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http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums...howtopic=16793

So could a 240HP I5 and 195HP I4 be far behind?

 

So would people here, who have dogged the I5 pretty badly, bad mouth a 245 hp version?

 

Yeah because a 20hp increase is going to make it godlike in their eyes right? People complain about anything they can. Someone will say its not enough, just watch.

 

LOL... you are right. People will complain until the I5 is putting aout at least LT1 #'s

In 2004, 220HP was the most powerful compact puckup engine ever built (that isn't a V8 or Turbo V6)

245HP would put the I5 at the same level as Toyota Tacomas V6

 

And in the smaller lighter truck it would have better acceleration and fuel mileage than the Toyota, much less the Dakota.

 

But guys, the Colorado needs to have 1,000 HP so I can install wings and use it to fly to the moon; get it right!

 

On a side note and not to take this post off topic, but does anyone else think these "Horsepower" wars are ridiculous???

I think Automakers are heading in the COMPLETE WRONG direction right now. Instead of wasting all of they're time seeing how big of an engine or how much horsepower they can get why not put that R&D into Fuel economy.

I think GM would be much better off if they offered "ENOUGH" horsepower to get the job done - and at the same time offer class leading FUEL ECONOMY. They would QUICKLY gain market share back. The foreign automakers seem to be falling into the horsepower wars alittle themselves. Why not take advantage and swing it in your favor by stomping them on Fuel Economy.

That doesn't mean that you can't create a "fast" vehicle. But my compact pickup does not need to be able to pull a semi trailer or do 0-60 in 4.0 seconds.

I don't know; maybe I'm showing my age (24). [Or maybe I'm not in college anymore living on my parents buck either...] IMO.

 

Its that kind of thinking that killed the first muscle care era!!! Really though, I agree with you on some vehicles it does not make sense to go overboard on HP. For instance the h3 that was being complained about last week. The I5 is pleanty for it but everyone wants it to be 320hp instead of 220hp. I just dont get it.

 

Wasn't it gas prices and Govt regulations that killed it???

Well if things keep going at the current pace the Govt will have to step in. A 16 year old kid with a family car that has the hp/pound ratio of a LS6 Chevelle = bad combination.

 

Well said, coming from another 24 year old.

 

For sports and sporty cars and performance trucks the HP war is great

but for main stream vehicles the current power levels are just fine and actually better than they have ever been. Look at how many gerocery getters are in the 14's. I worry that if cheap every day cars get too fast our "let me control your life" Gov't will step in an protect up from our selves.

 

Exactly. A "Grocery getter" does not need to be a 14s car. It needs to be able to get out of its own way - no more, no less.

This is also another reason that the SS should have engine options. My mother has bought two new Monte Carlo SS vehicles in the last 3-4 years (02 -Trade-in upgrade to 04'). Anyhow, she loves the SS vehicle for it's options and looks (and "status"). But if they offer the SS in a V8 option only she will /not/ buy another one.

On the flip side, I don't care if they make a Camaro with so much horsepower that you hit the gas and the tires dig a hole in the asphalt and you have to pull a 50 gallon trailer of race gas with you. Don't care.

But Concentrate on Fuel Economy/Fuel Economy............ for Standard Transportation. If anybody that says they are pleased with current fuel economy numbers for any standard domestic/import vehicle needs to be knocked over the head with Tire Iron.

With the techologies today we should be at 40-50mpg. Not stuck in early 80's economy numbers.

 

The fuel economy on domestics is not really worse then imports.

 

Rephrase (Domestic or Imports).

 

If you've been paying attention the last 10 years, you'll see that automakers have found a way to increase both horsepower AND fuel economy. Back in 1992-1993 during the opening years of the LT1 did anybody envision a 400 HP small block capable of getting ~30 mpg on the highway like the LS2 does in the Corvette? Don't let the trucks/SUV's and their 5000 pounds of girth give you the wrong impression about how all big horsepower engines have to suck gas.