Test Drive Chevrolet Cavalier 2003 - 2005 coupe

Officers invite cavaliers

In the near future, police units in the capital of our Motherland, the hero city of Moscow replenish the cavaliers. No, it is not about the fact that a group of courtesy American cops or the Moscow police will arrive in the city and the Moscow police began writing the examination for the etiquette exams and the rules of good tone. Everyone will remain here, alas, old. Just for the armament of our heroic police coming cars Chevrolet Cavalier.
Such news immediately caused us genuine interest in this car, and we decided to test it immediately. There must also be wide masses of fellow citizens to be informed about what kind of pedal (gas or brakes) should be pressed by finding the chase of new cavaliers.
Lawless citizens immediately inform: click on the brake that there are strength. And the overwhelming majority addly this material.
Mystery of Moscow Mentality
Generally speaking, the criteria for the choice of cars for the GUVD remain for us a mystery covered with darkness. Take the same notorious Ford Crown Victoria. It is impossible to submit anything more illogical for service in the ranks of the auto inspection. No, as a patrol car for the usual militia, he is definitely good. But the decision to apply a clumsy American suitcase as a catch-up in an overflowing machines (even in a special policeman) could come to the mind only far from reality an official.
Chevrolet Cavalier also seems to be no distinguished by a congenital burden for police work. An ordinary family car for people with modest income, and simply speaking - good consumer goods. Immediately agree: we are talking about a four-door modification with a body of a sedan, because for the police it is unlikely to be purchased by a coupe, and even more so convertible. But I will not rush to the conclusions.
Weapon to examine!
We at that time have information about the special equipment of the purchased Chevrolet Cavalier at that time: siren, flashers, spotlight and blue stripes on the sides of the car. The inner filling is practically no different from the basic configuration. We got a car with the most powerful of the proposed engines - sixteenthly glovenants, a volume of 2.4 liters and a manual transmission. According to our humble understanding, this option is most suitable for carrying a road service. Running forward, let's say that the Moscow police will get a lot of cars - only 2.2 liters.
I barely see Cavalier, we began to mentally think about it. As it turned out, it is not easy - the imagination completely refused to repaint him in the combat coloring of the tribe of police cars. Yes, and the migally-matyugal device did not want to go to the roof. It hurts the image of a gloomy burden of order with a cheerful appearance of the car. But maybe all this - stereotypes? ..
Salon liked his practicality: the lack of design sizes and excessive bellows are compensated by a pleasant bright interior, in which plastic parts are dominated - for the service car, what is needed. In addition, all the attributes of the modern car, somehow: an electric car, airbag, air conditioning, and so on - is pouring, and it is quite convenient to use all the household. From the additional equipment in the machine turned out to be CruiseControl, simple and logical control of which focused on the steering wheel switch.
The capacity of the cabin fully complies with the generally accepted for cars of this class. That is, in front of any problems with the placement of the crew did not arise, and you can sit behind. Of course, there are no special expanses here, but you also do not feel much discomfort. Problems may occur with planting in the winter at the back seat of a hard armed and uniform policeman.
The volume of the trunk fully allows you to accommodate everything you need there - from the Speedgana and equipment to work at the site of the accident to protective caskens, automata and other anti-personnel weapons, which generously equip the oblast workers.
Check on the road
So, substantial contraindications to the use of Chevrolet Cavalier as a car for the road police, we still have not found. However, the decisive factor in this case are the driving qualities of a combat chariot. To find out what they are in fact, we drove Chevrolet Cavalier in a variety of conditions - in the city, on the highway and on the highway, abundant turns. The survey showed that the patient is rather alive than dead.
Engine power in a congestion of horsepower allows Chevy pretty quickly accelerate. In essence, on the dynamics of overclocking, it is somewhere on the same level with a two-liter sports compartment, which is not surprising - the engine power is similar, and the torque is even more. But in the corner of the engine power is not the only thing that leads to success. Handling is also extremely important.
Chevrolet Cavalier and here things are not bad. Pretty hard suspension and convenient, with good feedback steering allow you to confidently feel with active maneuvering and turns. True, all this is true until certain limits, and these limits occur, according to subjective sensations, somewhat earlier than you suppose. That is, the reliable behavior of the car inspires confidence that there is still a stock, and it really does not appear. Therefore, before the limit modes, it is better not to bring. But in general, the behavior of the car liked. Especially since life consists not from the same very. And in the city of Cavalier is very convenient - the reserve of thrust at the engine allows not too often to resort to the services of the shift lever. You can ride almost like on the machine. The effectiveness of the brakes is completely under the overclocking dynamics, it may be too early to turn on in the ABS case, but the slowdown is controlled easily and conveniently. And in general, the car control does not tire and does not force it unnecessary to concentrate. So it is possible for the order on the road to post.
Summarizing the impressions, we decided that Chevrolet is generally suitable for cavalry attacks, and for a leap, although with some reservations. Of course, it is ungrateful to chase on it at high-speed foreign cars and healthy SUVs, but to call for order can be very and very many. Any domestic cars (and we still prevail) and most of the price of foreign (and more and more of them are becoming more) - this is the category of violators, with which no problems will arise. And in any case, Chevrolet Cavalier, in our opinion, is suitable for urban service much more than huge Fords. And the cost of cars and their maintenance is less burdensome for taxpayers' pocket.
The editors thank Trinity Motors, (095) 209-4673, which provided a car for the test.
For the period of test, the car was insured in the insurance society of the reso-guarantee, (095) 250-3600, 255-6834, 254-2272.
Who is on what
In the United States, there are different cars in the United States. Thus, Alabama Police travels to Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang Cobra. In Connecticut, the foundation of the police car park makes Ford Crown Victoria. And in California and Florida - Chevrolet Caprice, Camaro Z-28, Ford Mustang, Ford Bronco, specially equipped for Ford Truck policemen, and Jeep Wagoneer.
In Germany in different parts of the country from policemen have their addictions that relate to automotive traditions. Of course, in Bavaria go to the BMW 318 and 320. In Stuttgart - on the Mercedes C and E class, in Essen - on Opel, Volkswagen Passat dominates in Saxony, in Westphalia - on Ford Escort and Fiesta. The German police serve as Audi A4 and A6. It consists in service with police and a special gift from Porsche - the legendary 911th model.
In France, the most common police cars are Renault Megane and Citroen various models.
In Italy, the traffic police prefer the Alfa Romeo 75 and 155, which will soon change Fiat Marea. Carabiniers and financial police use Fiat Tipo and Uno, Fiat Panda 4x4 and Land Rover Defender.
In Switzerland, each canton itself determines what the police should drive around on. In the largest canton of Zurich, the traffic police use the BMW 328 of the penultimate model range and Volvo 940 and 960.
Moscow ATC Park will soon be replenished with 250 Chevrolet Cavalier. A car purchase loan provided American Eximbank. By agreement reached between General Motors and the Moscow Government, each machine will cost about $ 20,000 excluding customs. The total amount of the contract is $ 900 thousand.
The loan is designed for five years. It applies to Riggs Bank from Washington and is supported by the guarantees of OnEximbank. According to George Becker, the head of the Moscow office GM, the choice of the manufacturer was also due to the fact that the company helped banks to agree and make a loan.
Cavalier has never been used by the American police, and therefore it will be equipped with special sirens, radio communications and address catalog. GM promises to provide ATC Center for Chevrolet Service.
The purchase of Chevrolet does not contradict the ruling, prohibiting officials to use foreign cars, as these machines will become an instrument of combating criminals and cannot be used by officials.
(Information agencies reports)

Cavalurists
First of all, we asked to test a new car and share our impressions of those who may have to go on the debt of the service - employees of the 4th Department of the Republic of Major Alexander Zakharenkov and Captain Vladimir Levtsov.
Levtsov: The car is good. That's just accelerates poorly. The grip is soft. For the city is suitable. But only for traffic police. For patrol service, the salon is small. They themselves will barely fit there, and where to plant detainees?
Zakharenkov: Yes ... for PPS is better than a jeep.
Levtsov: It's good that the box is manual. In winter, what is needed. But the injector is bad. According to our conditions, unjustified costs. And repair will be nowhere. We are tormented with Fords, although there are many stations for their service. And for Chevrole, only two.
Zakharenkov: the volume is small. Our Ford has more than three and a half liters and the capacity of 368 horsepower. Cavalier is weaker. He is more suitable for criminologists. Paper carry. Or for precinct.
And what ordinary citizens? The machine is sold, the machine - admitted a TRINITY MOTORS sales consultant. - You see, there is a common difficulty for American cars: the motor is big and therefore very many customs. Almost 100 percent as a result, the price increases. But in general, on the dimensions of Cavalier for the city just need: not too small and not too big. Well, what else to say? Buyers with him very little familiar.
You will be surprised, but most of all Cavalier for some reason in Samara. To whom they needed there, I won't do the mind. But the fact - the market sellers ordered a large game, all implemented, and we, in fact, only the remnants are selling.
Actually, cleanly objectively Cavalier deserves the best fate. This is a gigantic step forward compared to the old model, they consider the GM representative. - Especially in the field of design, just no comparison with what was before 1995. Here in America, for example, thanks to a moderate price, this is the real bestseller.
But miracles do not happen. There is no good car without any reason to sell poorly. Even with us. And one customer is not explained, because many Chevrolet suffer from it and more. There is a little secret.
GM, apparently, does not really care the fate of Cavalier on our expanses, "one of the Jeem dealers complained. - In the CHEVROLET gamma, the company is seriously engaged in promoting only Surbanov, blazers and large road cruisers. Indeed, in Russia, Chevrolet is associated with large machines. And the other firm seems to be handed hand. And Cavalier, imagine, in fact, did not even pass in Russia certification! What is there to talk about? After all, this means that dealers have the right to import such cars only for a specific customer, with prepayment. And just to put in the auto show to attract buyers, cannot. In addition, it turns out that when there is no certificate, the dealer is much more difficult to get the necessary spare parts for warranty from the firm. So we are reluctant to contact.
The question arises: how do you equip the traffic police that have not passed so-called oligation, that is, certification? And so - take and equipping.
Model / Modification Chevrolet Cavalier 2.4 16V Sedan LS
CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION, GENERAL MOTORS CORP manufacturer.
USA Manufacturer Country
BODY
Sedan type
Number of doors / seats 2/5
ENGINE
Type gasoline with multipoint injection
Front location transversely
Working volume (see cubic.) 2392
Number / Cylinder Location 4
Cylinder diameter x Piston stroke (mm) 90x94
Compression ratio 9.5
Power, kW (l. P.) At rpm 112 (152) at 5600
Moment, nm at rpm 203 at 4400
Number of valves / cylinder 4
TRANSMISSION
Front wheel drive
5-speed gearbox mechanical
SUSPENSION
front independent
rear independent
STEERING
Type of the Rake Gear, with a hydrauliculator
Torkemose
front disk
rear drums
ABS Standard Equipment
Wheels
Tire size 195/65 R15
Dimensions / About EMA / Weight
Length / Width / Height (mm) 4580/1712/1369
Wheel base (mm) 2645
Front / Pallet Packed Rear (mm) 1463/1440
Minimum reversal radius (M) 5,65
Dry mass (kg) 1287
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km / h) 190
Acceleration up to 100 km / h (sec) 8.0
Middle fuel consumption (l / 100 km) 12

And what else
After acquaintance with Kavaler, we wondered: what else would the Russian militia could choose to make the Russian police for the motorization of their rows? In different countries, there are traditions in the selection of Machines for the police, however, as a rule, preference is trying to give to domestic (which is quite natural). But since our cars are not able to cope with the tasks next to them, let's try to attach someone from foreigners could do it better.
Peugeot 406, perhaps, should be not bad as a compromise option: on the one hand, a powerful engine, excellent controllability and a spacious interior, on the other - relatively low cost. Especially considering the price policy conducted by Peugeot in Russia.
Two other cars, Audi A4 Quattro and Alfa Romeo 155, have quite sport temperament and driving qualities, while remaining quite functional four-door sedans. This is already enough enough to cope with the police duties perfectly, but these are not limited to their advantages. Thanks to the full drive, their ability to get the offender is even more increasing, which is especially noticeable in the winter period.
 
Maxim Razgulaev,
Stepan Fishermen (photo)

 

A source: "Autopilot"