New Z24, its time for the 1992 z24 to retire..

[calgz24]

Hey all,

Im looking to upgrade into a newer cavalier. I drive a 1992 z24 and the kms are creeping steadily to 200,000, so i decided its time to move on. My car was great, so Im looking at getting a 2000-2002 z24.....do you think this is the way to go?? Should i look into sunfires? other cars??? different yrs?? If this is a good idea to me i dont really care weather its the 2.2 eco or 2.4 twin. PLease give me some feedback...

[Lances133]

Well I can tell ya right now that it doesn't matter if you go with Cavalier or Sunfire, same exact car under the hood so it's whatever what you think looks better.

[OverAllComa]

Its NOT the same exact car at all. I mean, basically, it is, but there are some important differences that someone going from a 2nd gen to a 3rd gen will notice.

If you get a newer Z24, you will be able to get up there a bit faster, but it just won't FEEL like it. All that torque you have from the 3.1 is gone. All the power will come out around the 4k mark instead of around the 2k mark. It just feels weaker.

The handling is a bit better, but the steering isn't as sharp.

To be quite honest, the 3rd gens will feel like more of a toy than the beefy feeling you got out of the 2nd gen. Oh, and if your tranny's got some wear on it, the 3rd gen tranny (if in good condition) will feel like a luxury car's tranny. Electronically controlled = WEIRD.

You will, however, enjoy not having to tear the living hell out of your hands to replace spark plugs on the rear three cylinders.

Sunfire or Cavalier = doesn't matter. I prefer cav's, but that's me.

As far as 2.2 eco vs 2.4 Twn Cam. I've driven both, and the one that makes me miss my 3.1 a bit less is the Twin Cam.

[Lances133]

Originally Posted by OverAllComa

Its NOT the same exact car at all. I mean, basically, it is, but there are some important differences that someone going from a 2nd gen to a 3rd gen will notice.

I meant between Cavaliers and Sunfires, not 2nd and 3rd gens.

[calgz24]

Man that was the best reply i have gotten in a while. I totally get what your saying with the torque differece.....i test drove an 01 z24 5 spd and it did feel alittle weak, but it was fun to drive, felt alot lighter than my z24..thats why i love my z, feels alot faster than it really is, but it is showing its age.....and yah i like the look of the cavaliers better than the sunfires, but i think the sunfires have alittle nicer interiors.......twin cam sounds like it has alittle more, shall we say "nuts" when it comes down to it too....im guessing the weight difference doesnt really matter than between the eco and twin cam then?

[CavLCD128]

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=640186

[Lances133]

I agree on your interior theory, it's not that I don't like the cavy interior it's just that the sunfire interiors look like they were more thought out rather then just a generic interior that was just thrown in there like the cavys. I like how the door panels flow right into the dash in the sunfires, way more clean and they look better painted and done up.