Honest Opinions - Chevrolet Cavalier?

Question

Hi I am a 20 year old student and my neighbor is selling her
'98 chevy cavalier. I have heard mixed things about this car but I really just need something to get me from point A to point B over the next 4 years. Do you think these cars are ok? I can get it for $3000. Any input on the cavalier is appreciated!

Answer 1

I think the cavelier is a great car for transportation for a student. $3000 seems high though. What is the mileage?
Go to www.KBB.com and enter the mileage and condition and try to get it for the mid price.

Answer 2

The Cavalier is a so called entry level car. This means it is cheap to buy, and therefore not exactly top quality. That being said there are lots of them out there, and they can be good basic transport. To me 3 grand for a 98 sounds a bit steep unless it is in super excellent shape. I would spend an afternoon at the library and start by checking out that model in Consumer Report etc. to see how it ranks for reliability. I drive a 2001 Toyota Corolla, and while more expensive to fix than a similar North American car they almost never break. Getting back to the Cavalier, if it breaks in a serious way you can get good parts from an auto wrecker quickly and at 50% of new. If this car is in cherry shape with low mileage it would likely last 4 years. Regardless of what you buy, change your oil at least every 5000 Km, and keep good rubber under you unless you want to crash and maybe die. Lots of people will recommend getting a compression test done one a used car you intend to buy. I recommend getting a tune up/maintanence service package done at a dealership on the car, in your case GM. This is cheaper than a safety check and will let you know what is wrong with it, and how well the car has been maintained in the past. On oil change at many places also includes a brief inspection, which may not tell you much, but costs about 50 bucks or less and beats spending thousands you will regret. You may be able to get the seller to at least partially finance a tune up and service package, and if they act weird about the idea even if you offer to pay I would say bye and look for another car. If you do go for the tuneup idea do not tell the dealer anything, and be sure to firmly decline any repairs that may be necessary. Good luck shopping, Phil aka adventureboy

Answer 3

Hello. for 27 years(the pic is me 15 years ago...lol) i have been buying used cars and selling them to new car dealers (i am a wholesaler). Let me just say that anyone who pays 3000 for a 98 cavalier should be made to drive a yugo for a month. I dont care if its the cleanest cavalier you have EVER seen...stop...then run...dont look back...much better choices especially being that this car needs to last for 4 years...and be in the budget.....8-10 year old toyota corrola, nissan sentra would be my choice...

Answer 4

Well going by owner experience. I had a 1990 Cavalier, I beat the hell out of that car. And it just kept going, it had over 200,000 miles on it when I gave it to a friend of mine, He drove it for afew months until he could get a better car, I got the car back and parted it out. I think those cars are vary well built, My Mom has owned 3 of them a 1984, a 1993, and she now has a 1998, she love's the Cavaliers, they get great mileage, I got 31 mpg in mine, but mine was a 5 speed. I highly recommend the Cavalier for a daily commute car. Hope this helps you out.

Answer 5

I've had 3 of them that were good cars, and 1 that was not. I assume the one that was not a good one was abused before I got it. 2 of them hit 220,000 miles, 1 was hit by a truck while parked, and the other didn't make 100,000 before I gave up on it. That was the bad one.

If memory serves correctly the bad one had a 2.0L engine while the good ones had 2.2L engines.

They are good cars over-all, though I think I would try to get the price down unless there is something really impressive about it..

Answer 6

I have a Cavalier. Nothing wrong with it. Of course, you have to decide whether a 9 year old will give you reliable service, or will be a constant problem. I can't know that from here.

Answer 7

the cavaliers are pretty good cars we have one as a secondary car and it has around 218,000 on it and it has pulled a a trailer with scrap on it so yea their good cars

Answer 8

The Cavalier is a good car, as long as you keep it maintained.depending on the mileage of the can depends on how much maintnance you will have to do.

Answer 9

cavalier's are a good car my husband has been driving with a cracked head on his for 3 yrs. but 3000.00 is to much.

Answer 10

It is a good little cheap car. If the previous owner changed oil and maintained fluids, it will last you, assuming you do the maintenance. The gas mileage is great on them also.