Used 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Consumer Reviews
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It's dead
Guano2, 11/20/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
With 129,600 miles on the clock my little Cavy bit the dust. For 9 years it was reliable and never stranded me until the end. Valve spring broke in 3 places and bent and dropped the valve into the #2cyl.-wrecking the piston. The sound it made was about as horrific as my desciption. $2500 new engine on an $1100 car? Nope. I will miss it. If only I had a garage & a junk car engine, I would keep it.
My Cavy
JPW, 03/09/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Awesome car, my parents drove it and it only has 36k on the motor original, just replaced teh battery last year lol All around awesome car, if u can find one with low enough mileage jump on it or else u will regret it. Peace, JPW
Good Car, Not
btdoug, 07/30/2007
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car a few months ago, with less than 100k miles on it. I've had a lot of electrical failures that needed to be replaced, and the engine overheats on long drives. I know it's getting to be an old cheap car, and it's an American car, but I expected a little more reliability than what I've got so far.
One problem after another
Bob Koenig, 12/20/2005
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought this car when it was only four years old and it didn't take long for things to start going wrong. At first I started having problems with the electrical system. I had to replace the alternator. Next,the car started over heating, I had to replace the thermostat. Then the gears started slipping and I had to get the transmission rebuilt. Then the compressor for the air conditioner stopped working, I could hardly tell, since the air was never cold in the first place. After that I had problems with the emissions control system and had to replace the E.G.R. value. The car never was the same after that; it would stall if you didnt keep your foot on the gas pedal; very dangerous.
Love the convertible
Jlash, 06/03/2008
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this convertible through an estate sale. Purchased it for fuel economy, but love to drive it, it's a peppy little car that is fun to drive and very sporty looking. I get great fuel mileage and it turns heads when I drive down the street.
Great Car!!
Tdaddy, 05/23/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the car in 1998, with the mileage at 134,000 miles. The car now has 230,000 miles on it and it still runs great. The power of the 2.2 is amazing and I have no problems keeping up with the newer cars. Although alternators seem to be a reacuring problem, and brakes but all around its a real great car. Right now I have to look at a new transmision problems, and im curiouse to see if anyone else has had shifting problems with the Automatic transmission, the car wont shift to drive, and i feel it might be a common problem with that year
ha i've had problems
sheep, 09/25/2009
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i bought the car in march with only 66000 miles one it for 1500$ cash. but got ripped off cuz the next week the tranny dropped, got a new one for 2000$ and it drove fine with plenty of power for a 2.2 liter. breaks went out a couple weeks ago got new ones.. mechanic ripped us off 700$ but they work fine now. this week blew a tire and the tranny dropped while driving to jensen tire .. but its on a warranty so im getting a new one for free. engine still runs strong though. but its a death trap for me
Best car I ever owned
Debz, 06/22/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is an excellent car. It has held up very well. No mechanical problems. Very comfortable and fun.
I love my cavalier
Kater8ter, 06/24/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is very reliable and makes a great first car.
Solid basic transportation
Bob Oh, 07/10/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought new, it has served me well. 5 speed manual coupe. Replaced 2 alternators, 1 water pump, 1 set of brakes, i wiper motor, 1 battery. Normal stuff (except alternator..Grrr) Good looking, easy to maintain. 77000 miles. Enjoyed all of them. Excellent value for the bux.
reliable
jhall, 07/19/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has been a great car! It's not the coolest looking car, but It's the best car I've owned. Its got around 130,000 miles. Never had any real problems with it. Very reliable.
Wow
n00dles10, 09/08/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My first car and i love it!
Long lasting & inexpensive to own
Guano, 11/05/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car new 8 years ago. It is very reliable and when minor things have broken (Alt.,waterpump,blinker switch)parts are very cheap. Knock on wood, it has never stranded me in 116,000 miles. Take care of these cars and they take care of you. No leaks and doesn't burn oil. My wife's New Beetle has cost more to fix and burns oil w/only 40,000 miles. Very easy to work on. Done all work myself except for Struts. Gaps in body panels are off, structural integrity is wobbley, dash bounces on semi rough roads since day one. If you want a good, cheap to buy and mantain car that will last a long, long time, buy this one!
A Great Car
cloudchaser9, 05/01/2011
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I just sold my 94' cavalier but it was my first car ever. I got it for 3k with 74,000 miles on it. It now has 104,000 miles after four years of having it. It has been an amazing car and is still running strong. It is so reliable and just plain fun to drive. Noting major has gone wrong. Replaced brakes once, head lights, 1 battery, 1 tire. The great gas mileage was one of my most valued things about this car. These make great cars, especially for town driving.
Great Car
Happy_Happy, 08/13/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased used @ 73000 miles in 1999. Routine maintenance and some repair. 3.1V6 and auto trans. had 189000 miles on it and still reliable and strong. I love this car.
good affordable vehicle
cavhappy, 10/12/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has been very, very good to me. I bought the car 3 years ago and have only had to replace the tcc selanoid and the alternator. The car now has 86,000 miles and runs great. If you want a car that's reliable, gets good gas mileage and is inexpensive; the Cavelier is not a bad choice.
Just OK
weezmachine, 04/11/2005
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought it used in 2001 with 100,000 miles on it, and it now has 155,000. I know the motor was rebuilt before I bought it. I've replaced the brake pads 3 or 4 times, new rotors, starter went out, new headgasket, window motors replaced twice, trunk leaks, door leaks, replaced the battery, speakers are shot...I could go on with the list repairs I've had done in 4 years. Not to mention it's rusting everywhere! What do you expect for an 11 year old Cavalier though? It's pretty reliable though and it was decent to me for 4 years but I'm sick of putting money into it that I could put into car payments for a newer car.
The perfect cost/performace balance
mcward316, 01/20/2004
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
For anyone who likes muscle cars, but needs something with better economy and is more affordable, this is the car for you. It's full of torque. Get the manual shift version! The exhaust rumbles and the engine sounds great. The cool-air-intake looks cool from inside the vehicle. Mine has been great, so far. Easy to work on. Great economy for a V6. No rust. Torque-steer is bad, so put good tires on it. ABS is garbage. If you need to stop in the snow, better shut the engine off(I'm not kidding).
Fun!
jesusita, 01/28/2004
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car a little over a year ago and have fallen in love with it. I have had a few problems with it lately (alternator, ECM, and now transmission), but with as many miles as is on it, I couldn't expect much less...I can't even think of getting rid of it because it is so unique and fun to drive. Although it is an automatic, the color (purple) and convertible top make it a pleasure to have on even just fairly nice days. The body is still in excellent condition and I recently replaced the top due to some leakage. All-in-all, I'm glad I jumped at the deal of buying it.
cav
tkj81, 03/08/2004
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
only problem i ever had was with a soliniod valve in the trans, cheap fix but a pain to install
The Alternative to the Z24
Jeef, 03/09/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Its got the 3.1L V6 w/ auto Tranny, and although it only puts out 140 horses, the torque is consierably more then the 4 cylinder, and you have it at a considerably low RPM. It has a little over 80000 miles on it, and still runs strong. Engine note is good when reved, but then the American V6 exhaust note comes in to ruin it. The steering wheel makes you feel like your in a much faster car. I do though wish the radio was a little more attractive, but for an econobox, its sufficient. The car is basically the z24 package, minus the decals, wheels, and bodykit.
Awesome to drive!
Tracy Nelson, 07/11/2004
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for eight years and enjoyed every minute of it, my teenage daughter even loves it! It's comfortable, reliable, good on gas, and stylish. I can put it pretty much wherever I want it whether I am in traffic or parking. I highly recommend this car unless you are over about 6'4", I imagine it might be a little too cramped up then. My husband is that tall and is comfortable in it.
Not a bad car
Jonathan Wehr, 03/09/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is not a bad car. I've had it for a little over a year now and I've only had 1 major problem with it. If you have an automatic transmission in this car, make sure your TCC solenoid works. If you slow down from highway speeds and the car shutters and cuts off then chances are, your torque converter solenoid is bad............get it fixed if you want good gas mileage.
It was fun
MeMrS, 10/27/2004
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had my Cavalier Z24 for 6 1/2 years, and it served me quite well. The only reccurring problems seemed to involve the electrical system, which cost me a few $$$ along the way. But in the end, I was able to keep it running strong and even sold it for $2,100 with 114,800 miles on it in October of 2004.
The best first car ever!
Elcke, 11/14/2004
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love my little purple Cavalier, its so cute. I swear it has a life of its own because it looks after me, I could've been in so many accidents with it. I've hit numerous things with it and it still runs better than the day I got it!! I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Love my 94 Cavalier
rlenser, 04/04/2005
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Have had the car 11 yrs now, and will regular maintenance, it has been worth every penny. Surprisingly, we were considering selling it (it's the bright shiny red rally sport coupe) and it's kept higher value (vs initial price) than our other vehicles! Love my Chevy!
A great car
Mattiez, 05/09/2005
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i bought one and it's a pretty good car. Gets great gas mileage and has plenty of torque for a 4cylinder. The radio is not that great, but it's really easy to install one. Any of the parts I've had to have replaced on it weren't that expensive. Overall it's a great car and if you come across one with low miles, get it. I bought mine and it only had 50,000 miles on it and now it has 80,000 and it has held together well.
1994 Z24 Convertible
mike hrabovsky , 11/17/2005
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When I first saw the Z24 convertibles in the late 80s I wanted one but did not get one. Bought a beautiful 94 teal z24 convertible in summer of 96. I just love the style and looks of this car. Looks like a muscle car. Hood scoops, rear spoiler, and sporty looking wheels. Car has "guts"; can get up to 80-90 mph in a hurry and holds the road real well. Have had now for 8 years and not too much trouble except for a goofy knack for blowing fuses on the power top, horn and door luck fuse (one fuse). Had the car checked by two mechanics and they had no explanation, but recommended I put in a circuit breaker fuse instead of a regular one and it has worked fine since. New top after 7 yrs old.
Think's its a muscle care!
JohnTrips, 01/29/2006
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I found this car as a trade on a backlot, with 80k miles. It was cherry, and has treated me very well. Like any car, you better take care of it though (fluids, oil) if you want it to last. Does tend to run hot by design but you can add an electric thermostat to fan relay to turn on fan earlyer. A little common sense will keep the v6 running perfect to 200k miles no sweat! competitve gas mileage,well built powertrain, INCREDIBLE handling, plus enjoyable power (and exhaust rumble) Get the 5 speed! This makes a great first car for your teenager, good to work on at mome plus with a few performance mods will make this a REAL head turner. Great crash ratings too
Unbelieveable Car
this car rocks, 06/12/2006
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Z24 new in 1994 with only 3,000 miles, and besides regular maintence, have not touched it yet. I drove it till my daughter got her liscence and then gave it to her. I'ts still rust free, runs strong, and is the fastest car in the family. Great handling at high speeds, and fun to drive no matter what. Handles unbelieveably in the snow. Better than my four wheel drive SUV. All in all, its a great car.
Extremely Reliable
Tim in SLC, 06/27/2006
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car when it was one year old and had 10,000 miles on it. It now has 117,000 miles onit. It has been a real workhorse. I've been extremely pleased with its performance and reliability. I've had no major repairs -- only normal wear items like brakes, batteries, alternators and tires. I wish every car I bought was as dependable as this car has been. Unfortunately, the car was totaled yesterday when a pickup truck ran a red light and smashed the front end. I'm in mourning for my great little red Cavalier.
Keeping it as log as possible
Great little car, 10/04/2006
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Took my big Ford F-150 off the road as gas was getting too expensive for the mileage I got on it. Bought the car with a lot of mileage and little rust. Runs great, great on gas. Close to 40 mpg. Put 12,000 miles on it with no problems. Replaced rear brakes and self installed a new heater core. Very little room under the dash. I'm very impressed with the vehicle. Obviously the previous owner(s) took care of it especially up here in Maine with all the salt on the roads in winter
Workhorse
sailordave, 01/27/2007
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Had mine until a truck ran a yield sign and hit my driver's side front fender. Truck's tire stopped on the hood of the car. Engine and transmission still ran but was declared totalled. No major problems with the car. Loved that I could easily reach and change the fuel filter myself without jacks or lift. Solid little car. Sure miss it especially since it was paid off in full.
My '94 Z24
f41driver, 04/01/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is awesome! I wanted a convertible, and I wanted it to be sporty yet economical. I had to have a car that was easy to fix if it broke, and easy to upgrade if I wanted. I found the perfect car! I always liked the looks of the Cavalier, and when I saw this car I couldn't take my eyes off it. I was lucky enough to get it from it's caring, original owner with 36,500 miles on it. I've had it for a month and I've put 1,000 miles on it just riding around on the nicer days, and it does stay clean and in the garage, and I expect to keep it for quite some time.
Couldn't part with it if I tried...again
missaretha, 02/27/2007
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car brand spanking new. I've babied it on every oil change, tire rotation, mileage service, etc. The gas mileage is great, between 35 to 40 mpg on the highway. Riding with the top down is not as windy as I thought it would be and the stereo has never needed improvements. If you like it loud, this car gives it to you. I also like the fact that I have a Teal colored car. I've never seen another car in the same color.
Most fun to drive
blueberrywagon, 05/03/2007
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I learned to drive in this car and have been driving it since. It is more fun to drive than any other car I've driven simply because of the joy of driving such a small car. The visiblility in all directions from the driver's seat makes city driving easy. The performance leaves a little to be desired, but it does have enough power to reach the governor. Its cornering capabilities aren't sporty by any means. It has been quite reliable for me. The transmission needed rebuilt soon after I bought it. The engine also had a head gasket failure, resulting in a cracked head. A new engine for $300 solved that problem. I did the work myself. It is easy to work on, and overall is a great car.
MINE RUNS GREAT.
WALTER WOLOCZYJ, 04/22/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
EXCEPT FOR THE DASHBOARD LIGHT KNOB, AND THE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES. EVEYTHING IS JUST FINE.
Miss my baby
sailordave, 11/11/2007
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fit me like a glove the first day I bought it. Was impressed with the acceleration. Was getting near 100,000 miles when a truck ran a yield sign and hit me. Front truck tire was on my hood. Amazingly enough, the engine and transmission still worked. Too bad it was declared totalled. Was paid off for less than a year when it was totalled.
Great first car
KenX, 05/23/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased new in '94. Very few problems, mostly routine wear & tear. Wonderful, reliable, sporty car for 8 years. 3.1V6 makes the RS a Z24 in disguise. Buy one if you find a decent one with reasonable miles!
GREAT economical Car
CeaCea, 06/25/2003
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Got mine new 10yrs ago. Until recently, w/ 57000 miles onm it I have never had any problems. Like others, my alternator just recently had to be replaced, but besides that it has been minimal maintence problems. It's a true value for the money. Only now do I realize what GREAT gas mileage I've been getting, esp compared to cars now! (What happened!?) The '94 has a great, cute style, love my bright blue color and is roomy, compared to the newer Cavs. The downside if you work on your cars or have others do,gen maintenance (oil changes...) is difficult to do on your own w/ the way they have things situated.
3.1L "Sleeper"
Dr_Watson, 03/19/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
One word about this car that sums its 'character' up; Torque. She may not have alot of ponies on the stat sheet, but its light and that 185 lb-ft of torque will rip the tires until smoke starts rolling out of the wheel wells. I've driven it hard for over 3 years now and the only repairs needed have been 1 alternater, 1 battery, 1 water pump, 1 windshield wiper motor, and lots of brakes (thats the fault of my less then 'old lady' driving though). The car is a fun machine to drive, and I've loved it to death. It's a sleeper that can easily keep up with Eclipse GST's, and the like.
cheap economical transportation
daxxx, 03/27/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
fun little car with enough spunk to get you around town. if i had to sum up my ownership experience, you get what you pay for. beyond city driving these cars can't really hack it.... aweful highway manners and a 4 cylinder that has more trouble than others pulling hills.
Love the convertible
Jim1962, 04/24/2008
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I just purchased a 1994 Cavalier convertible about a month ago. Got a real good deal on it, only paid $1500 for it and it only had 56,000 miles. I was looking for a more economical vehicle since the price of gas has gone through the roof. I love this thing! It not only gets great gas mileage(approx 30mpg) but looks great and is fun to drive. When I bought it, it was filthy! I took it and had it detailed and the guy there offered me $5000 for it. I love the convertible feature, never had one before, but love it now!
Not Bad
2nd car, 03/31/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier VL 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for about 8 years. IT is nothing fancy but can be considered basic transportation. The ride is kinda noisy. It has over 140,000 miles and my mechanic told me it should last much longer than that (I attribute part of this to the care I place in the car). Auto service is difficult - hard for me to reach the oil filter, etc. I have had an alternator and water pump replaced. The biggest issue is an electrical short has wiped out most of my interior lighting systems. Body rust started about 20K miles ago. I am happy with the vehicle but would like to upgrade to something else. I will probably keep this one as a commuter car, though.
Great for a high school student's first car!
Clayton311, 10/15/2018
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm 5' 6" and weigh 150 lbs. the sporty little run about is a bit of squeeze for me. I'm an old man and like lots of cushioned comfort. Best suited to a younger person who is never in the same place for longer than 5 (?) maybe 10 minutes at the most. Lots of fun to drive, convertible top makes sunny and/or warm days loads of fun. At nearly 25 years old, you'd never expect it, still tight, well aligned, plenty of power, {talking about the car not me!, I'm 63} GREAT CAR FOR YOUNG PERSON! Tons of fun! Needed a car right away and this fit my budget, bought it from the original family--passed along from nephew to daughter, etc. The family was the original purchaser, stayed in the family for whomever was needing a daily driver. I got whistled at when driving it around a corner--that was welcomed surprised!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Loads of fun, great first car for student
Clayton Tharp, 10/27/2018
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Convertible
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
3.1 Ltr FI V6 gives the little car very peppy acceleration, far better than all these bulky SUV's that I leave in the dust. Nimble manueverability, park anywhere, change lanes swiftly. There's something light hearted and gay feeling about a convertible. Being a 1994 it gets lots of attention, I got whistled at by a couple of young guys in traffic one day. I had very little money and needed a car, spotted this treasure, had been in the same family since new, well maintained. Bright Chevy Red paint adds to all over sporty feeling. I'm like old, over 60 yrs. and dig driving this car as much as any I've owned in the last 47 years. Chevrolet at its best.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great to drive!!
Ghost6987, 03/23/2009
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I got this car in "05" with about 100k on it and I drive it about 130 miles aday. Im a Young kid I'm 21. I have the 2.2 its rusted and has a lil rodded but I have a perfect tac in it also I put a turbo on it only running 8psi a better cam and a 2 3/4 inch piping its still my daily driver never left me on the side of the road a beat on it all the time great car as long as u keep up with everything. Do an oil change with royal purple! All the time it helps the car out and protects it the best. The car has on the dash right now with the oem block rods and pistons it has 291k and still going strong. I love my teal civi killa
My Mini Camaro (sorta)
David Jones, 10/07/2002
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I just bought this car its the first car ive ever owned I cant complain much cuz i got it for $1300 w/ 124000 mi on it. the accelaration is quite acceptable with the ac off. i just put a KN air filter in it and now it pulls even better. it looks and feels like a bigger car. I got it with alot of new parts just put on by the former owner (altenator, battery, shift linkage) so im hoping it'll hold up for awhile. I prolly wont do anything else to it for awile besides new tires and front end alignment. All in all the cav feels like a small-scale late 80s V6 camaro, which is to say somewhat cool though it wont earn you much street cred