The snow this winter has me thinking about a replacement for my current 1990 GMC 1500. I have seen that prices are lower for trucks with V6 engines. I am not cheap but sometimes inappropriately frugal. Why the price diff if a V6 will do what a small block 8 will do? I won't be off roading any more than my old 2x. I would like to get a 18 ft bass boat up the ramp though. Thanks for any comments.
4X4 truck v6?
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Cdog
Member
The modern 6's I've driven are much better performers than what many of us grew up with.
Why are the V8's so much higher? Because I will pay the difference. That's it. Most people that buy a pickup are looking at towing capacity, etc. V8, automatic transmission, leather, all hold their resale value much better too.
Why are the V8's so much higher? Because I will pay the difference. That's it. Most people that buy a pickup are looking at towing capacity, etc. V8, automatic transmission, leather, all hold their resale value much better too.
I had several Chevy-GMC 1500 short bed 4X4 trucks with the V6 engine
and 5 speed manual transmission. They got 20 mpg on the highway.
My current truck is the same except it has the now discontinued 4.8
V8 engine and gets about 17 mpg on the highway. There is a
noticeable difference in power between the two engines. The new V6
is more powerful than the old cast iron V6s that I had and the 5.3 V8
now is the standard. I had one 5.3 V8 and it was a gas hog. The
5 speed is gone and the standard transmission is the new 6 speed
auto. The autos have a tow/haul mode and if I was buying a new
truck I would get the V6 engine without even thinking about it.
and 5 speed manual transmission. They got 20 mpg on the highway.
My current truck is the same except it has the now discontinued 4.8
V8 engine and gets about 17 mpg on the highway. There is a
noticeable difference in power between the two engines. The new V6
is more powerful than the old cast iron V6s that I had and the 5.3 V8
now is the standard. I had one 5.3 V8 and it was a gas hog. The
5 speed is gone and the standard transmission is the new 6 speed
auto. The autos have a tow/haul mode and if I was buying a new
truck I would get the V6 engine without even thinking about it.
F150 EcoBoost is the answer.
300 plus hp and torque from a 3.5 v6 and over 25 hwy mpg when driven correctly
Ours is a 12 model 4dr 2wd and averages in town 17/18 and has seen as high as 27 on road trip avg is around 23 on hwy.
It will pull your 18ft bass boat uphill and pass a chevy while doing it.
300 plus hp and torque from a 3.5 v6 and over 25 hwy mpg when driven correctly
Ours is a 12 model 4dr 2wd and averages in town 17/18 and has seen as high as 27 on road trip avg is around 23 on hwy.
It will pull your 18ft bass boat uphill and pass a chevy while doing it.
My friend has an 'Eco boost' which is a marketing term for a turbo-charged engine. He says the mileage while pulling his boat plummets terribly.
My 4x4 is a 6 cylinder by choice. I pull a LOT. I wanted fuel efficiency, long life, good power and excellent resale so for me the 6 cylinder was hands down the clear choice.
If you're still wondering what I'm talking about, I chose the Cummins 5.9, put a Smarty on it and have pulled up to 28,000 pounds gross for 185,000 miles so far without a single problem. I still get over 20 mpg on the highway which isn't bad considering my truck weighs 8200lbs empty!
My 4x4 is a 6 cylinder by choice. I pull a LOT. I wanted fuel efficiency, long life, good power and excellent resale so for me the 6 cylinder was hands down the clear choice.
If you're still wondering what I'm talking about, I chose the Cummins 5.9, put a Smarty on it and have pulled up to 28,000 pounds gross for 185,000 miles so far without a single problem. I still get over 20 mpg on the highway which isn't bad considering my truck weighs 8200lbs empty!
Arik
Member
A lot of times the price difference comes from whatever the package the vehicle has. For instance, a V8 might come with heated seats, mirrors, leather. ...etc....etc. It's packaged together so you're not just buying a bigger engine, you are buying an upgraded csr
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We go round and round at my VVA chapter about this issue. The F-150 guys will defend their Eco-Boost till they're blue in the face. The V-8 guys come back with "We have equal or more power and the motor doesn't work as hard." All I know is anyone I've ever known who's had either a turbo or supercharged engine loves it,,,, till it fails. Then you'd better have a water cooled credit card. I drive an '04 GMC Sierra 4x2 with the naturally aspirated 5.3L V-8. It gets 15-16mpg around town and has done everything I've needed it to. At my age, I don't know if there will ever be another truck, but if there is, it'll be a V-8, regardless of make.
BearBio
Member
The wife has a Pathfinder with a V-6 and 175 hp. She needs to go to overdrive when going up a long hill.
My Nissan Frontier (Crew Cab) has 275 horsepower. Few trucks can keep up with me. My only complaint is the short bed (especially with the tool box/emergency kit, I carry). But that has only mattered when I haul something long and wide, like a sheet of plywood. I've hauled loads of bricks, gravel, potting soil, etc with no apparent loss of power.
My Nissan Frontier (Crew Cab) has 275 horsepower. Few trucks can keep up with me. My only complaint is the short bed (especially with the tool box/emergency kit, I carry). But that has only mattered when I haul something long and wide, like a sheet of plywood. I've hauled loads of bricks, gravel, potting soil, etc with no apparent loss of power.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I always liked a v8 when pulling loads and a 4x4 for boat ramps and off road at my camp.
I know what the EcoBoost term is referring too. I also have a V8 pickup in my Lightning. That lil V6 twin turbo will stay with or pull the L in some cases and get 2x the mileage. Oh and diesel is nice except for the noise smell and cost involved. If my truck was a KW that stuff would be OK but its a 4 door wife and dog hauler so not interested in it.
Wow that is an amazing pathfinder OD up hill n few trucks can keep up with the ol frontier. LOL.
V6 eng. today are more then you need. With the new transmission and the right gears,you will be good to go with a
V-6. I tow a 6000 lb. 24ft. parker with my Honda Pilot. You will be fine with a bass boat. I do have to put it in 4x4 to pull the boat out of the water because the ramp is always wet and front tires will slip.
I take the boat from Delaware to Long Island every year [260 miles]with no problem. I don't even have oil cooler or Tran. cooler. What i had to do, put in air bags in the rear of the Pilot.
My Pilot get about 22 to 24 MPG. Reg. gas. What truck are you looking at ?
V-6. I tow a 6000 lb. 24ft. parker with my Honda Pilot. You will be fine with a bass boat. I do have to put it in 4x4 to pull the boat out of the water because the ramp is always wet and front tires will slip.
I take the boat from Delaware to Long Island every year [260 miles]with no problem. I don't even have oil cooler or Tran. cooler. What i had to do, put in air bags in the rear of the Pilot.
My Pilot get about 22 to 24 MPG. Reg. gas. What truck are you looking at ?
Doug M.
Member
If you are going to pull a trailer at all, go up in truck size and weight class. It is not only the power train that is the issue. You will get better suspension, brakes, etc, and the difference can be critical if you run hills at all. (Seeing that you in Indiana, most of the grades are relatively gentle and may not be as big a factor as you would have in other areas.) I have seen far too many overloaded and overwhelmed pickups pulling stuff they should not, and a few resulting wrecks. Don't forget to consider the weight of passengers, gear, etc.
BearBio
Member
The only laughing is when I pass all the F150, F250, Mustangs, etc in the hills. Course, most are driven by Flatlanders from places like Texas and Nebraska, and Kansas.
LOL. My lil ol V6 F150 has left many a frontier titan and tundra scratching their heads in wonder as I drove off from um. This doesnt include the silly ones that think their V8 pick up can out run a lil ol mustang they are really confused. Of course being in Texas its all on flat land not down hill
tacreload
Member
My opinion,which probably ain't worth much is think of it kind of like a gun safe.Buy a little more than you need.My 07 Silverado has the 5.3 and on a few trips to Jersey I've gotten as much as 23 mpg.Not consistent but always over 20.The 23 may have been a fluke of traffic,weather etc.I drive 15 miles a day for work and get 15-17 around town if I pay attention.That's on a GM product.Not able to intelligently discuss the others.Had a 4.3 V-6 in a Chevy Blazer for about 10 years and that thing was lucky to get 14 with the key off.
I have been looking at mostly GM trucks from 1993 to 2009. 2004 to 2009 would be best for my budget. I had no experience with V6 4Xs but may now consider one. Putting computers on motors sure makes em work better than motors from the 70s. I do like to have more than I need whether it be food, money or vehicles. I like my old truck for sentiment but it is time for an upgrade. Many thanks for the information.
I have a 4.0 V-6 in my 2007 Ford Ranger. 5 Speed 4x4 XLT with all the goodies. Does just fine for me, 21-22 on the Hiway & 17 around town. Just turned 60,000 miles so will outlast this old guy. Took it deer hunting last fall with no problems. Hauled my buck out with no trouble.
We have a standard model access cab 2009 Toyota Tacoma 4 cylinder 4wd and it's all the truck we need without a bunch of stuff we don't. Manual transmission, hand crank windows, manual door locks and cloth seats. We never tow anything, can't afford a boat but it'll haul a load of inner tubes, a cooler full of beer and has never failed to get us down out of the mountains no matter how snowy or muddy.
It'll spank one of those big heavy trucks driving around on our twisty turny mountain roads. They may get me on the straights but there aren't many straight roads around here.
I've gotten up to 25mpg on road trips and I've had 4 people in it. The rear jump seats have been described as comfortable enough.
It'll spank one of those big heavy trucks driving around on our twisty turny mountain roads. They may get me on the straights but there aren't many straight roads around here.
I've gotten up to 25mpg on road trips and I've had 4 people in it. The rear jump seats have been described as comfortable enough.
vic3620
Member
One of our company trucks is a Chevy V6. Even with a lightly loaded gang box in the back, it is constantly downshifting and kicking out of overdrive.
I don't see how the transmission stays together.
My silverado has the 5.3 v eight and that is the smallest I would go based on my experience with the two engines
Vic3620
I don't see how the transmission stays together.
My silverado has the 5.3 v eight and that is the smallest I would go based on my experience with the two engines
Vic3620
