of all the silly but fun car trends

[intrigued]

I just realized something. 3 years ago my family's fleet was much less powerful but at the same time more fuel effiecent. As gas prices go up we've been buying cars with BIGGER and more POWERFUL engines. Here's the comparison.

Me Then '01 3.4 alero 170 hp 200 ftlbs ----------- Now '05 4.6 mustang gt 300 hp 320 ftlbs

Brother Then '02 2.2 Alero 140 hp 150 ftlbs ----------- Now '06 4.0 Mustang 210 hp 240 ftlbs

Sister in law Then '96 2.2 accord 135 hp 140ftlbs ------------- Now '06 3.5 Vue 248hp 250 ftlbs

Mom/Dad's car Then '00 3.5 Intrigue 215 HP 230 ftlbs -------- Now '07 3.6 Aura 252 hp 251 ftlbs

So as fuel prices go up and up my family has added 350 hp and 341 ftbls of tourqe to out fleet. The American way at ist best! Anyone else have a similar situation?

[XP715]

Three years ago I was driving a 3800-powered 1996 Buick Riviera. My two previous cars were a 3100-powered 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and a 3800-powered 1989 Oldsmobile Toronado. In that time period since, I've bought eight older Cadillacs, all of which have a displacement well over 400 cubic inches and enough torque to pull a house:

1967 Eldorado: 429

1967 Eldorado: 429

1970 Sedan DeVille: 472

1971 Coupe DeVille: 472

1971 Sedan DeVille: 472

1977 Coupe DeVille: 425

1978 Coupe DeVille: 425

1979 Coupe DeVille: 425

I also had a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in that time period with a ballsy Rocket 350.

I also had a 460-powered 1974 Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine.

Also, my daily driver is now a '90 R1500 Suburban with a TBI 350. And I also had a '90 V1500 Suburban with a TBI 350 before that.

I think it's safe to say the bigger is better mentality is alive and well in my fleet! I was actually looking for a big block 2WD Suburban when I started searching for my next one, but when you find one as clean as mine is, beggars can't be choosers. Plus it is nice to have something halfway decent on gas with the way prices are. I'll have a big block some day.

[Intrepidation]

Prizm - 100 hp 100 ft-lb torque

Intrepid - 200 hp 190 ft-lb torque

Grand Marquis - 190 hp 260 ft-lb torque

So that's 8.9 liters making 490 hp and 550 ft-lb of torque.

So that's up from the Mercury replacing the Town and Country, whose 3.3 made 185 hp and 183 ft-lb torque.

Edited July 18, 2008 by Dodgefan

[Sixty8panther]

Prizm - 100 hp 100 ft-lb torque

Intrepid - 200 hp 190 ft-lb torque

Grand Marquis - 190 hp 260 ft-lb torque

So that's 8.9 liters making 490 hp and 550 ft-lb of torque.

So that's up from the Mercury replacing the Town and Country, whose 3.3 made 185 hp and 183 ft-lb torque.

LOL I just thought of something:

7.0 + 6.0 + 5.7 = 18.7 liters. I love this counrty!

and once gas settles down it will be way cooler.

[daves87rs]

Nope- I went smaller: from a 350 V8 and a 4.3 V6 to 3 2.2s.....

Not counting the 2.0 and 3.1 I also drove....