I bought my 1995, M reg, 1.6 cavalier in 1999 and I have to admit its the best car I've ever known!
Strange as this may sound for a car now at the ripe old age of 8 I have had almost no problems in the 4 years I've owned her.
She has broken down on me only once, due to a dodgy temperature sensor affecting the petrol flow to the engine and even then she struggled and spluttered trying to get me home, but I stopped her misery and called the AA!
I have hardly been the most loyal of car owners, often forgetting to do the regular oil, water and tyre checks. But still she soldiers on until my brother comes to intervene and give the poor machine what she needs!
As for some general Cavalier information...
Space-wise there is plenty of room for 3 chunky bottoms in the back seat and leg room for all (providing the front seat passenger hasn't skidded their seat back far enough to rest their feet on the dashboard!). There is also enough room in the boot to cram in 3 months worth of shopping for a family of 4.
Safety is at a good standard. I believe that it was just the later models like mine that included the side impact bars and ABS (added to all Cavs in March 1994) - which has got me out of many a sticky situation!
Comfort is pretty good with the added bonus of the height adjustable seat for the taller ones like myself who would normally be left with a head-shaped dent in the roof otherwise!
The engine is excellent for a little 1600 that can drag around a very heavy vehicle for over 120,000 miles as mine has, and can still hit over 110 mph even now - bless her!
The handling is good, security is above standard for the age with the double central locking and immobiliser, and fuel consumption is pretty economical for a biggish car. As for looks - it's to every individuals own taste to decide, but I initially chose mine as a 23 yr old female, knowing nothing about cars, simply because I thought she looked 'cute' with her shiny white paintwork and matching bumpers!!! Even now she looks great and there are only tiny rust spots which get treated as and when they appear.
I would say that I definitely got my money's worth from this car, £3,600 4 years ago for a 4 year old car was a pretty good deal compared to some, and with all the use I've had from her.
My brother - who has had many, many, many cars over the years, but classes the Cav as one of the best - would agree with me when I say they were good when they were first made, but as the years went on they got better and better. Then, when they had the Cavalier almost perfect, they took them out of production and brought out the Vectra instead. Which may be a half decent car, but has a hell of a lot of faults that need ironing out before it will be as reliable as the Cavalier.