Used 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Consumer Reviews
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Stick to the LS Sport
For the price, the LS Sport is the best deal going. Don't waste your time with the base model when for just a few more dollars you can get a lot more car. The ECOTEC is an excellent engine that is far sturdier than the regular 2.2L found in the base model. The only problem so far has been trying to find aftermarket parts for it since it is so new.
nive entry level sport sedan
just bought this car and seem to be happy with it so far.This is not my first experience with the cavalier,I traded a 1991 cavaleir in for this and never had to do anything other than routine maintanance.The ecotec engine is certainly a nice improvement and the accelleration is certainly there when you need it in this little car.
- Base SedanMSRP: $3,500968 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $9901,246 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $14,6751,836 mi away
Good Cheap Car
I made it through a lousy dealership and got an awesome little car. My only complaint is the power windows. Sure it could use more power, but I already knew i wasn't buying a corvette. For the price & what it is, this is an excellent and very reliable car.
Great gas mileage!
I was driving our SUV to work everyday and got the Cavalier to save on gas. I love this car. It's cute, reliable and definitely performs in the mileage-saving area. On the open road I've gotten 40-mpg! I've driven this car solo across the country a number of times and have had no problems. It has about 80,000 miles on it but the interior and exterior still look new after a wash & wax. Had a clogged fuel line that caused problems last year but that has been fixed. A strut bearing needs attention, apparently that's a typical problem, annoying but not critical.
2002 Cavalier LS
So far so good. I've had 2 oil changes so far, one at the dealer and another at a local place in town, and both have overfilled my oil by at least 1/2 a quart.
Way better then expected
I first had a 1995 Ford Escort LX, then went to the '02 Z24. I've had the car for about 7 months now. I love this car! I'm getting the same fuel economy or better then the escort. This is WAAAY more reliable than the Ford. I had to take the my Ford to the shop way too many times to count. I have had no problems with the car. My only complaint are the interior is not as big as expected, but still plenty for me and 3 other people.
cute, economical, fun, AND sporty
i am a college student... i have only had this car for 6 months and i love it. i haven't had any problems. the factory stereo system is awesome. it's a cute car and also sporty and fun. it gets great milage (about 32 on highway, 26 in town). good breaks system really helped me out in the winter months... awesome summer vehicle too!! can you tell i love this car??
best damn car for the money
Shopped long and hard for a new car. Searched for good used car, finally for the money, the Cavalier came on top. Noone gives you as much car for the money.
Go ahead and get it
I really like the Z24. The horsepower is enough to satisfy many. The style and comfort and great. My only complaint is that it tends to oversteer in a high speed corners so be ready. For Nascar fans thats "loose". The clutch has little feel but once you get used to it, it's not a problem. The engine has a great throaty sound. This is not an exhaust sound but rather the intake. The torque is quite impressive for a four banger. While the car is heavy the torque alone prevents needing to downshift. Need to pass someone just stay in fifth and press the gas. If you can find one of these cars take it!
worst car ever
Cd player doesn't work. The stick is hard to move and sometimes doesn't go into park and has to be shoved. Dashboard rattles. Mileage does not show up half of the time. Passenger side window does not go up, therefore it never goes down. Air conditioner wires cracked. I'm sure I'm forgetting things but I just can't remember everything wrong with this car. This is the worst car known to mankind, probably getting rid of it during the summer.
Little Red Cav
I love my little red cavelier too bad I need to sell it. I have a 2yr old... We did have the car for the whole infant stage and it was still great.
Junk the rolls
1994 cheapest model. 115K now. Survive all that time with only tires and brake changes (& oil / filter / air filter / car wash / once a year with inspection). Now it has a starting issue; some electronic module; hell, if it costs <400, that's a gamble of 1 months payment of a $20K car. It's not sporty, but it rolls.
Great Value
My last two vehicles were a Honda and Nissan. This time when shopping for a car the best value was a Cavalier. Nothing can compete for the price with traction control, ABS, cruise, power windows, CD. Mine drives great and I expect good dependability like my Cavalier I bought 10 years ago with less options for about the same price as the 02 I just bought. You can't beat it for value.
Little Red Cav
I LOVE THIS CAR!!! its simple, and worth every dime I payed. I bought it with 3 miles on it now I have 32,000 miles. And I've enjoyed every mile. I drove it from Florida to Northern Indiana to Maryland, Now i have it in Hawaii. I love the sporty look.
WOW!!!
Went from a 1997 Grand AM Se with a 2.4 to a 02 Cavalier LS Sport Coupe WOW!! Really like the new Ecotec Engine, Only prob I have is, I bought black, and its a pretty color when its clean, but man is it a pain to KEEP clean lol Sweeet Car LOVE IT!!
Should've Bought 99' Acura Integra GS-R
The first thing that comes to mind when i think about my cavalier is, clutch....the clutch in my ls sport grabs so high and feels like its already starting to go (and i know how to drive a stick).The other thing that comes to mind is brakes. I just rolled 3000 mi and my front rotors feel like they need to be cut. I will give Chevy a hand for the new ecotec engine though, because it is a lot smoother and quieter than my old 2.2L. And good luck if you change your oil at home, b/c you have to take the intake tube and air box cover off to get to the filter! But the filter is very nice , b/c you only have to drop into a cylinder.
Totally inferior product
I've never owned a GM product, and based on this purchase, I never will again. At 45K miles, the dash panels are coming apart, rattling, & squeaking. Annoying squeaking has developed in the front suspension, and a disconcerting grinding noise is coming from the engine compartment at startup. I found a gap between the interior roof liner and the door edge that I can fit my finger through. What a disappointing example of American auto manufacturing. I'm going to sell it, get a Honda, and not feel one bit of sorrow for GM's current troubles.
Good starter car
I like the sporty look of the outside and the ease of driving it. However, the seats could be more comfortable and the alloy rims are very expensive to replace. It has the basic features I need and is a good starter car.
Ups and Downs
Wow my car is a month old, and well Its been in the shop for 2 weeks of the month I have owned it, this is not looking good. It had no problems in the first 200 miles, but after that, the transmission has been torn apart twice now to get things fixed, Valves and things I have never heard of. If you get lucky and have no problems enjoy it.
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport
I recently purchased the cavalier LS Sport Sedan. I must say that for the buck, this is a best buy! It has all the custom features most people want, available in factory make. The sound system is excellent, and puts a little bump in your ride. Considering it only has a 4 cylinder, the car has quite an amount of pickup too.
Would not suggest this car
My car was great for the first couple years but all has gone down hill from there. ABS light continues to come on even after maintenance, all 4 power windows had to be replaced, pick-up is terrible, transmission is close to going, engine misfired after 45k miles, the a/c and heat does not work unless you put it on full blast, and now surprise surprise there is an electrical problem which doesn't allow me to use my left turn signal (real safe) - I'm getting rid of this car as soon as next week, never buying a GM again
Chevy is crap!
My 2002 cavalier is junk. I will push it into a river to get rid of it. Salesman was a jerk.
Midnight
I bought my car on January 29, 2004. It has been the best car I have ever had! It is dark blue metallic. My car is 5 years old now. It still runs like new. I have taken care of my car very well. I always get compliments about how good of condition that my car is. Everyone loves the color of the car including me! The 2.2 ecotec so far is a very good engine I now have 82,000 miles on my car. I don't have any problem with the comfort with the interior of the car. I drive this car at least 40 miles per day mostly highway driving. It gets the same great gas mileage that I got the day that I got it! It gets between 30 and 32 mpg. I would not trade this car for anything.
awesome
this is a great car. lots of bang for your buck. wish it was a lttile faster though.
2002 Cavalier
Basic car. Good gas mileage. Fits a 6'3" guy like me. Put 160K on my 1996 Cav. and no major $ put in except for usual tires, brakes, ect...
Good Basic Transportation
Relable and smooth running subcompact. Only complaint is the dashboard warps and cracks too easily. Other than that, a very low maintenance car.
Great Starter Car
I just graduated from college and wanted a car that was low in cost and nice on the eyes. The 4 door Cavalier LS Sport was the best I found. From the moment I saw this car I could not believe it was a Cavalier, I used to think these cars were so ordinary. Drives very well, and saves you a lot of money on gas.
Still Runs like new
Bought my cavalier new in december 1995, drove it over 130,000 and it runs like the day i bought it!!!! Dependable and FUN to drive
Cavalier is K-mart class JUNK!
Blown head gaskets after 36,000 miles. Electrical shorts/problems since new. Transmission & engine oil pans leaked like a Pig since new. Windows fell of their tracks. LOTS of squeaks, rattles, annoying sounds coming from engine, passenger compartment, transmission. In short, do NOT buy a Chev Cavalier! It is PURE JUNK!
Cavalier --- Sporty, Fun and a best buy
This is the second Cavalier I have owned. I put right at 100,000 miles with little more than oil changes, tires, a couple air filters and a set of brakes. My new Cavalier has the new 2.2l EcoTech motor that has ample power and I get about 27 miles to the gallon in town. With all the standard features like 4 wheel ABS brakes, air conditioning and a cd player, its in my opinion a "BEST BUY" among compact small cars.
Good for the price
When it comes to price, you really cant beat the 2DR Coupe. Very comfortable on the inside, not bad on the outside. Fuel economy is what it should be for a car like this. Satisfactory leg room. Very reliable, no problems to date.
Nice car!!
I bought it used for $7,995. I love it. It is an all around great car. Stiff sporty suspension, and a smooth highway drive. Looks and rides like a true sports car. I have the rare chrome stock wheels. It is bright red. It's a head turner. Not a bad built car. The 2.2 eco tech is the way to go I have heard nothing but bad thing about the 2.4 Z24 plus the body looks better. I strapped a z24 factory sign on there just to be cool
Sporty and Quick
I have had my Z24 for over a year now with no problems what so ever. I've added a GM supercharger to the car and couldn't be happier. An extra 50 horsepower in these cars make them a lot more fun to drive.
BEST ECONOMY/FUN CAR EVER
Chevy must have done something really right when they built my car. It is a 1990 Chevy Cavalier that still rides like its on rails. Its got 228,000 miles on original everything and it is still one smooth ride.
Good little road rocket
Bought as a short commute vehicle, never a major problem. Taken on a few long road trips. Always faithfully maintained due to low mileage/time ratio. One window motor failed, replaced via warranty. Brakes at 25000, good mileage considering short city daily drive, and multiple stops per mile driven. Never any problems, mileage decent, wasnt bought as an economy car. This little vehicle with the dual overhead cams will perform, and looks nice too. The traction control/anti-locks work very well in a Chicago area winter. I have found no faults with it.
Awesome Car
I love this car! Everything is standard. I added some cool effect like white face gauges, alumin wheels, xenon lights, euro tails....had a head on accident last week in bad weather...car frame did great and sustained no engine damage...did $6k to the body tho. That must mean it's a safe choice.
A good value in an inexpensive car.
Our Cavalier has been very reliable and inexpensive to own. The only significant repair we have had to make, beyond routine maintenance, was the replacement of the fuel pump at about 80,000 miles. Even though I now work for a new car dealership of another make of cars, I have to say that our Cavalier was a good purchase for us.
Got Milk?
Thus far, I have had no problems with my car, and although it is less than 5 months old, I bought a '99 Z-24 brand new, and traded it in, so I had it around 3 years, with no major problems, and only normal wear and tear expenses with my very aggressive driving style. I race, and these cars have held up suprisingly well with the stresses I put it through, although I do keep it excellently maintained.
Fun to drive, very reliable.
I bought my Cavalier new in March 2002. Still gets great gas mileage even after eight years. Smooth and quite. Handles nicely. Lots of storage. Back seat folds down so you can store long items through the trunk and along the back seat. Only problem have been the power windows. Replaced the front driver side window motor after three years. It has been working fine for the last five years. Now the two back windows are now starting stick. Which is strange, since I don't open them much. Still a great car!
Worked out well for me
I purchased my 2002 standard 4 door at an auction in Oct 2003 with 9000 miles. I previously had a '90 and I put 105,000 miles on it before selling it to my nephew who's still driving it. I wanted an inexpensive commuter car with good fuel economy. It has been that. I currently have 46,000 miles and the only non-routine repair I have had was the fan resistor pack replaced under warranty. I wasn't expecting a luxury or sports car, I just wanted reliable, economical basic transportation and the Cavalier has been that.
bigger is not always better
although it is not very big in the horsepower area it more then makes up for it on the street.
Think again b4 buying!
Nothing but problem with my 02 Cavalier. Have had 15 rental cars in under a year on this car. Lordstown (Cavalier / Sunfire final assembly plant) needs to produce a quality vehicle! Numerous engine and wiring problems. Probably will not buy GM again.
Pretty Good Car
I bought this car almost a year ago and the only problem I had was the front window motors burning out. Other than that, this is a great car to have. Pretty peppy 2.2L ECOTEC.
STREET RACING MADE EASY
Well to say the least, I think this is the fastest inline 4 cyl. vehicle put out for 2002! I've beaten most other 4's, and some small 6's while I was at it too! Just a great car ya know?
Chevy's It!
The engine is sluggish, the imterior parts are cheap and break easily. It doesn't have much horsepower. It has more along the lines of grasshopper power. I wish I could trade it, but because it doesn't hold its value well I would be terribly upside down!
A Great Car For the Money
We bought this car with just 55K and so far it needed nothing and is holding up quite well. The little 2.2 is more powerful than you would think and the transmission is smooth. Fuel economy is an average of 35-40 MPG. The AC and heater are strong and the CD/cassette player has great sound and is RDS equipped. The interior while well designed is full of cheap plastic but its still holding up well. The seats are comfortable but look and feel cheap. Interior room is not bad for a small car.
glad they dont make them anymore
at 47000 miles head gasket,water pump.thermostat had to be replaced.at 55000 miles fuel pump had to be replaced,located inside of fuel tank,oil filter is in a bad location,air conditioner has stop working.when car does run it runs good and get good gas mileage.
UNHAPPY
I JUST TRADED OFF MY WIFES CAV AND WE DID NOT GET BACK FOR WHAT IT WAS WORTH. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, AND STILL LOOKED NEW. THEY ONLY GAVE US 5000.00 FOR THE CAR, AND WE PAID 17,500.00 FOR THE DAMN THING.
Good All Around Car
I have owned this car for 3 years now and it has been a completely reliable vehicle. I purchased this car based on two other reliable experiences with the same make/model. I commute every day from suburbs to city in all kinds of weather (including snow - i use snow tires too) and this car performs very well. Car gets very good gas mileage and decent performance with 4cyl/auto combination. No major mechanical/quality problems. Only problems of any kind has been an ABS sensor that failed and sticky power door locks (both warranty repairs). There are not many cars that have this value for the money.
Get what you pay for
I'm still driving my Cavalier and I have to say that it's not too bad considering the price. Obviously it's one of the more inexpensive cars out there, so expect what you pay for. The key phrase here is "preventative maintenance." As long as you get regular oil changes and check-ups, the Cavalier will hold up. Will say that it seems to run into problems on very wet days, especially when running through puddles. Not too enamored with the crash ratings but, again, you get what you pay for. Couple of expensive repairs but confident they are isolated incidents and don't affect the overall dependability of the Cavalier. Remember, it's a cheap car. Don't expect a Porsche out of it.