but doing what she was told, she spent the most she could possibly spend on a Vauxhall Cavalier.
It was one of these 3.0L, 4x4 models, with every bell and whistle going. It even managed to stand out from amongst all the many rows of standard Cavaliers (though it had a special parking space, of course).
Vauxhall Cavaliers were standard issue company cars for managers.
The PA of the Director of our group asked her boss what car he wanted. He wasn't bothered about cars, and just pointed out the window at one of the Cavaliers, and said, "Just one of those.".
Naturally, the company car budget entitlement that went with his grade allowed for something a little more fancy, but doing what she was told, she spent the most she could possibly spend on a Vauxhall Cavalier.
It was one of these 3.0L, 4x4 models, with every bell and whistle going. It even managed to stand out from amongst all the many rows of standard Cavaliers (though it had a special parking space, of course).
Fond memories of my Cavalier, F986 SRE. An ex-company car which I bought from the company my old dear worked for, they used to put their fleet cars through first MOT, then give employees first dibs. It had a fantastic service history, and about 98,000 miles iirc.
It was a mighty 2.0 L, no less.
Wheel trims, handraulic windows, not even a rev counter. But it was fast to a 20 year old me at the time and was superb on fuel. Used to go from Sunderland to Rosyth and back on less than half a tank (about 240 miles return), and didn't miss a beat in 20k miles I owned it.
It was a mighty 2.0 L, no less.
Wheel trims, handraulic windows, not even a rev counter. But it was fast to a 20 year old me at the time and was superb on fuel. Used to go from Sunderland to Rosyth and back on less than half a tank (about 240 miles return), and didn't miss a beat in 20k miles I owned it.
SnipsSt said:
My first job was at a large company (ICL mainframes).
It was one of these 3.0L, 4x4 models, with every bell and whistle going. It even managed to stand out from amongst all the many rows of standard Cavaliers (though it had a special parking space, of course).
Vx never put the 3 litre in the cavalier. They did put the 2.5 V6 in late on, but that was only 2wd (and beam axle at that, rather than the gsi IRS setup).It was one of these 3.0L, 4x4 models, with every bell and whistle going. It even managed to stand out from amongst all the many rows of standard Cavaliers (though it had a special parking space, of course).
Carlton gsi was 3 litre ? straight 6, not V. 12v and 24v versions.
s m said:
Troubleatmill said:
So.... anyone got the numbers to hand.
BHP. Weight.
Knock yourself out.....BHP. Weight.
2wd, 4wd and Turbo 4wd
2wd
gsi2wd by sm, on Flickr
4x4
gsi4x4 by sm, on Flickr
Turbo
turbo4wdgsi by sm, on Flickr
M990WNK - fond memories!
Not a GSi, but one of the last Cavs - a 2.5CDX in metallic dark red with black leather, heated seats, air con and the manual box. I loved that car back in 1999, bought for a steal for £2600 when the company I worked for were disposing of some old company cars. 170BHP of V6ness. Great in 2nd and 3rd gear in a straight line and a fantastic , comfy high speed cruiser.
Air con was standard on the CDXs and the later turbos IIRC.
As a Vx fan I also miss the days when they Cav ruled. The 2.0i 8v115bhp engine cracked 60mph in 8.9secs, which was amazing in 1988! Miles ahead of the Sierra rival.
Haven't seen a GSi or a turbo for a long time sadly.
Not a GSi, but one of the last Cavs - a 2.5CDX in metallic dark red with black leather, heated seats, air con and the manual box. I loved that car back in 1999, bought for a steal for £2600 when the company I worked for were disposing of some old company cars. 170BHP of V6ness. Great in 2nd and 3rd gear in a straight line and a fantastic , comfy high speed cruiser.
Air con was standard on the CDXs and the later turbos IIRC.
As a Vx fan I also miss the days when they Cav ruled. The 2.0i 8v115bhp engine cracked 60mph in 8.9secs, which was amazing in 1988! Miles ahead of the Sierra rival.
Haven't seen a GSi or a turbo for a long time sadly.
Fond memories of these. I was at the BTCC and bumped into Derrick Warrick and John clelland at the Vauxhall stand. Me and my brother got signed posters.
My dad had 2 MK2 GL's when I was really young, the second of which got, yep you guessed it stolen! I pleaded with him to buy a MK3 but he refused saying they were too new
Ended up with a Renault savanna
My dad had 2 MK2 GL's when I was really young, the second of which got, yep you guessed it stolen! I pleaded with him to buy a MK3 but he refused saying they were too new
Ended up with a Renault savanna
cerb4.5lee said:
Thanks for posting up, it's incredible that I always look back & think of them as being fast cars but you look at the 0 to 100 times & realise they aren't that quick especially compared to modern stuff.
I dare say a lot of the Turbos are fairly quick still these days! s m said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Thanks for posting up, it's incredible that I always look back & think of them as being fast cars but you look at the 0 to 100 times & realise they aren't that quick especially compared to modern stuff.
I dare say a lot of the Turbos are fairly quick still these days! 
I'm not a Vauxhall fan, but I do have a soft spot for Mk2 Astras and Mk2+3 Cavaliers, probably because I grew up with a few of them.
I remember being taken for a spin by a Police Officer friend of the family in his Mk3 GSI saloon (IIRC), first car I ever went over 100mph in, felt like the fastest thing ever to a 10 year old!
My Dad also had a poverty spec MK3 (G115 ELJ), it had a 1.4l engine!! I don't even think it was an "L". It had no central locking, keepfit windows, no power steering. Not even sure if it had a glovebox lid!
I remember being taken for a spin by a Police Officer friend of the family in his Mk3 GSI saloon (IIRC), first car I ever went over 100mph in, felt like the fastest thing ever to a 10 year old!
My Dad also had a poverty spec MK3 (G115 ELJ), it had a 1.4l engine!! I don't even think it was an "L". It had no central locking, keepfit windows, no power steering. Not even sure if it had a glovebox lid!
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