The owl was definitely there to subliminally insinuate that the Cavalier is the wise choice. You always think of a wise owl. Well played in the marketing department
It's been quite some time since I've seen one of these on the road (used to see them all the time as a kid) but I must say, on reflection it is a really smooth, clean and modern shape for 1988! Perhaps not sporty to drive but the 2.0 16v and 2.0 Turbo versions were genuinely quick for their day (and probably more fun than any current Vauxhall with it!).
Had a few of these Cavaliers many moons ago, fond memories and great cars the 2.0i was a real favourite and bomb proof. The world simply doesn’t make cars like this anymore.
Hard to believe this was 34 years ago and there were thousands of Mk3 Cavaliers in the 1990s, now there only about 750 left. And the restyled Vectra from 1995 is also getting rare.
I'm a Ford man at heart but I ran a Isuzu diesel one of these until it worked its valves in to the seats at 400k. Dull as hell to drive but unbustable.
Totally relate to this. My dad was a cabbie and had a 1992 diesel Cav, put around 600k on it before it fell apart, he got it as a nearly new one too and saved a packet. He said it was the best car for private hire of the era by a long shot.
@@sloeginandsleep1170 solid old wagon they were. Better than a late Sierra, not as good as Mondeo. The Isuzu diesel version was sublimely smooth (old IDI junk) and whilst unsophisticated compared to the contemporary French stuff was a good deal smoother and I doubt a calmer and more noise abated diesel has been made since. Wasn't the best for power but they were very quiet for what they were. The old PSA XUD9 engine was a generation ahead in power and drivability though.
@@musmodtos The mondeo build quality was crap though. Horrible electrics, bumpers made of glass, brittle plastics on the dash, harsh and noisy diesels.... The only good bit about the mondeo was the zetec engines and it was decent round the bends. Cav was better in almost every other area though.
The Mk3 Vauxhall Cavaliers were the best of the Cavalier line-up, better rustproofing, safer design in crashes, plus a much more comfortable driving experience and interior.
I expect Both Mark 2 and 3 Cavs would make good retro daily drivers on todays roads for the higher mileage classic car driving; 15-20k a year. Even the Mark 1 would be fine
Owned two mk3 Cavaliers 1.8 L's loved them both. Much better than my Sierra Sapphire which felt heavy and cumbersome after the Cavaliers. I also remember seeing them at the 1988 NEC motorshow. The 2.0i CD Auto would be my pick today.
@@christiangrey3645 Vectra's were much better than their reputation would have you believe, did seem like a slight backward step from the Mk3 Cavalier though
Wonderful! I've had 3 MK3 Cavaliers in my time, a 1.8i Cesaro, a V6 CDX and a GSi 2000 16v. This was peak Vauxhall in my opinion, it was widely praised and has aged far better than Sierra. Easy car to work on, easy car to drive. Mine are all long gone - but remember them fondly. I also miss velour!! Notice these have the previous generation stalks on them which didn't make it to the production models which came with the revised and much nicer stalks that a number of low volume manufacturers took on such as Lotus and TVR.
Really observant about the stalks. And I think you’re right in saying peak Vauxhall. Tbh I love these and the Sierras and Mondeos that followed. Cars have been on a downward spiral since IMO.
The MK3 Cavalier was definitely a high point in Vauxhall's history, and for me, is actually better than the Vectra that replaced it. Great car I'll always remember fondly.
It's sad just how gimmicky and overstyled cars have become. There's just something about the purity of purpose with cars from this era, very much lacking in the garbage of today.
Very aerodynamic shapes and good well proportioned styling was the standout feature for me. The driving was a bit dull tbh, but very good motorway cars. I would drive from London to Leeds on business meetings once a month. Started out with a gutless 1.6L then progressed to a slightly less gutless 1.8i (after pestering the fleet manager) and then was 'promoted' to a 2.0 Vectra which was quick at last and would rev out well - but then had no grip on windy roads. My 1.6 used to run on for a few seconds after I turned it off and got out, much to everyone's amusement! Happy, simpler days..
12.05. Those electric Aerials were the Bain of my dads life. He had an F reg cavalier GL from new for 7 years. The last few years he was constantly repairing and greasing the aerial to keep it operational 😂 Great car otherwise tho 👍🏼
We also had the T car but only as a two door or four door hatchback Our Cavaliers are a little bit different than yours. We had a five door station wagon, , a coupe, a two door hatchback, and a four-door sedan in our market Cavalier competed with the Escort for our medium size car we had a car called the celebrity or the Ciara or the 6000
I may be wrong, but the music at the end I think I have also heard on Ford Sierra or Scorpio promotional videos. Great car the Cavalier though. Had a couple myself and I loved them.
I’m in my mid 40s and having owned a couple of Mark 2’s and a fleet of mk3 Cavaliers, I have to say I had no idea that the very early mk3 had the same indicator stalks and wiper stalks as the mk2, I even clocked on in this video a mk3 with a mk2 steering wheel….. I wonder if they were preproduction models for this video and they didn’t have the right stuff. Also clocked a GL with L wheel trims… This video was 88 and I thought they came out in 89. On a sidenote what the heck was the owl all about?!😂
Owned various from 1.6 to 2.0 16v - all great. A decent all round car, probably from Vauxhall's greatest era. It started to go a bit wrong after the Cav, at the same time Ford were really upping their game.
Fair enough, Vauxhall hadn’t really manufactured its own models for what? a decade plus at the time the “Vectra A” was launched. But I’m British, they were called Vauxhalls here (and we had a few Opels, yes) Might as well say they are American cars then, since at that time they were owned by GM.
Weird that they held onto the Cavalier name on such a new, fresher design. I remember ads for the New Vectra as a kid in Ireland, it seemed very exciting
The early Cavalier deadlocking system had a flawed design, pull the interior button up on a front door at the same time as the exterior handle that door would open. Vauxhall fixed that flaw with the 93 MY facelift.
