I’m interested in picking up a 1988 Cavalier with a 5 speed. My family owns a body shop, so we’ll handle all the maintenance ourselves. Just wanted to know how reliable they are and if there are any common issues I should look out for. Appreciate any insights you have!
So, the fact that you want a 5 speed means you won’t have to deal with that annoying TCC lockup solenoid issue from the automatic transmissions. That’s a plus.
Rust is going to be your biggest enemy. These cars are notorious for rusting out, especially in the driver’s side floorpan. Just keep an eye out for that.
Honestly, these cars were not the best when they were new, and now they’re almost 40 years old. Just be ready for some wear and tear on things like wiring and rubber parts.
If you’re just looking for something to learn manual driving on, go for it. But don’t expect it to be reliable for daily driving without having a backup car.
You might struggle with sourcing parts since it’s a transition year. Some parts from the earlier model years might not fit perfectly with the '88.