"Round headlight enthusiast" (round-headlight-enthusiast)
12/28/2015 at 23:26 • Filed to: None
6
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"Round headlight enthusiast" (round-headlight-enthusiast)
12/28/2015 at 23:26 • Filed to: None | 6
| 12 |
Alright, so here she is, I got this because I’m OCD enough to garage an Integra. (if you saw how bad they rust up here, you would too.) I know it looks fairly clean, but believe me, it’s a rusty mess under the nice body. Anyway, this has the 2.4 DOHC quad 4 (Z24 engine vs the lethargic pushrod tractor engine that is the 2.2). Believe it or not, this is the fastest car I’ve owned. That 2.4 was good for 155lb/ft @4400 rpm and 150 hp back in the day, which means it has balls for a little economy car. Not that it’s outright fast, mind you, but it passes on the highway with less effort than the Acura or the old Outback.
Handling? Well, the steering’s mushy, suspension’s far too soft, tons of bodyroll, rear wheels are connected by just a solid beam across, etc...
However, this car actually rides better than the Integra, and is much quieter, so it’s not bad for longer trips. Conversely, though, it develops all sorts of wierd noises that suddenly go away, and every so often it will decide to misfire violently (before quickly smoothing out the idle). Upon referring to Cavalier forums, these sort of things are just inherent to Cavaliers. They’re just cars where you consistently have to be fixing little problems, and they always feel a step or two away from death.
boredalways
> Round headlight enthusiast
12/28/2015 at 23:36 |
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Snow tires?
Birddog
> Round headlight enthusiast
12/28/2015 at 23:42 |
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I never knew the sedans came with the 2.4.
The late J cars weren’t great but they weren’t as bad as their reputation suggests. If optioned properly of course.
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Round headlight enthusiast
> boredalways
12/28/2015 at 23:44 |
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Well, it came with brand new all seasons. Not ideal, but I can make it work.
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Round headlight enthusiast
> Birddog
12/28/2015 at 23:47 |
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Yeah, I agree, this is not one of the better cars I’ve driven, but really it’s not half bad.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Round headlight enthusiast
12/28/2015 at 23:58 |
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now you need some Toyota badges for it.
bwp240
> Round headlight enthusiast
12/28/2015 at 23:59 |
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Ah the Chevy Cavalier know for having three main features
- An inside
- An Outside
- An Engine
Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
> bwp240
12/29/2015 at 00:39 |
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And cheap parts, being ‘reliable enough’, relatively cheap operating costs...
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Round headlight enthusiast
12/29/2015 at 01:01 |
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I drove a coupe version with that old tractor engine for a few years. It was perfectly capable and gave me literally zero issues that weren’t maintenance or that I didn’t actually cause. Had it from just after high school until almost two years after tech school. Many road trips were had, occasionally topping 40mpg. Did surprisingly well during the winter in Minnesota, Wyoming, and Colorado even with crappy, half bald all-season tires. I was actually very upset when some asshole decided they were exempt from laws regarding stop signs and nailed me in the left quarter panel at 50mph. Needless to say, that was the end of that. Fun fact, it dynoed at 77 whp at 7000ft elevation.
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Round headlight enthusiast
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/29/2015 at 01:20 |
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Oh gosh that power output. Yeah, I find it funny how you could get cam-in-block engines and 3spd autos in these things as late as 2001. Mine keeps giving me all sorts of little problems. Like the parking brake getting stuck partially engaged, or the shifter linkage going to the ignition not being taut enough to recognize the car was parked (and thus getting the key stuck in the cylinder). The spark plugs were so worn out at 80k that cylinder 4 wouldn’t fire, and the latest calamity is that the transmission throws a temper tantrum before shifting into 2nd.
And this was a car owned by old people....
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Round headlight enthusiast
12/29/2015 at 01:28 |
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Yeah, pretty archaic. Probably why it was so solid for me, even though I beat the crap out of it. Hopefully the issues yours has don’t end up causing you too many headaches a
boxrocket
> Round headlight enthusiast
12/29/2015 at 01:29 |
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Well, for an actual beater, not a bad choice. I still feel bad for you.
BaconSandwich is tasty.
> Birddog
12/29/2015 at 09:47 |
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I figure they are like automotive cockroaches. They take a beating, yet live.