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The reason, and only reason, that a stock or lightly modified z-24 cavalier might beat a 5.0 mustang is because those particular vehicles (especially the fox body) have such poor traction due to it being a rwd with little to no weight in the rear, and as far as the claims that they are beating z28's and turbo eagle talons with little to no modification to the engine is complete BS.
Please everyone. I also drive a Cavalier, and I can personally say that a Mustang can take it any day of the week, unless it is being towed or the driver is sleeping. A BONE-STOCK Cavalier would never rank with a Mustang, and a TA for sure. Every Cavalier mod junkie out there that says they ran a Pony and won are probably dreaming...
I have a 2000 Z24 with only a short ram intake. I have much bigger plans for the car this winter, but during the summer I have had a lot of fun with it. I go to the open drags every Friday, and up here in Quebec we know about four and six bangers. If you have a stock Z24 and a stock Mustang from 0-100km, you're gonna beat him if you know how to drive.
The gear ratio in the 2000 Z24 is very good, and so are the shift points. I'm not saying the Z24 is the best stock car you can buy... but for the price it's pretty hard to beat.
For all you muscle car lovers, well your generation is over, because I've seen four cylinder's beat 600 and up muscle car's. It's nothing to see and four cylinder with up to a thousand horsepower. My friend has an Acura 96 with 789 WHP and it's a 1.6, 4 CYLINDER, which will make a Porsche or Ferrari look like crap, so just imagine how it would make Mustang or Camaro look.
Yeah, You want to be muscle car guys with your "fox body" mustangs are trying to fill this forum with nothing, but B.S. so just let the person with the review tell their story and respect that, jeez. A Z24 Cavalier is a good vehicle for the price hands down.
One must love the people who have never owned a Z24, nor have ever driven a Z24 like to shoot it down. Now Cavaliers aren't the best cars in the world, I'll admit. They get a bad rep from the domestic crowd because its built like an import. The Imports don't like them because its still a Chevy.
However. The 2.4 mixed with the Getrag 5 speed transmission (used in 2000, 2001, & 2002) (96-99 used Isuzu 5 speed, and 95 had a 2.3 Quad 4) Does have incredible amount of torque off the line. Mixed with good tires, while most cars are still spinning, the Z has grabbed and gone.
My 2000 Z is all bottom end speed. I would like to see my third and fourth gears act a little stronger...
My best time is 14.8. I've beaten a retro-body GT Mustang from a roll, with me being behind and him trying to cut me off (until I hit my governor at 109... then I lost). I've beaten a non-hemi new charger off the line... was able to miss shift while he was in the suicide lane, keep ahead of him, and the guy rode my ass at 95 MPH till he turned off... he was trying to pass me, but we were on curvy 2 lane roads and my car corners so much better. I've also killed LS and GSR integras, Civic SIs (the older ones with the B16), Dodge Neons, Mazda 3s, a Mazda RX8 (Over Steer killed this guy)
I agree completely with the potential of these cars. Originally I owned a 96' LS model with the 2.4 engine with a simple Vibrant intake (Second rate in my opinion) and easily racked up a hefty amount of wins. The engine does have flaws such as the water pump and a tendency to work too hard in certain gears, but what engine doesn't. The 89' 240 SX for example (Although a single cam) is still a 2.4 and has given nothing, but grief to my friends due to a classic timing chain problem. However the z-24 model is no where near old in my opinion and can easily take cars that out perform it in later gears.
I now own a 2000 model myself and can proudly say I toasted an 01' GT-S Celica from the line until my car toped out. I've only an AEM intake and full piping so far. I plan to install a roots supercharger as well as DC Headers and a Venom 400 module. Although the car isn't stick I find the automatics can be "tweaked" with if given the proper footing at key moments in acceleration. I only wish the car had a higher top speed, overdrive *cuz its only on some 2.2 models, and possibly a little more work on that second gear. (I get too much lag)
Finally the suspension, the shocks go out way too quick, it makes the ride Oh so much more bumpy and can possibly loosen all that good craftsmanship. As for those who don't believe its possible to beat an AWD Eagle Talon, consider that the Talon's stocked turbo has lag. A few mods here and there and you can take one.
I drive a 2000 Cavalier Z24 with a 5speed and it's rather quick. I'm not saying it's the fastest car in the world, but it'll get the job done. I've beat numerous 94 and 95 GT's from stops and from a roll so don't try and say it was traction problems. The Z24 will flat out, outperform it. It surprised me the first couple times that I beat them, but now I know it's just that those 5.0's are weak especially with how much a Mustang weighs. There's no way a Z24 is going to hang with a Z28 Camaro or a Trans Am from 93 and on. But if it's a 305 Camaro or T/A it's a little closer. A Z24 will take a V6 Camaro from 93 an on also though. And I know that a Z24 will take an AWD Talon because one of my friends has a 92 TSi AWD and he got me off the line, but by the time I hit third, I went right back by him. If you're saying that a Z24 has no chance against a 5.0 or a Talon you need to learn a few things because a Z24 will pull a low 15 and if you're an expert driver with maybe a catback and cai it's gonna be in the 14's, so it's not a slow 4 banger like you're used to. I've also taken down Dakota R/T's and GSR Integras with mine and a 2000 Civic Si with the B16 Vtec.
I own a z24 cavalier 2001 and when I bought it I thought it was a real sports car, but I was very disapointed in it after a while when I push on the gas I find the car kinda chokes then after a couple of seconds the hp kicks in then it moves I'm trying to I'm improve the torque I'm thinking of getting a camaro or mustang maybe sell my cavilier or keep it
and put a turbo in it either way I don't think I could ever beat a v8 mustang or camaro unless the car is on park lol.
I have a 97 z24 and I love the cars performance I have a turbo kit in it now and its gotten into the 12s, they are good cars with potential, but a lot of people give up on them without trying.
Early 90's Mustang 5.0
205-225hp 275-300 ft/lbs tq weight 2700-2900 lbs approx.
1995-2002 Cavalier z24.
145-150hp 150 ft/lbs tq weight 2500-2600 lbs approx.
Stock #'s, I suppose it's possible but I'd have to see actual proof rather then the word of a bunch of fanboys/girls on both sides.
It's funny because I smoked my friends "slightly modded" cavalier with my 97 Grand Cherokee Laredo Inline 6 don't get me wrong he got me on acceleration, but that car is gutless on the top end he actually thought he could beat me. We put 100 bucks up to see who would win and I beat him with ease once I passed 100 considering the jeep isn't a racing vehicle to begin with P. s the rev limiter was removed so it actually does 125 but don't tell him that ha ha.
I own a 2000 Z24 and personally I can beat any domestic STOCK vehicle up to 4.0 very easily (without superchargers and turbos) but once I dropped in a 1997 Ford Taurus SHO engine (3.0 V6 Yamaha 320hp stock, 720hp with turbo) and no I'm destroying Corvettes Beamers and Mercedes.
21st Jun 2007, 23:46.
Stock 3.0 V6 SHO engines make between 200-220hp.
There are a lot of dumb people on this board... the smart ones should remove themselves!
I think either the same person is posing as a different one and backing the Cavalier, or there are a lot of sad individuals that think they have something. Seriously, it's a CAVALIER! They aren't fast, and even with plenty of mods, still won't be. And horsepower doesn't win a race, torque does. And even if a foxbody has bad wheelspin, it's not hard to hook up and go. As for beating camaros? KEEP DREAMING. You drive a crappy car that you wish had something, but it doesn't. Get over it. I promise you have never driven a Camaro or a Fox Body Mustang or you would realize what a joke your car is and your fake claims of beating either car. I have an S2000. It's not the fastest thing in the world, but I wouldn't even waste my time with a cavalier. And a z28, SS, or Late model Mustang GT would stomp me any day of the week. Get a real car and stop playing make-believe.