Who would get the V6 instead of the V8 if the MPG were better?

Brian S. · December 18, 2014

Brian,

You mentioned owning Camaro's in an earlier post. Would you buy a V-6 Camaro? Just wondering?

Funny you should ask Steve. I bought a pretty loaded Challenger SXT+ with a six cylinder new off the lot last year to be my son's car when he starts driving next year.

Why no hemi for $1000 more?!

Well, because:

1. I care about my son more than anything on this Earth. I remember well enough how I drove that Camaro in HS, and then the 72 Monte Carlo hot rod I bought the year I graduated. (You would have liked that one Steve, it had the "muscle" you talk about, but have never seen if a 5.3 truck is your first V8) I want him to KNOW he'll lose if he's dumb enough to try and race it. I don't want him to see if he can hit 130 with his friends.

2. Want him to have a nice looking car to drive.

3. Don't want to pay higher insurance up front, or get it jacked because he wants to race.

4. Don't care about re-sale. Giving it to son.

EDIT: Forgot another reason:

5. That car does 0-60 in 6.4 seconds. I think that was a 6/10 of a second off the pace of the RT, but still faster than a 5.3l truck. (even this years) Again, it serves it's purpose at what I want it to do.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · December 18, 2014

You guys throw out "Better to be prepared than not!" and I have to laugh. For WHAT? I've been towing boats around for 30 years, never once have I needed more than the 6700lb tow capacity I have with this truck.

There are trailers other than boats out there. Also as I said in another post, what if you have to pull someone out of a ditch, snow bank, anything where you'll need the extra power and TQ. I think it was maybe 2 years ago where a girl around my age somehow drive into a ditch. A smaller truck with a V6 tried and tried to pull her out and didn't budge the car (was a small car also, couldn't have been over 3,000 lbs). Then I hooked my 98 Silverado up to it and got it out in 2 tries after the 1st try moved it some. The car was completely bottomed out so it wasn't an easy pull out. That's mainly what I mean when I said that it's better to have and not need then to need and not have. I do like using a truck as a truck so more often I do need a V8. People buy whatever they want, but you can't compare just your experiences with everything.

KARNUT · December 18, 2014

Funny you should ask Steve. I bought a pretty loaded Challenger SXT+ with a six cylinder new off the lot last year to be my son's car when he starts driving next year.

Why no hemi for $1000 more?!

Well, because:

1. I care about my son more than anything on this Earth. I remember well enough how I drove that Camaro in HS, and then the 72 Monte Carlo hot rod I bought the year I graduated. (You would have liked that one Steve, it had the "muscle" you talk about, but have never seen if a 5.3 truck is your first V8) I want him to KNOW he'll lose if he's dumb enough to try and race it. I don't want him to see if he can hit 130 with his friends.

2. Want him to have a nice looking car to drive.

3. Don't want to pay higher insurance up front, or get it jacked because he wants to race.

4. Don't care about re-sale. Giving it to son.

EDIT: Forgot another reason:

5. That car does 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. I think that was a 6/10 of a second off the pace of the RT, but still faster than a 5.3l truck. (even this years) Again, it serves it's purpose at what I want it to do.

Funny you say that, when my son turn 16 he beg us for his mothers car, he allways been pretty laid back so finally we said ok. Then we told him 1 ticket your walking. It was pretty tough for his mother she remembers a 17 year old she dated after he promise to slow down because of his hot rodding reputation, me. The car 94 Z 28, which by the way was slower than the V6 your giving your son. Its not the car its the kid. My son has never got a ticket, the Z has been one of his slower cars.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · December 18, 2014

Funny you say that, when my son turn 16 he beg us for his mothers car, he allways been pretty laid back so finally we said ok. Then we told him 1 ticket your walking. It was pretty tough for his mother she remembers a 17 year old she dated after he promise to slow down because of his hot rodding reputation, me. The car 94 Z 28, which by the way was slower than the V6 your giving your son. Its not the car its the kid. My son has never got a ticket, the Z has been one of his slower cars.

I agree, my 1st ticket (careless & wreckless) was in my mom's 06 Impala with the 3.5. Would have gotten it in a 4 banger Honda if that's what she drove. The next ticket I got was in my first truck/vehicle which was an 86 Chevy Custom Deluxe with a weak 305 and a "granny transmission" (extra low gear and only 3 regular forward gears) and that was for speeding. Thankfully I've calmed down a lot, partly after I got my CDL so I respected driving more and then partly after buying my '14.

nards444 · December 18, 2014

I prefer leather over cloth for it's ease of cleaning, but yes leather is fairly fragile, whether it gets gouges, cracks, or flakes. Cloth has it's own set of issues with staining, tears, pills and shows wear sometimes as bad as leather. Each has it's plus and cons, but leather exudes luxury and in a higher end truck, I would just expect to have leather.

Fair enough. Personally I guess I dont see how anything with a bowtie on it exudes luxury.

KARNUT · December 18, 2014

I agree, my 1st ticket (careless & wreckless) was in my mom's 06 Impala with the 3.5. Would have gotten it in a 4 banger Honda if that's what she drove. The next ticket I got was in my first truck/vehicle which was an 86 Chevy Custom Deluxe with a weak 305 and a "granny transmission" (extra low gear and only 3 regular forward gears) and that was for speeding. Thankfully I've calmed down a lot, partly after I got my CDL so I respected driving more and then partly after buying my '14.

I could tell lots of stories about my first year of driving, my first car was a 73 RX3 Mazda, the story that always come up at class reunions is how the school buses would wait for me to leave, or I just pass them all on a long strait road just a few miles away. My future wife was on one of those, she said slow down or no dates, we are going on 41 years.

nards444 · December 18, 2014

Sure, but the same collection of folks who wouldn't buy a V6 in a truck probably resemble the same group who wouldn't buy a V6 in a Camaro or Mustang....some people just like HP, performance, the feel of Muscle, and upper end luxury and at the end of the day, could give a damn of what it costs.....I think this gets lost rather easily by a choice few on this very thread. I really could care less if anyone here chooses to buy a V6, I've stated that many times before, but when you make arguments that you're doing so to save money, then on the other hand brag about how you drive around all day with E85 in a V6 and claim how much power it has when it still has less power as a 5.3 on regular dino gas, but now gets less MPG....you lose credit with your argument at that point.

See as a buyer going to buy a camaro and silverado is two different entities. But really I think the V6 camaro outsells the V8 like 2 to 1 or something. They cant even by law or CAFE make more V8s then V6s. And is it truely not giving a damn, or the not being smart enough to realize what it actually cost. Mean household income in the US is 60k, average is 40k with 66% american considered middle class, so whether most of these guys that might not give a damn, im sure price and cost does go through their mind at some point. Some people dont care, its the same mentality these days that everybody wants a big screen, smart phone, two new cars regardless of the consequences. Off the beaten path here. But your assumption is filled with just as much conjecture as anybody elses.

nards444 · December 18, 2014

There are trailers other than boats out there. Also as I said in another post, what if you have to pull someone out of a ditch, snow bank, anything where you'll need the extra power and TQ. I think it was maybe 2 years ago where a girl around my age somehow drive into a ditch. A smaller truck with a V6 tried and tried to pull her out and didn't budge the car (was a small car also, couldn't have been over 3,000 lbs). Then I hooked my 98 Silverado up to it and got it out in 2 tries after the 1st try moved it some. The car was completely bottomed out so it wasn't an easy pull out. That's mainly what I mean when I said that it's better to have and not need then to need and not have. I do like using a truck as a truck so more often I do need a V8. People buy whatever they want, but you can't compare just your experiences with everything.

I can see being prepared, but I dont buy the argument of buying stuff for every would of should of could of scenario. end up wasting lots of money that way. Theres always borrowing, renting, etc for that once a year you need something. Im not defintely not buying a vehicle to ensure I can pull others out. These days with laws against, liability etc, ill stop let them use a phone, drop them off where needed etc until a tow comes.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · December 18, 2014

See I dont as a buyer going to buy a camaro and silverado is two different entities. But really I think the V6 camaro outsells the V8 like 2 to 1 or something. They cant even by law or CAFE make more V8s then V6s. And is it truely not giving a damn, or the not being smart enough to realize what it actually cost. Mean household income in the US is 60k, average is 40k with 66% american considered middle class, so whether most of these guys that might not give a damn, im sure price and cost does go through their mind at some point. Some people dont care, its the same mentality these days that everybody wants a big screen, smart phone, two new cars regardless of the consequences. Off the beaten path here. But your assumption is filled with just as much conjecture as anybody elses.

He's right that most people that just want a V8 truck would also want a V8 Camaro or Mustang. If I were to get a Camaro it would have to be a V8, no exceptions. It's in some way the same because a person that doesn't need a V8 truck, but just wants one just wanted it for performance, which is why someone gets V8 car. Nobody needs a V8 car since it doesn't do anything special. Also nobody needs a supercar either, but people that are able to buys them. Who needs a Bugatti that can go over 200? Anyways, the reason the V6 versions of the Camaro, Mustang, Charger or Challenger outsell the V8 versions is because most people that get one of them just wants to say they have one. My best friend's wife when looking for a car had to have a Mustang, she didn't care if it was V8 or not. Being an 03 V6 Mustang it's not that slow. But, it didn't take her long to want a V8 Mustang. I hope GM doesn't, but I bet if they offered a V6 Corvette then they would sell more V6s than V8 Corvettes just so people can say they have a Corvette.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · December 18, 2014

I can see being prepared, but I dont buy the argument of buying stuff for every would of should of could of scenario. end up wasting lots of money that way. Theres always borrowing, renting, etc for that once a year you need something. Im not defintely not buying a vehicle to ensure I can pull others out. These days with laws against, liability etc, ill stop let them use a phone, drop them off where needed etc until a tow comes.

That's not the only reason I want a V8, I was just giving an actual example. Some people also don't want to wait an hour for a tow truck, or want to spend the money. Even with AAA you have a limit of how many times you use them per year. If someone doesn't want a random person to help then they will wait for a tow truck. If that girl wanted to wait for one then I would have went on about my business.

As for being prepared, I'm not hardcore, but with a lot of things I want to be prepared. That's why I need a full size toolbox, not even a low profile one since it wouldn't be tall enough. For me part of being prepared is to have truck with a V8 and 4x4. If a person doesn't care about being prepared for anything then they would just have a car. Buying a truck means you want to be prepared to haul or tow anything. Unless that person just buys a truck because it's part of a trend.

Isriam · December 18, 2014

i dont think there are any luxury trucks besides maybe caddy ext? thats the only one i can think of. i bought my gmc denali because it doesnt have that stupid ugly plastic back cover. i'd love if there was a true luxury 3/4 or 1/2 ton truck.

i guess i just dont equate outdoorsman with saying a v6 is good enough to get through mud and tow boats. but whatever you prefer, its your truck. again, the v6 i drove with a crew cab and short bed felt like a dog and i'm glad i have my v8.

KARNUT · December 18, 2014

He's right that most people that just want a V8 truck would also want a V8 Camaro or Mustang. If I were to get a Camaro it would have to be a V8, no exceptions. It's in some way the same because a person that doesn't need a V8 truck, but just wants one just wanted it for performance, which is why someone gets V8 car. Nobody needs a V8 car since it doesn't do anything special. Also nobody needs a supercar either, but people that are able to buys them. Who needs a Bugatti that can go over 200? Anyways, the reason the V6 versions of the Camaro, Mustang, Charger or Challenger outsell the V8 versions is because most people that get one of them just wants to say they have one. My best friend's wife when looking for a car had to have a Mustang, she didn't care if it was V8 or not. Being an 03 V6 Mustang it's not that slow. But, it didn't take her long to want a V8 Mustang. I hope GM doesn't, but I bet if they offered a V6 Corvette then they would sell more V6s than V8 Corvettes just so people can say they have a Corvette.

That's funny you say that, in a car its a little different. Last year I had a Geneses coup, my wife has the sedan both V6s, both cars could feed on a steady diet of dodge hemi RTs cars both of them. The coup could come real close to the V8 Camaro. I traded the Coup for the truck. Im a ways from a V6 in a truck, but in a car a lot more to consider there. Some of those V6 cars got the sound down pretty good too.

nards444 · December 18, 2014

That's not the only reason I want a V8, I was just giving an actual example. Some people also don't want to wait an hour for a tow truck, or want to spend the money. Even with AAA you have a limit of how many times you use them per year. If someone doesn't want a random person to help then they will wait for a tow truck. If that girl wanted to wait for one then I would have went on about my business.

As for being prepared, I'm not hardcore, but with a lot of things I want to be prepared. That's why I need a full size toolbox, not even a low profile one since it wouldn't be tall enough. For me part of being prepared is to have truck with a V8 and 4x4. If a person doesn't care about being prepared for anything then they would just have a car. Buying a truck means you want to be prepared to haul or tow anything. Unless that person just buys a truck because it's part of a trend.

Its my problem if somebody thats in a ditch waits an hour for a tow? I guess I want to help and stop at every crash etc to make sure people are fine if nobody has stopped. I guess really all you are saying is you buy stuff because you want to, which fine, no one can say right or wrong. But I dont see where any of you what you say is really an arguement, because none of its really true, or based on a reality but yours.

nards444 · December 18, 2014

That's funny you say that, in a car its a little different. Last year I had a Geneses coup, my wife has the sedan both V6s, both cars could feed on a steady diet of dodge hemi RTs cars both of them. The coup could come real close to the V8 Camaro. I traded the Coup for the truck. Im a ways from a V6 in a truck, but in a car a lot more to consider there. Some of those V6 cars got the sound down pretty good too.

I would agree and its a terrible comparison. As going to buy a truck and going to buy a camaro is a seperate event. How many people own trucks own a camaro? I guess a guy that wants as much hp in a truck might want it in a car. Like I said earlier that v6 in the camaro has 315hp in something that weighs half of what a truck does. Its a little different ball game.

nards444 · December 18, 2014

i dont think there are any luxury trucks besides maybe caddy ext? thats the only one i can think of. i bought my gmc denali because it doesnt have that stupid ugly plastic back cover. i'd love if there was a true luxury 3/4 or 1/2 ton truck.

i guess i just dont equate outdoorsman with saying a v6 is good enough to get through mud and tow boats. but whatever you prefer, its your truck. again, the v6 i drove with a crew cab and short bed felt like a dog and i'm glad i have my v8.

I dont either. But manufactures have made bank off taking face brands Chevy, GMC, Ford adding leather and other shiny things, bumping the price and getting folks to beleive they are in luxury. At the end of the day theres nothing luxurious or really a status symbol in a chevy or GMC. Nice products and they look sharp. But I dont see very people turning heads at silverados driving by, and to the average eye they arent going to notice the difference in a LTZ, LT, or even a WT for that matter.