Buying a used Cavalier /Calibra

This section is for people who are looking to buy a used Vauxhall Cavalier/Calibra. This guide is by no means complete and if I have missed anything out please email me, and if relevant will be added to the list. <*> Means not applicable to Calibra <**> Means not applicable to MK2 Cavalier

Exterior..

View from front and look down the side of car, ripples, dents and badly filled areas should be visible, also use your hands and move them across the body does the paint feel grainy? It could just need a wash but new uncut paint can also give the same affect, also viewing the car at night under yellow phosphor lighting sometimes shows up minor dents and colour changes.
Check under the car for accident damage, underseal should be the same colour thoughout, patches of new underseal could be hiding recent damage.
Check windscreen rubber seals for overspray (make sure that it is not a coloured car polish as this gives the same affect as overspray) also check under carpets near door hinges and engine bay areas for overspray.
Check all Panels are sitting correctly and all line up, all panels should have equal gaps all round (pattern cheap panels rarely match up and are sign of accident damage).
Check key locks/unlocks all 6 locks, 2 doors/boot or hatch/glove box/ignition, ask why if they don’t, could have been stolen/recovered
Check all body panels are the exact same colour (metallic paints are difficult to match up properley and can be hiding accident damage).
Open boot and check boot floor and inner wheel arches, overspray on the areas can mean accident damage, also check for over use of sound deadening panels these can hide accident damage aswell, also check area behind rear light clusters, do they sit right?
Do outside door trims, Indicators, lights, bumpers, bodykit, spoilers ETC line up or sit properley? Are they the correct parts for that particular model? If not it could be a sign of a badly fitted panel or someone fitting newer/older model parts to a newer/older car, ask if not sure .
How many ariels on the car? There should be only 1 on the rear passenger wing, sometimes an extra ariel as long as 1 foot or bigger it is a taxi arial usually mounted on the roof at the front in the middle, they can be mounted elsewhere aswell but generally they are mounted there, it could also be a car phone ariel so ask if not sure (also see interior: check for holes) <*>
Doors should shut with a clunk and should not need excess force to shut; doors should not catch on inner locks, check hinges for cracked paint around the outside edges of the hinge, cracked paint can mean extensive accident damage.
Check window etching, do they match the registration number? Have they been scratched out? If they are not present on some windows or have a different registration, it could have been a vandal damaged or stolen recovered car.
Check number plates because when they are new they have the dealer name on them also usually when they have been bought by car rental company they have the name on them, removal for blank items can mean accident damage or they are trying to hide something.

Interior..

Check engine number and chassis number match up to log book and make sure the VIN plate is not new or been moved as this could mean it has had front end damage or the cars identity has been altered (ie stolen)
Seats on L/GL/GLS are hard wearing and no cause for concern, seats on SRI/GSI are prone to lumbar sagging and snagging and can wear through or go soft, wearing through or going soft is usually an indication of high mileage but can mean that a large person has owned it, ask if not sure.
Check gearstick gator, peddle rubbers and footwell carpet for irregular wear on supposed low milage cars.
On Mk3 Cavalier/Calibra SRI/GSI/16V/Turbo models check that it still has the original leather steering wheel and gearknob, do not worry if they have been upgraded for better items but if they have been replaced from a lower spec car it may have been stolen and had the original items taken.(**)
Check for holes on centre console and facia; could mean taxi radio or car phone has been fitted, usually two sets of holes in different places mean a taxi radio and microphone holder used to be fitted, ask if not sure.
Does the mileometer change at the correct time? Do the digits line up? Is there fingerprints behind the instruments glass that cannot be wiped off the front; Also on Mk3 models and Calibra's check the plastic trim that is directly below the instrument panel, check either side where the edges meet other trim panels, are the edges jagged? If so the lower instrument panel trim has been removed which probably means the instrument panel has been removed which normally means the mileage has been turned back, it could also mean that a instrument or bulb has failed and has been replaced.

Electrics..

Check all electric accessories work, electric windows can be slow to go up/down and central locking motors can fail or intermitantly work.
The position of the ECU behind the drivers footwell sidepanel means that water can enter the Ecu and cause bad starting or running or both, prevention can be as simple as removing the Ecu and bringing inside overnight to dry out, when refitting, cover in plastic bag to stop further water from entering the Ecu.<**>

Engine and Transmission..

8v engines can make a growling noise on acceleration on high mileage engines, this I have been told is a lazy follower, if there is a growling noise at usually about 4000Rpm this is likely to be the big end bearings which is common another common 8v fault is the camshaft knocking this sounds like a tapping from the top end, if your not sure take it to a garage for their opinion.
16v engines can make a tapping noise on cold startups, usually when left overnight, all of the 16v's I have owned or know of tap on cold starts.
Some older 16v fitted to the MK3 Cavalier/Calibra suffered from weak cylinder heads, apparently Vauxhall main dealers will replace these early weak cylinder heads for free but will charge for labour (no longer true) check for emulsified oil in the coolant or on the inside of the oil filler cap, also the same symptoms can be head gasket problems.
Transmissions (gearbox) can be stiff when hot, this is usually down to transmission fluid which needs to be part synthetic (Ive found full synthetic to be better), replacing with the wrong fluid can make the transmission stiff when hot.
On 4x4 models the transfer box can be a problem as it can fail at any time, I have had one fail and it was an unpleasant experience, I have heard people say that tyres must have the exact tread thickness and tyre pressure, a replacement transfer box from the Vauxhall main dealer is over Ł2500 but a second hand one can be bought for Ł550 exchange (see: Servicing and spares for details) Test the 4 wheel drive by taking the car to an area where there is either grass or gravel and trying to make the front wheels spin, obviously if the front wheels spin the 4 wheel drive is not working, also taking out fuse 19 disconnects 4 wheel drive.
On Turbo 4x4 models make sure that there is plenty of life left in the clutch because unlike the F20/F16/F13 ETC, you cannot replace the clutch with the gearbox left in.

Exhaust..

4 wheel drive models are fitted with catalytic converters which like transfer boxes can fail at any time, a loud raspy sound when accelerating generally means that the Cat has failed, a replacement Cat from Vauxhall main dealers is Ł180 + VAT but a replacement non Cat pipe can be obtained from Roadrunners (see: servicing and spares)

!!CAVALIER TURBO BUYERS!!

As a great majority of Cavalier turbos are EX Police Traffic vehicles greater care has to be taken when viewing them, I need more information from people who have viewed Ex Police vehicles either sold as Private or trade or sold as Private but being a dodgy trader. One thing that you can look out for is ariel holes, usually 3 but sometimes 2, either 3 at the back of the roof in a line or 2 on each corner at the back and 1 on the rear quarter or 1 in the middle of the roof and the other in the middle at the rear, you should take care to check the roof lining and the inside rear quarters for covered holes and obviously as they maybe Ex Police check for accident damge.

Some essential tips to spot an Ex-Police car: By Joe

1) No rear head rests
2) Drill holes in dashboard
3) Drill holes in front off/behind the front grille
4) No computer (depending upon model)
5) No alloy wheels
6) No electric windows
7) Always manual gearbox
8) No air conditioning
9) No heated seats
10) White (but not always)
11) Stone chips from doing 130mph+
12) No stereo or CD autochanger
13) Holes in carpet and drill holes in boot
14) No sunroof - If there is, it'll be manual
15) No heated seats or just Driver's.
16) No dealer plate

If it carries any of the hallmarks above, steer WELL clear! It may have a good service history, but you are NOT getting the FULL car.

A definite way of telling if it was built for Police/Prison service is to phone Vauxhall at Luton, and quote the chassis number to them. They will be able to tell you what was fitted to the car in the factory e.g.. head rests computer etc. etc. and they will give you the name of the dealer that the car went to when first sold. If there is no garage there will be a "P.O.". Vauxhall tell me this stands for Police Order. Basically the car will get the BARE minimum spec. The car should be valued at 40% of book price.

Hope this helps!

Joe.

As I have mentioned at the top of this page, this guide is by no means complete, but I would never even consider buying a Cavalier/Calibra unless I had this knowledge. This information comes with no warranties expressed or implied

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