How many miles can one typically expect (ie. not the one or two anomalies that last for 300,000 miles or more) to get out of this 4 cylinder engine with average care?

Just saw a '02 or '03 come through the junkyard yesterday with 190,000 on it. No word on what was wrong that prompted it to be junked.

Thanks a lot casper271! The answer was very helpful and I very much appreciate this valuable insight from a helpful mechanic! Hope life is smiling on you!

I would estimate between 160- 200K with no problems.

I've got a 1996 Chevy Cavalier with 244,000 miles on it, goin' strong ! Illinois

269,344 on my 2001 cavalier 2.4L. Fuel pump, a couple of cooling issues, alternator, MAPsensor and an electrical issue in the 6 years that I've owned the cavalier. $2000 in repairs for 190,000 miles that I've put on it. Been a great and reliable car.

We have a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier 2.4 liter (I think) engine and it has a little more than 170,000 miles on it. It has never been in an accident or towed or stranded on the side of the road. We've spent about $1800 this year getting it in good shape for our granddaughter to drive. It has a lot of pep for such an old car. We hope she gets to drive it for a number of years. I sure hope I don't jinx it by bragging on it.

Here's my 03' Cavalier. Has 217,000 miles on it and runs smooth as silk still. Replaced fuel pump, alt, and a few other minor things. Dang car is torquey as heck!

My 2000 Cavi 2.2 is the best car I've ever owned. I drive it 105 miles daily, 5 days a week. It has 235,000 miles so far, with very minimal expense. Never had a wrench on the engine

My girlfriend has a 1997 Chevy cavalier and it has 270,000 how much farther can it go

Our chevy has bine in the family since 1998 and its a 1996 base model 2.2 sedan. It was the first car we got after moving to america( im from belarus) that sucker is now pushing 350k on the same motor. My mother drives it 50 miles to and from work every day and 50 altogether on sundays. The crazy thing is we bought it salvage and all of out family members said don't do it cause its american, unreliable, cheap, and plain crap...... soooo wrong. I mean the cheapness is there but in terms of reliability that sucker just wont die. I have been around that car my whole life and just thinking about the car not being in the drive way just feels wierd, Anyways it was not a mistake to buying a cavalier cause hell it was worth every penny. If your looking for a steady point A to point B reliable car than this is the one to get. last thing, AC still works but the radio died witch was my fault when I was like 8

Slava, it's easy to fix the radio issue. It's delicate but can be done! I did it to my 2000

I have a 1990 Chevy Cavalier that just hit 410,000. Bought it 9yrs ago with 89,000 paid $1,000.00. She still runs and starts up everyday. Have issues with things around the car but the motor is killer!!!

Bought my 2002 with 22,000 miles...now up to 266,500...put 66 miles in each day...engine still runs smooth and doesn't burn oil.

I owned a 1994 Chevy S10 that had 138,000 miles on it when it got totaled in a parking lot by a drunk while I was Christmas shopping. It ran like a top after my initial head gasket problem at about 38,000 miles. I worked at a Chevy dealer at the time in Pennsylvania and PECO Energy had a fleet of Cavalier station wagons with the 2.2L 4 cylinder and 3 speed automatic transmission that their service Techs used. They were always overloaded with tools and equipment and used like mules, but they just kept going. They often times rode on their bump stops and were beaten mercilessly. The cars fell apart around the engines, often with 150,000 miles or more on them, but they never stopped running.

I have a 03 with 2.2 Ecoe tech with 320,000 and still runs like new. Just be sure to replace timing chain before it goes out or the Pistons will crash the head and bend the valves. The head alone is $500

2001 2.2L 2 door, died (not engine or transmission related) with 161,000 miles

Currently have a 2002 Cavalier with 175,000 miles and she still runs strong. Engine is great, and she's turning into a Jalopy but if I can get another year and 50,000 miles out of her, I'd be happy!

I have a 2001 2.2 2door cavalier and it has 241861 miles on it. Bought it with only 50000 miles on it for about 3k back in 2006 kids drove it for a few years and I have been driving for the last 5 years I live in in Illinois and even when my friends cars wont start mine does (until this morning lol) doing a few things to it and hopefully can get a few thousand more miles out of her

I have a 02 cavalier 350,000 on it

04 with 340000 and counting and my dad's is at 315000 and counting. Best $$ ever spent

I have a 2002 cavalier with over 350000 miles. Replaced fuel pump, motor mounts, alternator and a few minor things. Car is still gong strong and is a daily driver.

Just purchased an 01 cave and after reading all the remarks I'm glad I did thanks people,,!

Slava is it still working???

I got a 2005 Cavalier used in 2006, I don't remember what the mileage was when I got it, but I've put 175,000 in the 11 years I've had it, and I'm here to tell you, it still runs wonderfully! I've had issues with the drivers window (replaced window motor) since I got it, but that is something that I will gladly put up with to have a car that is as good as that Cavalier. It does use some oil, but I keep it checked. There was also an issue with the linkage pin(?) but my ex fixed it. That car cranks and goes every single time! That is an example of how a car should be made.

2004 has 170,000 miles on it. We got it used in 2011 with 120,000. I haven't done a single thing other than tires and oil. Car is falling apart but engine works fine. (Trunk latch broke, spedometer out, gas gauge out, temp gauge out, shifter falls off from time to time, one seatbelt broke, radio antenna broke off, heater/AC broke. )

My 1993 Corsica has the 2.2 and with almost 180,000 miles, I have had no problems at all out of that engine or transmission.

Hello, one and all. Hope everyone is doing well. I too live in Ontario, Canada. I'm happy to report that I'm currently driving a 2003 Cavalier, that's just reached 342,000 km. I'm the second owner of this car. Glad to hear that some of you have addressed this thread. Thank you.

Just an update... My 2000 Cavi has turned over 300,000 miles. The engine is running great!

Has anyone replaced the timing chain, just for maintenance reasons ? I have a 2004 cavilier with 130,000 miles. I just changed the spark plugs and replaced the brake calipers, rotors and pads. Wondering if it's worth changing the timing chain and sprockets or should I leave it be ?

I have a 2001 Chevy Cavalier with 163,000 miles on it. I just started having issues within the last three years, mostly with the cooling system which has pretty much been completely replaced at this point. I've never had the timing chain replaced but I'm curious about that too.

2004 Chev Cavalier 2.2 base trim. Just turned 378,000 following a 2,000 mile turnaround trip to Dallas. Not a single drop of leak anywhere and getting 36.5 mgp in summer blend. I bought it in 2005 with 34k miles for $6,500. One alternator and one fuel pump replacement only for repairs. Otherwise just normal oil changes every 5k (conventional 5W30), serpentine belts every 75k, 2 sets of rotors and 3 sets of pads. Original struts still fine. Heck, the current 2-yr battery is now almost 7 yrs old. This was a GOOD day at the factory on a car that had many bugs worked out during the 23 model years up to the year mine was built. This car has been paid for for 13 years and has been paying me back in spades for at least 10 of them. I live in Missouri and we have some periods of super freezing winter and this baby fires right up and rolls through deep snow fine.

Hello again, Gang. Hope all of you are doing well. I'm back here again to let you know that my 2003 Cavalier 2.2 car has now passed 407K on it and still going strong. I'm aiming to pass the 440K that was mentioned in an earlier post.

I'm thinking about buying a 2005 Cavalier LS Sport Coupe with 186,000K Miles on it. I've found all the insight to be exponentially helpful and am 1000x more confident in purchasing it. 2.2L L4 DOHC 16V Engine. I feel like I am making a wise choice now. Thank you all!

I have a base 2004 Cavalier that i bought in 2006 with 26k miles. It now has 236k and just passed the emissions test and my insurance 6 month premium is only $150 bucks

My mileages 2996107 my engines doing good right now

I'm about to sell that car I'll take a 1000 for it

I have a 1999 cav 159000 miles check engine blinking at 35mph or higher .car body is rusted real bad . Was a great A to B car , sadly I’ll be junking it not worth putting any money into it.

We bought a 91 cavalier BRAND NEW as young family. SOLD HER AT 200K miles, ...last I saw if the old girl around town, she was still going STRONG at 250k. BEST CAR WE EHAD. Shoulda kept her, just to see how long she lasted! Never gave us any trouble. Just regular maintenance.

We bought a 91 cavalier BRAND NEW as young family. SOLD HER AT 200K miles, ...last I saw of the old girl around town, she was still going STRONG at 250k. BEST CAR WE EHAD. Shoulda kept her, just to see how long she lasted! Never gave us any trouble. Just regular maintenance.

My 2004 Chevy Cav-ilac has 271,000 miles on it and is still going strong - I drive it a minimum of 450 miles a week. They didn't build her on a Friday!

I have a 2005 cavalier. Just turned 332000 km. Only paid $3100 for it 9 years ago and it had 130000 km on it then. Still runs good. The only thing i have done to it is regular maintenance like change oil, brakes and tires. it has rear shock mount that broke about a month ago. Not worth fixing as the body is rusting off it. Unfortunately because of the body time for a new car. Best car i ever bought.

Bought a 2005 Cavalier 5 years ago for only $2,800. Had 88,000 miles on it. For the first four years, I had zero repairs from that car save for regular oil changes and a brake pad replacement. That was it. It's the only vehicle I ever had, even when I bought nice, newer cars, that had zero unexpected breakdowns in the first few years of ownership. Sitting at 133,000 miles on it, and except for the transmission cable breaking once 4 years in (About $700) and the brake pad replacement, that car goes when I need it to go. For $2,800, I couldn't have asked for a more reliable car.

Funny reading this thread. I searched for high mileage cavaliers and this popped up. I've had great luck with them and am on my final cavalier. 05 bought 9 years ago for 4k. Only repair was the fuel pump and it just keeps going and going. It had 101k and is now at 219k. I'm hoping for another year or two out of it. People laugh, I have a 2021 WRX in the garage but keep driving this just to see how much more she has. One more year and it was with me for 1/2 my career at work! I wish they still made these....

My 1985 Cavalier just turned 600,000 miles with its original 2.0 L I-4, so who knows with these things.

Greatest

FIgured I'd update my prior post. 05 was at 219k just passed 243k and it it goes until March that's 11 of my 20 year driving that car! Looking for a C7 Z06 now the old girl has done her job now it's time to treat myself!