My boyhood dream, immaculate 1993 Cavalier Turbo
Discussion
rix said:
Love this. My first semi fast car was a mk3 Sri withe the 130bhp 8v. It was a 4 door so had similar looks to the gsi and turbo. Would love another for nostalgia factor, even an SRi if I would a cheap solid version!
They're are some about, not so much ebay but the bookface groups SRIs do pop up for sale. There was a red one not long ago for jot huge money, issue is rust has taken its toll on anything early 90's lotuslover69 said:
I had a Cavalier and what a pile of s
te it was lol
All old cars are ste it was lolt to drive. Is there something faster, yes. Is there something more comfortable, yes. Is there something worth more money, yes. Is there something that handles better, yes. The list goes on, you can do this with any car in the world ever produced. The ownership of the car, the sentimental value, the way it makes you feel is why you buy an an older carFermit and Sexy Sarah said:
HedgeyGedgey said:
lotuslover69 said:
I had a Cavalier and what a pile of ste it was lol
All old cars are ste it was lolt to drive. Is there something faster, yes. Is there something more comfortable, yes. Is there something worth more money, yes. Is there something that handles better, yes. The list goes on, you can do this with any car in the world ever produced. The ownership of the car, the sentimental value, the way it makes you feel is why you buy an an older carttier than a Turbo. 
monzaxjr said:
I'm sure your Mum will be looking down with a smile. Do you intend to lock the transfer box and do away with the hydraulics or keep the 4x4 system oem? Lovely motor by the way.
Thanks buddy means a lot. I believe the transfer has been locked already. It's a pig to manoeuvre now hahaFermit and Sexy Sarah said:
You know what, I bet 200ish bhp in that feels fast as. What's it's kerb weight?
It's not too bad tbh, it's old school turbo so get nothing till 3k then it kicks in, but what's bizarre is you get another kick at 5500. It's very odd feeling. My other car is a Toyota Starlet with 300+bhp and 850kgs. So its not quite in that league Loplop said:
Ace thread.
I mentioned it on the GG thread about the Sapphire Cos but when I passed my test in 2011 a Cav Turbo was one of the few candidates of fast/interesting/not ridiculous to insure cars at the time. No doubt they were a bit rough around the edges, but I could've picked one up for around the same price as an Accord Type R! Circumstances changed unfortunately and I didn't get the opportunity, but the amount of time I'd spent lusting and researching after them has made me appreciate the car so much ever since. No doubt you won't want to be doing it in yours, but there just seems to be something about the way that these launch off the line.
I too have an 'attainable' dream car that has been caused by being carted round in one of the more cooking models when I was younger. I grew up in E32 and E34 BMWs and when my Dad had his first E34 535i Sport I thought it was the coolest thing on the planet, we were lucky enough that some years later he did own a 3.8 6 Speed car, but life caught up and it had to be sold on for a fraction of what it's worth now. I've not long started my final year at Uni and I hope that once I've finished and that all the boring stuff - like a house - is out of the way then I know I'll have 'made it' once I've got an M5 on the driveway.
We did take it one night to Colchester town to pick up my brother. And a baby launch at maybe 3500rpm slipping the clutch a little and it certainly does shift! I think if the Cavalier didnt happen I'd have found a techno Violet e36, gotta love an old school beemer I mentioned it on the GG thread about the Sapphire Cos but when I passed my test in 2011 a Cav Turbo was one of the few candidates of fast/interesting/not ridiculous to insure cars at the time. No doubt they were a bit rough around the edges, but I could've picked one up for around the same price as an Accord Type R! Circumstances changed unfortunately and I didn't get the opportunity, but the amount of time I'd spent lusting and researching after them has made me appreciate the car so much ever since. No doubt you won't want to be doing it in yours, but there just seems to be something about the way that these launch off the line.
I too have an 'attainable' dream car that has been caused by being carted round in one of the more cooking models when I was younger. I grew up in E32 and E34 BMWs and when my Dad had his first E34 535i Sport I thought it was the coolest thing on the planet, we were lucky enough that some years later he did own a 3.8 6 Speed car, but life caught up and it had to be sold on for a fraction of what it's worth now. I've not long started my final year at Uni and I hope that once I've finished and that all the boring stuff - like a house - is out of the way then I know I'll have 'made it' once I've got an M5 on the driveway.
popeyewhite said:
BITD I owned a Cavalier GSi 4x4. Good car, drove well but was quite slow, after a 1.9 GTi anyway. I always wanted a Cav turbo, but got a Carlton GSi 24v instead after the GSi 4x4. Enjoyable thread, thanks OP.
Thanks for the comment mate. The carlton 24v still went good for a big car in the early 90's though! Few of them ultra low mileage kicking about at the moment Kev_Mk3 said:
Fonzey said:
Good thread 
Reading this and how much time/effort (not to mention cost!) of getting an example like this makes me shudder. My first 'car forum' was for Corsa B enthusiasts and these Cavs (along with the Calibras) were gutted almost weekly to put the engine and/or interior into Corsas
You try finding a cood C20LET now you cant sadlyReading this and how much time/effort (not to mention cost!) of getting an example like this makes me shudder. My first 'car forum' was for Corsa B enthusiasts and these Cavs (along with the Calibras) were gutted almost weekly to put the engine and/or interior into Corsas
STattam said:
I had a spectral blue 1993 L Cav Turbo. Locked VTS transfer box. Loved it. Sold it for a vx220 Turbo but still remember the Cav more fondly. Enjoy yours hope you start to get more chance to use it.
Spectral blue is the rarest colour for them by far! I know of 4, with probably a few more tucked away. Crazy really!elandri said:
I had a one new in 1992/3. K681 LMV I think it was. A black hatchback. I liked the leather interior and it handled quite well but, like other Vauxhalls I've had, it was spoiled by the engine - which had a power band narrower than a modern diesel. It just ran out puff well before the red line. It was really frustrating as it could have been great - as I realised when I got my first Impreza Turbo in 1998.
The japs just do it better agreed, the drive of an old school jap car is like nothing elseEdited by elandri on Saturday 7th December 10:19
To bump this thread back up. Not been to see the car for ages, and 2020 has been a bust for the majority of us. Uncovered the old dear and gave her a well earned day of cleaning 
|https://thumbsnap.com/iQ6TNo6v[/url]
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/rR4MWd2Y[/url]
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/zAy6y1vM
Worked out it has been around 10months since the car was started. And its due a cambelt now so chose to just push out, then back in again and under her cover. Hopefully 2021 means shows will go ahead!!!
|https://thumbsnap.com/iQ6TNo6v[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/rR4MWd2Y[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/zAy6y1vMWorked out it has been around 10months since the car was started. And its due a cambelt now so chose to just push out, then back in again and under her cover. Hopefully 2021 means shows will go ahead!!!
Jaaack said:
What a cool car. Big big fan of Cavalier saloons. Really nice that you've got such a nice one in your Mum's memory.
Shame they're so rare now - although according to Howmanyleft there were only 800 odd in the first place.
I'm a massive Honda/Jap fan but I'm starting to get really into 90s Vauxhalls, would love a Nova GSi or Cavalier GSi. I've been watching a lot of early 90s BTCC and the Cavaliers are the best looking cars out there and had a fair bit of success at the hands of John Cleland.
What's it like to drive? Is it quite a focused drivers car with sharp handling, or more of just a top of the range, "do it all" car? It'd be an interesting car to compare to my own 90's hot saloon (Accord Type-R) as they have similar power, while the Accord is a smidge lighter. Interestingly they both have quite similar death rates - the Accords often suffer the same fate as these Cavaliers, they got cheap and rusty, and people rip them apart to build hot Civics (or Corsas/Novas in the Cavalier's case)
I'm quite fancying the idea of getting my hands on a GSi at some point and pretending I'm Mr Cleland, probably more appropriate to do this with a GSi as they're FWD and N/A so should be able to do some track time without much going wrong.
Is it a bit painful keeping it away from home? I'd hate to have something like that but not be able to see it whenever I wanted to
Very very cool car. I'd walk straight past a Sierra Cosworth to get into one of these.
It doesnt drive too badly tbh, its probably similar to a e36 saloon in terms of comfort and maybe something like a classic impreza but slightly slower in terms of feel and pace. Not bad considering its a big ol vauxhall. Its hard to judge its outright pace, the other toy is a 330bhp 800kgs Toyota Starlet so most things feel pretty slow and dull in comparison haha. Shame they're so rare now - although according to Howmanyleft there were only 800 odd in the first place.
I'm a massive Honda/Jap fan but I'm starting to get really into 90s Vauxhalls, would love a Nova GSi or Cavalier GSi. I've been watching a lot of early 90s BTCC and the Cavaliers are the best looking cars out there and had a fair bit of success at the hands of John Cleland.
What's it like to drive? Is it quite a focused drivers car with sharp handling, or more of just a top of the range, "do it all" car? It'd be an interesting car to compare to my own 90's hot saloon (Accord Type-R) as they have similar power, while the Accord is a smidge lighter. Interestingly they both have quite similar death rates - the Accords often suffer the same fate as these Cavaliers, they got cheap and rusty, and people rip them apart to build hot Civics (or Corsas/Novas in the Cavalier's case)
I'm quite fancying the idea of getting my hands on a GSi at some point and pretending I'm Mr Cleland, probably more appropriate to do this with a GSi as they're FWD and N/A so should be able to do some track time without much going wrong.
Is it a bit painful keeping it away from home? I'd hate to have something like that but not be able to see it whenever I wanted to
Very very cool car. I'd walk straight past a Sierra Cosworth to get into one of these.
I got used to the distance, finished university now so I've been down to the unit more. Its nice to be getting on with other things there and just looking at it (sounds gay I know haha)
Thanks mate means a lot
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff