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

nards444 · January 15, 2015

Some of us old "boomers" have forgotten what that "manly V8 performance" we grew up on was really like.

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1971/648650/dodge_charger_rt_440_v-8_magnum_torqueflite.html

Here's a Dodge Charger RT with the 440 big block, a "manly car for manly men". Made it 0-60 in 6.1 seconds and got 11mpg on the highway. The new Challenger V6 is within two tenths of a second and gets 30mpg on the highway...and handles better....is more comfortable...

In this thread someone told me "Thank god I had the 1995 Silverado V8 to pull the schoolteacher from the ditch!".

Well, those 1995 5.7l V8s had at most 30hp less, and 25 ft lbs more torque than the 4.3 V6.

Basically anyone saying "they could never live with the new 4.3l V8" must have had a 6.2l any year prior to 2014.

Because every 4.8l, 5.3l, and 5.7l Chevy made over the last 45 years had at best 10% more hp and torque- and 90% of them had the same or less.

As far as the new much more powerful 5.3 goes, who cares? I'm over 50 years old. I care more about my insurance bill and being able to rent a car at an airport because I have a decent driving record than racing between stoplights. I'm pretty much ok with a truck that is around the same speed as my 2010 5.3l was.

lol. Bravo laughed pretty hard. The way people buy and quantify things is crazy. Some of these people are like sheep headings to slaughter, just follwing what they always do and the guy ahead of them.

nards444 · January 15, 2015

Actually it was a 98 which was a different 5.7 than the 95. It also wasn't a schoolteacher so where did you get that from? Well it's not just about engine specs, the 98 had 3.73 gears and my current truck only has 3.08 and actually the 98 could tow about 1,000 more lbs because of the 3.08 gears (I do plan on changing them to 3.73s). I also said that a smaller truck tried to get it out and it didn't budge it. It's hard to compare engines from 50 years ago because of how much tech changes. I've just always had V8s and it's what I like. If anything nothing sounds the same as a V8 and I always have a loud truck. There's been plenty of times with my old 98 that the V8 and 4x4 came in handy and I honestly don't think a V6 in the same truck could have done the same because sometimes you need brute force.

I respect your choices and the fact you buy something because you like it is good enough. But really your examples and comparisons are terrible. I still dont get who uses pulling somebody out of a ditch as a buying factor on a capitol purchase such as truck. And yes if todays v6 was put into that old 98 it would have pulled that car out even faster and easier, todays 4.3l is a better engine than that 5.7, theres nothing brute force about a 5.7 that had less hp and torque then todays 4.3.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · January 15, 2015

I respect your choices and the fact you buy something because you like it is good enough. But really your examples and comparisons are terrible. I still dont get who uses pulling somebody out of a ditch as a buying factor on a capitol purchase such as truck. And yes if todays v6 was put into that old 98 it would have pulled that car out even faster and easier, todays 4.3l is a better engine than that 5.7, theres nothing brute force about a 5.7 that had less hp and torque then todays 4.3.

Who said that was a buying factor? Every truck I've owned I've used as a truck, mostly hauling. I said if there was a V6 in the same vehicle, so I'm comparing a V8 and V6 in the same truck, not old vs new. You misunderstood what I said, I meant the factory V6 4.3 vs the factory 5.3 V8. Never said today's V6 in an old truck. Ya someone with a newer truck could have pulled it out easier, but I'm just comparing a V6 and V8 that came in the same model from the factory. Just like if you compare the V8s in the new K2s with the 4.3. And I did use my old 98 in situations where brute force was needed by a V8. V8s have lower end TQ unless that's changed. So I mean that if that 98 only had a V6 it wouldn't have been able to do it. Just like a newer V6 could have done it but a newer V8 would have done it even easier. Some people are comparing new V6s with old V8s, so why not compare new V6s to new V8s?

KARNUT · January 15, 2015

I got way off topic.... nevermind

Brian S. · January 15, 2015

Who said that was a buying factor? Every truck I've owned I've used as a truck, mostly hauling. I said if there was a V6 in the same vehicle, so I'm comparing a V8 and V6 in the same truck, not old vs new. You misunderstood what I said, I meant the factory V6 4.3 vs the factory 5.3 V8. Never said today's V6 in an old truck. Ya someone with a newer truck could have pulled it out easier, but I'm just comparing a V6 and V8 that came in the same model from the factory. Just like if you compare the V8s in the new K2s with the 4.3. And I did use my old 98 in situations where brute force was needed by a V8. V8s have lower end TQ unless that's changed. So I mean that if that 98 only had a V6 it wouldn't have been able to do it. Just like a newer V6 could have done it but a newer V8 would have done it even easier. Some people are comparing new V6s with old V8s, so why not compare new V6s to new V8s?

I'm comparing new V6s to 1970-2013 V8s because several people have posted in this thread "I could never live with a V6" or "I would never buy a V6". (and frankly I would have been one of them until this one)

Like your 1998 5.7l:

http://autoresource.internetautoguide.com/specs-98-silverado-4x4-57l-1720.html

The compression ratio was reasonably high at 9.4-to-1, which helped the engine deliver 255 horsepower at 4,600 rpm

Well, the new V6 has 285hp, so apparently you were happy with 30 less hp.

and 330 foot-pounds of torque at 2800RPM

The new V6 has 305ft lbs torque at 3900RPM, which is 25 lbs less torque.

Basically the only difference in the old 5.7ls power and the new 4.3ls power is the 4.3 makes it's torque at 1100RPMs higher. Around 10% more hp for the 4.3, about 10% less torque.

And that is why I say people who were happy with their old 4.8-5.7l V8s probably wouldn't find the new 4.3l much different.

Silverado Steve · January 16, 2015

Paid $40 to fill up my tank today from E. Love that I have 70 more hp and 78 lbs of torque more than the 4.3. Don't care if I don't tow or haul. Love that I can tow 9600lbs if I want or need to. What's 2 mpg when gas is cheap. Something tells me that many others will feel the same with gas prices projected to stay low for a couple years.

That is all.....

Brian S. · January 16, 2015

Paid $40 to fill up my tank today from E. Love that I have 70 more hp and 78 lbs of torque more than the 4.3. Don't care if I don't tow or haul. Love that I can tow 9600lbs if I want or need to. What's 2 mpg when gas is cheap. Something tells me that many others will feel the same with gas prices projected to stay low for a couple years.

That is all.....

Didn't you say you were using the truck as a commuter car and that you don't tow anything?

It's good that you love that you have 70 more hp, and 78 lbs more torque, everyone needs something to love!

But wait...don't you feel bad that 6.2l owners have 65 more hp and 77 more torque?!?

They are probably happy they can tow more than you Steve, and that gas is cheap! Right now many of them are probably wondering why you picked a truck that is so much slower and less powerful.

What about those new Nissan Titan owners? They have 172lbs more torque than you- think of how much they could tow if they wanted to!

Silverado Steve · January 16, 2015

Brian I actually care less what people drive....you should do the same....different strokes for different folks...you really have put too much time, energy and brain power trying to convince everyone here the v6 is the deal of the century...no one is buying your brand friend...now go out and take your truck for a drive and ease off on the v6 lobbying

Didn't you say you were using the truck as a commuter car and that you don't tow anything?

It's good that you love that you have 70 more hp, and 78 lbs more torque, everyone needs something to love!

But wait...don't you feel bad that 6.2l owners have 65 more hp and 77 more torque?!?

They are probably happy they can tow more than you Steve, and that gas is cheap! Right now many of them are probably wondering why you picked a truck that is so much slower and less powerful.

What about those new Nissan Titan owners? They have 172lbs more torque than you- think of how much they could tow if they wanted to!

Brian S. · January 16, 2015

Brian I actually care less what people drive....you should do the same....different strokes for different folks...you really have put too much time, energy and brain power trying to convince everyone here the v6 is the deal of the century...no one is buying your brand friend...now go out and take your truck for a drive and ease off on the v6 lobbying

I'd like to think you don't actually care what anyone drives Steve, but you've spent a fair amount of time in this thread telling people why the 4.3l should not even be considered. And why leather seats are the deal breaker for the crowd who uses their pickup like a Camry, but nonetheless are glad they have more power if they ever actually buy something to tow.

Maybe some day your lawn mower will break and the 77 more torque will come in handy moving it to the power center?

Brian S. · January 16, 2015

More seriously, why didn't you get the 6.2l Steve? You seem very concerned about hp and torque for your trips to the office and supermarket.

The 6.2 is seriously faster than the 5.3 or 4.3 and can tow a lot more, why didn't you buy that?

Silverado Steve · January 16, 2015

More seriously, why didn't you get the 6.2l Steve? You seem very concerned about hp and torque for your trips to the office and supermarket.

The 6.2 is seriously faster than the 5.3 or 4.3 and can tow a lot more, why didn't you buy that?

Go back about 10 pages and the answer to your questionas to why i didnt get the 6.2 is there my friend...not going to continue to beat this dead horse.

Silverado Steve · January 16, 2015

I'd like to think you don't actually care what anyone drives Steve, but you've spent a fair amount of time in this thread telling people why the 4.3l should not even be considered. And why leather seats are the deal breaker for the crowd who uses their pickup like a Camry, but nonetheless are glad they have more power if they ever actually buy something to tow.

Maybe some day your lawn mower will break and the 77 more torque will come in handy moving it to the power center?

Again brian, im not going to answer yet again what i answered 10 pages ago...ill sum it up for you since it went on deaf ears. The 4.3 isnt available in the LTZ trim, thus it was never a consideration of mine. Lets not put words in my mouth. The 4.3 didnt work for me because i didnt want to buy a new full size truck with less capability than the midsize i was moving out of...easy enough right?

Brian S. · January 16, 2015

As the old saying goes, it's better to have and not need, then need and not have and I can't think of a better way this quote applies than when it comes to power and a truck. Unless you're buying a stripped down truck becasue of cash limitation, spring for the V8 in a full size or go buy a mid size.

I'm just pointing out the inconsistency in your position Steve.

You didn't buy the power you didn't need (6.2l) and you did buy the "stripped down version" by not getting the High Country trim line.

As far as "stripped down" goes, the only option differences I see between the LT Z71 with All Star pack I bought and the LTZ Z71 you bought are the V8 I didn't need (I chose to buy the smaller engine like you because I don't need 460lbs torque) leather seats (which I'm not fond of) and a sliding rear window (which I did not use when I had). I did add the step tubes, bedliner, and tonneau.

Brian S. · January 16, 2015

Go back about 10 pages and the answer to your questionas to why i didnt get the 6.2 is there my friend...not going to continue to beat this dead horse.

Your argument appears to be:

"I don't tow or haul anything, but I think it's important to be able to tow a few 1000 lbs more than the 4.3, but I don't need the couple 1000 lbs more of the 6.2, because I don't tow or haul anything.

It's a worth a few thousand more to me to get to 60mph hwy speed 1 second faster than the 4.3l, but it's not worth a few thousand more than that to get to 60mph one and a half seconds faster than the 5.3l.

I like luxury, but left a long list of luxury options at the dealer by not picking the High Country trim line. I got the leather seats though! I got the leather seats!"

That about cover it?

Forgot:

"This is my first full size truck, and I use a truck the way most people use a Camry, but let me tell you guys that have been using full size trucks like trucks (towing rec vehicles, hauling around large item, going off road) for 30 years what options are sensible in a full size truck. I put a suitcase in the back once, and have been on a gravel road!"

I'm not trying to be rude to you Steve, I'm just trying to illustrate that you can't really presume to know what other people need or should buy.

You know what? I'm doing all the same stuff with my 2014 LT Z71 that I was doing with the four LT Z71s, the Ram Laramie, and the F250XLT that preceded it in about the same fashion.

Seems to me one of us actually knows something about off road, towing, and hauling large items.

Silverado Steve · January 16, 2015

All things I wanted on my truck, which the LT didn't have....oh did I say the 4.3 didn't come on the LTZ already, so why do you keep going there. What inconsistencies in my argument are so deftly pointing out?

As for the 6.2, please go back and read.....you keep asking me why I didn't go there.

So my arguments were/are:

I don't want less than 300 hp on a full size....check

I want to be able to convincingly tow more than the 6500 my previous Tacoma could tow...in case I bought a tow behind travel trailer....check

Wanted to have the ability to expand my needs in case I bought more toys...check

Wanted there to be a market to trade or sell it if and when the time came seeing there is no market for the 4.3 in mountainous Colorado? check

So what are the fallacies of my argument?

- This coming from the guy who argues he's supporting American jobs by buying a truck made in Mexico?

- That it's unpatriotic to buy a Toyota because they are a foreign owned company, and they arent unionized yet admittedly owns a car owned by a company HQ'd in Italy, and drives a truck built in a non UAW plant?

- That he bought his truck for the phenomenal price and better mpg's, yet raves on another thread that his truck is the bee knees running E85....with that his truck now get's < mpg's and power than a 5.3 running straight gas?

- He supports American farmers by using ethanol, but who cares about the price of corn going up for the average home?

- Consistently argues that the 4,3 has the power of yesterday's V8 and we should all be happy, makes argument that majority of people don't tow so why buy for power, but then conveniently discounts that if those are the arguments being made, a midsize truck is unfathomable for those needs; especially when the tow rating for said midsize is as much if not more than a 4.3 equipped 1/2 ton and gets better mpgs at a lower overall cost....the points to Brians argument?

-Argues the v6 has as much power as a 15 year old 5.7, but ignores today's 5.3 are putting out big block power at the mpg's of a V6 from 8 years ago?

- Tells another poster they are a fool for towing stuck vehicles out of the woods, but argues a his full size truck is a better choice for going into the back woods to fish, camp, boat...a better choice than a more agile mid size.

- Argues that a full size is better at handling towing (true) but ignores the 5.3 is a better option for towing as well?

- Claims people are fools for springing more money for leather seats, and options of a luxury truck, this coming from a guy who is bragging about recently purchasing a $30K boat.......yeah a boat.....one of those purchase that anyone will tell you is throwing money away and a money pit? And we're fools for wanting leather seats in a truck? ummm ok

Yup, I see all the inconsistencies in my argument...

Let me ask Brian, how many threads are there with people saying they should of bought the V6 over the V8 vs the other way around? Why do you feel the need to argue and prove to everyone that we should of all settled for the V6? Again be happy with your truck, and quit worrying about why anyone else chose something different.

I'm just pointing out the inconsistency in your position Steve.

You didn't buy the power you didn't need (6.2l) and you did buy the "stripped down version" by not getting the High Country trim line.

As far as "stripped down" goes, the only option differences I see between the LT Z71 with All Star pack I bought and the LTZ Z71 you bought are the V8 I didn't need (I chose to buy the smaller engine like you because I don't need 460lbs torque) leather seats (which I'm not fond of) and a sliding rear window (which I did not use when I had). I did add the step tubes, bedliner, and tonneau.