RE: Vauxhall Cavalier SRI: Spotted
Discussion
Kitchski said:
I had a Primera eGT. Paper figures are one thing, but in the real world I don't think it'd see which way an 8v Cavvy mk3 SRi went.
That surprises me, as a couple of mates had Primeras and they felt quick and handled much better than the Cavs. I can well believe that a "Red top" might be quicker though, as I expect some of them might have been putting out more than 150bhp in reality!While smoking (literally) about in a red-pink 1.7d (na) astra at the time, I lusted after a hatchback 1.7td imagining the torque/power AND the fuel economy of the aerodynamic shape.
They were handsome things, as was the whole Griffin range at the time.
Been doing a lot of UK miles this week, and have to say the Insignia is a handsome car, back on form.
They were handsome things, as was the whole Griffin range at the time.
Been doing a lot of UK miles this week, and have to say the Insignia is a handsome car, back on form.
white_goodman said:
Kitchski said:
I had a Primera eGT. Paper figures are one thing, but in the real world I don't think it'd see which way an 8v Cavvy mk3 SRi went.
That surprises me, as a couple of mates had Primeras and they felt quick and handled much better than the Cavs. I can well believe that a "Red top" might be quicker though, as I expect some of them might have been putting out more than 150bhp in reality!I had a 1993 saloon, and found the seats uncomfortable, the ride bone-shakingly bad and the engine a bit gutless (though I did like the sound of it, and I actually quite liked the look of the car too). My wife has a Saxo VTR, which from fairly low speeds it could do no more than keep up with. My BX 16v of 1990 would have straight up murdered the Primera in a straight line, and lost nothing in the bends either (though it's a very different experience taking fast corners in that!)
I was really gutted with the Primera, because I really wanted to like it. Hint to anyone who felt the same - get an MG ZS180. Very similar in the way it goes about things in corners and in feel, yet has a much more hooligan powerplant!
Having driven some 8v SRi's, they've just got so much more instant punch than the Primera did, let alone getting into the GSi range. I've dyno'd a few Redtops in various Vauxhalls (and kitcars) and the only ones that really do punch out 155bhp+ are the early Astra engines with the Cosworth heads. The later ones are all 145bhp or so, yet because the Redtop managed to combine mid-range punch with high revving power, they still feel pretty quick on the move.
The 20SEH engine was lovely in these. Torquey, responsive and smooth, not to mention tough as old boots. They really did have a decent turn of speed for what they were.
The chassis couldn't really cope from memory. The front tyres would spin with ridiculous ease, and the understeer, especially in the wet, was borderline comical.
Well built and solid cars though. I've driven a few over the years with starship mileage, and they don't really feel any different. Engines still pull well and sound sweet with close to 200k on them, and they still understeer!
The chassis couldn't really cope from memory. The front tyres would spin with ridiculous ease, and the understeer, especially in the wet, was borderline comical.
Well built and solid cars though. I've driven a few over the years with starship mileage, and they don't really feel any different. Engines still pull well and sound sweet with close to 200k on them, and they still understeer!
Adrian E said:
If it's as solid as the mileage and photos/history suggest then it's definitely worth a 4 figure sum - not sure that 4 figure sum should start with a 5, but if you really wanted one you're going to struggle to find another that hasn't been eaten by the tin worm/crashed/painted/abused so the price will entirely depend on the desirability to that one person that wants it.
I have a time warp 1988 Citroen BX 16V squirreled away - not quite as tidy/low miles as this, but probably one of the best left. Even with optimistic pricing I doubt it's worth more than £3k.
My Dad had a Grey 1990 BX 16v (G680ARD), I was only eleven at the time but I'll never forget it, it was a cracking car, so quick and comfortable, we did lots of Holidays to France and Spain in it, remember being distraught when he opted to trade it in for a ZX tdi. If I could find a decent one then I'd certainly consider buying it just to see what it was like.I have a time warp 1988 Citroen BX 16V squirreled away - not quite as tidy/low miles as this, but probably one of the best left. Even with optimistic pricing I doubt it's worth more than £3k.
CAVALIER SRI 1989 Westminister Blue
Ideal future investment .
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Ideal future investment .
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Kitchski said:
white_goodman said:
Kitchski said:
I had a Primera eGT. Paper figures are one thing, but in the real world I don't think it'd see which way an 8v Cavvy mk3 SRi went.
That surprises me, as a couple of mates had Primeras and they felt quick and handled much better than the Cavs. I can well believe that a "Red top" might be quicker though, as I expect some of them might have been putting out more than 150bhp in reality!I had a 1993 saloon, and found the seats uncomfortable, the ride bone-shakingly bad and the engine a bit gutless (though I did like the sound of it, and I actually quite liked the look of the car too). My wife has a Saxo VTR, which from fairly low speeds it could do no more than keep up with. My BX 16v of 1990 would have straight up murdered the Primera in a straight line, and lost nothing in the bends either (though it's a very different experience taking fast corners in that!)
I was really gutted with the Primera, because I really wanted to like it. Hint to anyone who felt the same - get an MG ZS180. Very similar in the way it goes about things in corners and in feel, yet has a much more hooligan powerplant!
Having driven some 8v SRi's, they've just got so much more instant punch than the Primera did, let alone getting into the GSi range. I've dyno'd a few Redtops in various Vauxhalls (and kitcars) and the only ones that really do punch out 155bhp+ are the early Astra engines with the Cosworth heads. The later ones are all 145bhp or so, yet because the Redtop managed to combine mid-range punch with high revving power, they still feel pretty quick on the move.
YankeePorker said:
Pablo16v said:
This was my SRi (not this exact car but the same colour scheme).
My father had one exactly like this as a company car. It was certainly a step up from the crappy old Cortina that it replaced. I remember being impressed by how torquey the engine was, if you were feeling lazy you could take low speed corners in 3rd and it would pull away with no hesitation.The car got stolen when he was up visiting family in Stockton and was found smashed into a brick wall, so I guess they had enough cachet to attract the joy riders.
s m said:
Nissan got the overall nod
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Back in the day we had loads of these Cavliers the mk3 was a big leap forward in looks from the old mark 2 but sadly the suspension and handling was the same turgid wallowy numb mess the early cars had, shame as the engines were great and the seats were better than most of their rivals.[/IMG][/URL]
No way in hell an SRi Cav' woulld compare well against a Primera GT - even today the Primera GT is a fine handling saloon thanks to clever multi link suspension and an all alloy engine that loves to rev, the Cavalier ( much as liked them) was nothing like that to drive.
Cc
No way in hell an SRi Cav' woulld compare well against a Primera GT - even today the Primera GT is a fine handling saloon thanks to clever multi link suspension and an all alloy engine that loves to rev, the Cavalier ( much as liked them) was nothing like that to drive.I'd take the SRi 16v XE engine over the Primera's for sure,.....but I'd want it in the Primera chassis
rallycross said:
s m said:
Nissan got the overall nod
[/IMG][/URL]
Back in the day we had loads of these Cavliers the mk3 was a big leap forward in looks from the old mark 2 but sadly the suspension and handling was the same turgid wallowy numb mess the early cars had, shame as the engines were great and the seats were better than most of their rivals.[/IMG][/URL]
No way in hell an SRi Cav' woulld compare well against a Primera GT - even today the Primera GT is a fine handling saloon thanks to clever multi link suspension and an all alloy engine that loves to rev, the Cavalier ( much as liked them) was nothing like that to drive.
A friend of mine had one of these in 1994.We were about 19 years old. He was doing in exess of 90 mph on the thirteen bends of death(reading/wallingford) when a car pulled out from a side road. He was 4 up with a large amount of persian rugs in the car.
The tree faired better than the car,which was shrink wrapping it. They all walked away with not a scratch.
I saw the car after,the B pillar was where the handbrake used to be !
The tree faired better than the car,which was shrink wrapping it. They all walked away with not a scratch.
I saw the car after,the B pillar was where the handbrake used to be !
white_goodman said:
Kitchski said:
I had a Primera eGT. Paper figures are one thing, but in the real world I don't think it'd see which way an 8v Cavvy mk3 SRi went.
That surprises me, as a couple of mates had Primeras and they felt quick and handled much better than the Cavs. I can well believe that a "Red top" might be quicker though, as I expect some of them might have been putting out more than 150bhp in reality!
Never really saw many SRis but I often followed an Mi-16 on the way to work. Certainly the Nissan engine never felt as lusty as the XE in the GSI and SRi 16v
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