Opel Calibra - small spool and expensive

Most Russians do not associate Opel cars with sports coupe-type models. But fans of the brand know that such cars periodically appeared in the manufacturer's lineup, especially in the 90s.


The most popular and affordable "sports cars" of that time can be called the Opel Tigra and Calibra. The first was produced in two generations, completely different. The second survived one generation, after which it was safely removed from the assembly line.

History

Opel Calibra is a typical budget sports car, "for the poor", as they called it in Europe. Most likely, this was said by respectable German burghers, who were not allowed by their wives to buy a car as a toy.


The car, it is worth noting, turned out to be not just beautiful - it was also commercially successful. Although in this class, General Motors did not count on big profits. Such cars should glorify the brand, show that the manufacturer can make not only boring family cars, but also quite daring sports cars.

For the first time, Opel Calibra debuted in 1989, captivating all visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show. For those years, the model was really interesting, and even now it looks good.



Until 1994, Opel no longer had coupe cars, except for the Caliber. Why, if this model sold well in Europe? Then Tigra, a compact coupe based on the Opel Corsa chassis, was added to the Opel Calibra. But it couldn't even come close to the popularity of a full-size almost sports car.


The saying that every car becomes an Opel, against the background of the Caliber, did not sound mocking, but inspiring. By the way, this was invented not at all by residents of the CIS, but in Germany, moreover, in the late 1940s. Then General Motors, together with the government of the country, came up with a promotion - for the delivery of a car of another brand, they gave a decent discount on a new Opel.



In 1993, the car was subjected to a slight modernization. This did not particularly affect the appearance - this is a standard update, it is not considered a full-fledged restyling. The interior lining has also changed, but everything is rearranged without problems - which the owner will like more.

Body

It's hard to believe, but the Opel Calibra was created on the chassis of a modest Vectra A model. This hints at the low cost of a number of parts, but this circumstance does not apply to body panels. Finding them is difficult - the car was not considered popular in Russia. And now there are even fewer of them - the most “fresh” cars, we recall, were released back in 1997.


By the way, at the same time we will touch on the cost of the Opel Calibra. In Russia, they want from 85 to 350 thousand rubles for them. The price is not always equivalent to the condition of the car. Some owners are sure that they have an exclusive and ask for 200 for stock Calibers in the simplest trim levels with basic engines.

Finding an unbeaten Opel Calibra is difficult, almost impossible. But there is a chance to get a perfectly restored copy in a body kit and even with "lambo doors", that is, opening up.

The main points on the body that need to be meticulously examined:

✅ Rear arches
✅ Bottoms of doors and trunk lids
✅ Bottom
✅ Places of contact with bumpers
✅ Glass frames

Everything needs to be literally felt - this is an old car, regardless of the brand, it will rot. I am glad that some owners buy Opel Calibra as a toy or childhood dream, so they monitor the condition of the body. There are usually no "technological holes" on cars of this model, but corrosion is an ordinary matter.


In addition to external examination, it is recommended to pay attention to the "glasses" and spars. These places are often rotten, and the latter are also behaving.

Salon

Inside, the "stock" Opel Calibra can't surprise you with anything. Where do sports motives come from if the car is made on the chassis of the Opel Vectra A? The materials are typical of mid-range models from the 90s, meaning they need to be worn in some cases.

Fortunately, modern owners are not satisfied with the salons and they are trying to finalize them. Unfortunately, more often it ends with their eco-leather covers, which are erased after a year and a three-spoke small steering wheel “a la Momo”.


If you're lucky, the interior will be re-tightened, the seats will become leather. But you should not hope for this - such cars appear on sale sporadically. For example, the previous owner will urgently need money or he will be disappointed in the project.

Yes, Opel Calibra, despite the cheapness of most parts, annually requires money to maintain it in good condition.

Engines

Under the hood of the Opel Caliber, you can find different engines, but mostly two-liter ones. Power units with a working volume of 2,5 liters appeared in 1993 and are so rare that many do not even know about them.

The most structurally simple engine is the eight-valve C20NE. Its power is 115 liters. With. Of course, you should not expect any sports feats from this power unit. But it is reliable and easy to repair. Only this does not negate its age and mileage, which also applies to other engines.

The next motor is the C20XE. 2,0 liters volume, sixteen valves for four cylinders. Power is already 150 hp. with., which allows you to accelerate to 100 km / h in 8,5 seconds. After 1993, the motor was called the X20XEV. He was "strangled" for the sake of environmental standards up to 136 liters. With.


A rare six-cylinder C25XE, based on the X25XE. The working volume is 2,5 liters, the power is 170 liters. With. It sounds fun to ride, but it's more difficult to repair and maintain due to the tight layout and V-shape.

The most powerful engine is the turbocharged C20LET, even in the "stock" state it develops 204 hp. With. Through simple and budgetary manipulations for engine tuning, the power is increased to 350 hp. With. If you already invest in forged pistons and other parts, you can remove 500 hp from the engine. s., but this is already a level that can exceed the cost of an Opel Calibra car.

All power units can go from 300 km and above, but subject to regular maintenance. The same eight-valve C000NE and 20 thousand will pass, plus it is able to endure a disregard for a long time.

Is it expensive to maintain?

Trick question. The cost of car care is not much different from the Soviet car industry. There is a hodovka and common engines from Opel Vectra A, so the parts are inexpensive.


The problem is that there are few of these same Vectra A left, respectively, they don’t carry spare parts - it makes no sense. It turns out that you will have to order from abroad - and this is the original, which is not cheap.

Opel Calibra are rare at disassembly, it makes sense to buy an inexpensive "donor" for spare parts. The main thing is to have a place to store it.
Before purchasing the Caliber, you should consider whether you need this car. If you take "for the soul", then you can put up with a rotting body and breakdowns, like any old foreign car.

As a car for every day Opel Calibra will be too expensive. Unless you take the car for a year or two, and then send it to scrap. And this would not be desirable - "Caliber" is still beautiful, despite the years.