Very nice for a 35-36 year old car, both inside and out, and under the bonnet. The MK3 aged well, compared to some other cars of it's time, and still fits in well with other cars on the road today. Nice colour too.
The BBC series "From A to B: Tales Of Modern Motoring" really suits this car, and makes you realise how important it was to have the "i" on the back of your car in those days (even though nobody seemed to have an idea what it meant). From the days when Vauxhall really was king in the fleet sales market. Highly recommended!
It's on TH-cam. I had company cars in the 90s - L, GL, Ghia ..a clear indicator of your social & economic status. Sad to say I removed the wheel trims from my mondeo LX & replaced them with the GLX version. It looked like a different car. Goodness me.
Surely by *_now_* they have to have an idea what the "i" means, wouldn't they?? I can say that I've been aware for approximately 25 years now... perhaps it was just a lack of familiarity with the concept at the time??
I had the first 2.0i GL delivered to Bridge Street dealership in Banbury in 1988, I had Astra 16v GTE on order in aubergine, however there was a delay in that colour, as my Ford Orion Ghia 16i was in part exchange, they offered me the new Demonstration car with 105 miles recorded, I took delivery of Astra in April 1998, the Cavalier was for its time excellent, but the Astra 16v 2.0 for a then 22 year old was awesome ❤very quick.. working for myself and my Dad❤ from 1986 until 2006 I changed my car every year and had some awesome experiences ..
It's the little details like the square griffins as opposed to round, the instrument font, the colour, the gear-knob and the radio that marks this out as a very early model. I like this a lot. I bought a Flame Red 2.0 GLi in the late 1990s, J516RJM, for just £2495. It was faded when I bought it, but two hours of T-Cutting made the car look super-vibrant, and meant I had to wax it every fortnight to prevent it from fading again. I loved it a lot. Very good on the motorway. It was classy on the inside too with its thick beige velour.
This took me back! I had a J-reg 2.0 GLi for four years as a company car. It still felt solid after 108,000 miles, when it made way for a Mondeo V6 24v. The press criticised its very high fifth gear, but it made a great (and economical) motorway cruiser.
Made thousands of these at the Luton plant. A wonderful experience after working there for 35 years and still making the vivaro and the Peugeot versions on the van line
I owned one for a year or two around 1996, I only remember it as a nice set of wheels, the car I collected my wife and newborn baby daughter from the maternity hospital. I bought it from my older brother, he bought it from the company pool for whom we both worked - so we knew the history, records and low-ish mileage was genuine. Sold it when I bought a Laguna with my redundancy payout lol
They did. Ford had already moved towards more curvy designs with the Sierra and Granada. Vauxhall had already launched the Carlton and Senator and the Astra was quite curvy, but I can remember the launch of these feeling especially exciting. They were so modern and such a big change from the boxy old Cavalier and the Vectra seemed a sideways step. The Opel version actually took the Vectra name for the first time. It was similar to the launch of the Focus in 1998 and the Honda Civic in 2006.
We had an even earlier Mk3 GL 2.0i, a November 1988 F reg saloon in Pearlescent Aubergine with grey Velour trim. Same long gear stick, but earlier shape cassette holder! What a nerd I am..
I had a October 1991 J-reg Cavalier GL 2.0i which came standard with rear headrests. I had (incorrectly) assumed that the GL models came with rear headrests from launch, but I guess I am mistaken.
I got a 1.8 ls I'm restoring just now and a low mile diplomat sat in my garage. My first cavy was this one but just an L model with 2.0 and a 4 door. Sure I got a ton 40 out of it one night racing an audi (think it would have went a bit more but chickened out) I kept it in good nick the 2.0 went like stink was great on fuel, I got 59mpg driving at stready 60 down south once, never get that from the wheezy 1.8 single point!
I want that Vauxhall Cavalier my daddy owned a Red One in Hatchback J Reg 1991 / 1992 and my daddy sent it to Jamaica for Transport I went in it out in Jamaica with my family a few times and in U.K. Wembley Park as well
A relatively modern classic that I don't think I'd pay too much attention to if I'm honest. As impressive an all-rounder as it was at the time (and STILL is capable to this day) I just find it too...dull. Much prefer the Montego personally - and I know you had a *stellar* example on here only a few months ago (which I've kept saved because it was so nice), but the idea of a new Vauxhall never really set my world on fire for some reason...too faceless and corporate for my liking perhaps? Definitely a good purchase for somebody in that field though... maybe a quirky enthusiast looking for something modern-retro??
Nice car great price nice slice of motoring nostalgia when petrol was 45p a litre . My friend borrowed his Fathers months old 1990 Cavalier without his permission, I think it was a CD model ?, he took a bend too fast and rolled the car he survived but the car disintegrated the windscreen ended up in a field over 50 yards from the carnage, my friend told me he deliberately crashed the car to piss his father off , he was always a bit unhinged TBH so that could have been true. Lives in Australia now probably still crashing cars for fun.
Beautiful example. 👌 It sounds from the history file that this was traded in at one year old to a Ford dealership in 1990. I wonder what they traded it for, a brand new 90 plate Ford, maybe?
@@clivet3252 my thoughts exactly but who knows? The guy bought it for his wife, so, maybe she wanted something smaller or maybe even something sportier, Mk4 Rs Turbo or such like. 😆 I’m just speculating here.
@@JohnMcMahon. It may not even have been a part ex. I'm sure Ford and Vauxhall dealers loved having a rival's model on their forecourt so it looked like it had been traded in, especially such a new model.
Wonderful time capsule! Proper modern car for its time, 100% focused on efficiency and comfort. I also love the specification on this one, the first owner really treated him/herself. Only slightly disappointed that it doesn't have the check control option. Does anyone know if this first gen of the new Cavalier was available with A/C?
Good question. According to the brochure air conditioning, was not even an option. Later on in the model lifecycle on the CDX for example it was available.
We had an 82 Honda Accord EX with air con but Japanese cars always had better specs. Fords and Vauxhalls tended to have winding sunroofs whereas Japanese and French cars would be electric. The higher spec cars always had really nice trim, though.
This car makes me realise I'm getting old. I had one as a company car in 1992 - 1.8LS. The Cavalier was good for one reason, being able to cruise effortlessly at 85-90mph. Back when the motorways were far less congested. Obviously, I don't condone any speeding. Curiously, it doesn't look that dated. You could drive this car now, and nobody would really notice. Definitely not the case if you drove a 1960 car in 1990. I guess car designers started to run out of ideas by the early 90's. Great car nevertheless.
It's alright - you can condone speeding. This is coming from a fully qualified advanced motorist as well, and the consequences of a ubiquitous 20 mph "limit" should emphasize the significance of why disobeying arbitrary limits especially, are extremely important for maintaining an ability to conduct a course of safe motoring without being relentlessly inhibited by fear and an absence of explicit nuanced justification. In fact, there exists a civil *obligation,* to disobey. The alternative is incrementally destructive.
if anyone is wondering why "Made in West Germany" (rather than the UK), Vauxhall and Opel made some cars for each other as well as the ones they made for themselves.
Very nice for a 35-36 year old car, both inside and out, and under the bonnet. The MK3 aged well, compared to some other cars of it's time, and still fits in well with other cars on the road today. Nice colour too.
Thank you for the kind words.
Great Car. From back in the day when the roads weren't clogged up with SUVS and crappy electric stuff.
Very true!
The BBC series "From A to B: Tales Of Modern Motoring" really suits this car, and makes you realise how important it was to have the "i" on the back of your car in those days (even though nobody seemed to have an idea what it meant). From the days when Vauxhall really was king in the fleet sales market. Highly recommended!
Very true
I remember that series ❤
It's on TH-cam.
I had company cars in the 90s -
L, GL, Ghia ..a clear indicator of your social & economic status.
Sad to say I removed the wheel trims from my mondeo LX & replaced them with the GLX version. It looked like a different car. Goodness me.
@@30scapri Lovely to hear your memories ☺️
Surely by *_now_* they have to have an idea what the "i" means, wouldn't they??
I can say that I've been aware for approximately 25 years now... perhaps it was just a lack of familiarity with the concept at the time??
What I loved about mine was how relaxed it was on the motorway. Way quieter than its rivals.
Great cars!
Remember when these came out, everyone wanted one, they are and deserve to be iconic.
They are iconic!
I had the first 2.0i GL delivered to Bridge Street dealership in Banbury in 1988, I had Astra 16v GTE on order in aubergine, however there was a delay in that colour, as my Ford Orion Ghia 16i was in part exchange, they offered me the new Demonstration car with 105 miles recorded, I took delivery of Astra in April 1998, the Cavalier was for its time excellent, but the Astra 16v 2.0 for a then 22 year old was awesome ❤very quick.. working for myself and my Dad❤ from 1986 until 2006 I changed my car every year and had some awesome experiences ..
Thank you for sharing!
It's the little details like the square griffins as opposed to round, the instrument font, the colour, the gear-knob and the radio that marks this out as a very early model. I like this a lot. I bought a Flame Red 2.0 GLi in the late 1990s, J516RJM, for just £2495. It was faded when I bought it, but two hours of T-Cutting made the car look super-vibrant, and meant I had to wax it every fortnight to prevent it from fading again. I loved it a lot. Very good on the motorway. It was classy on the inside too with its thick beige velour.
Indeed a very early car on a F plate!
one of the best cars ever produced....
years ahead of its time and competitors.
Great cars!
This took me back! I had a J-reg 2.0 GLi for four years as a company car. It still felt solid after 108,000 miles, when it made way for a Mondeo V6 24v. The press criticised its very high fifth gear, but it made a great (and economical) motorway cruiser.
Have you watched A to B of Modern Motoring 1993
@@paulie-Gualtieri. No, don't know that one. My days as a company car driver came to an end in 1997 when I left the UK.
@Julianpms
It's worth a watch it's about reps in the 90s pretty funny and real people.
@@paulie-Gualtieri. Ah just wrote the same thing! Great series
Indeed!
Remember when these came out and was like 'wow'! Had one myself and loved it. I don't think cars have really improved much since.
They are a great car!
What a beauty. And a proper clock!!❤❤❤
Thank you!
Made thousands of these at the Luton plant. A wonderful experience after working there for 35 years and still making the vivaro and the Peugeot versions on the van line
Great!
I owned one for a year or two around 1996, I only remember it as a nice set of wheels, the car I collected my wife and newborn baby daughter from the maternity hospital. I bought it from my older brother, he bought it from the company pool for whom we both worked - so we knew the history, records and low-ish mileage was genuine. Sold it when I bought a Laguna with my redundancy payout lol
Great memories!
These must have looked so radical in late 1988, still look good now
They did. Ford had already moved towards more curvy designs with the Sierra and Granada. Vauxhall had already launched the Carlton and Senator and the Astra was quite curvy, but I can remember the launch of these feeling especially exciting. They were so modern and such a big change from the boxy old Cavalier and the Vectra seemed a sideways step. The Opel version actually took the Vectra name for the first time. It was similar to the launch of the Focus in 1998 and the Honda Civic in 2006.
They sure do!
My late father had one of these, best car he had. H reg if memory serves.
Great cars!
Lovely blue Cav, and an early one, judging by the early grille shape. Nice and simple old car. Very likeable.
The very first on a F plate!
Fabulous motor!!
It sure is!
Lovely early Mk 3 Cavalier hatchback 36 years since it was launched in autumn 1988 time flies
36 years ago, wow!
We had an even earlier Mk3 GL 2.0i, a November 1988 F reg saloon in Pearlescent Aubergine with grey Velour trim. Same long gear stick, but earlier shape cassette holder! What a nerd I am..
Great thank you for sharing!
These were a nice, comfortable motor in the day. The 2.0i was lovely to drive, had a bit of grunt.
Very true!
A reps dream spec in the 1990s
GL, nice!
Wow.
Wow indeed!
Very nice car KGF. A proper Vauxhall reliable and economical.
Thanks!
I had a October 1991 J-reg Cavalier GL 2.0i which came standard with rear headrests. I had (incorrectly) assumed that the GL models came with rear headrests from launch, but I guess I am mistaken.
Yes. They may have added them soon after. I think there are a lot of minor spec changes within the first year of launch.
Correct, the early ones didn't have them
I got a 1.8 ls I'm restoring just now and a low mile diplomat sat in my garage. My first cavy was this one but just an L model with 2.0 and a 4 door. Sure I got a ton 40 out of it one night racing an audi (think it would have went a bit more but chickened out) I kept it in good nick the 2.0 went like stink was great on fuel, I got 59mpg driving at stready 60 down south once, never get that from the wheezy 1.8 single point!
Thank you for your comment!
Lovely car and fantastic price
We agree!
I had one the same year, but the model with the boot very nice car the first car I owned with central locking. lol
Love the saloon!
I want that Vauxhall Cavalier my daddy owned a Red One in Hatchback J Reg 1991 / 1992 and my daddy sent it to Jamaica for Transport I went in it out in Jamaica with my family a few times and in U.K. Wembley Park as well
Lovely!
A relatively modern classic that I don't think I'd pay too much attention to if I'm honest.
As impressive an all-rounder as it was at the time (and STILL is capable to this day) I just find it too...dull.
Much prefer the Montego personally - and I know you had a *stellar* example on here only a few months ago (which I've kept saved because it was so nice), but the idea of a new Vauxhall never really set my world on fire for some reason...too faceless and corporate for my liking perhaps?
Definitely a good purchase for somebody in that field though... maybe a quirky enthusiast looking for something modern-retro??
Thanks, we love it!
Nice car great price nice slice of motoring nostalgia when petrol was 45p a litre . My friend borrowed his Fathers months old 1990 Cavalier without his permission, I think it was a CD model ?, he took a bend too fast and rolled the car he survived but the car disintegrated the windscreen ended up in a field over 50 yards from the carnage, my friend told me he deliberately crashed the car to piss his father off , he was always a bit unhinged TBH so that could have been true. Lives in Australia now probably still crashing cars for fun.
Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful example. 👌 It sounds from the history file that this was traded in at one year old to a Ford dealership in 1990. I wonder what they traded it for, a brand new 90 plate Ford, maybe?
I don't know many Fords of the time that would have been an upgrade on this. I hope they didn't trade it in for a new Escort.
@@clivet3252 my thoughts exactly but who knows? The guy bought it for his wife, so, maybe she wanted something smaller or maybe even something sportier, Mk4 Rs Turbo or such like. 😆 I’m just speculating here.
@@JohnMcMahon. It may not even have been a part ex. I'm sure Ford and Vauxhall dealers loved having a rival's model on their forecourt so it looked like it had been traded in, especially such a new model.
@@clivet3252 maybe so. I’m just trying to trip down nostalgia lane, here. 😉
Granada or Scorpio maybe?
Wonderful time capsule! Proper modern car for its time, 100% focused on efficiency and comfort. I also love the specification on this one, the first owner really treated him/herself. Only slightly disappointed that it doesn't have the check control option. Does anyone know if this first gen of the new Cavalier was available with A/C?
Good question. According to the brochure air conditioning, was not even an option. Later on in the model lifecycle on the CDX for example it was available.
We had an 82 Honda Accord EX with air con but Japanese cars always had better specs. Fords and Vauxhalls tended to have winding sunroofs whereas Japanese and French cars would be electric. The higher spec cars always had really nice trim, though.
This car makes me realise I'm getting old. I had one as a company car in 1992 - 1.8LS. The Cavalier was good for one reason, being able to cruise effortlessly at 85-90mph. Back when the motorways were far less congested.
Obviously, I don't condone any speeding.
Curiously, it doesn't look that dated.
You could drive this car now, and nobody would really notice.
Definitely not the case if you drove a 1960 car in 1990.
I guess car designers started to run out of ideas by the early 90's.
Great car nevertheless.
Absolutely!
It's alright - you can condone speeding.
This is coming from a fully qualified advanced motorist as well, and the consequences of a ubiquitous 20 mph "limit" should emphasize the significance of why disobeying arbitrary limits especially, are extremely important for maintaining an ability to conduct a course of safe motoring without being relentlessly inhibited by fear and an absence of explicit nuanced justification.
In fact, there exists a civil *obligation,* to disobey.
The alternative is incrementally destructive.
if anyone is wondering why "Made in West Germany" (rather than the UK), Vauxhall and Opel made some cars for each other as well as the ones they made for themselves.
A lot of Cavaliers coming up for sale recently
If they are as nice as this please can you send the links as we would want to but them!
Back from the days when Vauxhall made good cars. So much better than the Vectra and all the other crap that is foisted upon people these days.
Thank you for your comment!
Wow ! No comments
Wow!
Wow!
Delivery of Astra 1989 not 98
Thank you!
What is the insurance group number
20
Make a great daily
A real retroride!