Big engines are back - With fuel efficiency rising, V8 brawn is hot option for cars, trucks

Detroit Free Press ^ | 1/15/04 | Mark Phelan

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

We're power mad. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Fuel-sipping hybrid gasoline-electric cars may get plenty of hype at the North American International Auto Show, but when they vote with their wallets, more Americans elected a big, powerful V8 engine last year than any time since 1985.

[Always Right]

In related news, Al Gore is giving a speech on global warming during the coldest days in 50 years....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Interesting...
The trend in Europe is toward tiny diesel engines, resulting in tanker loads of gasoline being exported to New York harbor and elsewhere on the east coast. Gasoline is four or five times more expensive in Europe because of taxes (Atlas Shrugged?)

[bankwalker]

Decisions, decisions...

Now I must choose between a hemi and a diesel when I get my one ton pickup with the slide-in camper. Why does life have to be so difficult?

[Condor51]

This is great, more and BIGGER V-8's. Anything to drive the leftist-commie-green-democrats NUTTIER is good for America!

But you know what would be another nice add-on (IMO) - dual exhausts. About six months ago while riding with my youngest daughter on an x-way, we were passed by a big, black sedan with duel exhausts. I couldn't make out what it was, except that it WASN'T a rice burner. I made her catch up to it and saw it was a Mercury of all things (no disrespect meant against Merc's).

When we got home I searched all detroit brands and found that Merc's were the only car with duel exhausts (Cop cars excluded natch)!?! As I recall, it also had a big hunkin V-8 with something like 350hp(?). WAY TO GO DETROIT. It's muscle car redux!

[Paradox]

SWeet! I remember back in the days (late 80's) when everycar was downsized and engines were anemic. I bought a V-8 Mustang. Not a whole lot of HP by todays standards, but lots of low end torque. That sure was fun. Did a few mods, got a few more ponies out of it, and I got decent mileage actually (they gear V8's so low, that they are hardly much above idling on the freeway).

Dont discount turbo/supercharged cars. I had a 300ZX TwinTurbo. Only a 3 liter V-6, but with straight pipe exhaust with minimal mufflers (the turbos quiet down the exhaust ALOT). Cranked the boost up to 1 atm (14+ psi). 400+ horsepower. A Highway DEMON.

[N. Theknow]

Two reasons I bought this....

1. Piss off the Greenies

2. 100% tax write off.

305 HP at 4500 RPM 5.6 liter V8 32 valve

[The South Texan]

I want a Hummer2 bump!!!

[truthandjustice1]

my v8 corvette gets 30 mpg on the highway.

[Charles Martel]

"...big...black... dual exhausts...it was a Mercury of all things..."

Ah, yes... the Mercury Marauder. That's the sporty version of the Marquis that packs an engine very similar to that found in the Mustang Cobra (4.6 liter dual overhead cam design). For someone who'd like a Mustang but really needs a larger car, the big Merc is quite nice indeed. They make 'em in a few other colors now; (only black was initially available).

Nice to see the automakers finally make OHC design work in a V-8. Oh, it was done many years ago, but not for large-scale production and certainly not for the purposes of increasing fuel efficiency:

[mewzilla]

?Today, a Tahoe on the highway can get over 20 m.p.g."

20 mpg is better than 10, but that's still not what I'd call fuel-efficient.

[B Knotts]

Actually, the Ford Crown Victoria Sport also has dual exhaust.

But that Mercury Marauder has 300 hp. Unfortunately, you have to put premium gas in it. The new Mustang GT will get the same 300 hp, but with regular gas.

[38special]

Here's my 320+HP DOHC-4V 281 CI powered 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1:

[bmwcyle]

Forest Gore - My 10 year old daughter is smarter.

[doodad]

ut you know what would be another nice add-on (IMO) - dual exhausts

What you saw was a Mercury Marauder. Not bad. What you want, which has factory true dual, is the new GTO. Love my v8, just need a bigger cam.

[Jack of all Trades]

Interesting, My first new car was a '88 Mustang GT. With 3.55 gears, headers, and a whiff of nitrous, it was pretty enjoyable in a straight line. Throw in a few esses and things got a little dicey. In the rain it was one of the scariest rides I've ever been in. Overall I think my Maxima handles better, and makes similar power, but there's something to be said for 300 lb.Ft of torque off idle, and then there's the sound. V-8's just say "Power!".

[doodad]

Sweet. Love those shakers. This is my 355 HP daily drive.
http://www.fbody.com/members/doodad/car001.jpg

[meyer]

Low end torque is great - I had a 1990 Mustang with the wonderful 5.0 as well. No nitrous on mine, but she'd leave two black stripes of rubber pretty-much anywhere I wanted.

I've settled for a 200 HP V-6 now. And it doesn't reach its torque peak until somewhere around 4000 RPM. No low end, but I've heard people describe this engine as "torquey". It isn't bad, but it sure ain't torquey. My Mustang was torquey. My 400 cu. in. Pontiac was torquey. My Dodge 360 was torquey. But my 3.0 L V-6, as nice as it is, isn't torquey.

[meyer]

Fuel-sipping hybrid gasoline-electric cars may get plenty of hype at the North American International Auto Show, but when they vote with their wallets, more Americans elected a big, powerful V8 engine last year than any time since 1985.

I won't argue that they aren't powerful - they are. But they aren't that big. I remember when "big" was 400 cubic inches or more. Chevy's 454 was big, as was Ford's 429 and 460. I remember the 400 cubic inch engine my Dad had in his 1972 Ford LTD. It had a dismal 175 Net HP, but it sported 326 ft-lbs of torque at 1200 RPM. That motor belonged in a tractor, not a car. :)

[doodad]

In the rain it was one of the scariest rides I've ever been in.

LOL, I hear you about the rain. I had to do some suspension work and choose a little less sticky tires to cope. Had 4.10s for awhile. Whew! Talk about stress stuck on a hill in the rain.