Ok - I'll ask it like this...

[Liquid_force]

Hypothetically, and just out of curiousity --

what would keep a v8 SHO from casually accelerating away from an early '00's Chevy Cavalier (manual) through a 0-60 type of comparison?

Are the wts vs pwr/tq actually that close?

 

[kevinspann]

Slow car is slow.

 

[Liquid_force]

Slow car is slow.

It's this type of insight that keeps me coming back.


Even the Z24 would be 150hp/155lb-ft, ecotec would be slightly less pwr/tq. Weights around 2500lb.
The pre '03 2.2L was 120hp/140tq

So Cav tq vs wt .056-.062

SHO .069

 

[stephen newberg]

Gearing gets involved. I do not know the front or rear ratios for either car, though I am sure you can find them if you look around a bit. I would guess that the Z24 was designed to be quick on the low end. The Gen III most certainly was not. If you do roll on for both from say, 60 mph, I suspect the Gen III would walk away very quickly. Its all in the initial design intent and specifications. The Gen III was designed as a highway cruiser and BMW beater (at that time, which we tend to forget was a long time ago now). It was never designed to do stoplight stuff. The Gen I/II were more stoplight oriented.

pax, smn

 

[Mr Anonymous]

The V8 cars are dogs off the line.

 

[stephen newberg]

Of course. They were never intended to be stop light warriors. If you want to do that, you really need a different car entirely. Apples simply will never be oranges, no matter how much marker ink you use.

pax, smn

 

[firebat45]

Auto vs Manual makes a big difference. Besides, you can't directly compare peak numbers and have accurate results, the curves are more important.

Lastly, it's a 10 year old car. All sorts of things could have been done to it. For all you know it might have had an engine swap or forced induction.

 

[Funmart6]

Of course. They were never intended to be stop light warriors. If you want to do that, you really need a different car entirely. Apples simply will never be oranges, no matter how much marker ink you use.

pax, smn

So glad you said this. I wish people would just like the car for what it is. I understand wanting to make a car faster and more powerful, but lets beat this dead horse, the Gen III is not a freakin' drag racer. Yes, it is an older car that is still very comfortable on the interstate and has decent enough performance to get you where you want to go fairly quick.:deadhorse:

 

[Liquid_force]

So glad you said this. I wish people would just like the car for what it is. I understand wanting to make a car faster and more powerful, but lets beat this dead horse, the Gen III is not a freakin' drag racer. Yes, it is an older car that is still very comfortable on the interstate and has decent enough performance to get you where you want to go fairly quick.:deadhorse:

I had come across that before. I was aware of it. I'm fine with it.

But still - A CAVALIER?? you've got to admit that's at least a LITTLE depressing.

 

[stephen newberg]

But still - A CAVALIER you've got to admit that's at least a LITTLE depressing.

Nope, I do not admit that. I actually do not care about it at all. You are not going to winning off the line contests against most anything new with this car. My 2005 Jimmy SUV is faster off the line than the SHO. Expect only what the car was designed for, you are not going to get more from acceleration. In the area of handling, there is a good deal that can be done to improve results a lot, and doing that is well worth the time and funds, but your zero to sixty is simply never going to be quick. End of story. If you are finding it depressing, you are in the wrong machine. Time for a 2012 Mustang 302 GT Cobra whatever or some such.

pax, smn

 

[Liquid_force]

Don't get me wrong. I like it. As cars go it's probably fair to say I love it.
I'm not in it b/c I wanted a drag racer.
I've evolved into a "Ford guy" over the past few years thanks to my '88 TC. That boat couldn't win a drag race to save its life, but I enjoyed every mile.

I just ran into the SHO at random on some low end used car lot.
Most importantly it has room for the fam.
It had low mileage (for me), acceptable fuel economy, and it was very inexpensive.

Performance is really just a bonus, but I WAS surprised not to walk away from a freaking cavalier. It's not even that I expected the SHO to be quicker, but that I didn't know a Cavalier was that un-slow (not to be confused with quick).

 

[My_Silver_SHO]

I know my v6 SHOs were quicker, but I love the sound of the v8. I agree it would be great if it could back up the sound a little better.

BTW ... it my sons first car, so i am glad its not too fast.

 

[sperold]

You could get an ultra high stall speed converter, and the 4:00 final gearing, and your SHO would be a different animal. But you would lose all the other things you like about your car.
Never underestimate any car you encounter, there are surprising combinations in every manufacturers lineup (like the 12 second Flex you can read about on this forum, the Ecobrick).
But no one car can do it all.

 

[SuperHO]

if your ass is seriously that chapped, may I suggest heading out to your local multi-lane paved corridor, finding another cavilier or similar hooptie willing to engage, and rolling on em from 70mph to find out where the Gen III really shines...or better yet, go reduce the life of your tires and tackle some on-ramps at speed. Stop trying to make a top-end beast into a friggin stoplight terror. You'll only get your feelings hurt.