Eco 5speed Alero Vs. Eco 5speed Cavy

07-28-2005, 12:29 AM

In a quarter mile race, one car racing at a time in the same lane, with the same driver, which car should have the lower time? i have searched for this topic many times and found nothing. I have a "friend" who owns a 03' cavalier that is modified and I have a 02' alero. He is convinced that my car would be much slower than his, even when his car was stock. What do you think?

alero_ecotec · 07-28-2005, 12:51 AM

i wouldnt say the cavvy would be MUCH faster like your friend thinks, but probably slightly faster and that's just due to weight

Eh_nigma · 07-28-2005, 02:46 AM

The Alero at 1336 kg, vs. the Crapalier at 1,187 kg. Not too much difference. I'd say this is something that needs to be seen. Too many other variables to consider though besides just weight.

Last year at street wheelers... managed to get two races in... 2.2L Cav, and 2.4L Grand Am. Beat the Grand Am by half a car length... but the Cav was no contest. I don't know much about the Cav except that it was a 2.2L, and it was auto... the Grand Am was a good buddy of mine... not saying I'm a great driver, at the time I wouldn't whisper that... but it's something about the Alero, I just can't put my finger on it.

MikeSS · 07-28-2005, 08:52 AM

Yeah, I have found alero's faster in the 1/$ mile with the ecotec (like my old one), but it really varies car to car. I think there is a difference in the clutch too.

07-28-2005, 09:39 PM

Just race the guy, but practice first on launching and shifting. You'd likely beat him if you can pull off a perfect race. Even if you do lose he'd likely be disappointed that he only won by perhaps 1 car length at most, even with all his "modzzzz"

MikeSS · 07-28-2005, 10:10 PM

Tires too make a big difference. we have 215 or 225 width tires on lightweight aluminum alloy wheels.

The cavy has what? 195 or 205 tires and heavier steel wheels

Eh_nigma · 07-28-2005, 11:56 PM

It's all the little things... I really do think that the Alero would walk away winning

07-29-2005, 09:46 AM

On paper, its close due to weight. For evey 100 pounds less, you'll gain a tenth as a rule of thumb. But even that is kinda arguable. Really I think it comes down to a driver's race.

Maybe you have a freak ALero like MikeSS did and you'll whoop him.

07-30-2005, 07:27 AM

Welcome to Planet "Earth." On our beautiful planet, you will notice factors such as weight (as a result of gravity) will undoubtedly play a factor in moving a large mass over a set length of surface. Friction and other factors will play into effect, but chalk up your loss (when it inevitably happens) to weight difference. Trust me on this one.

a base cavy 5spd is in the area of 2600-2800 pounds, whereas our cars are 2900-3100 roughly - you do the math.

07-30-2005, 10:32 AM

So bacically, it comes down to the driver and mods. That explains why I beat my freind in a race with his 04' cavy 5speed base coupe. I tought him how to drive a manual, so I have a bit more expirience than him.

Even if I lose to a cavalier, I still like the look of my car better.

07-30-2005, 12:19 PM

lol yeah even if he beats u,
just remember, ur cars nicer looking

but yeah my car feels faster then any other eco cavy i've ever been in.
I dunno if it accually is faster.

like they all said.
Just race the guy see what happens

07-30-2005, 07:38 PM

A Butt-dyno, and a Butt-Stopwatch will only win you Butt-awards

-Alero- · 07-31-2005, 07:03 PM

wish i had the ecotec still.......

Oldsman · 07-31-2005, 10:29 PM

cavy should win handfs dowen

ptrudel · 08-01-2005, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oldsman@Jul 31 2005, 10:29 PM
cavy should win handfs dowen

Quoted post

i'd bet on it as no....

on the 1/4, i've taken the Z24's many times...same engine, both 5speeds, about the same RT's....i'd still come out on top by 1 or 2 tenths...not much, but hey, winning is winning...

as for the eco's....if you're lucky and got a factory freak like someone else we all know...mikess...you should be able to take him...

MikeSS · 08-02-2005, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2000_olds_alero+Aug 1 2005, 09:25 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(2000_olds_alero @ Aug 1 2005, 09:25 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Oldsman@Jul 31 2005, 10:29 PM
cavy should win handfs dowen

Quoted post

i'd bet on it as no....

on the 1/4, i've taken the Z24's many times...same engine, both 5speeds, about the same RT's....i'd still come out on top by 1 or 2 tenths...not much, but hey, winning is winning...

as for the eco's....if you're lucky and got a factory freak like someone else we all know...mikess...you should be able to take him...

Quoted post

[/b][/quote]

Yeah, everyone always looks at weight as the only issue between the two cars and disregards all other factors. These include final gear ratio, unsprung weight (wheel weight) driveline compontents (half-shafts, bearing, couplings, etc) weight distribution, etc.

Just because a car is lighter, doesn't mean its faster always. An alero has more weight on its drive wheels = better traction, the suspension is as spongy so when you nail it there is less rearward weight transfer, and there is also better driveline components.

It is will all come down to the driver.

08-02-2005, 09:39 AM

Quote:

and there is also better driveline components.

Far as I know, N & J-body driveline components are identical. The only differences are weight, wheels and driver.

MikeSS · 08-02-2005, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 02eco@Aug 2 2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

and there is also better driveline components.

Far as I know, N & J-body driveline components are identical. The only differences are weight, wheels and driver.

Quoted post

Well don't I look stupid

08-02-2005, 11:30 AM

I drove a cavilier before right after driving my car, and the clutch on my alero is stiffer than the cavy. And when you are driving at about 70 both cars are at the same rpms. The tires on my alero are taller tires. So to me that points to a difference somewhere. Correct me if I'm wrong

Eh_nigma · 08-02-2005, 02:48 PM

^makes sense to me.

Look... yes, the Cav is lighter... not by much though. And if weight is all we're talking about for the difference... then that would make my Alero faster stock than any other, because the interior is gutted and there's about 200lbs taken out of it. Does that really make sense? No... If we were talking about cars that were doing 12 seconds or in that gen. area, then yeah, the weight diff between the two cars would play a role...

Which car has a better slip stream. Which one holds better traction. Which one has a quicker jump off the line (acceleration). Everything plays a small factor in deciding this, and yes, ultimately, they easiest way to find out is to have these two cars, driven on the same track, by the same driver...