1994 VAUXHALL CALIBRA SE4
Used car addict Keith looks back at his best – and worst – classic buys. This week, a Calibra bought on a whim
WHY DID I WANT ONE?
I am by nature someone who always sees the best in all cars – from the lowliest economy hatch to the crustiest of wrecks. So having a soft spot for the Vauxhall Calibra is hardly a surprise. If you were in the market for a company car, and pushy and young (I was both back then), you needed a Calibra in your life. Then, just as quickly as it became an ‘it car’, it fell out of favour. Enthusiasts looked down on the Calibra throughout the 2000s and ’10s, viewing it as junk stock, rubbished by the modification brigade and outdriven by rivals such as the Volkswagen Corrado and Alfa Romeo GTV. Pondering Calibras and their underrated status with Vauxhall enthusiast, Kevin Bricknell, on a photoshoot for Modern Classics back in 2016, he casually mentioned that he was selling a 1996 SE4 for a mere £600. He must have known that mentioning it to me would be like shooting fish in a barrel and sure enough I bought it sight unseen. Luckily, it turned out to be a good ’un.
WAS IT A JOY OR A NIGHTMARE TO LIVE WITH?
To be fair, I didn’t keep it that long. It was reliable, swift and a real headturner. The thing with the Calibra is that it flatters to deceive – it looks fantastic thanks to its sleek styling but it’s actually quite ordinary to drive. That much I already knew, and it didn’t disappoint on that level, but I wasn’t expecting such relentless reliability. And with reliability comes complacency. Kevin had kept the car in very good shape, and it came across as the perfect modern classic car apart from its sagging parcel shelf and very superficial cosmetic issues. Although lots of people laughed when I picked it up (usually saying ‘It’s not a V6’ or ‘Has it been in Max Power?’) but the smiling usually stopped when I told them how little I paid for it. Being a 2.0-litre 8V, it was a piece of cake to service, right down to the cambelt change, and as such that made this one a joy to own.
WHAT’S YOUR ABIDING MEMORY OF IT?
I could say that my abiding memory was widely smiling at the sheer ease with which the engine bay came apart for servicing, but that would be dull. I also smile at how accomplished it was on the motorway and how it would gobble up a trip to Carlisle or Penzance without breaking sweat. But for me, the most memorable aspect of Calibra ownership was how accepting the classic car scene was of it after so long in the wilderness.
I rocked up to several classic car shows in it and enthusiasts would look, smile and say those words that mean a car is in the classic car club: ‘My dad had one of those’ or ‘I can’t remember the last time I saw one.’ The warmest welcome was undoubtedly at the 2016 Festival of The Unexceptional, where it took pride of place alongside a selection of far less exceptional cars than this – and completely looked the part. Rarely has such a cheap car been so warmly welcomed into the club.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR BUYING ONE?
The Calibra was always tough and reliable, being based on the Cavalier MkIII. But its survival rate is not good thanks to heavy attrition during the 2000s and into the ’10s. If you’re looking at a survivor now, then congratulations because numbers are low. There aren’t too many checks to make if you’re looking at a nice standard car, but make sure that the steering rack mounts aren’t cracking. You can check this by feeling for wobbling steering or grinding noises when steering at rest. Other than that, post-1995 cars are galvanised so they don’t rust very much, although blocked sunroof drain holes can cause the boot floor and spare wheel well to corrode. The 2.0-litre 8V engine is pretty much bulletproof, but the 16V is known for failing cylinder head gaskets, so make sure that it’s cooling properly.