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Used 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Coupe Consumer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
145 reviews

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Great car!

hannam, 10/15/2012
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier LS 2dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful

I drove this car for almost a year before someone ran a red light and totaled it. Looks great for the price, easy to drive and great for a first car! I bought it with 90k and drove it to 100k. I did have a few issues with it. The backseat was really difficult to access. If you buy with the original radio, be aware that installing a new radio could put you in the $200-300 range as the system is connected to many other things in the car (like the beeps for when your car door is open). AC went out around 94,000 miles. The lights below around the gearshift went out, and I had to hit the gearshift to make them come back on. All in all, I'm still happy with the purchase and sad to lose it.

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4 out of 5 stars

Would be good

Jon Smith, 09/23/2010
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier LS 2dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful

Would be good but the car just keeps having problems, IAT, HUBS go out, Slave cylinders go out multiple times and then contaminate the clutch but That problem starts with the master cylinder which is usually repaired wrong at dealers for cost cutting-they replace the slave not the master cylinder. almost cost my life in an accident! Trans went out, Radio went out twice the replaced one was remanufactured, not NEW under warranty. speakers go out, throttle cable rusted and would make the throttle stick or not move-thus no driving or very high revs. The car would be great if GM wasn't so Cheap! and that intake manifold design is crap.

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2.63 out of 5 stars

Dont buy a 2004 cavalier RUN!!!!

hatecavalier04, 02/13/2012
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Special Value 2dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful

I love my cavalier.......when it is running! dont ever buy one I bought it with 65,000 miles on it and it has been worked on more than I have driven it. I take very good care of my cars but with this one it doesn't matter. It is cheaply made everywhere you look.it had an electrical problem which I spent a fortune to fix, probably way more than the car is worth. My cd player, radio and interior lights do not work still. If I try to put a fuse in it it just sparks...Im sure there is a short some where but im not putting any more money in this car. I have replaced the alternator multiple times with brand new ones. It dry starts, gauges dont work, replaced timing chain kit, etc. on and on

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4 out of 5 stars

2 years for 1800! Not bad

Yaboy Chaz, 02/26/2020
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

This car for what it was got me to work back and forth after I blew the head gasket on my Saturn. It drove me everywhere I needed to go. Work was about 5 to 8 miles and that was in the morning til evening and then I'd drive practically anywhere I felt without issue. Car had pretty good pickup and despite the 2 door style, yellow sun thining paint and rust on both lower sides, this car was my trusty steed. Normally driving it over 75 mph, occasionally I would hit 85 to 90 and it kept up with traffic fairly well. "Now for the good, bad and ugly": What was GOOD was it had typical maintenance like any car, when I took the muffler off and put a spoiler on it, it had the sporty feel I needed. The brakes worked like a breeze before and after upgraded drilled rotors. Gas mileage for me was still over 21 mpg driving as far as Maryland and back once a week when I switched jobs. And I had driven in the snow for over (about a 4 to 7 inches on a back road, unplowed) to rescue my girlfriend who was stranded in her top safety rated Chevy Cruze, and after spinning out one time, I managed to not hit anything and still get to her and bring her home (While doing donuts in the parking lot where she was). This car can handle well if you have good struts too. Had someone hit my back side after they ran the stop sign but their front end was messed up but it was night so it looked like my car was fine but the next day it had a small dent so despite the cheap plastic, it held somewhat firm. The hit was about 35 mph with me trying to avoid the incident too. BAD, was it had a few rust spots on crucial components like the brake line's (Replaced two, one in the front and one in the back, about a half hour for both) Replaced the fuel line after a minor leak, probably due to heavy acceleration because I decided to drive it in its manual gears. It was automatic but the car preformed better when you shifted up from 1st to 2nd then 3rd, I'd switch to drive sometimes if I was at high speeds for long periods of time. Then lastly it had a wheel hub bearing replaced but that was an easy fix with power tools. The interior was pretty cheap a easily broken but if you dont mess with it, you can prolong its inevitable demise. Lastly the rust and paint, not to crazy or in important spots but it would break off small pieces of the car, seems common for these vehicles too but for 2004 you can't expect a F1 racecar. The UGLY, there isn't really much ugly about this car. It held quite fair, parts were pretty cheap and if you can find someone to do the repairs then labor will be cheap too or DIY. I beat the heck out if this car and it probably would have lasted another 100k miles. Got the car with 94k and lost it at 136k due to me sitting to high in the rpms maxing out at 110. Dropped down to 90 and the switched to Drive. A few more accelerations and boom. Car blew a gasket, scrapped it and got a truck. I drove the car like a manual for about a year without much issue though so it wasn't for me revving to high, I probably would still have it, still very reliable and good on gas. Hope my experience helps you make a good choice. Whether you're in high school looking for a dapper first car, or an employed fellow looking to get to and from then this car will do that. I've also heard ppl with these cars reach 300k so if you take care of it,it'll take care of you. Happy hunting.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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3.63 out of 5 stars

First New Car

rdaub, 03/27/2013
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2dr Coupe (2.2L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful

2004 Cavalier was my first NEW car purchase {had purchased used cars prior}. After 180,000+ miles can not really complain. It did what it was purchased to do - used as a commuter car, averaging over 400+ miles per week. After all of those miles, still getting 30+ mpg. Yes road-noisy ride, cd no longer works, replaced clutch after 175,000+ miles, shifter needs replaced [hard to get into 1st or 2nd, really loose]. But for a "basic $10,000.00 car" in 2004, it has been a worthy vehicle.

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