i just mean in the sense of durablity, reliablity, efficent, and just a dope #@$%! engines
the best V-6 engines ever?
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I owned a supercharged GM 3.8L (in a Regal GS). That was a nice engine (though changine the supercharger oil is a PITA).
I'd have to cast my vote for the late-comer Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5L V-6. My wife drives an 07 Avalon with this engine, and I just love it. It's silky smooth, normally hushed, has a healthy and pleasing growl if you get on it, and provides more go than any normal driver will ever need. All while delivering fuel economy within 2-3 mpg of the I-4 that's installed in the "lesser" Camry. Other than the irritating cartridge oil filter, this engine seems to have no vices.
I'd have to cast my vote for the late-comer Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5L V-6. My wife drives an 07 Avalon with this engine, and I just love it. It's silky smooth, normally hushed, has a healthy and pleasing growl if you get on it, and provides more go than any normal driver will ever need. All while delivering fuel economy within 2-3 mpg of the I-4 that's installed in the "lesser" Camry. Other than the irritating cartridge oil filter, this engine seems to have no vices.
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Nissan VG30DE/TT
GM 3800
GM 3800
Nissan VG30E- used in 1989-1994 Maximas. 400K is so normal on them you have to get in the 500K mile range to even brag. Unfortunately,the rest of the car did not have the same durability.
If inline 6s are being thrown in here:
Mopar 225 Slant 6
Jeep 4.0L
Mopar 225 Slant 6
Jeep 4.0L
Best V6 engines:
Ford 3.0L Vulcan. A bit behind with power these days, but very durable.
GM 4.3L V6. Derived from the SBC V8s...need I say more?
Best I-6 engines:
Ford 4.9L I6. Tough as nails, torquey, easy to work on.
Jeep 4.0L I6. Fairly reliable, fairly powerful, and an all around good engine.
Ford 3.0L Vulcan. A bit behind with power these days, but very durable.
GM 4.3L V6. Derived from the SBC V8s...need I say more?
Best I-6 engines:
Ford 4.9L I6. Tough as nails, torquey, easy to work on.
Jeep 4.0L I6. Fairly reliable, fairly powerful, and an all around good engine.
My aunt drove her mid 80's Ford thunderbird- bought new- with a Ford 3.8L V6 for about 350,000 miles. She finally just got tired of it and traded it in. Didn't get great mileage, wasn't all that fast... but it just kept on tickin'.
Everybody likes the GM 3.8L. I've had a couple... no complaints about them.
It's not the BEST V6 for sevearal reasons... but for my purposes, the GM 3100 V6 is hard to beat. They're dirt cheap, quick, get great fuel mileage, and they're quite durable once you take care of that pesky intake manifold gasket problem.
Everybody likes the GM 3.8L. I've had a couple... no complaints about them.
It's not the BEST V6 for sevearal reasons... but for my purposes, the GM 3100 V6 is hard to beat. They're dirt cheap, quick, get great fuel mileage, and they're quite durable once you take care of that pesky intake manifold gasket problem.
According to JD Power, best engine of the year (2007) is BMW's 3-liter twin-turbo:
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/may2007/bw20070510_425978.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily
That said, I've read people having issues with these engines overheating in the 335i.
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/may2007/bw20070510_425978.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily
That said, I've read people having issues with these engines overheating in the 335i.
For me the 3.5 L iVTEC by Honda. Peppy yet fuel efficient.
1. I'm biased now, but I just LOVE the silky smooth and powerful 3.0L VTEC V6 in my Accord. 244 hp (6250), 205 tq (5000), 0-60 in low 6's, now averaging 28.1 mpg. Nice growl. Highly refined and just very, VERY nice overall.
2. Another vote for the 3.0L Vulcan. Boring but bulletproof.
3. The old Ford 300 cid Straight Six is another winner...reliable as #@$%! and tons of torque, but terrible gas mileage.
2. Another vote for the 3.0L Vulcan. Boring but bulletproof.
3. The old Ford 300 cid Straight Six is another winner...reliable as #@$%! and tons of torque, but terrible gas mileage.
The 3.6 in the Cadillac CTS is a wondeful engine. I am so happy to see it being used in many other applications now like the Aura, Acadia and Allure. In the next generation CTS this engine supposed to have direct injection and over 300hp. I am also a big fan of the ford vulcan 3.0 and the gm 3800.
The Yamaha-built 3.0 & 3.2L V6s that were in the 1989 - 1995 Taurus SHO's. Ahead of their time (when introduced), and tons of fun to rev to 7k.
My mother had a mid 90s Cougar (on teh Tbird platform, not the weird front wheel drive version that was out for a year or so) with the 3.8 but had the head gasket go at 100,000 miles in 2003. I thought the 3.8 was the head gasket problem engine, but your aunt made out fine with hers.
Well, I like the twin-turbo V6 in my S4 a whole lot. 30 valves, variable intake timing, etc. Also, the Nissan V6 engines are great.
Beyond that, the I-6 used in the M3 cars is (was) a great engine, and also the 3.2 and 3.6 air-cooled Porsche flat 6s.
Beyond that, the I-6 used in the M3 cars is (was) a great engine, and also the 3.2 and 3.6 air-cooled Porsche flat 6s.
The Alfa Romeo V6, in both 12V and 24V iterations, was one of the most charismatic engines ever made. It was never "best" at any one thing - HP, smoothness, economy, etc. but had a great feel, and, as any period road test will attest, was probably the best sounding engine with the possible exception of a carb'd Ferrari V12.
Joe
Joe
The 1MZ-FE engine in my 1995 Toyota Avalon.
The modern Honda V-6 engine family is very hard to beat for the combination of fuel economy, power, flat torque curve and durability it routinely provides. A 60 degree angle V-6 is as balanced as a 90 degree V-8. The only poorly balanced V-6 engines are those poor mutants made by sawing two cylinders off a V-8 design.
If you think the GM 3.8 is a great engine then you must also think that the Mercury Grand Marquis is the best sedan made. Both are ancient technology products kept alive because they are dirt cheap to build.
If you think the GM 3.8 is a great engine then you must also think that the Mercury Grand Marquis is the best sedan made. Both are ancient technology products kept alive because they are dirt cheap to build.
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