Hi everybody!

[HWADD]

Just reading an interview with John Cleland in Performance Vauxhall magazine. He thought the mk3 cavalier was an "absolute bastard!!" He thought it was far too heavy and slow to be any use to him!!

[Cavalier342]

Heavy? Lol it was probably the smallest car on the track in terms of body dimensions, can't see it being heavier than Lagunas, Mondeos, or 406s.

[Robsey]

From memory, it was purely down to configuration of the tracking and suspension.

Also initially a failed attempt by Cosworth to supply a decent engine.

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The "bastard" era refers to the early days, (89 to 91 where some cars were considered nigh on lethal to drive)

The BTCC Cavalier was just starting to prove itself, post facelift, circa '93 to '95 following extensive tweaks and re-jigs, however in mid-1995, Vauxhall in their ultimate wisdom rushed to launch the Vectra (Vectra-B in Europe).
Killing off the Cavalier name and ultimately killing off their grip on the market.

The great great grandchild of the Cavalier, the Insignia (mk1 phase 2) was thought to be the first Vectra incarnation to be considered barely good enough for competition use, since the Cavalier mk3 (Vectra-A).

I have not read this in huge depth, but I am sure that this is somewhat accurate.

[Robsey]

Heavy? Lol it was probably the smallest car on the track in terms of body dimensions, can't see it being heavier than Lagunas, Mondeos, or 406s.

Not sure about Mondeos, but Lagunas and Peugeot 406s were made from very thin flimsy steel.
I clearly remember closing a door on a 406 and listening to it "clang" shut.
Horrible tinny noise it was.

[iangsi]

Cleland was used to driving mk2 Astra’s so they are much lighter than the cav with the same red top engine.

[Cavalier342]

Doors on Peugeots have always been made of what feels like cardboard metal, horrible sound indeed, but they are physically larger cars, so I figured heavier.

[HWADD]

Hmm...
Maybe it was because he was used to driving mk2 astras that made him think that . The cavalier mk3 is a pretty light car, he said it was because he "couldn't get two wheels in one corner"?!! So it might have made it hard to manouvare?!! Even so, it was still pretty streamlined!!Btw some man came up to my mum in m and s and said "I think I bought a cavalier of you about 20 years ago!!" Must have been our faithful old white 1.8 l what a coincidence!!

[HWADD]

I've found this one on the Ebay folks!!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3925363168

Is it any good?!!

HUGH

[Robsey]

Needs a bit of tlc and a head gasket.
A piece of cake on that 20SEH engine.

Potentially a good little pre-facelift project.

Those non-standard wheels don't float my boat though.