Cavcraft's real life roadtests: Calibra.

[Cavcraft]

 

1995 Calibra SE5. When I (very excitedly) bought this, I expected to find a RED TOP, YO! C20XE, or maybe the once ubiquitous C20SE, but it's the C20NE which is about 115BHP, I think.

 

​It's done 198,000 miles which (although these 8V engines are absolutely mega) is clearly quite a lot for any Vauxhall, let alone a fairly elderly one. So what's wrong (actual faults) with this 21 year old AVAS? Here's your list:

 

​The driver's seat heater doesn't work and I'm not sure if the sunroof opens fully, though it does open and close.

 

 

And that really is about it. There is a crack in the windscreen, but that's not a fault of the car, so to be fair it's done really well. Even the arches are superb, I think there's a blister on one door bottom but otherwise it's ace and appears to be wearing it's original (James Edwards, probably Heswall) dealer plates.

 

Interior:

 

Not stood the test of time as well as the exterior, various rips etc in the leather. Chances of finding (fairly priced) seats quite slim, would imagine most now sit in Novas and what not. Not the end of the world, but would make the car look much better.

 

​The power* plant:

 

Obviously not as quick as the SE (130) engine or the wonderful C20XE, and doesn't actually feel that fast. In actual fact, I was going to have a bit of a whinge about the poke, but it's one of those cars that's actually going quicker than it feels. Say what you want about Vauxhalls, but from the eighties onwards they got their act together with pretty decent refinement, the Mk2 SRi Cavalier was the same, always seem to be going much quicker than it felt they were.

​Talking of which, although I suppose this is a Mk3 Cavalier in a shell suit, some of it feels a bit Mk2: there's that slightly 'wooden' feel at times the older Cavaliers had, yet mostly it's 'Mk3 style' with that better build quality and more sort of flowing feel about it. That probably sounds like a load of old flannel, but long term Cavalierists will probably understand.

 

​Driving:

 

​Taking note of the above, the drive is nice and there's that sort of half-arsed 8V induction roar* which always sound better with a K&N and a decent back box or system. It's got the filter but not the exhaust, so it's a bit muted and really needs a nice free flowing big bore exhaust. if I keep it I'll see if there's any old stock PCL or Peco or something systems about, or maybe a DTM backbox. My old Cav had the PCL and it sounded absolutely ace.

 

​The gear change is a bit of a let down, very much of it's era, but really quite wooden and not really fluid or quick enough unless you work it, but I suppose that was always half the fun of these, wringing the last seconds out of each gear, then going for it in the next one. The other day I went to work in it and sort of moaned to myself about how slow it was, then I looked at the speedo and it wasn't half going some. It can driven slowly too, which I like in this as it's less 'hooligan' than the MX5.

​It took me back a good few years and as a consequence I sort of drive it like I stole it, which it pretty much encourages you to do yet never feels out of kilter when you're going for it in any gear. I love it because it feels nice and it looks a million dollars, reminds me of the first Capri had: to most people it's just a car they've seen umpteen times, but when it's yours and you keep looking at it out of the window, it's almost exciting every time you see it as the first time you spotted it. I like that in a  car, even crap ones can be a source of pleasure.

 

Thoughts:

​People do still smile at you when you drive it and you get the odd thumbs up, which I have to confess I do like. I'm just incredibly paranoid about parking it at night, so it's blocked in twice and alarmed with immobilisor, but sadly I expect if someone wanted it badly enough, they'd take it somehow.

​I wondered how this had lasted so long for as well as it has, I think because the (main) previous owner had it 17 years o something, probably garaged it and maybe people knew it was an 8V so were less likely to TWOC it because it's not a 16V.

 

​I'm giving this car a 9/10 because it's such a fine looking thing and a pleasure to own and drive, perhaps losing points because it doesn't feel as balls out as a turbo or red top. Once I've beaten As's don't-let-Billy-host-pictures-from-his-pc thing, I'll chuck a couple of photo's up.

 

​If I keep it then an exhaust and windscreen will be next up, plus a working standard radio cassette as I think the original is knackered

 

 

[Station]

The 8v is more aerodynamic than the 16v due to a different bumper (radiator hole was smaller).

 

Mad fact - the rear design was meant to ape a runner on starting blocks.

 

 

I have a full sports exhaust system for this propping up my garage roof if you're interested, it has three silencers so isn't loud.

[Cavcraft]

Talk to me via pm!

[sal]

Excellent choice of car. I've currently got a similar 8v in black that's unfortunately terminally rotten but will provide bits I need for my white 16v (Eco).

 

I've also got a mk2 cavalier and agree on the similar driving feel to them. Good old cars in my opinion and the 8v engines are strong old things.

[Supernaut]

Talk to me via pm!

He would, but his garage roof has fallen on him.

[dollywobbler]

Do like. You seem to have kept this one a fair while too.

[DeeJay]

 

 

I have a full sports exhaust system for this propping up my garage roof if you're interested, it has three silencers so isn't loud.

Swop for an Acrow.

[Supernaut]

Swop for an Acrow.

He'd probably swap it for a long wooden post, to be honest. Anything with garage-roof-holding-up capabilities.

 

I'll stop it now.

[dieselnutjob]

How do they compare with the 406 coupe?

[gnorwebthgimi]

Wooden posts are much better at holding up garage roofs...

[DaveDorson]

I'd gladly use one of these for daily kicks given the chance.

 

8v engines have a charm about them.  I feel the same way about the ubiquitous MK2 Golf GTi's

[fordperv]

the 2.0 8v takes a beating and keeps coming back for more

[Guest Lord Sward]

Nobody needs 16 valves.  Unless they have a V8 of course.

[Barry Cade]

My mate with the black one (he has others) has turboed his 8v. Goes well, and seems to hold together fine. He just bolted the turbo on and fettled the mixture, no internal mods at all. Been 6 or 7 years now.

[DSdriver]

MrsDS had one years ago which was sadly terminally Tboned by some phone-talking idiot in a Galaxy. We had a great driving holiday in Spain and Portugal with it, finding it extremely comfortable with the aircon going full blast whilst cruising at 90/100 on straight roads that went on for miles.

It would probably have gone a lot faster if the bonnet didn't weigh so much.

[Cavcraft]

I also had a black one that was T-boned, this time by a woman in a Galaxy, just at the top of our road.

[406V6]

How do they compare with the 406 coupe?

I had an 8V Calibra back in the day and still have the 406 saloon which shares running gear and some metalwork with the 406 coupe. The Calibra was a very good cruiser but so's the 406 and the 406 has nicer steering and handling in the twisty bits. When it comes to luggage the Calibra wins as it's a proper hatch.

[richbraith]

I wish I'd bought the 8v Calibra I was offered instead of the Ecowreck one I did buy, because then there'd be a good chance I'd still own a Calibra.

[Rusty_Rocket]

I had a 'K' reg Calibra Turbo. Although the seller assured me the 4x4 system was fine, I very quickly discovered that the warning light concerned had been wired to the oil pressure light.

Still, it was a genuinely fast car and I couldn't get too upset at its 2wd-ness for the £900 I paid for it

The power totally overwhelmed the fwd chassis but it was a proper laugh. I sold it to an idiot who broke it up to put the engine into a bloody Corsa.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Years ago, I drove a 16v Calibra that had been fitted with Eibach springs, anti roll bars and Koni top adjust dampers. It was a staggeringly good drive with standard tyres and redtop.