The new Monte Carlo SS and Grand prix both supercharged making 240hp. We have N/A ca out there making 275-280. Whats the deal?

 

what's a ca?

 

ca is caR or caRS

So it is making only 240HP with SC, but it offers good torque. Not earth shattering, but pretty good for what it is.

I do not know how they will be priced, but I saw Monce Carlo NASCAR edition in Canada retailing for $40K or around there (possibly even higher, can't recall right now). For about 5K more I can get Nissan 350Z/G35, which I would do in place of MC.

 

I hope when they make the '04 SC SS version of the Monte Carlo, they keep the paint scheme that they have on the '03 SS MC Jeff Gordans. Thats a huge attention grabber for MC's.

 

Is that the best they can do?? The answer is yes, for now. Wait a few years. This is all they have to work with at this time. I guess its better than nothing, but its also incredibly boring and unimpressive.

 

No, actually it's not the best that they can do. The SC 3800 can make considerably more power, but it's held back by that very dated transaxle. And don't focus too much on peak HP - look at the area under the curve. The old Bonneville was slightly faster than the 300M, despite having less peak power and weighing about 300 lbs more. Numbers do lie

Also note that the new 3.6 L NA DOHC V6 would appear to be "competitive" in the power department.

 

Forced induction is used in place of high compression. I don't know the 3.8S/C but I'm sure like many other factory S/C cars it has some form of electonic controll to kill the boost when its not needed.

A lower compression engine can give you better fuel economy then a high compression engine. When you need the power it can still be there thanks to the S/C.

Is it the best they can do? Probably not, but things like cost of the vehicle and insurance cost certainly play into it.

 

Is this the best Chevy can do and still keep the cars final price in the low 20's? Probably. However, I better factory high output version should be available for more greenbacks.

 

Not true. Higher compression ratios (or more accurately, higher expansion ratios) are more efficient than low compression ratios.

To the question, Is this the best that GM can do? No, but it's the best they're willing to do. As noted above their new high-feature V6 should be world class, but they will only use it in about 20-25% of their cars. Everyone else gets the son-of-Citation high value V6. So while virtually every other automaker offers 4-valve heads in even their basic sedans, GM is still forcing pushrods on us.

 

Ah... forcing pushrod power on us? Oh, I guess that forty year old 3800 is old and antiquated. Too bad those "high tech" four valve quad cam designs can't get 30mpg in the same class as an Impala or a LeSabre, or be as smooth, as reliable, or have a thing that overhead cams don't have, low end (real world) torque. Tech shmec, who cares if it's an old design. If it's reliable, good on gas and has power, who gives?

 

I knew I'd get a reply like this.

I don't really want to sit here and debate the merits of OHV vs. OHC because they each have their attributes and their place in the market. There's two main problems with OHV: 1) they're perceived as being yester-tech; and 2) despite their good numbers, there's no way you can compare the refinement of the two architectures (think Cav's 2.2 OHV vs. Ecotec; 3800 vs Honda V6; LS1 vs. Northstar). In a time where pretty much every new car will go 200,000 miles and start on the first twist of the key, consumers are placing more emphasis on their wants instead of their needs, and not many people want to drive an engine that reminds them of a Massey-Ferguson.

 

No, it's used in place of high-flow induction components.

Come again? High compression is virtually almost always more efficient than low compression. This is the primarly reason that diesels have better fuel economy. The reason that we're not all running around with 14:1 compression is fuel quality, and emissions (higher combustion temps = more NOx emissions, also a characteristic of diesels).

 

THe Grand Prix puts out 260HP 280tq

The '05 GXP Grand Prix should put out about 280HP

the S/C 3800 would put out over 300HP and 300tq if GM had a FWD trans that could handle the power, since they don't they have to lower the boost on the blower.

 

Just a thought, but what if Chevrolet is planning to put a supercharged V6 into it's RWD cars instead of the V8, saving the V8 for Vettes, Camaros, and a future SS coupe, and the FWD M/C and Impala SC V6s are a steping stone to that?

Would there be any disapointment?

The reason I ask is that with the 5.3 slated as the non-performance passenger car engine, the supercharged V6 is most certainly in the same HP and torque territory.

 

If GM decided to use a 300HP s/c v6 over a 300HP 5.3L V8, I don't think I'd car too much, 300HP is 300HP. Although I would miss that nice V8 rumble.