1987 Cavalier 1.6L - Homing device?

[Owain71]

As my daily driver, my Cavalier (acquired just over 12 months ago) is doing sterling service. Having a 5-speed box means it's very happy to use the UK's motorway network, which it's been doing quite a lot of recently

 

A couple of recent road trips to other locations have allowed it to visit its birthplace in Luton (pictured here posing outside a lovely old Vauxhall-branded building just around the corner from what is now the van factory):

 

 

...and on Sunday, it found it's original supplying dealer in Taunton, which is still trading under the same name!

 

 

It completed Sunday's 385-mile round trip from Oxfordshire to Somerset & back without a hiccup - and greatly improved fuel economy. It was previously achieving a derisory 300 miles to a £65 tankful; a tune-up by the village mechanic (who until recently owned a petrol mk2 Astravan) saw it rise to 350, and following last week's Terraclean treatment it's hit the heady heights of 388 (with a bit left). So, it's gone from c. 28.5 to 36.5 MPG! Good times

 

A final thought... Audi drivers. They are the new BMW drivers. Overtake them at mid-80s MPH in a mid-80s classic and their egos can't cope; I lost count of the number of times I overtook one only for it to speed past once I'll pulled back in... then brake for no apparent reason (other than being a chickensh*t).

 

They'll typically be London-bound in the ubiquitous metallic black A3 TDI...

[Rusty_Rocket]

What a lovely old Cav those wheel trims look so right! They were on every street corner a while back (or so it seemed), now I hardly see them look after it! I nearly bought an identical one back in 1997, but couldn't afford the insurance

Totally agree about modern Audi drivers- usually driven by angry office workers or desperate sales reps. Avoid at all costs

[Lord Sterling]

What an excellent looking motor. I really need a Mk2 Cavalier in my life, they just feel so 'right' and purposeful.

[stuboy]

grew up in these..love them... its got the gli wheeltrims

[Pillock]

I do like that facelift, it's one of the few mid-cycle jobbies that actually improves the look. Much more purposeful than the replacement.

[Partridge]

How come the paintwork is so good? Vauxhall red used to go pink after three years or less.

[M'coli]

That's lovely - it looks in far better nick than my 1.3 of the same era. Any pics of the interior?

[ProgRocker]

Very nice Cavalier indeed. Those wheel trims are ace. By the 1980s Vauxhall did some very nice steel wheel and alloy wheel designs and this plastic wheel trim design is no exception.

[r.welfare]

Lovely. The Family II 1.6 was a good engine and, in what's a lightweight car these days, moves along well. I had an '84 1.6GL saloon a few years ago and enjoyed it. Not in as good condition as yours though. The GL wheeltrims look much better than the standard L design. My dad had one of the last Mk2s, delivered in the summer of '88, a 1.8 GLi hatchback in Nordic Blue. By the standards of the day - and particularly after coming out of a 1.8 carb'd Sierra - it was a rocket!

[mercrocker]

Not only a lovely motor car, two excellent days out with a purpose....Top Marks!

[Negative Creep]

Although I prefer the looks of the Sierra they certainly have aged very well

[Angrydicky]

Excellent bump, I do like these MK2 Cavaliers. Glad I'm not the only one who likes to take old cars back to their birthplace, since getting the Maestro back on the road it's been to visit the factory at Cowley, the supplying dealership (now flats sadly) and the first owner's house.

[CortinaDave]

These are great. Owning one in 2015 must happen

[Uncle Jimmy]

Under rated motors these. First car I owned was a 1.6 in the same red. E199JDF. Was totally reliable and comfortable car to cruise the motorway in. GM showed Ford up with these I'd say. Got nicked and destroyed by some thugs - gutted!

[EssDeeWon]

Nice to see that Cavalier looking so original, certainly not many of these MK2 cavs about anymore. It looks like its been driven straight out of 1988

[oldcars]

This is mint, i love it. My dad was going to get one, a run out Club model i think but went for a early facelift Sierra on a D instead. The the bring your own plate

[oman5]

Nice! Built for motorway pounding reps, these make great everyday classics. They always seemed to do a lot better performance wise for a given capacity than the equivalent Ford. My mk2 cav was only a 1300 and still seemed to go well.

[lisbon_road]

Great car.  Funny how this forum loves old Vaux and hates new ones; the passion of both is beyond measure!

[Uncle Jimmy]

Great car.  Funny how this forum loves old Vaux and hates new ones; the passion of both is beyond measure!

I think it's because we feel Vauxhall has lost the plot. Seems to me all most manufacturers are trying to be 'executive' when a lot of folks just want honest, reliable, no frills motors. VW are a sad case- hardly cars for the masses anymore- bloated, unreliable, expensive to fix.

[Uncle Jimmy]

...anyone here driven a Meriva? If not, do not.

[Hendry]

...anyone here driven a Meriva? If not, do not.

Unfortunately several, both the original model and new model, these type of cars (I include stuff like Renault Modus/Captur, Ford Fusion/BMax, Nissan Note/Juke/Qashqai, VW Golf Plus, Peugeot 3008, Fiat 500L in this) are the worst of these new types of cars which have been invented in recent years,despise every one of them.