Eco 5speed Alero Vs. Eco 5speed Cavy

[xspeedrushx]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Final-Reality]

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]

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]

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

[02eco]

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.

[AleroSS]

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.

[xspeedrushx]

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. :biggrin:

[gxryan]

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

[AleroSS]

A Butt-dyno, and a Butt-Stopwatch will only win you Butt-awards ;) :thumb:

[-Alero-]

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

[Oldsman]

cavy should win handfs dowen

[ptrudel]

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]

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]
:biggrin:

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.

[02eco]

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]

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

[xspeedrushx]

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]

^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...

[ptrudel]

if you're really worried about the weight, just take a poop before racing the guy...


but seriously, weight in our mid 15's to low 16's cars just doesn't make a diff...i lost more weight this year at the drags then last, had smaller/lighter tires, had better mods, and still only ran 1 tenth of a second quicker

[dark_n_evil]

Originally posted by MikeSS@Jul 28 2005, 09:10 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
Quoted post

Accually the if the 03 cavalier is the ls model it came stock with 16 inch crome rims and 215/50/r16 tires. the only reason why i know is I have one.lol :emotlol:

[mike2002]

you guys say the alero will win because you own a alero. fact is, caviliers are 3-400lbs lighter, and all things being equal, are faster. not saying every cav will be every alero, but if you averaged every cav vs every alero, cav's are faster. there's no real argument here, same engine trans, lighter.....hmmm

not all 4cyl cav's are ecotechs. the older z24's were not ecotechs


but the real thing to remember, no stock or near stock cav or alero should be raced, because they're both slow, including my alero. racing is boring in these cars.

[Eh_nigma]

Originally posted by mike2002@Aug 3 2005, 05:32 PM

but the real thing to remember, no stock or near stock cav or alero should be raced, because they're both slow, including my alero. racing is boring in these cars.
Quoted post



:o I'm going to go in the corner and cry now...

[MikeSS]

Originally posted by mike2002@Aug 3 2005, 05:32 PM
you guys say the alero will win because you own a alero. fact is, caviliers are 3-400lbs lighter, and all things being equal, are faster. not saying every cav will be every alero, but if you averaged every cav vs every alero, cav's are faster. there's no real argument here, same engine trans, lighter.....hmmm

not all 4cyl cav's are ecotechs. the older z24's were not ecotechs


but the real thing to remember, no stock or near stock cav or alero should be raced, because they're both slow, including my alero. racing is boring in these cars.
Quoted post


I'm saying alero's are faster because I never lost to any cavalier or sunfire when I raced. But maybe my car was a freak.

And to say that an alero shouldn't be raced because "its to slow" is STUPID. We race our cars for fun and a hobby, when we get rich and can afford Corvettes and Vipers, we'll race those. :Noooo:

[alero_ecotec]

^^^ i agree, i mean hell i raced my 1st car in the Norwalk Speedway highschoo nationals a few years ago, and it was a 1992 buick lesabre...........didnt do all that bad either, consistency is key

[MikeSS]

Originally posted by alero_ecotec@Aug 4 2005, 01:42 PM
^^^ i agree, i mean hell i raced my 1st car in the Norwalk Speedway highschoo nationals a few years ago, and it was a 1992 buick lesabre...........didnt do all that bad either, consistency is key
Quoted post

Exactly, I race anything that has a drivetrain in it. I love racing me sea-doo on the water even if it is a slow one.

[mike2002]

[quote=mike2002,Aug 3 2005, 05:32 PM]you guys say the alero will win

And to say that an alero shouldn't be raced because "its to slow" is STUPID. We race our cars for fun and a hobby, when we get rich and can afford Corvettes and Vipers, we'll race those. :Noooo:
Quoted post



pushing a 16 second car to its limits is stupid, because you've got your foot to the floor and its not moving to quickly. i dotn know, maybe im just really bored and tired slow cars (fastest car ive ever owned was a mid 15 second car, not fast). but i find it boring and uneventful

these cars are more fun if you mod the supsension to be able to take corners faster. i didn't do much for suspension, so it still handles like a turd, but if i was keeping the alero, thats the route id go.

[GeorgiaBoy]

:gun: :gun: :gun: Why hasn't there been a thread about a the auto cavie vs the auto Alero? Iknow there aren't many fans of the automatics out there, but there are some that run pretty damn good!!!

[shockz]

Originally posted by GeorgiaBoy@Oct 19 2005, 06:46 PM
:gun:Â;-) :gun:Â;-) :gun: Why hasn't there been a thread about a the auto cavie vs the auto Alero? Iknow there aren't many fans of the automatics out there, but there are some that run pretty damn good!!!
Quoted post


Alright my input on this...

Thats something I actually did 2 times.

I got called out at college and knew the cars.

I raced two cavies...

1 was a 2.4 Quad 4 and the other 2.2 Ecotec

I whooped the Quad 4's but and the 2.2 Ecotec was pretty much neck and neck. I won by a narrow margin.

We all had autos.