What would you drive out of these 3 choices
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Williamwoo
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Cavalier - it's the most modern of the three.
That's like asking whether I'd rather be hanged, shot or stabbed...
Had a couple of Cortinas a very long time ago. Found them to be decent enough at the time and fitted in with our needs, but neither were really special. But then they were only base models. I drove an 'S' version once and that was a bit less like drive a wobbly thing.
Never owned but drove plenty of Cavaliers and Marina/Ital.
A 2-litre Cavalier was a pretty competent family car, especially the hatch version shown. My Dad had a 2-litre saloon (to replace his Mk1 GLS Coupe) and he liked it. The SRi was fun as was the 16v version.
Was never a particular fan of the Marina/Ital. Didn't like the interior and just found them lacking. A neighbour had a Marina TC, it had all the handling of a blancmange.. One morning I found him sat on the floor of it, smoking a cigarette after he rolled it into a ditch on the way to work.
Had a couple of Cortinas a very long time ago. Found them to be decent enough at the time and fitted in with our needs, but neither were really special. But then they were only base models. I drove an 'S' version once and that was a bit less like drive a wobbly thing.
Never owned but drove plenty of Cavaliers and Marina/Ital.
A 2-litre Cavalier was a pretty competent family car, especially the hatch version shown. My Dad had a 2-litre saloon (to replace his Mk1 GLS Coupe) and he liked it. The SRi was fun as was the 16v version.
Was never a particular fan of the Marina/Ital. Didn't like the interior and just found them lacking. A neighbour had a Marina TC, it had all the handling of a blancmange.. One morning I found him sat on the floor of it, smoking a cigarette after he rolled it into a ditch on the way to work.
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Out of the three, then the cortina, although I preferred the MK3 rather than the MK4.
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I had a Cavalier - it was ok but rusted badly. I think with this kind of question the answer is really to go for the most appalling to get the best "experience". So for me i'd go for the Ital. I was at the classic restoration show at the weekend and it was actually really nice to see these old Maxis, 1800's, Princesses etc. Some are clearly cherished!
ALFAitalia
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Cortina all day long.....not just because the other choices are so grim and I did not like Vauxhalls and Moriis/Austins then or now....but because my dad had a Cortina when I was young and they always bring back memories!!
ALFAitalia
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Dryce
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The Cavalier would be better in winter with FWD and is also more modern design in terms of suspension - the Cortina was a bit of an antique along with the Ital.
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Cavalier.
By a good margin it was better to drive and live with than the other two.
Ironically, the Cortina always outsold it.
By a good margin it was better to drive and live with than the other two.
Ironically, the Cortina always outsold it.
ALFAitalia
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To quote my dad....
"Front wheels for steering - rear wheels for driving.......anything else is for shopping!"
Being a live axle RWD made the Ford a lot more fun especially in the wet.....just like my 3 Capris (yes I know but I was young) and they taught me how to "steer from the rear"!
"Front wheels for steering - rear wheels for driving.......anything else is for shopping!"
Being a live axle RWD made the Ford a lot more fun especially in the wet.....just like my 3 Capris (yes I know but I was young) and they taught me how to "steer from the rear"!
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It certainly isThats Mk 5.........
, can I put it down to old age and I didn't have my glasses on?? 
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Oh, I 100% agree on that. I cut my driving teeth on various RWD cars - Ford Corsair, Escort Mk1, Cavalier Mk1 - and they teach you far more about car control than any FWD box
For me will have to be Cavalier, I remember it being slightly more agile and responsive than the Cortina. No idea how the Morris Ital drove, never drove one, there weren't many about. I think the Montego would probably have been a better option over the Ital any day. Not sure if the Ital had any connection with Pininfarina, if it did it wasn't the most desirable designs. 
Dryce
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.... yes.
Ford utterly dominated the company car market. Volume production of small platform range - with lots of market trim variations. Better reputation for reliability than competition.
The Cavalier had an uphill struggle. My recollection is that it was considered to be a better car ... but not a Ford.
ALFAitalia
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If you were REALLY lucky (!) you could have owned a Portuguese built derv powered Morris Ital with the mighty 1.5 litre B-series diesel engine, producing space/time distorting 37 hp!!!!
Dryce
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It was done by Italdesign - tied in with Giugiaro.
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Have to be the Cavalier, although I never had one and did actually drive one of those Cortina’s as a company car 
ALFAitalia
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But it was still a 1.3 or 1.7 Marina underneath....even the dash with the centre facia facing "away" from the driver was the same in all but tiny detail!
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The Mk2 Cavalier was a massively better drive than the contemporary Cortina - it was faster, quieter, more economical, and had better road manners - but, as you say, it didn't have the blue oval badge on the front so didn't hit the sales numbers of the Ford.
