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The Calibra was the car that brought the affordable coupe back to the fore. Now it's plentifully available on the secondhand market - and based as it is on Cavalier mechanicals, you'd think it would make perfect sense. But does it?
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What you get
The cynical would say "a Cavalier with a body kit". There's a little more to the Calibra than that, but it is true to say that all the mechanicals are from Vauxhall's time-served repmobile. That's no bad thing - the Cavalier had some storming engines in its life. This is also good news for the second-hand buyer. There can be few cheaper coupes to maintain than this one. Build quality was always good, too.
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What to look for
Rust isn't a normally a problem, so if you should find any, it should set the alarm bells ringing - there may have been a botched accident repair in the past. Calibras tend, after all, to have been driven hard. Blue oil smoke from the exhaust plus rattling could signal expensive camshaft wear or worn valve guides.
The 4x4 Turbo is desirable but expensive to repair and prone to high mileage abuse; better to go for a V6.
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Replacement parts
(Approx - based on a 1994 Calibra 2.0 16v) Clutch assemblies are about £100, front dampers around £50 and an alternator £85-£215. You'll pay around £200 for a catalyst, around £160 for a headlamp, around £90 for a radiator, and up to £70 for a decent tyre.
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On the road
Fire up the engine and all the tactile signs are right. The most popular eight and 16-valve two-litre units are rugged little powerplants, far more suited to the sporty Calibra than to other models in the Vauxhall stable. More than that, they're also satisfyingly smooth right up and down the rev range in a way that rival Ford's engines could never be.
Another area where the Calibra certainly scores is in cabin space. Despite a slippery record breaking drag coefficient of 0.26cd, it's a true four-seater, unlike its two-plus-kids counterparts. Its deep boot is also more accommodating than most, if not as easy to load. Plus there's a useful split-folding rear seat.
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Overall
In summary then, the original Vauxhall's Calibra slogan 'a coupe without compromise' is probably a fair description. The Calibra isn't the fastest car in its class, but even now, six years after its launch, it still looks stunning.
And isn't that what owning a coupe is all about?
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