Yes and again it depends what you need. Nothing wrong with the higher gearing as long as it works for what you need.
Half-ton pickup redux
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To be clear i have absolutly no issue at all with the full sized stuff. But many people have no need for them at all. And there absolutly is a big advantage in mpg handling and maneuverability with smaller vehicles. And dispite your claims there is absolutly no inherent durability advantage going to full sized trucks over smaller vehicles. Some of the smaller ones will be better some will be worse.
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I sure like my lowly 2000 Toyota Echo, I only paid $5600 for it back in 2002 with 26,000 miles on it and I’ve only done oil changes to it (53 times so far with good synthetic oil and good synthetic filters too) and replaced the serpentine belt twice. Oh, and I put new plugs in it a few times too. It’s been hit hard twice and I hit a deer with it and it looks like hell and is a local legend in my town of 326 but I am determined to drive it into the ground as I said I would when the seller handed me the keys to it. It’s been my daily driver for 16 years now and I hope to get another 5 out of it. I have some other vehicles that are in new condition but they’re too nice to drive lol....Edit....oops. I guess this is a truck thread isn’t it?
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Stelcom66
Minister of Fire
That is very decent MPGs for an SUV. I just read Ford will only sell 2 sedans in the U.S. a few years from now, the Mustang and Focus. Partly because as noted, SUVs and even full size pickups are getting good (for their size or in general) MPGs these days.
I just read post of a 2014 SIlverado getting 34,6 MPG on a trip with a 4.3 V-6 . This is hard to believe. This is the truck im considering buying this year and while getting some info on it i ran across this article. I would think this is only possible with a diesel.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads/49623/
http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads/49623/
Ashful
Minister of Fire
I had that exact configuration, but with a 5 speed manual trans. Even without a load or trailer, it would have trouble keeping over 65 MPH in the hills, a major point of frustration for my then-daily commute. It was short on power to maintain speed in 5th gear, and over-revving in 4th gear.
When I’d pull a trailer, that number would drop to 45 - 55 mph, depending on trailer weight. I found it just completely un-drivable, on the hilly highways north and west of here, that I was regularly driving in those years.
On the other hand, it was great around town. Truly no issue. Plenty of torque for city driving, just fell short on HP at highway speed. The depressing thing was, despite this sacrifice in HP, I was netting the same average mileage as my buddies with v8’s. I may have done slightly better on the highway, but they were doing better around town.
the campers I have and had where about 6500 dry and the wife always packs like we are going to be gone for a month, so with tanks and coolers and crap probably 8k or more.
I don't think I ever said why I have the opinions I do, until recently I was a field tech (electronics) for 20 years, and have had probably two dozen cars or so most of the time I bought and drove my own. but I just carry a few tools sometimes was out of state. at first I bought any of the us three that you could put some tools in. I had a beater mileage car and some truck normally at the same time.
when they stuck me with what they wanted I had a bunch of those little suvs and mini vans, some pickups etc.
the ones I bought, escort,f150, bronco, Cherokees, liberties, the one they did were the fords, exploder, expedition,
once I started buying the gm w bodies they were a lot more reliable more fuel efficient, could fit as many tools and crap. never had to mess with those but the f150 was the only one I got a nasty letter from AAA about towing to many times.
we get a lot of snow here too they are the best normal day to day snow vehicle too, a lot of people evn around here don't believe me when I say that but with the right tires ad all the electronics tat actually help instead of hurt like the ford and dodge ones. most of the time I drive it like summer. the only reason I slow down is traffic times you have some fool pulling out in front of you. the worst vehicles were the trucks and suvs like the jeeps, you had to leave the 4wd on all the time if you wanted to drive as fast as I do in the car safely
I don't think I ever said why I have the opinions I do, until recently I was a field tech (electronics) for 20 years, and have had probably two dozen cars or so most of the time I bought and drove my own. but I just carry a few tools sometimes was out of state. at first I bought any of the us three that you could put some tools in. I had a beater mileage car and some truck normally at the same time.
when they stuck me with what they wanted I had a bunch of those little suvs and mini vans, some pickups etc.
the ones I bought, escort,f150, bronco, Cherokees, liberties, the one they did were the fords, exploder, expedition,
once I started buying the gm w bodies they were a lot more reliable more fuel efficient, could fit as many tools and crap. never had to mess with those but the f150 was the only one I got a nasty letter from AAA about towing to many times.
we get a lot of snow here too they are the best normal day to day snow vehicle too, a lot of people evn around here don't believe me when I say that but with the right tires ad all the electronics tat actually help instead of hurt like the ford and dodge ones. most of the time I drive it like summer. the only reason I slow down is traffic times you have some fool pulling out in front of you. the worst vehicles were the trucks and suvs like the jeeps, you had to leave the 4wd on all the time if you wanted to drive as fast as I do in the car safely
I don't believe mileage claims unless it talking to some one I know, most of the people I know that have had that engine isn't much better than the 8
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Good point. Mine was a 1995 K1500 Silverado. I haven’t found any official listing of it’s spec, but consumerguide.com puts it at only 200 hp / 255 lb-ft. This latest model year is listed at 285 hp / 305 lb-ft., for the same displacement.
My 1993 Silverado Ext cab 1/2 ton with a 4.3l V-6 5speed only makes 160 HP. The new 4.3s i believe are 285. Quite a jump. My 95 with 350 V8 only made 200.
I think that 40HP jump was in 96 but i could be wrong. If yours had sequential fuel injection it was the higher HP. Before that it was 160.
The new 4.3s are pretty different direct injection vvt etc. But i still dont beleive 30+ mpg real world out of that vehicle. My sister just got one so i can report on it soon.
Again that depends how and where you drive. It can get allot better in the right situation. And hell the new 4.3s have more power than the older 5.3s
ID be interested to know that. Im in the market for this particular truck but have been wondering which is the best engine size. I wont be doing any heavy towing ,but i am looking for good MPG as i do a lot of driving empty on flat terrain
The w body cars are pretty good in the snow. But are a joke compared to a good all wheel drive vehicle.
Hell the four cylinder in our escape has more hp than most 90s v8s.
No where near the tourque though
They used to make a good hybrid in that escape for about 5 years
Up to 36 MPG ,fantastic for an SUV. Ford should do one in electric,toyota was able to get 120miles out of a RAV4 with a NIMH battery .Fordrs could do better with Li-ion
Yes that can happen but you also have to consider the tourque curve. Most smaller displacement motors only have power at higher rpms. So if you need that power for a heavy vehicle or to haul you will be running allot higher rpm than a v8 with good low end tourque.
On a related note i just took my f250hd to pick something up about an hour away and i checked the mpg for the first time i was amazed i got almost 12 mpg i assumed i would have been in single digits with the gearing i have
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