Hey! From Lancaster, PA
 

Hey, my name is Tom. I've been lurking around here for about a month now, collecting some info, starting my gaslog, etc. I have a 1997 Cavalier 2.2 auto that I use to commute to work. After getting my third speeding ticket in a few months in my GTO, I decided it was time for a reality check and some practice in hummility, so I downgraded from the V8 to something with no car payment. I can't say I enjoy driving the four cylinder as much, but it has it's benefits. In order to keep myself interested in my daily commute (about 55 miles a day, mixed driving), I decided to see how good of gas mileage I could obtain. I haven't made much progress yet, but in the first month since changing cars, I saved 90 dollars in gas, both because of better efficiency and using a lower grade cheaper gas. Combine that with the fact that I have no car payment and insurance is much lower, and I may just be able to buy myself out of the trouble I am in with the police for all the speeding tickets, hahaha!

Anyways, my plans for the cavalier are to focus on weight reduction, then maybe do a few aero modifications, grill block off, etc. I'm not going to go as a far as to cut injectors when coasting or anything like that, but I would like to hit 40-45 mpg eventually through extensive weight reduction and better driving.

I do miss the smokey burnouts though. :(

Welcome Tom, how did you come up with Mr. Pig?

Don't know alot about Cavaliers, but if you could get a manual transmission in there, your mileage likely improve.

Isn't a Cavy like a guinea pig? The perfect thing to do tests on! Welcome, good luck, etc etc. :-)

Hi Mr Pig!
Welcome from a fellow Cavalier driver. I can feel your pain about losing the V8power, but I've been able to balance the issues...during the week I play MPG hero while commuting, and on the weekend the muscle comes out, but mainly on the track, so no tickets are issued! Cavaliers are great cars, I've had 3, with my current one being on 04, with the Ecotec 2.2 engine. You will find good people and good ideas here, so read up and have fun! :thumbup:

Welcome to the club! As others have said, you will find many good people and ideas here! I do envy the no car payment though! :)

Many years ago I used to doodle a little cartoon character named Mr. Pig, then when I got my first email account it was Mr. Pig, and it just stuck from there. I wish I could have located a manual, but the Cavalier was part of the deal with my buddy that I sold the GTO to. Thanks to all for the welcome. :)

Mr. Pig -

Welcome to GS! I like all the current and future plans in your Garage. All the right things to make your car an MPG Champ. AC Delete *and* PS Delete. Watch out for Unstable Bob, though. He's likely to blow up any minute now, ;) .

CarloSW2

Hey now! I'm a laid back former mental patient...:D

I'm not real sure about the power steering delete yet. I'm not sure there is a rack and pinion setup available for this car, and that would make steering pretty hard. :)

I'll probably be back in a V8 next spring when the Pontiac G8 comes out, but I will keep this car to run back and forth to work until it kicks the bucket.
I'll save the gas hog for the weekends.