White coupe, 5spd, air, ABS, sunroof (didn't want it, but no biggy), CD player, rear window defogger.

Ummm....

Floor mats.

That's about it.

Apart from the sunroof, it's the picture-perfect beater. Great gas mileage, all the creature comforts that make a car liveable (the Aries doesn't have air or CD... or ABS... or a rear window defogger). All in all, a nice step up as far as that goes - remember, I'm stepping up from an Aries here.

Hey, and that Ecotech ain't all that bad. It's... well... "peppy"... oh boy... I hate that word. With the Aries you had to plan ahead to accelerate, and while the Cavalier won't win many drag races, it's certainly an improvement over the Aries.


I actually barked the tires a couple of times getting used to the clutch tonight.

Final score? $232 a month, 0% interest, nothing down.

Can't beat that with a stick for a new car. Hats off to GM on this one, they're serious about selling cars at a killer price.

 

Congrats! When's the supercharger going in?

Cav's are a great value

 

Those clutches DO take some getting used to. The Getrag is a PITA until you get used to it. I was going to buy an '02 Grand Am SE Ecotec 5 speed last summer...one thing I did not like was the damn clutch take up...it feels weird. I've heard with practice though, its all good.

Sounds like you got a good deal...good luck. I am surprised though that 0% was cheaper than a $4,000 rebate for ya...I have yet to sell a Sunfire that was cheaper at 0% versus taking the rebate...even loaded Sunfires.

 

That's why Cavs are Chevy's best selling car, or they used to be anyway.

 

Congrats!

Hey - a brand new car as a 'beater' is pretty darn nice!!

 

Yeah, the clutch is one issue, the operator is another, and the third is the fact that even though the Ecotec is "peppy", the LS1 really doesn't care that much about what gear it is in. A HUGE difference between driving the two cars. The Camaro basically needs zero throttle input to get moving in reverse or first, the Cavalier needs a fair amount.




Here's why I ended up with a Cavalier relative to the Sunfire:

I visited a Pontiac dealer and a Chevy dealer. I get GMS, so I don't have to haggle or fight for a deal - the dealership MUST tell me all of the incentives available, and the price is the price. They can choose not to sell a car for GMS, but that's dumb since somewhere around 90% of their business in this area is GM employees and family. I swear, if ANY dealer ever tells me that garbage on ANY car I'll scream it from the mountaintops. Chevy has the following incentives:

$500 Conquest Incentive (because I own a registered Dodge - the Aries)
$4000 Rebate OR $1000 and 0% financing.

The Pontiac, according to the dealer I visited, has:
$500 Conquest Incentive
$4000 Rebate OR 0% financing.

What makes the Chevy deal with the 0% better is the 0% AND the $1000.

Now, according to 1990 Turbo Grand Prix (a fine gentlemen, BTW - if it hadn't worked out down here I would have bought a car from him, but we are quite a ways away from each other - 8 hours or so) the Pontiac DID HAVE the $1000 and the 0% available. So I guess the Pontiac dealer messed up that one.



One more point...

Want to know the best car I have ever bought for return on the money invested?

The Aries.

I paid $1400 for it 3 years ago. Since then it has:

1) Made it through 3 winters.

2) Generated a decent amount of cash in mileage reimbursements from driving around for work.

3) Saved me $500 every 6 months in insurance on the Camaro.

4) Resulted in another $500 savings while buying the Cavalier.

5) NEVER stranded me.

 

Thank you! I've been pretty fortunate in this life, I'm not rich, but we aren't struggling either.

My wife works for the state welfare department, and a job like that gives you perspective - we are so very fortunate compared to the struggles some folks have.

 

Congrats on the new ride!!!


-Mike

 

Thank you for the kind words Pacer. Enjoy you new machine, I'm sure you'll like it. Also, when ever you come around my way, drop me a line. We could meet up and I'll show you some fun roads here in da UP and land of cheese!