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

[j-ten-ner]

 

 

All these costs (oil changes, insurance, tires) are different from everyone due to location, sales, deals, driving records etc. and somewhat fixed costs to a certain point and easier to control. The price of fuel and what you get for mileage is a bigger factor and somewhat harder to control. Right now it is coming down but during the high times, it could be $1.00 to $2.00 (plus) per gallon more which moves your cost higher. $26 to $52 (plus) more a tank fill up.

 

I feel if you don’t need a V8 there will be more people getting a V6 if GM got better gas mileage on these engines. I don’t see GM wants to sell less V8’s because the mileage is so close. Are they doing this by design or what? Just like in GM’s hay day when they were pushing the big gas guzzlers SUV etc. until the bottom fell out in 2007-2008.

 

Maybe some people don’t care about the price and gas mileage but I know a lot more people that still shop around to get the lowest price possible when purchasing fuel. Some people cancelled vacations - road trips because gas was too high. Better mileage is always a major factor in their driving habits and what you need from your vehicle.

 

GM is putting V4 in some of their bigger autos for better gas mileage.

 

The fixed costs differ due to the circumstances. But they're the same for the one who has to decide what kind of car he needs/wants.

And I wouldn't depend my decission on the todays or yesterdays or tomorrows gas prices. Because the fuel consumption of the car I choose stays the same.

 

Many people don't want a diesel like the RAM offers. Other people don't want a twin turbo scooter engine. They just want a plain, strong enough, easy to maintain and affordable engine.

And GM's got the answer.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[Luster]

They just want a plain, strong enough, easy to maintain and affordable engine.

And GM's got the answer.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

 

The GM formula has been working since the 60's. The small-block Chevy has been GM's bread-and-butter for ages. It's been long-lasting, dependable, efficient, powerful and basically, bullet-proof for 50 years! (Why do you think you see so many classic Fords with Chevy engines??? Because their owners aren't stupid!)

 

Today's Chevy V8 is still based on those same principles.... And the fuel economy gets better every year. Right now I'm averaging 17.5 city/22.5 highway, for a combined around 20. I'll never have a complaint about fuel economy like that on a 5000 lb vehicle. And please don't forget that re-sale on a Chevy V8 is excellent...

 

I'm not knocking the GM V6. Great engine. But I've just been a die-hard V8 guy for as long as I can remember and nothing's gonna change that, no matter how great the fuel economy is.

[Isriam]

i never took the truck over 70 so i didnt need to worry about a speed limiter. i will tell you, turning left in front of traffic it really bothered me how slow it was. sorta like a 4 cylinder car. i'm used to a tuned 6.2L but still i also drive an untuned 5.3L in a tahoe, and this v6 was horrific. either its the gearing or the engine, but if i test drove one i'd never buy it unless maybe regular cab.

[PMattras]

And please don't forget that re-sale on a Chevy V8 is excellent...

 

How is it excellent? There is an upcharge for it in price, loans, taxes, gas etc.. The vehicle is still subject to depreciation for year, age, condition and mileage. If gas goes out of sight - market demands lowers. This actually happen in previous years as in 2007-2008 - truck sales slowed down. GM is moving in V4 in their bigger vehicles like the Impala. Ford and Ram (both big players) are pushing very strongly into the V6 market and trying to change people opinions/position on V8's. Changes are happening and only the future will tells us who will win on resale. Vehicles are not being built the same way (lighter etc.) than they were years ago. All vehicles will have to get better gas mileage in the years to come.

 

We are in December and I still see a lot of 2014 Chevy trucks with V8's on the dealers lots even with the big discounts.

 

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/chevy-and-gmc-pickup-trucks-pile-dealer-lots-outgoing-models-get-big-rebates-clear

 

GM had 243,691 pickups -- a 138-day supply -- on hand at the end of November.

[Brian S.]

i never took the truck over 70 so i didnt need to worry about a speed limiter. i will tell you, turning left in front of traffic it really bothered me how slow it was. sorta like a 4 cylinder car. i'm used to a tuned 6.2L but still i also drive an untuned 5.3L in a tahoe, and this v6 was horrific. either its the gearing or the engine, but if i test drove one i'd never buy it unless maybe regular cab.

 

So you say. Some other guys say:

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-chevrolet-silverado-v-6-instrumented-test-review

 

 

 

This helped our V-6–powered Silverado turn a quarter-mile time of 15.7 seconds at 89 mph. That’s a tenth of a second faster than the 6.0-liter V-8 “VortecMAX” Silverado we tested back in 2007.

 

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/05/first-drive-2014-chevrolet-silverado-1500.html

 

 

 

As you might expect, GM powertrain engineers have tuned the base engine for torque (this is a truck engine, after all), so the pull off the line feels strong and suspiciously like a smaller, older V-8 (in fact, the torque numbers match the old-school Vortec 4800 V-8).

Both Ford and Ram have more sophisticated overhead valve V-6s that make more horsepower than torque with smaller displacement engines, but neither of those engines deliver the jump we got in our 4x4 crew cab (with 3.42:1 gears).

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1305_2014_chevrolet_silverado_first_drive/

 

 

 

The 4.3-liter generates 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. While towing a 5500-pound camper using a trailer hitch, the Silverado never hesitated. It accelerated quickly and the integrated trailer sway controls, which use the truck's anti-lock brakes, helped steady the trailer down the windy Texan roads.

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/163_1311_2014_gmc_sierra_regular_cab_first_test/

 

 

 

Past iterations of the Sierra with the 4.3-liter six felt slow and unenthusiastic. That has all changed here. This Sierra felt quick, and was genuinely fun to drive. It was speedy at the track, too, where the SLE reached 60 mph in 7.4 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 15.8 seconds at 88.6 mph.

 

Based on the industry reports which include instrumented documentation of actual performance, my own daily experience driving the truck, and just common sense that it can only be 10% slower than last year's 5.3 running gas (and about the same on E85) due to hp/torque numbers, I'm skeptical.

 

[j-ten-ner]

...

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/chevy-and-gmc-pickup-trucks-pile-dealer-lots-outgoing-models-get-big-rebates-clear

 

GM had 243,691 pickups -- a 138-day supply -- on hand at the end of November. ...

 

Uhm...maybe I'm getting it wrong but the article is from Dec12./2012.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[PMattras]

Uhm...maybe I'm getting it wrong but the article is from Dec12./2012.

 

Sorry you are correct\. I must have got the stories mixed up when I was adding to the reply. I can't find the one I wanted but there are still a lot of left over 2014 Chevy trucks with V8's on the dealer lots as of December 2014.

[nards444]

At the end of the day, it's your money buy what you want, but for discussion purposes, several of you are debating the functionality of the 4.3 and it seems your points are as follows to which I counter:

1. "Some people want mpg's and don't need the capability of a V-8 equipped truck, or "most people don't use that much capability" I ask why not a midsize if that is your argument?

2. "The current 4.3 has as much power as the last gen 5.3 and tops the 4.8" Ok, but that is a fools argument since you are comparing a current model engine with an engine designed 15 years ago. Even if the current 4.3 puts out as much power with more mpg's. the same argument can be made in reverse. The current 5.3 puts out much more power as the old 4.8 and 5.3 yet has better mpg's than both at a hit of $1095 for the 5.3 upgrade over the life you will own the truck, that's not much of hit $$ wise. It has already been established that the 4.3 does not get much of a mpg savings than the 5.3 yet you lose over 40% capability (5500 lbs towing for the 4.3 vs 9400 for the 5.3 and 3.42 gears) according to 2015 specs. I get 23 mpg's driving to Denver and back in my truck and anywhere between 16-18 in the city.....not bad at all for a V8. A coworker of mine has a 2014 RAM with the 3.6 Pentastar and he gets the same hwy and 1 mpg more in the city....I wouldn't call that better mpgs for the power hit

 

I don't think anyone is saying the 4.3 is a bad motor, it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense overall in a full size truck to get the V-6 unless it's the Ford ecoboost or the Ram diesel that produces comparable torque and efficiency of the V8's, and the number of sales support that argument. 20% of the current Silverado sales are the 4.3 of which 5% are fleet sales, meaning only 15% are consumer sales....those numbers are not strong no matter which brush you try to paint the picture with. With that, resale will take a hit...there's no debate in that. If there is no demand new, there will be little demand used, that is how the market works. Yes, the 4.3 may be a cheaper option than a V-8, but then you have to acknowledge if price point is your main consideration, you might as well look at the cheaper Colorado/Canyon which gets better mpgs and has better towing capability than the 4.3 Silverado and only 10% smaller than the Silverado. I think GM realized this where Ford and RAM are still going for the higher profit margin of the full size lineup; hence why no commitment to the midsize. we will see if GM's marketing strategy holds true and if true, we will see the number of 4,3 sales plummet overall in favor of Colorado and Canyon sales.

 

I have a v8 so keep that in mind with this statement. It seems all the V8 guys really have nothing in their arguement but nostalgia. Because 90% of the 1/2tons out there tow nothing more than 5k lbs which the v6 is more than capable of. So from pure logic, why not buy an engine thats cheaper and gets better mpg even if its small? Ok the sound, thats not logical really isnt, I say this having dual exhaust on my truck as well.

[Isriam]

 

So you say. Some other guys say:

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-chevrolet-silverado-v-6-instrumented-test-review

 

 

 

 

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/05/first-drive-2014-chevrolet-silverado-1500.html

 

 

 

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1305_2014_chevrolet_silverado_first_drive/

 

 

 

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/163_1311_2014_gmc_sierra_regular_cab_first_test/

 

 

 

 

Based on the industry reports which include instrumented documentation of actual performance, my own daily experience driving the truck, and just common sense that it can only be 10% slower than last year's 5.3 running gas (and about the same on E85) due to hp/torque numbers, I'm skeptical.

 

You didn't show that they were using E85 in the V6.

 

I'm comparing a 6.2L denali with a diablew tune, against a stock silverado V6. I drive 25 miles round trip in the city, and I rarely do highway miles. My truck is babied, I am the slow poke from light to light. However I will tell you again that driving that v6 made me so happy I have the v8. I'm not saying the v6 will never catch up, because 10 years ago the monster engine was a v10, but today, the v8 still wins hands down.

 

maybe i have the 3.08 gears, because my v8 has 3.42 but the v6 was so slow i actually got annoyed by how quickly it downshifted and had no torque to get up some hills around scottsdale (where i rented).

 

the rule here is that i would have purchsed the v6 without a test drive based on these reviews, and would have been really upset. i guess more power in your pocket is better than having to go rent or borrow a better truck when you need it.

[KARNUT]

You didn't show that they were using E85 in the V6.

 

I'm comparing a 6.2L denali with a diablew tune, against a stock silverado V6. I drive 25 miles round trip in the city, and I rarely do highway miles. My truck is babied, I am the slow poke from light to light. However I will tell you again that driving that v6 made me so happy I have the v8. I'm not saying the v6 will never catch up, because 10 years ago the monster engine was a v10, but today, the v8 still wins hands down.

 

maybe i have the 3.08 gears, because my v8 has 3.42 but the v6 was so slow i actually got annoyed by how quickly it downshifted and had no torque to get up some hills around scottsdale (where i rented).

 

the rule here is that i would have purchsed the v6 without a test drive based on these reviews, and would have been really upset. i guess more power in your pocket is better than having to go rent or borrow a better truck when you need it.

I read a road test that showed a 4.3 do the quarter mile in 15.7 on E85, same as a 5.3 on gas with a 308 gear. Saw a 5.3 with a 342 run the same time as a 6.2 with a 308 gear on E85. Saw a 6.2 with the 373 run a 13.5 1/4 mile. Just have to pay attention to what you buy. Would love to see a 6.2 in a single cab. I would put a 456 gear in it with a gear vender, wouldn't need a S/C, but what the hell maybe do that to.

[Brian S.]

Israim,

 

You're probably not the best person to respond to this question, for a couple reasons. First the 6.2l you drive, at least if it's 2014, has a 5.4 second 0-60 time that you paid over $10,000 to have.

 

Does the mileage of V6 vs V8 matter to you? No. (you drive the truck with the worst mileage because you need either the speed or the tow capability)

 

You're also in a very small group of buyers who will pay over $50K for a truck. Almost every one else either can't afford to, or chooses not to. (For example I had a 6 year old 150hp fishing boat and a 3.5 year old 5.3l LT truck I felt like replacing this spring, nothing wrong with either. Didn't mind spending a bit over $60K to replace both, but to add $15k to my outlay to get the leather trim and the 6.2l would have been more than I wanted to spend. (and I wanted to replace both))

 

As to your points:

 

"You didn't show that they were using E85 in the V6."

 

Only one review said they used E85, and listed speeds for both. The 4.3l .4 seconds on E85, or .7 seconds slower on E10 than the 5.3l model they tested. (presumably with E10)

 

That is the comparison people who would consider saving $3K acquisition + the mileage/insurance/maintenance differences are making. Between the 4.3l and the 5.3l, and the speed performance is within 1 second in the quarter mile and 0-60 from what I've found.

 

"However I will tell you again that driving that v6 made me so happy I have the v8. I'm not saying the v6 will never catch up, because 10 years ago the monster engine was a v10, but today, the v8 still wins hands down."

Sure, you're used to a race tuned engine most people can't or won't buy. The difference in the 4.3 and 5.3, on speed at least, is much smaller. (and I bet with the 3.08 gears some 5.3s have it's the same)

 

"maybe i have the 3.08 gears, because my v8 has 3.42 but the v6 was so slow i actually got annoyed by how quickly it downshifted and had no torque to get up some hills around Scottsdale"

I repeat: Sure, you're used to a race tuned engine most people can't or won't buy. The difference in the 4.3 and 5.3, on speed at least, is much smaller. (and I bet with the 3.08 gears some 5.3s have it's the same)

 

"the rule here is that i would have purchsed the v6 without a test drive based on these reviews, and would have been really upset."

Has anyone ever bought a car without a test drive?

 

" i guess more power in your pocket is better than having to go rent or borrow a better truck when you need it."

Do you think situations "pop up" for most people where they need wildly different capabilities? I'm 51 years old. I've never owned a boat that weighs more than 3000 pounds and never will. I'm a fisherman, not "drink on the water" or "wakeboard" person. You may not believe this but it never happens "Gosh, some farmer heard I have a pickup and wants me to tow 4 Clydesdales across the Rockies! Will the 4.3l be up to it?!"

 

LOL I think most of us know what we need out of our vehicles. For me, if it were over 4000lbs towing, I'd spend that $10-$15K and get a 3/4 ton diesel. (or at least get the 5.3)

 

For people actually considering the 4.3 vs 5.3 question, my guess is 90% have towing/hauling needs inline with mine. And for them, the 4.3 is fine. :-)

[Silverado Steve]

For the record I have never been in the crowd of "Get the V8 it sounds better!" I think that's a pretty silly thing. For the record, this is my first vehicle with a V8, so I think my opinion is unbiased of the V8 crowd. However, I have stated time and time again, if the argument is you don't haul, or tow much, so get the V6, I would get a midsize. For me, it makes perfect sense. None of the arguements made by the v6 crowd of why make sense, much like the V8 crowds points. If you don't need the power of a V8 and you value efficiency and overall price, but only care about room, then you really don't value efficiency. the midsize can be had with a 6ft bed, crew cab for passenger room, is as safe as a full size by NHTSA crash ratings and can easily tow a 5K lb trailer. With that point, I don't feel with the size of our trucks for how big they have become, that a V6 is the best bang for the buck engine choice; especially with a very modest 1-2 mpg difference for only $1095. For me, the 5.3 is the perfect blend of power and efficiency. It's plain silly the V6 proponents, will state MPG gains, yet when the real world numbers are stated, the MPG's are not that significant as evident by the many automotive website tests that have been conducted.. Some of the supporters here even resort to listing power rating with E85 and when you look at the mpg drop form that (13 mpg overall) for the power gained (315 hp), you are still below the 5.3 in both categories.....talk about cherry picking stats.

 

At the end of the day, no one here is going to convince either party on what's right or wrong....the original topic was "Would you get a V-6" The resounding answer is NO!! play devils advocate, argue all you want, the bottom line is sales number back up the V8 crowd....the market doesn't believe or supports perceived resale value of the V6 as some have pushed and tried to believe, that is something you can play devils advocate all day long, but the real numbers do not support. Perceived resale of the 2014 Silverado with the V8 according to KBB is that the 5.3 will maintian 50 of it's value after 5 years, where the v6 will maintain 45%. that 5% is well more than the $1095 you will pay for the 5.3 upgrade. Don't beleive me or want to argue no one knows what the resale values are after 5 years, here's a simple test, do a search on Cars.com and see what the going rate is for a V-6 equipped Crew Cab 4x4. Here in Colorado a V6 Crew Cab 4x4 that lists for $43,0000 MSRP is going for $32,000 a market loss of $11,000; whereas a V8 equipped LT All Star that lists for $48,000 is going for $41,000 used at a loss of $7,000 market. So what is cheaper the V6 or the V8 in one year. Another argument I've xseen someone repeatedly make is "what if gas goes up?" Do you think any average consumer is going to look at a truck, let alone a V6 fullsize if cost of gas is an issue? The answer is and will always be no...A buyer of a truck, will either put of their purchase, buy used, or reduce the use of their truck, not spring for a V6 that only gets a lenient 2 mpg difference from the V8....the market supprts this, while fullsize sales dropped from 2008-2012, it was not due to gas prices, it was due to the housing market. Also, gas prioces jumped last year, yet the V8's still outsold and even gained market sales over their V6 contemporaries.....argue all you want, the facts are there. Pick and choose your facts, yes the V6 will serve many truck buyers well, but a larger majority of Truck buyers expect more from their powertrain than the current 4.3 delivers.....end of story!!

 

I have a v8 so keep that in mind with this statement. It seems all the V8 guys really have nothing in their arguement but nostalgia. Because 90% of the 1/2tons out there tow nothing more than 5k lbs which the v6 is more than capable of. So from pure logic, why not buy an engine thats cheaper and gets better mpg even if its small? Ok the sound, thats not logical really isnt, I say this having dual exhaust on my truck as well.

[Silverado Steve]

I'm just going to leave this here:

http://www.autotrends.org/2014/12/15/luxury-pickup-trucks-outsell-european-models/

 

and this:

http://www.heraldonline.com/2014/12/10/6611950/truecar-finds-pickup-trucks-far.html

 

You're also in a very small group of buyers who will pay over $50K for a truck. Almost every one else either can't afford to, or chooses not to. (For example I had a 6 year old 150hp fishing boat and a 3.5 year old 5.3l LT truck I felt like replacing this spring, nothing wrong with either. Didn't mind spending a bit over $60K to replace both, but to add $15k to my outlay to get the leather trim and the 6.2l would have been more than I wanted to spend. (and I wanted to replace both))

 

[nards444]

For the record I have never been in the crowd of "Get the V8 it sounds better!" I think that's a pretty silly thing. For the record, this is my first vehicle with a V8, so I think my opinion is unbiased of the V8 crowd. However, I have stated time and time again, if the argument is you don't haul, or tow much, so get the V6, I would get a midsize. For me, it makes perfect sense. None of the arguements made by the v6 crowd of why make sense, much like the V8 crowds points. If you don't need the power of a V8 and you value efficiency and overall price, but only care about room, then you really don't value efficiency. the midsize can be had with a 6ft bed, crew cab for passenger room, is as safe as a full size by NHTSA crash ratings and can easily tow a 5K lb trailer. With that point, I don't feel with the size of our trucks for how big they have become, that a V6 is the best bang for the buck engine choice; especially with a very modest 1-2 mpg difference for only $1095. For me, the 5.3 is the perfect blend of power and efficiency. It's plain silly the V6 proponents, will state MPG gains, yet when the real world numbers are stated, the MPG's are not that significant as evident by the many automotive website tests that have been conducted.. Some of the supporters here even resort to listing power rating with E85 and when you look at the mpg drop form that (13 mpg overall) for the power gained (315 hp), you are still below the 5.3 in both categories.....talk about cherry picking stats. Agree 100%. Stats are what they are. We are having other discussions about E85 and price and so forth and numbers are being compared to different fuels, so forth. You have to compare exact same categories, bar none. My arguement if I was a V6 pumper would not be that of its almost like a V8 with E85 or this or that, my arguement would be is thats its cheaper to buy, and I get better MPG.

 

At the end of the day, no one here is going to convince either party on what's right or wrong....the original topic was "Would you get a V-6" The resounding answer is NO!! play devils advocate, argue all you want, the bottom line is sales number back up the V8 crowd....the market doesn't believe or supports perceived resale value of the V6 as some have pushed and tried to believe, that is something you can play devils advocate all day long, but the real numbers do not support. Perceived resale of the 2014 Silverado with the V8 according to KBB is that the 5.3 will maintian 50 of it's value after 5 years, where the v6 will maintain 45%. that 5% is well more than the $1095 you will pay for the 5.3 upgrade. Well lets say we have two trucks at 40k ones a 6 and ones an 8, but otherwise like vehicles. After 5 years the 8 will be worth 20 and the v6 will be worth 18 according to your math. The v6 buyer is 2 grand in the whole. But paid 1000 less for the v6 saved 300 a year on fuel, his loan was 20 bucks cheaper for a savings of $1200 over 5 years. So really the V6 owner after 5 years is still $1100 ahead after 5 years not including cheaper insurance and basic maint on the engine. might be small beans for some, but none the less is cheaper. Still isnt the whole picture as typically the higher engine requires a higher trim level, making the vehicle cost more than the just the 1095 upgrade charge. And yes I know the V8 dominates sales, I have one and like it very much and wouldnt be in a NA V6. But have you looked at sales figures of the V6, specially GMs in the 2014, since they have more than doubled last year.

 

Don't beleive me or want to argue no one knows what the resale values are after 5 years, here's a simple test, do a search on Cars.com and see what the going rate is for a V-6 equipped Crew Cab 4x4. Here in Colorado a V6 Crew Cab 4x4 that lists for $43,0000 MSRP is going for $32,000 a market loss of $11,000; whereas a V8 equipped LT All Star that lists for $48,000 is going for $41,000 used at a loss of $7,000 market. So what is cheaper the V6 or the V8 in one year. Your now not only comparing two engine packages, but now two trim levels. Also at the end of the day do you know hold backs for each model, promotions, or what the final sale was after MSRP. So do we have apples to apples here. Even so If I wanted a v6 which I dont but if I do, I now have a 9k cheaper truck, sounds like a deal to me. At the end of the day I dont buy this obsession that reseale is so important when I buy, after 5 years I take a multiple thousand dollar loss anways, more than likely tens of thousands. How can one accurately say where each one of those thousands went, or if I chose this trim, or that engine I would be that much ahead, I dont think they can. So I kind of think this is a speculatory argument at best. Plus keep in mind the used car buyer is typically of a different mind set than a new owner. Used car buyers typicaly are savings shoppers, young people, people that are looking for a good deal more than anything.

 

Another argument I've xseen someone repeatedly make is "what if gas goes up?" Do you think any average consumer is going to look at a truck, let alone a V6 fullsize if cost of gas is an issue? The answer is and will always be no...A buyer of a truck, will either put of their purchase, buy used, or reduce the use of their truck, not spring for a V6 that only gets a lenient 2 mpg difference from the V8....the market supprts this, while fullsize sales dropped from 2008-2012, it was not due to gas prices, it was due to the housing market. Also, gas prioces jumped last year, yet the V8's still outsold and even gained market sales over their V6 contemporaries.....argue all you want, the facts are there. Pick and choose your facts, yes the V6 will serve many truck buyers well, but a larger majority of Truck buyers expect more from their powertrain than the current 4.3 delivers.....end of story!! Yeah buying a vehicle to get good gas because that fits your budget good idea, being speculatory on the fuel market and then buying a vehicle as aone owner consumer, dumb and overthinking, agree with you there.

 

I personally dont care what people buy. Like I said before 90% of trucks Ive seen on the road and probably on this forum require nothing more than a v6, due to their true use. Which is fine if you want more buy it, its a free country. We all splurge on things. The fact remains the V6 is cheaper to buy and cheaper on gas, how much or how less is up in the air I guess. But to say the V6 is not a legitmate engine with over 300hp and torque in a half ton is rediculous. And look Ford gear heads said the same thing with the egoboost 3 years ago, and now it accounts for 60% of sales, granted the ego is not just an ordinary V6.

I'm just going to leave this here:

http://www.autotrends.org/2014/12/15/luxury-pickup-trucks-outsell-european-models/

 

and this:

http://www.heraldonline.com/2014/12/10/6611950/truecar-finds-pickup-trucks-far.html

 

You realize according to your sites, luxury purchases on GM trucks was only 11%,with the highest being ford at 25%, so the person you responded to was right.

[Isriam]

the original topic was would you get the v6 over the v8 if the mpg were better. i think most everyone would, depending on the mpg. if it were 20-30mpg BETTER, you'd save thousands a year. With the savings you could buy two trucks.

 

The issue is the difference in MPG is almost nil, so any savings would be wasted or lost in resale. Not to mention if something popped up and you had to actually tow something larger than 3k lbs. i had a 9k lb trailer being towed by a 3/4 diesel that got a flat, so i towed the trailer while he was on a gimpy spare until it could be replaced. you may only tow a boat or uhaul trailer, but sometimes there are emergencies that you need that extra power for and you didn't plan on it when you purchased. same goes for 4x4.

 

i think the idea of this thread is how much are you willing to pay to go to a v8 over a v6. 2k today might turn into 40k over 10 years, but i think the numbers are much closer since the mpg isn't so far apart. i'm big into calculating long term savings, so if i saved enough to pay for the truck, its a no brainer.