VAUXHALL CALIBRA (1990-1997)
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?
HISTORY
Coupes are cars of fashion, bought by those who place looks above logic. Theirs is an emotional appeal, summed by the marketing slogan that Ford favoured for their Capri ? ?the car you always promised yourself?.
Vauxhall's Calibra is certainly the car that General Motors always promised itself. For years, the General's marketing men had searched for an excuse to build an image-maker for their saloons and hatchbacks, a car based on mundane mechanicals yet with fast and forward-thinking style.
As ever, it was the Japanese who finally spurred them into action, capitalising on the decline of Ford's Capri and Opel?s Manta to seize the coupe sector with exciting new designs from Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Token opposition came from the Germans with Audi's svelte coupes and Volkswagen's subsequent Golf-based Corrado, but neither did much to stem the Oriental tide.
With the introduction of the Calibra, all that changed. In its time on the market, this coupe, more than any other, did the most to bring the concept within reach of the ordinary owner.
The early range, launched in summer 1990, was made up of eight and 16-valve 2.0-litre variants. A four-wheel drive system was added to the 16-valve version but didn't last long in this form. In 1992, a potent 4x4 turbo model became the 150mph Calibra flagship and, in 1993, a 2.5-litre V6 model was added to the range.
There were a number of special editions, the most notable of which were the SE series cars, based on the entry-level eight-valve but with extra equipment for not much more money. In 1996, the 4x4 flagship was phased out.
The end of production in July 1997 was marked by a final special edition, the SE9.
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.
WHAT YOU PAY
Prices for the cheapest Calibra start at around £1,000, while the last R-platers will be roughly 3,500.
The 16-valve cars have always been popular, so you'll find a good selection available second-hand. The turbo 4x4 is an interesting one, it starts at about £1,800 and can be as much as £3,200 on a 96N-plate. There aren't too many examples about, but persist in your search and you should turn up a few from which to choose.
A super-smooth 2.5-litre V6 engine is perhaps the most desirable Calibra of all, if the frenetic turbo is not quite your cup of caffeine. You'll be looking at roughly £2,400 for an M-plate car, while the R-reg V6s start at about £3,400.
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.
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.
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.
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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