The Cavalier: 2003 Vs. 1994 - Which is More Efficient?

Cars, a topic of controversy throughout the years, people trying to determine which horsepower is best, what color is best, and which year is more reliable. Well, my household had the best of both worlds in it. I currently have a 1994 Chevy Cavalier two door and my boyfriend had a 2003 Chevy Cavalier two door. Both Cavaliers giving us three good years of service. But lets look deeper into these models.

My 1994 Chevy Cavalier was almost ten years old when I got her. She had a few rust spots on her exterior, but that was not to be worried about when I needed a car to get me from point a to point b. The 1994 cavalier has a V6 automatic engine which of course doesn't make it a sports car, however does get you going at a reasonable speed quickly. Gas mileage is the best that I could ever ask for. I can start out with a full tank and drive three hours on the highway and when I reach my destination, my gas tank is only a little over ½ tank.

Road holding and handling is very precise and easy going. The antilock brake system, however, is a con to this vehicle. This function is very dangerous to have when the winter months strike. When you have to travel several down hill roads slick with ice and snow and those brakes lock up on you, sliding to the bottom is not fun. Winter driving is a chore when using this vehicle, even with rear wheel drive and winter tires, your thankful that she has great road holding and handling.

Engine noise can be another con. My little cavalier is not the quietest vehicle out there. But I feel as long as I don't sound like a semi truck coming, its okay.

The car itself can hold up to five people, depending on the person's size of course and can count on being comfortable when riding in this cavalier. The only seating downfall is the need for those shorter drivers, such as myself, need to prop themselves up with pillows to see over the steering wheel.

With an older car, everyone is aware of the possibility of problems. In the three years that I have had her, she has had her range of problems such as brakes, air conditioning, alternator, heating coil, shocks, and a few other little problems. Recalls have been done of the 1994 model on a small number of the cars for drive axle assembly malfunction.

The older cavaliers have a more solid exterior and a heavier body. This is a big plus in my eyes. A heavier exterior means that you are more protected in the case of an accident.

Now the 2003 Cavalier is a lot different then her predecessor. The 2003 Cavalier is slightly wider and taller and there is a little bit more leg room. Unlike my Cavalier, the 2003 has airbags.

Visibility is a lot better on this model, because the windshield is larger and more rounded. This model also supports the use of antilock brakes, which again can be a bad thing in winter. Handling and maneuverability is still highly ranked as well as the same type of engine speed. There is a slight difference of mileage per gallon. The newer Cavaliers seem to eat gas a little bit more than their elders. When you're traveling down the highway, you can barely hear the car make any noises, it is a lot quieter. You can still squeeze five people into this model; however it would be more efficient to only fit four.

The normal wear and tear of this model is less than the 1994, however the 2003 model does have a tendency to eat up oil as well as have their brakes wear out very quickly. Thankfully there have not been any recalls that we have been aware of.

The biggest downfall of this model is its plastic, lighter exterior. The 2003 Cavalier was totaled after hitting black ice this past January going 5mph downhill. The car had spun and ran into a parked car. The airbags were resourceful and deployed, however the impact crumbled the front end and side panels on impact. The car was deemed totaled.

With the older models, it is a pain in the tail to replace the exterior because they pop on in panels and can't be hammered out. Dents here and there in the newer models are easily fixable by hammering the dent out. But when it comes down to it, a dent is nothing compared to the severity of the accident. A heavier car in a collision at 10mph would sustain less damage than the lighter car.

With the newer model Cavaliers, the price value is higher for any repairs that need to be done. After the accident we were told that it would be $1500 alone to re-stuff the airbags that deployed back into the dash. So right there the damages just for the air bags were $3000. Going any further to ask how much it would cost to replace the windshield, grill, hood, side panels, bumper, engine brackets, battery etc. was not happening.

Thinking back, the 1994 Cavalier met with a telephone pole while I was pulling out of my parking lot at 5 mph caused a small dent, broke my front signal light, and pushed my bumper upward. $150 in repairs is a whole lot better than what it may have been if it was a newer version.

In conclusion, there are a few ways to look at the above comparisons. You can consider an older car that you may have to put some money into to keep it rolling, but at least you'll feel safer in a heavier car. Or, you can invest in a newer car that does have a more sleek style appearance, but may cost you a pretty penny in the end if you can't just bang out the dents. Gimme an older car any day!