Ahhh, but they don't start puting out any real power untill you put on a super/turbo kit which is $4,000+
well, the only 3800 engine that any enthusiast would work with is the supercharged version
Let me have it, what have you done and what is it running?

 

I don't think the guys at V6fbody.com would agree with you there.

Different people have different interpretations of what "Real Power" is anyway. For a lot of the honda peeps... 210 hp is huge, unless they're running 16lbs of boost. But they still have lousy torque in comparison to a HO V6.

I think the problem with creating an aftermarket for a lot of GM's V6's is more because of the lousy drivetrains they are pinned too. The 3.4 DOHC had the potential of making well over 250hp in its day.... what stopped it? The transmission. Some auto makers are using AWD... which has it's merits... but thats more parts to break and service.. not to mention the weight factor of it all.

If GM could get a good tranny behind any of their V6's... they'd probably find more people looking for more HP... Hell, I'd like to mod the V6 in my van just for the hell of it.... but it's already on it's second transmission... and thats with just with 180hp. But it's scary to have to worry about that darn thing blowing up.

 

Well what do you consider "real power"? I think that is a determining factor in seeing what is needed. BTW I think the 290+ hp NA 3.5 VQ puts out as much or more power than a stock EVO does so I think that covers "real power."
Not true the 3800 na has quite a few performance mods that can be done to it. True that a supercharged version is easier to extract power out of, and will respond better to most if not all mods, but that doesn't disqulaify the fact that the 3800 NA v6 is a good motor and enough for many to be happy with.

I have a Stock 3.4 LQ1 DOHC V6 in a 97 Monte Carlo. I don't have a clue what it runs because it is not a race car and should not be confused with one. Just because I happen to have bought the more powerful optioned engine doesn't mean I am going to race it.

BTW the 3.4 OHV puts out 185hp and my 3.4 DOHC puts out 215 so I out power it. But if we compare the 3.6 VVT DOHC found in the CTS we would get 265 hp. I said a 3.4 NA vs at 3.4 NA I said nothing about valve configuration or modifications.

Also lets see how well the Australian aftermarket does with the 3.8 DOHC 60° V6 in the VZ series V cars and how well it trasnferrs over to the Zeta Cars before we talk about NA performance cars and their lack of power.
What do you consider "real power

 

I would say you should look at times rather than peak power. 13's are where I would say a street car is "fast." FWIW, my turbo 2.0L dynoed at a bit over 300hp at the crank stock. A flash and exhaust put it up around 350. $2,000 will get a stock evo into the mid 12's. What can you do with the 3.5 VQ to get more power? Exhaust and intake are good for a few ponies, maybe a cam for a few more. Now you've spent $1500 for a 25hp increase with not much else to do and your stuck in the high 13's. Stock V8 mustangs will still take you.

I owned a 3.4 Alero with which I put exhaust, lighter wheels, and intake on. I then had a low 15 second car . I could have ported/polished for a marginal gain, but the only way to get some real power out of it was to put on the supercharger kit which, as MagnaPilot said, would have fried the transmission in short order.

Back on topic: Pontiac is supposed to be GM's "Excitement Division" I would say that the G6 is pontiac's bread and butter car and would expect that the "GXP" version of it to really make a statement about what the division is about. As is, it doesn't. It's about 80% of what it needs to be.