Vauxhall Cavalier Vs Ford Sierra - James May's Cars Of The People - BBC Brit

James May puts the Vauxhall Cavalier against the Ford Sierra against each other using the ultimate test, involving trouser presses, photocopying, shaving and speed.
Taken from James May's Cars Of The People.
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[@ConsumerWatchdogUK]

Very realistic race. I still wake up with a cold sweat after dreaming about the trouser press queues at Stafford services on the M6.

[@orion1983uk]

One other thing you notice about the Sierra here especially is, despite how old it is, it still looks relatively modern!

[@gerrywatson261]

Yeah - the poor old cavalier looks like a Vauxhall Victor that some teenager as screwed a tacky body kit to it 😂😂

[@boytechnichian]

It really doesn't

[@jeeves_uk]

The Sierra has definitely aged well

[@modelreviews3705]

It's a beautiful Modern classic car😍

[@MythicalDust]

It doesn’t look even vaguely modern but ok. If you had said that in 2003 I might agree.

[@ammybj]

This has got to be the most accurate and fair race I'll ever seen

[@simons4474]

The mad thing is the guy in the Sierra , that’s actually his own car.

[@AlexYeets]

I mean, that'd explain why he knows how to drive it. :P

[@chriswilson2431]

@@AlexYeets and why he’s not bothered about the printer toner all over his interior 😂

[@dcarbs2979]

Why is that mad? I drove my Capris and Granadas as dailies this century. Although this Sierra is a bit modern for my liking. Great cars even today.

[@chriswilson2431]

@@dcarbs2979 Agreed. Another typically brilliant Ford. It has to be said that they make very good cars that appeal to all people. We have two old Vauxhall’s 50’s and 30’s and I think after the pre war Vauxhall’s, they lost their way a bit, where ford never did.

[@isaacsrandomvideos667]

simon d wow.

[@SilverScarletSpider]

I’m a big fan of comparing similar cars: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry, BMW 3-Series vs Dacia Sandero.

[@bmstylee]

The Dacia Sandero? That's good news.

[@VALIS538]

🤣🤣😂😂😂👌

[@grdprojekt]

No the Sandero is too brilliant to be compared with anything else

[@SA77888]

Four years has passed since Orion83 (bellow) commented how the Sierra still looked relatively modern........Id suggest in 2022 it STILL looks relatively modern today. Amazing how well its aged. Its rounded (jelly mould) yet sleek with sharp lines. The Cavalier by contrast looks boxy and primitive as if designed by a school boy in his spare time.

[@michaeljagger7673]

crikey how did james may manage to get hold of a cavalier calibre? there is only 11 of them on the road

[@georgejacob3162]

I can't say I've ever seen one!

[@Mattyboy88979]

My uncle had one, we crashed it into a bungalow over 20 years ago, i believe there were 300 made in the begining, it was an awesome car.

[@ggj1987]

Michael Jagger The one they used looks very well looked after!

[@JudgeBane]

My grandad had a MK3 Cavalier. Would always stall when we slowed down for roundabouts and traffic lights...

[@jasonahdjfhsdfg]

@@JudgeBane sounds like a fuel problem. Possibly fuel filter or blocked injector.

[@soundseeker63]

"The shove it in anywhere technique favored by salesmen in the 1980s".... Oh that made me LOL!!

[@ConstantGeekery]

So, instead of an actual comparison between two legendary cars, we get a children’s TV style “comedy” assault course where we watch two grown men, each of whom have no idea how to put on a suit jacket, cover the interior of somebody’s pride and joy with copier toner...

[@geeboy9793]

A real comparison would have been welcome....boring waste of time

[@patricioaroncastrillonross8372]

I would kill to have a Cosworth, RS, XR4x4 or whatever variant of the Sierra. Where I live we have the Sierra XR4, 2.3l 4 banger rear wheel drive. Its an amazing car, but I'd love to have a twin turbo v6 4wd Sierra, what a monster

[@нико-р2х]

The Ford Sierra is a cool car that's also a multipurpose car that you'd actually like to drive, go on a road trip with your family or go for a midnight drive under the bright lights if the city, It looks sporty and I think that it performs as a sports car

[@xCore0320]

Still have a Sierra. Its the best car which Ford ever made.

[@Computercontrolled87]

+xCore0320 I love the Sierras but what's the point of compare a late Sierra agaisnt an Ascona (Cavalier mk2) The rival of the Sierra Cosworth is the Vectra 4x4 Turbo (Cavalier Mk3) The last Ascona was released in 1988 with a 2.0i 8v engine with around 130hp and front wheel drive, The last Vectra Turbo was released in 1995 with 2.0turbo engine 16v, 4 wheels drive and 204hp

[@Nakke144]

+xCore0320 Far from it. The Sierra lost almost all group tests in it's last years, just like the last Escorts did. They were constantly critisized for their shabby handling and rough engines. The Cosworths were fine though. Ford EU made pretty shit cars in the late 80s and early 90s, they turned a corner with the Mondeo and Focus.

[@xCore0320]

Ye, pretty with the rusty mondeos.. oh yeah.. Sierra drives better as the mondeo. and yeah, got a Mondeo and focus also.

[@Nakke144]

+xCore0320 Only the 90's mondeos had rust issues. But so did the sierras, just as bad. And if they handled so great, why was the Sierras handling absolutely despised by all car journalists in it's last few years, and the Mondeo was known as a great handling car, especially from the mk2 onwards. Im a Ford-guy and like the Sierra, it has some oldschool-charm, but it was horribly outdated well before it was replaced, and even more so these days. Fun to skid around in, but they have about the structural rigidity of a wet lettuce.

[@xCore0320]

Bro.. My Sierras arches are as clean as new, never welded or anything. Mondeo? Dont ask. All is worse on a 90's Mondeo.

[@jaggass]

In the early 2000's someone near me had a Cavalier Calibre. It was E811NHP and i think sold for something like £400. Many years later i saw it on the internet and it was last owned by someone in Wakefield in a different colour. I think it maybe in Ireland now.

[@jms9350]

Haha unreal only by chance I came across this comment. This car ended up in Donegal and I detailed it for my mate and drove it. Drove like a dream. It’s red and he sold it on its now in the North and Belongs to fairly famous person in Derry, and it definitely went for a hell lot more than £400😆.

[@hondac7028]

Always a cavalier man in my youth but i have to admit the sierra has aged better.

[@Lumin8Gaming]

who else thought of MR Bean when they were shaving?

[@manc7808]

My Dad had a Scorpio 2.9 V6 Ghia with all the extras in about 1990/91 brand new, It was a beast back then, it even had electric back seats.... Well spec'd car for the times.

[@Soulvex]

My dad had one for a week, same spec i think.. It used to squat down when it stopped, huge white beast like a limo back then lol.

[@petelattimer6808]

@@Soulvex and now, believe it or not (ive owned BOTH cars im mentioning) the current MONDEO is the same size as the old Granada was!

[@johnj3577]

I had one of them! I think it was a 1988 though. Lovely car, I've still never found a car with seats that comfortable since. It was quick, quiet, had a massive boot and a lovely smoooooth ride.

[@wp8022]

That Scorpio was and still is a beautiful, very underrated car.

[@youngstayoung6633]

The 2.9 scorpio was powered by cosworth . Very quick.cat

[@southendparaquest]

Surely a better choice would have been the Cavalier GSI, with that smashing Redtop engine. Owned similarly sized Sierra and Cavi (I've also owned a retop SRI, superb car, great fun). have to say I much preferred the Cavi. Just a better drive

[@amount100]

what a comparison come on Ford 1991 3.0l v6! Vauxhall 1988 2.0l 8v !

[@StalloneSRB]

3.0? Lol

[@andymountain7004]

Walsh yep 2933cc

[@jimjam8149]

andy mountain could've been the 2.0l 4x4

[@andymountain7004]

no definitely 3.0l v6 with dvla

[@jimjam8149]

Andy mountain oh fair enough

[@Computercontrolled87]

What's the point of this? The Ascona (Cavalier Mk2) can't be compared to the late Sierra, It shoud the the Vectra 4x4 Turbo (Cavalier mk3) 204hp 6speed and 4 wheels drive...

[@joshhulse6141]

then it should have been that against the cosworth then you can't beat a ford

[@Computercontrolled87]

Josh GaMing I believe the Vectra 4x4 Turbo is a nice challege to the Cosworth, they are very similar cars. but that's my opinion

[@deanoburty]

+- Be The Change - It would be as they are pretty much the same both have 200bhp and both do 0-60mph in 6.5s

[@Computercontrolled87]

Shakes Rakes Can't understand how people says Cavalier (Ascona and Vectra) are bad cars... I Think the're pretty good, and the sport versions were amazing...

[@deanoburty]

They are very nice cars, I've owned fast Vauxhalls and fords like them both. Fords do seem to handle little better though but as for straight line speed they basically the same. Currently have Vectra b 3.2 V6 GSI and its the best sounding car I've ever owned no need for the radio ;-) But the cavalier 4x4 turbo are super nice! Shame you don't see them anymore cant remember the last time I did :(

[@RandomCarGuy17]

The Sierra 4x4i looks quite good actually. I wouldn't mind having one, but I of course would have to import it since Ford never sold the later Sierras in the US.

[@martinandreas6486]

The sierra cosworth 4x4 is better

[@RandomCarGuy17]

@@martinandreas6486 Yup, I know.

[@knockingvalves2539]

They kind of did with the Merkur Xr4

[@RandomCarGuy17]

@@knockingvalves2539 I know, but I'm referring to the 2nd gen Sierras here. The XR4ti is a first gen.

[@safariman72]

South Africa used to have V8 Sierras limited run of 250 though. Good luck finding one.

[@FoodTech101]

And there's me thinking I was going to watch a proper car review.

[@Euroduplex]

well, the Ford looks better than the GM IMO.

[@Zero_Ninety]

+Euroduplex Nothing new there then...

[@williamgson4055]

+Euroduplex That's usually the case lol

[@asadacoehlo7964]

Might have something to do with the fact that the Cavalier is a generation older than the Sierra. Seriously, this was a test conceived by someone who really doesn't know cars. The XR4X4i's equivalent is the GSi 2000 4x4 or the facelifted 2.0 Turbo 4x4.

[@stickleback73]

GM = bug ugly!!

[@petelattimer6808]

@@asadacoehlo7964 under the skin the sierra can trace its underpinnings back to the mk3 Cortina, so about 1972, give or take a year or 2, and the sierra was overdue replacement when it got its final refresh as shown in the featured car. it was dropped for the Mondeo to replace it in 1993, and the mk2 cavalier was actually launched in 1981, the year before the sierra was launched (1982) so the cavalier wasnt really a generation older!

[@phil8437]

Vauxhall for me. I had two back in the day. I would love to have one again. Both of mine were extremely reliable and real mile munchers. Cavaliers were a better built and safer car than the Sierra.

[@Kgn-kgsjejdnne91]

Yep

[@TonyL2567]

I drove taxis back in the mid 90s and apart from the cosworth, the Mk3 Cavalier SRI and GSI were far superior than the Sierra’s engine wise, the Cavs bodywork tended to rust quickly though

[@JM-io2uv]

I had a black 93 cavalier turbo years ago and same here I’d love to own another

[@KingEddo8]

"Winners drive Fords" No shit. I knew that since 1966

[@bensheldon4521]

Sierras drive fantastic if u can drive properly

[@petelattimer6808]

agreed. in 2wd form theyre rear drive. and in 4x4 spec theyre biased towards the rear (66% if my memory is correct, but it could be 60% to the rear)

[@derin111]

I’m sorry but even with my rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia on....I still think the Cavalier’s styling looks so shite !

[@samuelkim1827]

shaving while shifting gears, now that's a boss

[@theart8039]

That Sierra was seriously quick back in the day..I hired one for two weeks once and didn't want to hand it back

[@simoncoventry7122]

I love how thoroughly scientific these tests are!! 😍

[@blackpagan100]

The Cavalier looks like a Sci Fi nightmare but the Sierra looks awesome!

[@Piotrek4500]

Becuase they compared old generation vs new generation. To be fair they should give Opel Vectra A

[@ezequielrodrigues534]

No Brasil existe um carro parecido com o Cavallier, ele se chama Monza e é um carro muito querido aqui.

[@minimanukuk]

The Calibre kit (not 100% it was called that) was always a shocker.

[@MrLolx2u]

We actually still have the ONLY running Cozzie Sapphire 4x4 here in the country and the guy that drives it just stays opposite of my block and we could hear his aftermarket exhaust every time he leaves the car park. Every time he leaves the entrance, it does the classic "rear suspension bog" and its hilarious to watch, exciting to be in and also heart warming to see it run.

[@johnboycurb9119]

The only running one in the country?

[@ParallelSyntax]

I highly doubt that. Many tuners make it RWD but there’s a number of purists with stock Sapphies that are still rocking the 4x4 in the UK. Unless that country you’re talking about is Malta or something, you’re talking crap. Sorry.

[@MrLolx2u]

@@ParallelSyntax ???? I'm not an European so if you don't know anything, you're the moron talking crap. We have one of the most expensive car prices in the entire fucking world and having to own a car for over ten years is hard to even imagine. Tuning? What fucking tuning? We can't even fettle with an exhaust here without the authorities raining down on your parade unless you have approval from them. "Malta"... Pfft. "Tuning".

[@Exciteddelirium1]

There is a burgundy one in my village, woman driver too

[@sniggs101]

Which country? Go to any RS car show in UK and you're gunna see multiple Saphire Cosworth 4x4 on club stands

[@robotboy5990]

I thought this was going to be an interesting in depth look at these old classics. Instead it’s another stupid scenario that is not fun in the slightest to watch.

[@mat5267]

But you still watched it 😂

[@robotboy5990]

@@mat5267 turned it off as soon as they got out the car and started fancying about

[@xxxbubby28xxx64]

Unfair race tbh That Sierra ain’t standard

[@pb6198]

Oh come on, the cavalier was never as quick as a sierra

[@IrishWannabe]

The shitty Opel ripoff isnt standard either

[@rosco3223]

@@pb6198 it would of been a lot closer race in a standard xr4x4. Heavy 150hp v lighter 130hp.

[@pb6198]

@@rosco3223 closer yes maybe, but like watching paint dry. Did they really only have that much power. That's pathetic

[@donkmeister]

@@pb6198 You obviously don't know cars from that era... This 1992MY SIerra xr4x4 had 150bhp from its V6, and the 1992MY Cavalier was actually the Mk3, not the 1988 Mk2 they have here. The 1992 Cavalier was available with 200bhp and 4x4, and whilst I think the Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 would have beaten it round a track, the Cavalier 4x4 turbo would be biting at its ankles. But, the Cosworth was a race homologation special, the Cavalier 4x4 turbo was just a regular model.

[@dkmorris713]

"The shove it in anyway he can technique" Sounds like my daughter's conception 😆😆

[@dkmorris713]

@Your Dadfuck you, dad

[@Bippu762]

My friend James spotted the actual Cavalier from this at a car show

[@j.jordan9877]

i find it a bit of a poor comparison as i'm sure the cavalier has the old 2.0 sri130bhp 180nm torque engine, and the sierra has a 2.9 148bhp 232nm torque. My opinion they should've used the 2.0 xr4x4 with the DOHC instead and it would've been fair game and most likely the vauxhall would've been the champion

[@martingetliffe]

I can’t remember 1 of the 4 x 4 20i that I saw on the road.

[@tomlowbridge5784]

I think the Ford is a cosworth 2.0 turbo about 200 bhp. It should have raced a mk3 cavalier turbo to make it fair.

[@j.jordan9877]

I'm talking of the standard ford non turbo DOHC 4x4. They're a rare bird now, and from memory they was made because of the gas guzzling 2.9. There were three types of the XR4X4 and that was the 2.0 / 2.8 and 2.9

[@j.jordan9877]

@cú chulainn I'm pretty certain they're 130bhp with 180nm, and even if it was 140bhp, you still need to state the torque and also taking into account, if it was 140bhp and let's say hypothetically 190nm of torque, it's still underpowered to the Sierra and that's including the weight differences... So it still means barely anything

[@paul900m7]

I had the exact same cavalier Sri130 Calibre. Amazing car until some old git drive into the back of me and wrote it off. The one in here is factory stock. The Sierra is also a 4x4 so how is that a fair comparison.

[@blackpagan100]

Did captain slow pronounce it wrong? I’ve always known/said it as “Calleebra”

[@chuck8058]

That Sierra looks like it's had a serious brake upgrade. Looks like an AP Racing big brake conversion. What other tricks has it had done...?

[@Thebigdog_1984]

The cav isnt exactly stock either

[@leedavis1101]

Just bummed coz a shitty vauxhall got out done

[@belly257]

Not really a level playing field then is it. Sierra has had brake upgrades suspension upgrades and probably power upgrades. The cavalier is standard and a much better rarer car

[@leedavis1101]

The cav isn't standard either and what exactly is better about the cavalier

[@trevhib]

@@leedavis1101 What's non-standard about the Cavalier? That's how the Calibre came.

[@jamiermathlin]

was the sierra XR4x4i a 2.8L 6 cylinder 4wd and the cavalier a 2.0L 4 cylinder Fwd? might have been a better battle if the Cavalier 4x4 turbo was raced as it was around at the same time as the Sierra XR4x4i, then it could have been a more interesting battle !

[@sniggs101]

On that logic I would swap the xr4x4 for the Minker 323 😉

[@robertjones-eb4xo]

Well that was the daftest one yet, time to give it up.

[@Dave68Goliath]

Capri 2.8i. Sierra XR4X4. Loved those cars

[@SolarPoweredHobbies]

whats not mentioned is the sierra has a twin turbo conversion ...

[@JETJOOBOY]

Wasn't the Calibre the 8V130 HP motor too? Even if it had the 16v 150HP, it was hardly Apples to Apples.... The only fair (but pointless) comparison would be the CALIBRA 4X4...

[@TamiyaGuy123]

Or we could just say "This drag race involved a bloody Corby trouser press" and be done with it.

[@JETJOOBOY]

***** No,No, the Yamaha trouser Press is way more powerful than the Corby Trouser Press... SUCH A racist bigoted statement ........

[@K20-h5n]

JETJOOBOY no calibra and Granada

[@petelattimer6808]

@@K20-h5n Granadas competitor was the CARLTON. the Calibra was going to be a competitor for the Capri's replacement (the Probe, as the Capri had been out of production 3 or 4 years by the time the Calibra was launched) which as we all know was a total sales FLOP. certainly here in teh UK. they did (in their day) drive reasonably well and the 2.5V6 was quite quick!

[@muhamedtrakic7472]

James:"Winners drive Fords" So true...

[@samjaggard5139]

I will have to agree even though I'd have the cavalier

[@DolleHengst]

Walter Röhrl would disagree. He won the WRC in an Opel Ascona i.e. Vauxhall Cavalier MK1

[@theant9821]

DolleHengst ari vatanen and björn waldergård would beg to differ. the rs1800 did it twice. in the British rally championship ford is the most successful constructor of all, despite the success the manta and Chevette hs/hsr. plus the sierra won every single race in the btcc for over 3 and a half seasons. 'old nail' is vauxhalls biggest success, 63 british national level victories from one single firenza. Though baby bertha is something very special.

[@rocon86]

The Ascona beat a 4wd Audi Quattro to win the wrc title

[@theant9821]

Ronan Connell the quattro was a poor design of a brilliant idea. it took 4 seasons to get the quattro up to speed due to its cumbersome design, the well designed and developed chassis was more of an advantage than the superior traction and powere of the quattro. besides the quattro could be temperamental as turbos were a new art in motorsport.

[@cinicola1]

how about an actual serious test?

[@diekro9146]

"a box of wine - from Austria" What does he mean? the best price you can get or a rubbish price ? Cause Austrian wines (white) have no image but are top - in many competitions

[@TheDemonSomething]

He means a large scandal from the mid-80s where large quantities of Austrian red wine were found to be contaminated with glycol...it's a reason why Austrian whites tend to be the focus today.

[@adorabasilwinterpock6035]

Im Swedish and people still joke about buying austrian wine for their car to save money (since the austrians put antifreeze in their wine and its generally very cheap)

[@andosrailway2369]

This is the British version of Commordore vs Falcon

[@trajanaugustus8783]

Not a good comparison. The Ascona (Cavalier) was no longer produced in early '88 and had max a 2.0i-8v 129hp motor. The Sierra 4x4 had a 2.9i V6 with 145hp. The Vectra A 200016v 150hp 4x4 would have been more realistic.

[@Soulvex]

1.6 8v Nova GTE would hang with that sierra 4x4.

[@petelattimer6808]

and other than a facelift in 86 and a slight refresh in 88/9 the sierra had been on sale since 1982 (and soldiered on until the launch of the Mondeo in 1993) and the Sierra under the skin (basic suspension, brakes, engines/gearboxes)were brought over from the Cortina! the engine (pinto) and basic suspension system (and gearbox, although most sierras had a 5th gear added) actually date back to about 1971/2 coming from the mk3 cortina. so your point that the cavalier might have been a year or 2 older than the sierra featured is?

[@trajanaugustus8783]

Well, HP, torque 4cyl vs 6 cyl. The Ascona (also came out in late 81) was never a good performer, the 5sp in the old Ascona C was not all that great either. This Sierra had major refits done in 87 and again in 1990 notably the newly engineered 5sp (MT75) transmission and the 2.9i/6 engine. The test would of been more realistic using a Vectra A with the 2.0i-16v motor 150hp. This test is no different than putting a 1981 Ascona B 2.0E 110hp up against a 1983 Sierra 2.8i 150hp. Pointless really.

[@AVC-Works]

Those blacked-out turnsignals on that Sierra looks ridiculous

[@theodor12]

Sierra FTW

[@jbee9713]

That wasn't the final fast Cavalier, they did a 4x4 turbo model before they introduced the Vectra!

[@andrewcsilvester8967]

The Vauxhall Caviler SRI 130 now that's a Car that's sorts out Modern Cars

[@alexwild4350]

What a laugh ! brilliant ! What was the man doing with his toner cartridge emptying it all over the runway ? Best bit of Tv I've seen for years and years, only because I relate to it as an ex photocopier salesman.

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

It´s a rare sight seeing a man in a tie emptying a toner cartridge on a runway hahaha

[@TeamCGS2005]

Next: Sierra Cosworth against the Lotus Carlton

[@georgewells5322]

Not a very good comparison 2 litre 4cylinder Vauxhall versus 2.8 litre 6 cylinder Ford.Pretty naff really !

[@NEWCASTLE.UNITED.]

Sierra still looks good today

[@AlexTrain5249]

Even though I'm American, that Sierra sounds awesome and looks like a sensible "first car."

[@Soulvex]

lol

[@petelattimer6808]

in the UK, even when Sierras were common, the insurance was prohibitive, assuming you could get cover at ALL, as a first car. i know. i tried to insure an earlier sierra with a less powerful engine when i was 18, as my second ever car and COULDNT get cover for less than £1000. the car was 8 years old and was worth £700 at the time (at trade)

[@Soulvex]

a friend of a friend tried to insure his 2.0 ghia and was quoted about £1500 - 20 years ago.

[@_7.8.6]

It's insane that these kinda of cars still have that yuppy stigma attached to them, but a guy at work has a m3 and yeah, he's a melt too.

[@md-detailing]

The Cavalier is much better since i am a Vaux guy in heart.

[@bernhardkuhn5676]

Of course Opel always made much better cars than Ford...here in Germany.

[@md-detailing]

@@bernhardkuhn5676 Sadly Opel is now 80% french... : (

[@Steve-gc5nt]

As if TG presenters would ever do a fair test with a Vauxhall.

[@checktheskies5040]

I sold my E reg SRi for £75 in 1998 with minimal damage to driver side doors.🤔 Got a Mk3 SRI and a Astra SRI both for under £ 500 each. I wish I kept them all.

[@TheresOnly1Stef]

I absolutely love the Ford Seirras and I’m baffled that the UK got so many cool variants and all we got in the States during that same period was a bland ass Taurus SHO 🤦🏾‍♂️🤣

[@andrestnt]

We got the sierra, they called it a Merkur xr4ti. It was a version of the XR4i 2 door notch that it's just as hard to find now in the UK.

[@notmenotme614]

The photocopier part blatantly went wrong. Neither could do it.

[@aussieausdeutschland4245]

Of course the Sierra is going to win.... the Opel/Vauxhall/Holden Ascona/Cavalier/Camira had a snowballs chance in Cairns of winning

[@ashleymcgovern5120]

Rusty arches galore for clever Trevor.

[@CherylCold]

It all went wrong when they started removing hot secretaries. I truly feel sorry for these lower management salesmen.

[@guvviyulg4821]

I owned a Cavalier GLi and an XR4x4 Great days...

[@compostcorner5934]

Iv owned a few sierras, and a cavalier, and a calibra.. Tbf Ford and vauxhall have both produced some great cars over the years. I bought another Calibra 3 years ago as a bit of nostalgia, and still have it. It gets a fair bit of attention when I'm out and about in it

[@al4531]

This isn’t a Calibra, it’s a Calibre. There were only 500 made

[@compostcorner5934]

@@al4531 yes I know mate, I was talking about vauxhall in general

[@hungrr08]

I had a H reg xr4x4 2.9i. A great car when I couldn't afford a Cosworth. :)

[@ari1855]

Damn that Sierra can seriously run.

[@theberengersniper]

What a waste of time. The fair comparison would have been Sierra XR4x4 vs Cavalier Mk3 GSi, or Sierra Sapphire Cosworth vs Cavalier Mk3 Turbo. That Mk2 Cavalier makes this comparison unfair, as does the fact that Sierra is very clearly not standard.

[@callumpearce4910]

It wouldn't have been any different if it was standard, there's still 20hp between them in the fords favour and awd .

[@lotusraptos]

Exactly. I'm in no way a Vauxhall fan, but this was SO unfair of a comparison. It'd be like comparing an Ferrari 488GTB round a track and then getting a Porsche Cayman GTS to match its lap time.

[@jamesmulligan7413]

@@lotusraptos I think a test including who can press trouser fastest shouldn't be considered to be serious

[@lotusraptos]

@@jamesmulligan7413 It's still an unfair comparison either way...

[@beastlyceasar1638]

Should of been the vaux lotus Carlton against the ford

[@artpereira]

That Sierra looks awesome. Gahdam! I want that

[@Sledgeh101]

I wish you could have included the ending. "This is James May, at the airfield. Cold, wet and seriously pissed off."

[@mark-1rc502]

Never a fan of that shape cavalier , having owned a late 2.9 xr4x4 i guess im bias but i like the sierra it had some decent grunt when it was’nt over heating 😂

[@sarahwhitehead2832]

The Sierras are rust buckets, especially the white ones.

[@ifindoubt.flatout571]

Youve clearly been looking at the wrong ones 🙄🙄

[@mrsingh2002]

My Dad had a G reg Sierra and Uncle had a H reg Cavalier. Races were a weekly occurrence. Sierra edged it looks wise.

[@S500-]

I love James's commentary, he makes every thing intresting💖love James.

[@heartwilson.8943]

The Sierra 4x4 my brother had on, if you dumped the clutch it would do wheelspins in 3rd gear, sounded pretty good too.

[@marguskiis7711]

Sierra is a modern classics.

[@vx.calibre2901]

shame Vauxhall didn't use a little more rust prevention

[@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904]

Winners drive Fords Nothing new then.

[@simonjohnhinton1938]

My friend had a xr4x4 estate that went like the clappers with unbelievable grip but it only averaged about 20mpg! Very agricultural sounding engine but extremely tough apart from the nylon timing gear that is.....

[@petelattimer6808]

XR4x4 estate? sure it wasnt a Ghia? you could opt for them with the same running gear (including the same V6, if you wanted) which is why they they got the nickname of the xr4x4. we never had one come into our dealership and we had all 3 versions of XR4x4 (2.8, 2.9 AND 2.0) came in, and we sold a few (edit, the 2.0 was badged XR4i)

[@andymountain130]

Vauxhall cavalier mk2 2.0 8v. vs Ford Sierra 2.9i v6 4x4.. Really fair comparison. Should have been mk3 cavalier 2.5v6 both out same time. Or serria 2.0i same as cavalier mk2 either way which way around the cavalier would have won

[@craiglove7528]

Sooooo my Dad had a Sierra XR4x4 at the same time I was on a YTS at my local Vauxhall garage. Firstly that’s a mk2 cav. So not in its final guise. And any 2 litre Cav mk 3, 8 or 16v would pee’d all over my Dads Sierra. It was soooo slow it was unbelievable.

[@thegreatwhitecpt6838]

So, Ford Sierra XR6 3.0 16 valve V6 vs 2.0 16 Valve Opel... I think it's a bit obvious who's going to win... whether it be a challenge, street race, drag race, grudge race, Stock car race, the XR6 will win...

[@felixalbion]

The only time these 2 cars competed as reps cars was in the mid 80s when Cav MK2 1600 competed with 1600 Sierra. I owned both. The Sierra had better interior. The Cav was more plastic. In every other was the Sierra was inferior. The Cav was quicker, handled much better and did about 10 mpg more. Reliability on a Sierra was poor. Winter starting was terrible. Starting when hot could also be bad as the awful auto choke often stuck on flooding the engine. Cavaliers weak spot was they would knock out CV joints sometimes (easy fix ) and cork sump gasket could seap. In short the Cav was far superior

[@l34052]

The Sierra is leagues beyond the horrible old boxy cavalier, I wouldn't mind driving one today if it came up for the right price. I never did like vauxhall though, they always seemed cheap and plasticky to me.

[@kevin48800]

I had a bmw 520i se a young guy who I was working with had a sierra 2.8 4x4 and he always wanted to race me on the way home from work. which I did many times not once did the sierra stand a chance. I also had a brand new Vauxhall Vectra 1800 ls my mate had an old cavalier 2 litre and my new Vectra couldn't keep up with it.

[@Soulvex]

my bro used to race one to work every morning in his nova gte, the sierra never got anywhere lol.

[@abduldon6976]

Trevor stole the BMW m4 in the grand tour

[@hephaestus4587]

What a ridiculous test. Nowhere near the best version of either car..... But a Sierra still would have one.

[@terry141186]

Not a really fair comparison. 20seh engine fitted to that cavalier is only 130bhp. They where bloody quick though my stepdad had a mk3 cavalier cdi on an f plate that had the 20seh fitted it flew hit 135mph no problem.

[@superliegebeest544]

Is the cavalier an Opel askona? I'll take that one over any ford any day. In those days Opel was indestructible. Except for rust. Had kadetts Corsa Kadett was fast economic and spacious. And in the winter u could adjust the heater so it blew into ur sleeves while holding the wheel up to ur oksels u had warm air.

[@Astrosisphere]

Why a Cavalier? I always thought the Carlton was Vauxhall's answer to the Sierra... or was the Granada Ford's grumbling response to the Carlton?

[@drivewaystar6485]

The Vauxhall looks so much better tho

[@StalloneSRB]

Sierra ofc. How can you even compare?

[@FakeAdminZ]

Cavalier looks like it was indecently assaulted by tripping merchant bankers. Sierra looks like it deserves it's spot as brown trouser cup winner. I still like the Nova red devil edition. Got me places

[@MezzMcGillicuddy1]

Pretty redundant really, since the Ford Sierra is better, always, no matter what. Everybody knows that! 😂

[@AllOutFPSGlitchesandTutorials]

Can you imagine how annoyed the owners must be they must of got ink fingerprint everywhere

[@MrSimplesimon007]

It's unfair as one is a 4cyl 2.0 The other is a 6cyl 3.0 Lets race the 2.0 cav against a 1.0 fiesta And make comparisons...

[@АлександрАлександров-у1б]

Vauxhall Cavalier/Opel Ascona = Ford Orion/Escort mk4 and Ford Sierra = Opel Record/Vauxhall Carlton

[@mattsmally747]

I’d be sold on he Sierra if it didn’t have that ugly little bulge/hatch thingy for the rear window, It wins everywhere else and I know it’s silly to hang up on something so trivial but it looks very bad