its a V8 which means it takes up more space, requires more plugs, wires, skinned knuckles, and its just not as good as the duratec V6. its old tech. its not BAD tech, it just isn't as good. there's a reason ford ditched the engine and went with a whole new family of engines. they did their learning on it and the duratec/coyote engines are the new evolution of ford engines.
Wait…what? Did I just hear you right? Did you just say the 4.6L was inferior because you had two extra spark plugs to change when doing a tune up?!?
Skinned knuckles? It doesn’t get any easier than changing plugs on a 4.6L 3V. They’re all right there at the top of the engine, staring you in the face.
Do we really want to argue over which set of spark plugs is easier to get to here?
3.7L TiVCT
4.6L 3V
I hope you don’t mind removing an intake manifold when it comes time to do a plug change.
And more wires??? I’m going to assume you mean general under hood wiring/electronics, since neither vehicle actually uses spark plug wires. Have you actually taken a look at the plethora of wires and sensors involved in the new TiVCT engines? It’s uncanny. Simplicity certainly isn’t the first word that comes to mind.
Seriously though, those are retarded points to make.
Yes, the new 3.7L sports Variable cam timing, but then so does the 4.6L 3V. The difference being the 4.6L 3V’s is completely mechanical in its operation and the 3.7L’s isn’t. Yes, the 3.7L TiVCT has the potential to vary the rates at which cam timing occurs...which is what's responsible for it's 30hp increase and added fuel economy over the previous 3.7L engine. Otherwise though, the new 3.7L has no
major design advantage over the 4.6L what so ever. Sure they’ve got 4V cylinder heads, but they don’t move nearly as much air as the previous 3V castings. The 3V castings actually outperform the last generation 4V V8 heads handily in low and mid lift areas. They were only bested by the 4V heads in the upper regions at peak airflow and even then only slightly.
Look, I’m not downing the accomplishments made with the 3.7L TiVCT engine. 305hp is a pretty impressive feat…but the design itself won’t be truly revolutionary until Ford pairs it with direct injection…and that’s not happening anytime soon. To brand it an instant champion over a tried and true mill like the Modular V8 before it’s even had a year under its belt is plain reckless speculation at best. I’m sure it’ll live up to the hype we all hope it will, but until then, you let me know when the 3.7L TiVCT makes Wards top 10 best engines available in North America for 4-years in a row like the 4.6L 3V did.
do you honestly think that the guys at ford didn't specifically limit the 2011 V6 engine to 305hp for the explicit purpose of not interfering with existing 2010 GT sales? thats 10hp, dude. c'mon, thats a catback and a tune these days. its marginal at best and a driver's race.
And do you honestly think Ford didn't limit the output of the 2010 Mustang 4.6L for the explicit purposes of making the all new 2011GT look that much more impressive when it came out the following year? Marketing strategy works both ways pal.
Sure, the difference between the incoming V6 and the outgoing V8 is only 10hp on paper....but it's 10hp that occurs 500RPM earlier in the power band, and is backed with an additional 45lbs/ft of torque....most of which is also seen earlier in the power band. I mean if you really want to get down to capability of engines alone…the new V6 wouldn’t be nearly as quick a car as it is without the backing of the new 6-speed close ratio transmissions to keep the engine in it’s powerband. The 6-speed trans in the V6 is less of a luxury and more of a necessity if you ask me. And like the above mentioned marketing strategy the "more power is just a catback and tune away" statement works for both vehicles. There are guys adding 30-40hp to their existing 3V engines with just a catback and tune. Until we see those kinds of numbers duplicated or improved upon with the new 3.7L any speculation with regards to the engines "potential" is just internet banter.
at the end of the day it'll come down to this. the guys that want to V8 sound are the guys that are about form over function. thats fine but its like i tell the camaro guys, dont pretend like its the wise choice. just admit to yourself "yeah, it makes no logical sense, its just asesthetics, and i want that image".
Says the kid that owns neither car.
Last time I check…315hp/325lbs ft/tq was more than 305hp/280lbs ft/tq. I guess you get a little bit more than just the “V8 Sound” with the old 3V, huh? And let’s not forget the aftermarket availability for each engine to seal the deal. I mean…I guess if you want to wait around another 1-3 years for bolt on parts and tuners to squeeze the kind of power out of these engines you’re so convinced they have locked up in them out…then that’s your deal. If it were my cabbage though, I’d look into any one of the already accessible 350-550hp options already available for the 4.6L engine if widening the power gap was my goal. But hey…I guess I’m more of a “real” function over form kind of guy.
i just think its silly to give up a great engine with a six speed, better handling, and significantly better mpg for image.
Just so convinced that “image” has to be the only reason a person would choose to go with the V8 option, huh? I guess the higher power potential of the larger displacement engine has nothing to do with it. And calling a guy image driven because he prefers the sound of a throaty V8 over the high widing buzz of theV6 is about as silly as calling a guy who prefers to give up the added power supplied by the V8 for the the fuel mileage of the V6 a tree hugging hippy. They’re both unfounded statements based on little more than envy.
but then again i've always been about function over form.
Based on parameters set by your own flawed logic I suppose.
oh the performance potential magazine bench racer enthusiast fallback trump card. yeah, cause we dont live in a world where as fast as you wanna go is only decided by how deep your pockets are.
I’m not sure where that came from, but did the kid trying to convince me that the 3.7L V6 has more power potential over the proven 4.6L V8 before any aftermarket parts are even available for the engine yet just call me a bench racer?