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Dodge,Ford,Chevy-----Who Wins? - II
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At any rate, my main question was whether engineers could take an existing diesel engine with high torque and low horsepower, and tinker with it to increase the horsepower to make it more palatable to pickup truck owners. I guess what this might entail is somehow extending the effective RPM curve. Sounds like the MB diesel that is most likely to go in the Ram, if indeed DC does go that route, currently has very high torque but low horsepower. I am mainly posing the question of being able to increase the horsepower since the new Isuzu is supposed to have over 500 lbs torque and over 300 HP. Or is it a design issue at the most basic level? Would a very high torque/low horsepower pickup be fun enough to drive for pickup owners.
Roc, you made my point in a way about the diesel pickup market getting stronger. While I am one of the biggest fans of the Cummins, I can't immagine DC putting a diesel in the Ram, especially a MB diesel, that does not equal or better the Cummins. If the MB diesel holds its own with Cummins/Duramax/Powerstroke, or flat out beats them, Ram buyers will not hesitate to buy the german diesel.
And Cdean, my point on the Isuzu was that GM pickup buyers, in my opinion, are far more brand-loyal, and possibly blindly-patriotic, than Dodge buyers. So regardless of how good the Isuzu engine is (and once again, I am fairly familiar with Isuzu and know how good they are from the little turbo they used to put in their compact pickup and Trooper, to the ones you see in the towtrucks and other medium duty commercial applications), if the GM buyers are excited about their beloved All-American Chevy to be powered by a japanese engine, I see no reason for Ram buyers to have a problem buying a MB diesel.
A high torque, low rpm engine would not be very fun to drive. you could pull anything with it, but you would need to shift 15 times to get to cruising speed.
and to answer your question: No, you cannot just tinker with a low rpm engine, and boost it's revs. It is a basic design issue.
The biggest issue with HIGH torque, and low rpm engine is there internal parts (like rods, crank, all of the valve train) are very big, and bulky. they are made to take a lot of stress and force (from the exceptionally high torque). the downside is, because they are SO BIG, and have higher MASS, when the engine is running, there is a lot more stress due to centripetal acceleration of the part.
EX. Just think of a ball on a string. if you were to take a rubber ball and swing around in a circle at 120 rpms, the string could easily hold the ball. For exageration sake, what if you put a bowling ball on a string and swing it in a circle at 120 rpms? of course, the string would break very quickly and the bowling ball would go flying. THE REASON: the force of the bowling ball going in a circle is enormous compared to that of the lighter ball.
Thus is the case in high vs low rpm engines, especially since the entire machine is either rotational motion or VERY fast cycling linear motions (the valves are linear motion, but they start and stop up to 20 times PER second, so they cannot have much inertia). the engine has to be designed for an rpm limit from the very start of the design process.
I still think that if the there isn't much difference in engines, guys will buy the Cummins. The Chevy example isn't a good one to look at since they trail both Ford and Dodge in diesel sales.
The diesel lost any good reputation GM had in the 90's and even cdean will attest to that. Essentially, GM has no where to go but up.
The Cummins reinvigorated a dying truck brand and kept it on life-support until teh overall re-design of 94. I still think it would be a risk to change motors unless Dodge could guarantee "major" improvements and parts to be as cheap. Where would this sucker be made? Germany? Oooh--parts would be pricey.
For what it's worth
Bellevue....
Thanks for the additional axplanation of the engineering. But I guess you have more faith in the general public than I do. Regardless how much of the Duramax design, development, or profit is domestic, it is still related to Isuzu, a Japanese company. You just have to look at all the back and forth between Chevy and Tundra owners. I thought I would see a lot (not all) of good old boy Chevy buyers associating Isuzu with Pearl Harbor and would have a false feeling that anything related to Isuzu would be cheap and tinny. You and I may know the truth and the quality of Isuzu engines (in fact, after nearly a year of serious truck shopping, I plan to order one of the new Sierra HD with the Duramax/Allison this summer), but I thought there would be more protest from GM buyers. Yes, even though GM has sorrily fallen behind Ford and Dodge in the Diesel department. My point is, that if Chevy buyers can joyfully adopt Japanese influence, then Ram owners can adopt a MB engineering if that's what it comes down to (all other things being equal). At any rate, thanks again for the explanation. It's probably all a mute point for some time if MB does not have an engine ready that could outperform the Cummins.
Roc,
Your point about parts and maintenance costs, I agree, could be the biggest problem with offering the MB diesel. However, knowing German engineering, it could be even more dependable than the Cummins. Now they just need to couple it with an adequate tranny, which it sounds as though Dodge will have by the 2002 model year, whether it is a souped up Cummins or MB diesel.
all we can do is hope the MB and Duramax flawless.
I agree. But you proved my point on the sales of the HD rams. They were heavily influenced by the Cummins engine; had it without it, the Ram would still hover 150,000 sales instead of higher.
Just see that link it says it all.
Take a few problems and add a lawyer and you get a lawsuit--real shocker.
Please read ALL the links,need more www.blueovalnews.com
Just read,and keep reading about the junk that FOMOCO sells.
kcram
Co-Host - Smart Shopper & FWI Conferences
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What's the use? You think Ford is alone?? What? GM never made lemons? Don't tell Nader....or Dateline.... Hondas? Chrysler(A major quality offender over the years)?, etc.....
By the way, I don't drive a Taurus-
Well either brand is good. You can't go wrong with either Ford or Chevy. The only thing with the new Silverados is that some have vibration problems--now if they are cleared up now--I don't know.
Anyway....what's ironic is how much improved ET and speed of 2000 Silverado is compared to '99. Supposedly, it gains only 15 horsepower for 2000, but gains a full second 0-60 over the '99, and gains about 1.3 seconds ET in the 1/4 mile. The 2000 model tested beats Tundra and F150 in all acceleration tests. Something is rotten in Denmark!
I'm a Dodge owner but not a brand loyalist I would not consider another unless they update thier brakes to four wheel antilock disks and improve the engine effeciency. In all of these comparisons I've noticed that no one mentions that one of the reasons for its poorer performance is the fact that it is 500-600 pounds heavier than the competition. They won't compete well until they fix that.
The new champ CHEVY SILVERADO!
As for my preferences, I've driven everything except the Silverado. This is what I have to say.
Dodge Ram: Shifted way too roughly, and sometimes the automatic transmission seemed to forget what it was doing and I couldn't get a downshift at all. Also, not as much space in the rear as the F150 without making those in front uncomfortable, or at least it seemed that way to me.
Silverado.
Silverado: Can't judge it, haven't driven it yet.
Tundra: 26000 For a cramped compact truck interior surrounded by a bigger body? I need more interior space, both front and rear. Gotta admit, loved that engine though. The speedo leapt to 60 more quickly than I've seen in any car or truck I've ever driven. If someone had blindfolded me, sat me in the truck, then taken it off and told me to drive without telling me what I was in I would have been thinking sports car. It was also the most maneuverable of all I've driven.But the engine alone wasn't enough to do it for me.
F150: Had the space I needed, was comfortable enough in back while not loosing legroom in front, and it felt every bit as smooth as the Tundra(5.4) but not quite as quick. Probably because it's a heavier truck that has to weigh so much because it is stronger and more spacious. I had plenty of room in all categories, hip, leg, and neck. It hung on suprisingly well in the curver(The salesmen hot rodded it a bit to try and impess me.)
So Far for me the F150 has it, with the most ballanced engine offering excellent low end torque but still being able to Rev and run, and a spacious, comfy interior. I'll see if my opinions changes when I try a Silverado.
By the way I admuit my own bias, I currently own a Ranger.
Wildman
Ford F250 Supercab, 4X4, 5.4L, 3.73 gears is listed as having a maximum trailer weight of 8,200 lbs.
However - - Looking at info supplied by Chevy, they show essentially the same truck, except with a 5.7 engine having a maximum trailer weight of only 6,000 lbs.
I realize the suspension plays a big factor, but I'm curious about the huge difference. How can Ford rate a smaller engine to two 2,200 lbs more?
Is is just suspension??
Has anyone had experience in this area?
Heybear
Honestly, 200 posts is about 2-3 days in one topic. You are not getting much truth in that small sample. You'll love the new Vortecs. I have '99 4x4, 5.3L, 24,500 miles...loved every minute. It's been great.
Quadrunner, what, if anything do you tow with your 5.3L?
I went to another dealer yesterday and picked up data which is completely different from what I was given by a Chevy dealer. What I have now comes a lot closer to the info Obyone supplied.
Yeh, I am looking for a 3/4 ton, I just wouldn't feel comfortable towing 7k with anything less.
Obyone - Do you tow with the 6.0? If so, what weight?
Looks like my best course of action is to sit down and compare things like torq, HP, RPM, etc., and then maybe I can come a little closer to an intelligent decision.
Thanks for the help.
Heybear
I have an enclosed utility trailer, 10x8x7, weighs about 4000 maxed out, on the scales.
Don't need the portly 3/4 to tow these light loads. Personally, I doubt that 6.0L is going to do a very good job towing a 7000 lb travel trailer either, judging from my buddies who do, and most who opt for diesels. The problem is not the weight. The problem is the frontal area causing highway drag, causing you to be in third gear at 55-65 mph. Diesel is the way to go for this. If you were just pulling a lo-boy trailer with 7000 lbs of bricks, you would have NO trouble with 1/2 ton truck. Boats are pretty aerodynamic compared to travel trailers. Don't confuse the handling.
Polls showed that general consumer opinion of GM is very high. jumped from #3 to # 2 behind only Sony in Best Brand public Opinion. No product evaluation at all, just a public image. I would say, Silverado, GM's most visible product, probably directly part of this.
An interesting note was that Ford dropped from #1 last year to #4 this year.