Only having the automatic version, I can't say anything about the actual manual transmission. But, the automatic is very clunks and slow, and the engine is has NO torque to speak of, but the top end isn't too bad. Gutless, but not too shabby. Build quality starts at poor and degenerates from there. Cheap, chunky interior plastics would feel more at home on some pacifier than in a car. Fun Factor: good starter car; it's surprisingly tough and damn near bulletproof (we tried). Radiator is a gas if you pour some Skittles into it!

This is my 6th Cavalier the best one i have owned and i love these cars. awesome on gas. cheap to fix. dime a dozen for parts... $50 CND fills the tank. and i get lots of driving out of it

Could get up and go for a 4 cylinder. Just felt right. Got good gas milage. Could beat on it a little. Had to fix a few things right away. Was very fun to drive. Really wish that i had it back.

Its a monster that never has let me down. Since I have it I have never let me down on the street. Tooo much power to the type of car (2.2). If I have the chance I will buy another one!!!

This car was a tank. It had 250 odd k on it when I bought it for 600 bucks from my brother. It lasted for another 50k before it dropped a piece of spark plug into a cylinder, then becoming a 3cyl.