1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 review from North America

A/C stopped working at around 60,000 miles, it all leaked out from a line overnight for no apparent reason.

Passenger side window began to go out at around 60,000 miles.

Rebuilt the motor at 68,000 miles (read story below)

Well I got the car in 2003 with 35,000 miles on it, which was very low for the year. Everything worked perfectly, clutch was stiff, motor was WAY stronger than I expected, only thing I didn't really like was the stereo (very cheap) and how much different it felt to drive. My previous car was a 1995 firebird, so I may be biased.

Well at 40,000 miles the poor little Z24 was just not happy enough with low 15 second passes through the quarter mile, so I began plans for a turbo set up. By 45,000 miles I was happily boosting 8psi through the 2.4L engine, bone stock minus fuel mods. This is where I killed it. I was boosted up until the day I retired the engine, and I was not nice. At higher boost I was able to get 232 horsepower at the wheel out of the thing, waaay more than I ever expected. This car could beat my firebird. But the engine couldn't take it, and developed a really bad knock in cylinder 1.

I am rebuilding this car, because I just love it. I love the styling of the Z24, I love the way the motor makes power (the 2.4L, not the 2.2L). It took a huge beating from me and just wouldn't die. To tell the truth, the knocking began when I blew a oil line off and ran the motor almost 400 miles on a quart of oil, but even with a bad knock, the motor lasted almost 15,000 miles with lots of constant pounding.

If I had a choice, however, I would get a new one with the Ecotec engine. Those motors are indestructible. Only thing better about the 2.4 is the low end power, it feels like a V6 (and has more power than lots of them too).