GTP Cool Wall: 1995-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier

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1995-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier

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Wiegert

Wiegert

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1995-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier nominated by @All Your Base

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Body Styles: 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, 4-door sedan
Engines: 2.2L LN2 OHV I4, 2.2L L61 DOHC I4, 2.2L L42 DOHC I4, 2.3L LD2 DOHC I4, 2.4L LD9 DOHC I4
Power: 110-150 hp
Torque: 129-155 ft-lbs
Weight: 1162-1315 kg
Transmission: 3-speed automatic, 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual
Drivetrain: Front-engine, front wheel drive
Additional Information:
The Cavalier received it's first total redesign in 1994 (for the 1995 model year), with expanded dimensions and more aerodynamic styling, with styling cues from the 4th generation Camaro. Coupe, sedan, and convertible options were offered, however the wagon model was replaced by an LS Sedan for the third generation which was equipped with power windows and power door locks. By 1997, the Cavalier (unfortunately) became the best selling car in GM's lineup. All available engines were Inline-four engines. The option for a V6 engine, which had been available in the first and second generation, was dropped and replaced by a new four-cylinder of similar power output. In 2000, the car gained a minor facelift consisting of bigger headlights and an improved grille, lost the "CHEVROLET" text badge at the trunklid and gained a new "CAVALIER" badge along with new "five spoke" hubcaps. The Z24 only came in two-door coupe models until 2001 and featured a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch tires, alloy wheels and improved interior electronics. Aesthetically little changed from the other models other than a ground effects kit and taller rear spoiler. In 2000 a 4-door Z24 Sedan debuted, featuring the same mechanics but having a less sporty body. The new Ecotec motors replaced the GM 122 Pushrod Engine (2.2 L OHV) in base models in 2003, and became the sole engine choice in the entire Cavalier line-up until 2005 when the Chevrolet Cavalier was replaced by the Chevrolet Cobalt. The third-generation Cavalier earned several low scores in crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also, IIHS fatality risks statistics rated the Cavalier among the "Highest rates of driver deaths," with 150 (4 door) to 171 (2 door) driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.

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I know it's the wrong era, but I can say it's cooler than cars like the Sunbird and Aries.

That isn't saying much.
 
FerrariF1GT
I know it's the wrong era, but I can say it's cooler than cars like the Sunbird and Aries.

That isn't saying much.
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You could get a cool Sunbird from the factory. A fairly chintzy 80's cool, but nonetheless one that people would legitimately want, at least until they experienced it. The only people who thought these are cool were the "Wow, you mean even I can get financed for a new car?!" and "omg look what daddy bought me" types.
 
The facelifted version is better.

Minimally.


Seriously Uncool.
 
Dad almost bought one of these. But instead he got the Clio I drive today. Thanks dad :)

As for the car itself, well... it's ok I guess.

Meh.
 
I do have a soft spot for these. Automotive equivalent to a cockroach, my sister had one and even she couldn't kill it after over a decade of serious abuse.

S-Z, feeling generous today.
 
No car presently embodies the spirit of a 16 year old getting their license more than this car right here. They aren't great, they aren't exiciting, and they aren't even very noteworthy, but by god they spell freedom for tens of thousands of 16-18 year olds who manage to cobble together $1,000 for something they can load all their friends in and Snapchat while driving down the road blasting Fetty Wap out of a premium 1995 stereo.

It's still uncool, but being a car of the teenager at least saves it from seriously uncool because freedom always gains points.
 
Seriously Uncool, unfortunately some of these found their way to Japan. I have no clue of anyone over there got suckered into actually buying one.
 
A high uncool if this is your very first car. Seriously, Seriously Uncool any other time. The automotive equivalent of a disposable lighter. Use it up, throw it away, repeat.
 
I bet GM literally said "Hey, let's try to make a car that's cheaply made, boring, slow, and unreliable".

SU
 
It was probably only a few months ago, but I saw an absolutely pristine condition one on the road the other day. It looked like it had just rolled off the assembly line. It was a late 90's model, before the last very awkward final facelift. Undoubtedly one of the nicest ones left in the world...

Which made me think the owner had to be certifiable.

Safety isn't particularly sexy, but neither is the opposite. Knowing how much more likely you are to die behind the wheel of one of these, plus the general terribleness of both the car and the sorts of people that covet it, drops it to SU for me.
 
WeThePeople
I bet GM literally said "Hey, let's try to make a car that's cheaply made, boring, slow, and unreliable".

SU
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Think about what they were up against at the time? The Dodge Neon and Ford Contour were on the market trying to beat out things like the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and Toyota Corolla (which weirdly enough also competed against the Toyota Cavalier). GM had to do something to get market share since the previous generation Cavalier was dated, selling something cheap and small was the ticket for them, and to think they rode that pony for 10 years without doing really anything to the car.

Bonus picture of a Toyota Cavalier.

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How a lot of Cavaliers lives played out.

Dealership > Abuse > Crusher.

SU for plenty of reasons.
 
Joey D
Think about what they were up against at the time? The Dodge Neon and Ford Contour were on the market trying to beat out things like the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and Toyota Corolla (which weirdly enough also competed against the Toyota Cavalier). GM had to do something to get market share since the previous generation Cavalier was dated, selling something cheap and small was the ticket for them, and to think they rode that pony for 10 years without doing really anything to the car.
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I don't know that they did. With the razor thin margins small cars have, and with how much these in particular had to sell on price compared to a Civic and Corolla, how much money could they have really made on them even if they were a warmed over version of something they had been selling since the early 80s? The only benefit I can think they definitely had was offsetting CAFE numbers.
 
Almost every Cavalier of this generation that I see around are not in good condition. It's actually rare to see one well maintained. A typical third-gen Cavalier most likely has one of these things:

  • Dings/small dents all over
  • Missing hubcaps (most common)
  • Many scratches
  • No muffler
  • Bad paint condition
  • Damaged windshield or window
  • Dirty interior littered with junk, such as empty bottles, plastic, cigarette butts, etc.
  • Sometimes even RICEr parts like a cheap bodykit, ugly rims, or a wing.
 
The funny thing is that my aunt owned a Cavalier Z24 and I got to ride in it a few times when I was a kid. I remember it being okay, but not the best car I've gotten a ride in.

Anyway, it's indeed uncool for similar reasons as the other users.
 
The car that people think of when they think of a dropout frat teen's first car and ricer (along with the Civic and Neon). Unlike those two however, the Cavalier is a deathtrap with abysmal safety ratings and it also has not aged well over the years, made worse by the time it spent in production with barely making any changes. For example, the car the Cavalier was intended to compete with, the Civic, has gone through four generations (fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth) all while this generation Cavalier was in production while barely making any changes by year. I hate this car with a burning passion and please, PLEASE let it rot in hell. Seriously, Seriously uncool.
 
All Your Base
The car that people think of when they think of a dropout frat teen's first car and ricer (along with the Civic and Neon). Unlike those two however, the Cavalier is a deathtrap with abysmal safety ratings and it also has not aged well over the years, made worse by the time it spent in production with barely making any changes. For example, the car the Cavalier was intended to compete with, the Civic, has gone through four generations (fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth) all while this generation Cavalier was in production while barely making any changes by year. I hate this car with a burning passion and please, PLEASE let it rot in hell. Seriously, Seriously uncool.
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It's pretty obvious that this car is far from cool, but you've made it sound like it's absolute hell on wheels. It's bad, but not that bad; fair to say that the Cavalier is just a typical, cheap econo-car.

Also, it was priced less than the Civic, which won over many buyers.
 
WeThePeople
It's pretty obvious that this car is far from cool, but you've made it sound like it's absolute hell on wheels. It's bad, but not that bad
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Eeehhh... It was pretty bad. The Accent was probably worse, Ford completely half assed the Escort the following year, and I can't imagine the Mirage was an amazing thing; but the Tempo was discontinued the year prior and the main competition for worse cars in the same rough market would have come from GM's own showrooms.

Leonidae@MFT
Isn't that just a rebadged Opel Astra..? SU anyways.
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Doesn't share anything with any Opel as far as I know. It's an extensively rebodied version and updated of the original Cavalier, but even that didn't share an awful lot with the Ascona C.
 

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