Cavalier Coupe Collected

[RobT]

After an easy train journey out to Maidstone this morning, I've now got this

 

 

As drunken ebay purchases go, it ain't bad at all. Bodywork is very tidy with just a few rust spots coming through on the rear arches, and despite some random noises drives fine too. On the motorway it's doing 3000rpm at 90 so is a GR9 cruiser, but I'll get the tracking done as it seems to pull to the left a bit. Hopefully it's just that rather than the suspension being jiggered or something. The ride is a bit crashy over bumps but I recall that Cavalier I had was the same.

 

MOAR PICS

 

 

 

 

Dig the dials. And proper steering wheel too, as opposed to those gopping 90s Vauxhall ones.

 

The interior was a bit mank and smells of dog, so I gave it a quick hoover and cleaned the dash so it now looks a lot better.

 

A previous owner had an aftermarket immobiliser fitted, and check out his instructions to future owners. No mention of how to actually switch the fucker back on again if you do immobilise it. The lad i bought it off said it might be worth getting it removed as he found it a right pain in the arse. I can't imagine it's that much of a problem, but if he says it is then i won't go touching them there buttons.

 

 

Soz, can't rotate the pic on this fuggin tablet thing.

[cms206]

I may have just messed myself a bit.

Beautiful.

[dugong]

Urgh! Lockwood dials!

Looks reet otherwise. GT SUM SLABS N IT M8

[danthecapriman]

Looks very tidy. And it's got a proper gearbox too!

J reg must be one of the first ones?

[HMC]

Fantastic ! All the better it's giffer spec as it seems to have escaped being messed with.

 

It must be just about the only calibra on steels, seeing it without any bolt on crap makes you reallise what an understated looker they can be. I really like it!

 

How does it compare to your old cav?

[andy18s]

Nice.

IIRC pretty much all of Vauxhalls of this ilk had a tendency to follow the camber of the road," they all do that sir"

[HillmanImp]

J reg must be one of the first ones?

 

Think they were first on a G plate. MENTALZ

[UltraWomble]

Thats rather nice, Immobiliser sounds like an old giffer trick of just cutting the wire and popping a switch in, so I doubt Witchcraft is involved. I could be wrong though.

[eddyramrod]

Well bought sir!

[Felly Magic]

Looks a tidy thing, I bet Billy is dribbling all over his keyboard now 

[KruJoe]

Looking super-smooth with those trims Rob, nice one. I can imaging you enjoying this very much indeed.

PS: You've a bulb out, mate.

[purplebargeken]

That is a very tidy looking thing. Excellent purchase!

[steve_earwig]

Oooh, that is splendid, well done sir

 

The last one of those I saw here was held together with filler and gaffer tape, I went with the mechanic to try and bump start it in a car park. Nothing doing so we tow started it. At one point there was a horrible clattering noise behind us and I thought the poor thing had finally collapsed but no, that was it running.

[M'coli]

WIN. This is very nice -well done. *Firefox has told me there's 12 posts above this one -sorry, I was cooking curry for tea.

It's still lovely though.

[Bren]

Top bombing.

 

And an auto with wheel trims.

[DVee8]

A 2.0ltr 8 valve giffamatic on steels with great trims must be the holy grail.

 

Well done that man.

[Timewaster]

I love that 4 spoke steering wheel. Probably the nicest one Vauxhall made.

 

I wanted one for my mk2 cav but never found one for sale.

 

Well bought, nice to see there is no stick on crap or Halfords alloys.

 

How are the seat bolsters?

[406V6]

Very nice. Back in the day I had one of these from new for a couple of years. H Reg. The 8v is no ball of fire but good enough and it cruised well. The low ground clearance was a pain on speed humps though and the plastic trim bits on the sills got crushed a few times.

[skattrd]

These have got to be one of the nicest looking Vauxhalls ever, top bombing Rob.

[dollywobbler]

That's excellent, though the wheel trims are making me cry. They're so horrible compared to the rest of the car. Not often that I think alloys would actually be better. Crikey, even Poundland wheel trims would be better I think. I seriously suspect this won't struggle to find a new home if you need to punt it on.

[KruJoe]

Who couldn't love a car with the boot release button hiding in the light cluster? That's the main reason* I bought myself a 90's Audi Coupe back in the day.

[RobT]

Seat bolsters are fine, which is a surprise as i keep rubbing them on entry, whilst rubbing something else off at the same time...

 

Nice.

IIRC pretty much all of Vauxhalls of this ilk had a tendency to follow the camber of the road," they all do that sir"

I could feel the wheel being pulled to the side on a few occasions, so it could be that then. Bloody annoying if it is!

 

Looking super-smooth with those trims Rob, nice one. I can imaging you enjoying this very much indeed.PS: You've a bulb out, mate.

Yeah i noticed than, the 75 keeps popping bulbs too so i need to do a bulk buy of the things.

 

Compared to my old Cav it doesn't feel as sprightly, but the doors weigh a frickin' ton so that alone must slow it down a bit. Plus the auto box of course, which i like as it always seems to be in the correct gear and doesn't hunt.

 

Engine shot, clean enough for a 26 year old motor

 

 

Trims are for WINNARS!

 

[Lord Sterling]

Looks sweet man. Well done.

[RobT]

That's excellent, though the wheel trims are making me cry. They're so horrible compared to the rest of the car. Not often that I think alloys would actually be better. Crikey, even Poundland wheel trims would be better I think. I seriously suspect this won't struggle to find a new home if you need to punt it on.

I quite like the shitness of the trims, makes a change from 17" barried rims or whatever the youngsters like to put on things these days.

 

I probably won't keep it though, just run it for a month or so and then shift on. I keep getting harangued by SWMBO to get a small auto that she can use, which this isn't. We're going to see the in-laws tomorrow in Eastbourne so I'll take this and get her to drive, might change her tune then!

[Timewaster]

http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/items-sale/520265-astra-mk2-cavalier-mk3-sri-wheel-trims-14-rims-brand-new-used.html

 

 

Needs some of these really. Shame they were listed 2 years ago.

[Sudsprint]

Lovely

[dave21478]

migweb - there is a blast from the past!

 

I love Calibras - that looks a nice one, although Im not a fan of silver in general.

Nice simple engine too - a doddle to work on, and iirc "safe" so losing cambelt roulette is no worse than a tow home and a new belt.

[RobT]

Cambelt was done at 90k two years ago, together with the waterpump. It comes with loads of history, and for a car that has travelled I'm surprised it's so clean body wise - first registered in Shrewsbury, then on to Trigger's manor, then Sussex and Kent. Must have been garaged or kept off road at each place.

 

Just taken it for a spin to see how crap the headlights are, and yes they are pitiful being such slender things. I had three cars pull out on me, but they tend to drive like pricks around these parts anyway.

 

A 'sort of' fleet shot. The 75 fits easily into the garage, even if I do risk pulling a muscle each time I get out (sideways space is a tad limited).

 

[KruJoe]

I probably won't keep it though, just run it for a month or so and then shift on. I keep getting harangued by SWMBO to get a small auto that she can use, which this isn't. We're going to see the in-laws tomorrow in Eastbourne so I'll take this and get her to drive, might change her tune then!

 

I hope she likes it. It's not really that big is it? Park it close to a new Fiesta or summert and show her the sleek, modest proportions.

 

If all else fails, there's always ... http://autoshite.com/topic/19264-cavcraft-2015-things-have-got-worse-daewooastrameganecorsa-td/?p=702388

[RobT]

Not at all Joe, parked next to one of those modern Peugeot 3008 shitboxes in our resident bays it looks small, and rather handsome! She ideally wants a Clio though, but I've already stated it will have to be a phase 1 so it's classic insureable, which also makes it old enough to be vaguely interesting. Not bothered by later Clios TBH.

 

What I REALLY want is a pre-facelift Mk3 Cavalier CD auto, and needless to say I'm in for a wait so this Calibra has scratched the griffin itch for now.