RE: SOTW: Vauxhall Cavalier Sports Hatch

[s m]

Y282 said:

s m said:

Y282 said:

Always thought the manta should have had the 24v senator engine as an option/spec.

Was almost out of production by the time that engine came along - Irmscher did an i300 though with the 12v

Yeah i remember it. Just thought tht 24v would have been a good one to see in there, more in keeping with the style and size of shell.

The 156bhp 2.0XE would have been a good factory engine

[Mr2Mike]

s m said:

Which mag got the MPI Metro Gti to 60 in 8.6 seconds? Autocar managed 9.8 for the same car with 8bhp less in 1990 - 0-60 in 9.8 back in 8/8/1990 ( dry tarmac ). The multi point injection one was only a smidge faster. I'm sure on a twisty enough road the Metro might have pulled a gap - on faster roads I doubt it would lose the cheaper, faster car

That was manufacturers data for the GTi SE. The fact that it went from a group 8 to a group 11 insurance class suggests it really was quite a bit quicker than the original. The figures are very close in all respects to the AX GTi (weight/power/0-60/Maximum speed) so they seem quite realistic.

[s m]

Mr2Mike said:

s m said:

Which mag got the MPI Metro Gti to 60 in 8.6 seconds? Autocar managed 9.8 for the same car with 8bhp less in 1990 - 0-60 in 9.8 back in 8/8/1990 ( dry tarmac ). The multi point injection one was only a smidge faster. I'm sure on a twisty enough road the Metro might have pulled a gap - on faster roads I doubt it would lose the cheaper, faster car

That was manufacturers data for the GTi SE. The fact that it went from a group 8 to a group 11 insurance class suggests it really was quite a bit quicker than the original. The figures are very close in all respects to the AX GTi (weight/power/0-60/Maximum speed) so they seem quite realistic.

Ah right, Autocar's timed test in 91 (18/12/91 issue) for the 103bhp MPi one had a 0-60 of 9.6, ss 1/4 of 17.3 and a max of 115 - as said in the article, quick enough to hold its own against the AX GTi and 106 XSi but not enough to nose ahead of the Manta in a run through the gears - Like I say, I'm sure it would have an advantage on twisty tight roads but not on faster open ones. I never felt outpointed on nice open Welsh roads by my friend's early 205gti ( 105bhp ) which would have had a very similar PWR to the 103bhp Metro Gti.

[B'stard Child]

s m said:

Y282 said:

s m said:

Y282 said:

Always thought the manta should have had the 24v senator engine as an option/spec.

Was almost out of production by the time that engine came along - Irmscher did an i300 though with the 12v

Yeah i remember it. Just thought tht 24v would have been a good one to see in there, more in keeping with the style and size of shell.

The 156bhp 2.0XE would have been a good factory engine

Absolutely this or maybe if more poke is required one of the 2.5/2.6/3.0/3.2 V6 24V engines

The straight six 3.0 24V is a bloody boat anchor(*) in bigger cars never been convinced that it works in a Manta/Cav etc

(*) I'm a huge fan mind

[s m]

B'stard Child said:

s m said:

Y282 said:

s m said:

Y282 said:

Always thought the manta should have had the 24v senator engine as an option/spec.

Was almost out of production by the time that engine came along - Irmscher did an i300 though with the 12v

Yeah i remember it. Just thought tht 24v would have been a good one to see in there, more in keeping with the style and size of shell.

The 156bhp 2.0XE would have been a good factory engine

Absolutely this or maybe if more poke is required one of the 2.5/2.6/3.0/3.2 V6 24V engines

The straight six 3.0 24V is a bloody boat anchor(*) in bigger cars never been convinced that it works in a Manta/Cav etc

(*) I'm a huge fan mind

Would have been a good replacement in a Monza though

[marcosgt]

bluemoon79 said:

Was there a snide dig at the Calibre at the start of this article, I don't think they were that bad!

Assuming you mean the Calibra (wasn't the Calibre a horribly plastic clad Cavalier 'special' edition? And actually re-reading the article, I suspect it wasn't btw ) I might be unique on here in having owned both a Cavalier Coupe and a Calibra.

The Cavalier (like the Sports hatch, but better looking in having a boot, although not as practical) was a great car to drive. I bought mine in 1981 (5 years old) and had it until 1988. Admittedly, by then it had died a death having been rear-ended by some idiot (making it look more like a BMW Compact) and then the engine losing oil pressure (one of the not so good 1.9s).

On the other hand, it rode amazingly well (I could drive it high speed across Thruxton's field/car park with ease) and handled pretty well for an old car - A mate who had a 205 GTi, then the high point of hot-hatchery, was moved to remark how well it handled.

One on memorable day a few months after I bought mine, a friend of the family (about my age) turned up with her new car which was the same car! I think I have a photo somewhere of the two cars parked outside my parents' house. Hers was sadly squashed by a careless delivery lorry...

I bought a Calibra when they came out (A redtop one with FWD only) and it had its virutes (it looked great, imo, and was very comfortable and economical), but not a drivers car at all, it really was a Cavalier in drag.

I replaced the Cavalier with a Renault 5GT Turbo having for a long time planned to get a Manta GT/E, but when I seriously looked, the Manta was an old car with limited dynamics whereas the Renault was state of the art (if you ignore the ancient pushrod engine design) and in a different league. That said, even in period, I can't imagine the Metro GTi being a better drive than a healthy GT/E and certainly no quicker.

I wouldn't buy this Cavalier, I never liked the hatches much and I hate autos, but I often nostalgically long for a nice booted Cavalier Coupe or Manta.

Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 13th September 09:27

Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 13th September 18:31

[B'stard Child]

s m said:

B'stard Child said:

s m said:

Y282 said:

s m said:

Y282 said:

Always thought the manta should have had the 24v senator engine as an option/spec.

Was almost out of production by the time that engine came along - Irmscher did an i300 though with the 12v

Yeah i remember it. Just thought tht 24v would have been a good one to see in there, more in keeping with the style and size of shell.

The 156bhp 2.0XE would have been a good factory engine

Absolutely this or maybe if more poke is required one of the 2.5/2.6/3.0/3.2 V6 24V engines

The straight six 3.0 24V is a bloody boat anchor(*) in bigger cars never been convinced that it works in a Manta/Cav etc

(*) I'm a huge fan mind

Would have been a good replacement in a Monza though

Even better when it gets an LC crank (C36GET) and rods and 6 custom oversize pistons to take it out to 3.7

Although I'll still end up with old school fueling on it

[s m]

marcosgt said:

I replaced the Cavalier with a Renault 5GT Turbo having for a long time planned to get a Manta GT/E, but when I seriously looked, the Manta was an old car with limited dynamics whereas the Renault was state of the art (if you ignore the ancient pushrod engine design) and in a different league. That said, even in period, I can't imagine the Metro GTi being a better drive than a healthy GT/E and certainly no quicker.

A 5GTT was pretty much the fastest small hatch at that time. Much faster than the Metro though