Chevrolet Cavalier
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The Chevrolet Cavalier was Chevrolet's version of the compact GM J platform.
the Cavalier was one of the most popular cars in America from its introduction in early 1981 as a 1982 model. It was affordable, reliable, and got respectable gas mileage. The Cavalier replaced the Chevrolet Monza, and competed with other compact cars that debuted in 1981 — (e.g the Ford Escort and Dodge Aries). For several years in the late 1980s, the Cavalier was the best-selling model in the US, and it was a perennial top seller in Canada also. Perhaps the Cavalier's greatest downfall was its poor crash test ratings, most notably the high risk of pelvic injury in the third generation model (according to the NHTSA).
Although the Cavalier had major restylings in 1988 and 1995, the car was widely panned and criticized in automotive publications for its aging platform and interior design and quality. The Cavalier had been Chevrolet's entry-level car from 1989 to 1997 (1992 in Canada), and from 2001 to 2002, when the Prizm (a clone of the Toyota Corolla) was smaller and more expensive than the Cavalier. However, the Cavalier was mostly larger than its Japanese compact sedan competitors (e.g. Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla).
It was not the only GM J-car to use the Cavalier name, it was also used in the United Kingdom on the Vauxhall-badged version of the Opel Ascona C, and indeed the badge had been used by Vauxhall since 1976.
Production
Cavaliers were built in Lordstown, Ohio, although they have also been produced in Lansing, Michigan, Janesville, Wisconsin, and Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico.Production of the Cavalier ended in October 2004, with the last 2005 model year Cavalier rolling off the Lordstown Assembly Plant line on October 6, and the very last Cavalier off the Ramos Arizpe Assembly Plant line on September 1. The Cavalier was replaced by the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt and in Mexico, the Chevrolet Astra and 2006 Chevrolet Optra (the Optra is also sold in Canada along to the Cobalt and the Pontiac Pursuit), based on the Daewoo Nubira.
Generations
- 1st generation (1982-1987)
- 2nd generation (1988-1994)
- 3rd generation (1995-2005)
Engines used
- 1.8 L inline-4 OHV
- 2.0 L inline-4 OHV (Cavalier-specific)
- 2.0 L inline-4 SOHC Turbo (1987-1990 Pontiac Sunbird/Buick Skyhawk Turbo only)
- 2.8 L V6 MPFI (available in American Z24 models from 1986 to 1989, and in Mexican models until 1994)
- 2.2 L inline-4 OHV
- 2.2 L inline-4 OHV "2200 SFI"
- 2.4 L inline-4 DOHC (Cavalier Z24)
- 3.1 L V6 MPFI Available in Z24 models from 1990 to 1994.
- 1991-1994 3.1 3.1 L MPFI (191 in³) V6
- 1992-1994 GM inline-4 OHV 2.2 L (134 in³) I4 115hp LN2
- 1995 Quad-4 2.3 L (138 in³) I4 LD2
- 1995 GM inline-4 OHV "2200 SFI" 120hp LN2
- 1996-2002 LD9 2.4 L (146 in³) I4 LD9
- 2002-2005 Ecotec 2.2 L (134 in³) I4 L61
Models and trim levels
- Cavalier Cadet available as coupe, sedan or wagon
- Cavalier Base available as coupe, sedan, hatchback or wagon
- Cavalier VL (Value Leader) as coupe, sedan or wagon
- Cavalier Type-10 available as coupe, convertible and hatchback
- Cavalier RS (Rally Sport) available as coupe, sedan, convertible, hatchback and wagon
- Cavalier Z24 available as hatchback (1986 & 1987), coupe, convertible and later on sedan
- Cavalier LS available as sedan and convertible, later on available as sedan
- Cavalier LS Sport available as coupe or sedan
Trouble spots
Earlier generation Cavaliers had consistent problems with rust, specifically on the lower fenders and in the floorpan. Four-door Cavaliers (and the Pontiac Sunfires as well) have an unusual body design where the rear door extends entirely into the wheel well; there is no permanent strip of rear quarter panel extending around the wheel well for the rear door to seal against. As a result, the soft rubber weatherstrip against which the lower portion of the rear door closes is actually part of the rear wheel well, exposed to water and debris coming off the rear tire. This contributes to premature rusting of the inside of the lower rear door.
The 2.4 L inline-4 DOHC (Cavalier Z24) engine is known to spin a rod bearing when it is low on oil.
The 5-speed manual transmission in 1995 to 1999 Cavaliers was made by GM and Isuzu, and is known to have many problems. There is also no syncro in the reverse gear of this transmission, which makes it tricky to get into reverse sometimes. Later models were upgraded to a German-engineered Getrag transmission, which is much stronger and shifts better.
Cavaliers are also known to have many electrical problems. Engines and transmission problems though, have been minimal. Air conditioning is apparently relatively durable.
Concepts
General Motors has produced a handful of concept cars based on the J platform which were first seen at the 2001 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) auto show. These include the Cavalier 220 Sport Turbo Coupe, the Cavalier 263 Super Sport, the Cavalier Z24R, the Cavalier Maui 155, the Cavalier 425 A/FX drag car, and the Pontiac Sunfire HO (High Output) 2.4. These concept cars were produced by GM to show off the flexibility and performance of the J-Body platform and to show that Cavaliers and Sunfires have greater potential than just hauling groceries. The concept cars at the 2001 SEMA show boasted supercharged engines, customized interiors, aggressive exterior styling, and high end audio/video systems.Toyota Cavalier
The third generation model was briefly sold in Japan by Toyota, under a company agreement with GM, badged as the Toyota Cavalier, with some notable differences. Besides the fact that it was right hand drive, the Toyota Cavalier also featured a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel, different taillights (with amber turn signals, per Japanese regulation), power folding rear mirrors, side marker lights on the front fenders, and carpeting on the inside of the trunk lid. These parts are hard to obtain in America (as they were made by GM but owned by Toyota) but remain highly desirable among devout Cavalier fans. The Toyota Cavalier was first sold in 1995 and was sold up until 2000.
| Chevrolet - a division of General Motors - road vehicle timeline, North American market, 1990s-present - | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Subcompact | Geo Metro | Metro | Aveo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Geo Prizm | Geo Prizm | Prizm | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cavalier | Cavalier | Cobalt | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Beretta/Corsica | Malibu | Malibu | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lumina | Lumina | Impala | Impala | ||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Caprice | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal | Monte Carlo | Monte Carlo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Camaro | Camaro | Camaro | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Mini SUV | Geo Tracker | Tracker | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Crossover | S-Blazer | Blazer | Equinox | ||||||||||||||||||
| SUV | TrailBlazer | ||||||||||||||||||||
| K-Blazer | Tahoe | Tahoe | Tahoe | ||||||||||||||||||
| Suburban | Suburban | Suburban | Suburban | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup | S-10 | S-10 | Colorado | ||||||||||||||||||
| C/K | Silverado | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Avalanche | Avalanche | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Minivan | Lumina APV | Venture | Uplander | ||||||||||||||||||
| Van | Astro | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | Express | ||||||||||||||||||||
References
External links
- [The J-body Organization]
- [V6Z24.com]
- [AutoGuideWiki.com: 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier LS]
- [CarDomain Chevy Cavalier pics]
- [Toyota Cavalier Specs]
- [Toyota Cavalier]
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