I believe that 4800lb towing capacity with the caveats "no faster than 35 mph, no longer distance than maybe 10 miles and no more often than a couple times a year." Which would meet a lot of people's needs.
I would, but only for short distances under 35 MPH and without any hill starts. Enough to get a home improvement project home from the lumber yard or for the occasional dump run, but not for towing a camper cross-country on a weekslong vacation.
@@nlpnt Finally someone understands it! Pretty much it, short distance towing capacity. We had a 91 and 93 wagon, and we used to tow several engine blocks on a trailer from Green Bay to Milwaukee on a regular basis. Eventually the transmissions took a beating, but they never really fully failed on us at any one point. But your transmission's life span is drastically shortened doing it.
All these factors mentioned was a major reason why Ford abandoned the European-derived Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx in favor of the Mazda 323-based Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer (also sold in South Africa and the Asia-Pacific region as the Ford Laser) seven years later.
I'd like to say I'd have taken the Cavalier... but in 1987, my mom bought a brand new Escort wagon (after an accident totaled our also-new Olds Firenza--the Cavalier's corporate twin). Had only 7 miles on the odometer!
The Cavalier had much better seats and slightly better engine, but the Escort had better quality overall and was a more solid car. Virtually no one shopping in this size class of wagon cared about towing capacity. That was for mid and full size wagon buyers and Ford understood that small wagon buyers were people taking young children to school and going to the market, so towing was not really an advantage for Chevy to talk about, especially when 'properly equipped' meant adding a LOT more money to the price so that it was as expensive as the much better mid size Celebrity wagon. If you tried to tow anything like a trailer or boat with a Cavalier or any J body car without the proper upgrades, just attempting it would literally total the car.
No way in hell a cavalier wagon would tow 4800 pounds. "when properly equipped" must mean "with a full drive train and suspension swap". At least the towing rating on the Escort is honest.
I had a 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier wagon and I also had a 1982 Mercury Lynx wagon, loved them both
both are basically nonexistent today. Sad since id love to own both
Both were actually decent cars.
I own a 1985 an 1992 cavalier wagon myself very nice video!
I believe that 4800lb towing capacity with the caveats "no faster than 35 mph, no longer distance than maybe 10 miles and no more often than a couple times a year." Which would meet a lot of people's needs.
Ummm not sure I believe that tow rating...
I would, but only for short distances under 35 MPH and without any hill starts. Enough to get a home improvement project home from the lumber yard or for the occasional dump run, but not for towing a camper cross-country on a weekslong vacation.
@@nlpnt Finally someone understands it! Pretty much it, short distance towing capacity.
We had a 91 and 93 wagon, and we used to tow several engine blocks on a trailer from Green Bay to Milwaukee on a regular basis. Eventually the transmissions took a beating, but they never really fully failed on us at any one point. But your transmission's life span is drastically shortened doing it.
All these factors mentioned was a major reason why Ford abandoned the European-derived Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx in favor of the Mazda 323-based Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer (also sold in South Africa and the Asia-Pacific region as the Ford Laser) seven years later.
Which would you choose? The 1984 Chevy Cavalier Wagon or the 1984 Ford Escort Wagon?
I'd like to say I'd have taken the Cavalier... but in 1987, my mom bought a brand new Escort wagon (after an accident totaled our also-new Olds Firenza--the Cavalier's corporate twin). Had only 7 miles on the odometer!
I'd like to see that Cav wagon tow 4800 pounds.
If you could tow that much with a small car, there'd be no reason left to buy a big one!
The Cavalier had much better seats and slightly better engine, but the Escort had better quality overall and was a more solid car. Virtually no one shopping in this size class of wagon cared about towing capacity. That was for mid and full size wagon buyers and Ford understood that small wagon buyers were people taking young children to school and going to the market, so towing was not really an advantage for Chevy to talk about, especially when 'properly equipped' meant adding a LOT more money to the price so that it was as expensive as the much better mid size Celebrity wagon. If you tried to tow anything like a trailer or boat with a Cavalier or any J body car without the proper upgrades, just attempting it would literally total the car.
No way in hell a cavalier wagon would tow 4800 pounds. "when properly equipped" must mean "with a full drive train and suspension swap". At least the towing rating on the Escort is honest.
There our none of these cars left in NY state they rusted threw and been dead for 20+ years