Big or small, gas or diesel engine for short trips?

[Shaman]

I'm currently looking to replace a 14 year old car with 140K miles. No issues currently, so not in a hurry to replace. My current drive is 2.1 miles each way to work, and some weekends will have 60-100 miles of mixed highway and surface roads depending on weather. I'm stuck between a V8 in the 5.3 to 6.0L range, turbo 4 cylinder in the 1.4 to 2.0L range, or a 3.0-3.2L I6 or 2L I4 diesel. I understand that none of them will get up to temp, and my mileage will be bad whatever I do.

Do I stick with gas because of short trips? Go V8 because it won't matter?

 

[NO2]

Look at a plug-in hybrid, which will run on battery for your commute and gas for the weekend and other trips. They are pretty cheap these days due to low demand.

 

[spasm3]

For really short trips, i wonder about a used Nissan Leaf. The used ones really seem to depreciate.

 

[Cujet]

The older Leaf won't do what you want on the weekend. It's "claimed" range is an exaggeration of epic proportions unless you never exceed 35mph. The newer Leaf probably won't do it either.

It's hard to know what you like to drive and why. The engines you list are all quite different.

 

[Shaman]

Originally Posted by Cujet
It's hard to know what you like to drive and why. The engines you list are all quite different.


Current engine is an LSJ. 2.0L SC, 280hp on E85. The gas engines listed except the 1.4 will wind up at at least 300whp. Tahoe 5.3 or Caprice 6.0 PPV, and the 2.0 is a Buick Regal T, all flex fuel.

Basically big boat (drove a F-150 and Crown Vic in high school/college) or compact. I fish almost every weekend, so I need some space to fit at least 4.5 ft. diagonally into a trunk.

 

[zorobabel]

An F-150 or Tahoe with a 1.4 "mill" might get up to temp in that short commute.

 

[das_peikko]

For short trips like that, I'd do a long warm up first to keep the engine healthy.

 

[hpb]

Definitely not a diesel for such short trips.

Get a V8. You do such low mileage, the fuel bill won't be very high anyway.

 

[Shannow]

The smaller engine will get closer to warmed up, as it will be comparatively working and spinning harder.

No to the diesel.

I6 ? …. so it's non domestic ? what sort ?

hpb has a good point...when my wife was commuting less than that with the L67 Caprice, the mileage was absolutely woeful...but still not costing much as the distances were tiny.

V-8 ute that will run regular, so you can do some other stuff if you need.

 

[Rmay635703]

Originally Posted by NO2
Look at a plug-in hybrid, which will run on battery for your commute and gas for the weekend and other trips. They are pretty cheap these days due to low demand.


Agreed, a Gen I Volt is only $3000 on up and can easily go 400,000 miles with very basic maintenance .

The so called PIP is almost as reliable as well and is ideal for your daily drive while not tying your hands, even Fords former plug in hybrid would work.


Also my old NA 6.2 diesel had no problem with short trips in frigid weather, if you get a diesel without a turbo it will handle cold weather fine maintenance free unlike the new turbo crap that plugs up and fails in cold weather

 

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by Shannow
The smaller engine will get closer to warmed up, as it will be comparatively working and spinning harder.

No to the diesel.

I6 ? …. so it's non domestic ? what sort ?

hpb has a good point...when my wife was commuting less than that with the L67 Caprice, the mileage was absolutely woeful...but still not costing much as the distances were tiny.

V-8 ute that will run regular, so you can do some other stuff if you need.


This is only two data points, but still...two data points...

My two vehicles I might use on a daily commute, the Silverado and the Fiat 500. At 0F, the Silverado BY FAR warms up faster on my trip to work than my Fiat does. I have a little over 1 mile of gravel to get to a 4 lane highway (where I idle along at 15 mph). I am a get in, start, put on seatbelt and go type of person, so no warm up to speak of. The truck will be putting out heat about 4-5 miles into the trip. The Fiat will take another 4-5 miles to be putting out the same amount of heat. So,the smaller engine won't always warm up faster. Of course the truck is drinking E85 like a lush on a Friday night, while the Fiat is getting 30+ mpg even when stone cold, but that wasn't the question.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by NO2
Look at a plug-in hybrid, which will run on battery for your commute and gas for the weekend and other trips. They are pretty cheap these days due to low demand.


That is my first thought, but the volumetric requirment (4.5' diagonally) might be a challenge.

Personally Id look at a smaller engine, and add an OE block heater.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted by Shaman
I'm currently looking to replace a 14 year old car with 140K miles. No issues currently, so not in a hurry to replace. My current drive is 2.1 miles each way to work, and some weekends will have 60-100 miles of mixed highway and surface roads depending on weather. I'm stuck between a V8 in the 5.3 to 6.0L range, turbo 4 cylinder in the 1.4 to 2.0L range, or a 3.0-3.2L I6 or 2L I4 diesel. I understand that none of them will get up to temp, and my mileage will be bad whatever I do.

Do I stick with gas because of short trips? Go V8 because it won't matter?

Depends on the manufacturer.
My Toyota needed 7-10 miles for coolant to get to operating temperature. Oil? Have no clue, but it is longer, obviously.
VW with 2.0TSI? Takes literally 1.5 miles for coolant to get to operating temperature, and oil is probably fallowing fast after that.
So, it is not only size, it is manufacturer too.
Had to install block heater in Toyota. Still, slower than VW. Thermostat OK.

 

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by Shaman
I'm currently looking to replace a 14 year old car with 140K miles. No issues currently, so not in a hurry to replace. My current drive is 2.1 miles each way to work, and some weekends will have 60-100 miles of mixed highway and surface roads depending on weather. I'm stuck between a V8 in the 5.3 to 6.0L range, turbo 4 cylinder in the 1.4 to 2.0L range, or a 3.0-3.2L I6 or 2L I4 diesel. I understand that none of them will get up to temp, and my mileage will be bad whatever I do. Do I stick with gas because of short trips? Go V8 because it won't matter?


NO2 gave you the right answer, go Hybrid!

You certainly don't qualify for diesel or V8, Turbo due to the amount of daily mileage.

 

[CT8]

Small gas engine.

 

[DriveHard]

I have to say with such a short commute, the difference in price you will save is little...go for the V8 if you want it!

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted by DriveHard
I have to say with such a short commute, the difference in price you will save is little...go for the V8 if you want it!


That's kind of what I was thinking. Get something you really enjoy.

I enjoy driving a performance car and I enjoy driving. Unfortunately, I drive far too many miles, so I tend to avoid gas hogs, er, ah, performance cars.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted by spasm3
For really short trips, i wonder about a used Nissan Leaf. The used ones really seem to depreciate.


This. Why not keep your 140k car and add a leaf?

 

[Shaman]

Originally Posted by hpb
Definitely not a diesel for such short trips.

Get a V8. You do such low mileage, the fuel bill won't be very high anyway.


That is my current thought process. But, the two particular V8s listed will need several hundred for a DOD delete. Since the heads have to come off, headers, cam, retune, and down the hill the snowball rolls.

The diesels would need $1000ish for swirl flaps, etc. Tunes are also 3-8x higher than the gasoline tunes.

Originally Posted by Shannow
The smaller engine will get closer to warmed up, as it will be comparatively working and spinning harder.

No to the diesel.

I6 ? …. so it's non domestic ? what sort ?


The 3.0 I6 is the M57 from BMW in the cars and X5. I would probably lean to the X5 because of space, and the spare tire not available in the cars.

The 3.2 I6 is the OM648 in the E320 CDI. Less powerful than the M57 above, but also half the price, and on 2005-2006, so no DPF etc. LegitStreetCars on Youtube has one and is doing a "build" on it which hasn't helped dissuade me any.


Quote


hpb has a good point...when my wife was commuting less than that with the L67 Caprice, the mileage was absolutely woeful...but still not costing much as the distances were tiny.



I had an L67 (1997 Grand Prix GTP) in college. If the vehicles in my area with the L67/L32 weren't all at least 50 lbs. lighter than when new due to rust, I would buy one, do headers, intake, and run it on 87 with the stock pulley after a tune.

Quote


V-8 ute that will run regular, so you can do some other stuff if you need.


The 5.3, 6.0, and 2.0T listed above are all GM vehicles that are flex fuel from factory. 87 and E85 is the mix that I would be shooting for. Heavy on E85 in the summer when octane is necessary, and heavy on the 87 when cold starting is necessary. But like mentioned above, a DOD delete would need to be done for reliability's sake for the V8s, and the 2.0T would probably need timing chain work, so $500-$1000 in maintenance.

Originally Posted by Cujet


That's kind of what I was thinking. Get something you really enjoy.

I enjoy driving a performance car and I enjoy driving. Unfortunately, I drive far too many miles, so I tend to avoid gas hogs, er, ah, performance cars.


I enjoyed driving an L902 Daihatsu Move with 63 hp in Japan with 30-40 mph speed limits on surface streets. With a top speed limit of 55 on my drive to and from work, A 6.0L Caprice isn't very usable, and the nearest track is hours away, I think. I have wanted a diesel, but the power of the 2.0L is paltry, and the 3.0 and 3.2 will be good, but increases price, mods, etc. quite a bit.


Originally Posted by PandaBear
Originally Posted by spasm3
For really short trips, i wonder about a used Nissan Leaf. The used ones really seem to depreciate.


This. Why not keep your 140k car and add a leaf?


No place to charge at apartment, and I don't think the company would be ok with it at work.

 

[benjy]

nothing will warm up the OIL that quick, but water temp heat gauge might. gas for sure + due to few personal details of what you need + willing to pay suggestions are all over the place