My brother just picked up an '02 base model Cavalier.

He knows squat about cars, but wanted to change his oil yesterday, so I got drafted to help him out. I can easily locate the oil filter, but I'm a guy that's around 6'2" and quite meaty, Between the exhaust pipe and the other crap under the car and in the way, I can barely get my hard around that sucker and have no where near enough room to turn with enough force to get it off.

I can't get a strap wrench or anything around it, I've tried.

So, Question is: anyone else have this problem and any solutions from experience?

I change my oil filter from the top when I am doing it on the ground.

I stand on the passenger side and reach from the top around back behind the power steering pump and below the intake manifold. Also i use to put a plastic bag over the flex pipe so you won't have to enjoy the oil buring out of that sensation.

yea i do the ole side lean but i use fram filters so they are easy to grip