Looking at buying a 95 Cavalier

I need a reliable winter vehicle and I'm looking at this 95 Cavalier with 197,000 km 5 spd. How is the reliability of the first year of the 2nd generations? If anyone knows of perticular things to look out for please let me know. With that many kms and no records I'll probably be changing the timing belt at least. Thanks in advance.

Base model with a 2.2 is always a rock solid motor, but not particularly fast. Then again, that shouldn't matter if you're looking for a winter beater. The Quad4's in the 95 Z24's isn't really the most reliable thing ever, but its relatively solid.

Also, If memory serves, its a timing chain, not a belt.

Aside from your basic tune-up stuff, you shouldn't need to change much to keep it reliable. I'm sure some of the pushrod owners on here know more than I would.

Man I got confused when I saw your name in a thread here inatalonIXLR8. Yeah, the 2.2 ohv is nothing like what you are used to in the DSM's but I think they make good winter car. Pretty good on gas, and like OverAllComa said, the 2.2 ohv is pretty solid but with no power. I think hes right, these cars have a timing chain, and I dont think they go out like the 4g63's do. Good luck if you do decide to get it.

Just as a reference as ive told people before i have a 96 2.2 ohv, and im at 310k km on it and it still runs good, once in awhile it hesitates for a second on start up but thats it, plan on replacing the engine when i find a cheap one

310,000 kms Right on. Have you had to replace anything major? I wonder what the most kms have been on a Cavalier without rebuilding the engine.

Common things on the 2.2 are,headgasket,ac compresser(rattle sound),tension pully,front brake rotors,fuel injector o-rings,wheel bearing.

I need a reliable winter vehicle and I'm looking at this 95 Cavalier with 197,000 km 5 spd. How is the reliability of the first year of the 2nd generations? If anyone knows of perticular things to look out for please let me know. With that many kms and no records I'll probably be changing the timing belt at least. Thanks in advance.

95 was the first year of the third gen actually.

I have a 95 with a 2.2, just about to turn 93k miles. Still runs strong. Ive seen the 2.2 with over 250k miles, they are definately good motors, reliability-wise