First off, I do not hate new technology, things change, you just hope for the better. I am not completely against new GM. What I am pissed off is they don't offer a single vehicle I would want to buy for under 70K. I haven't looked lately, probably more like 90K.
I bought my Challenger GT because it had good looks, enough interior space, every option, good performance, AWD and had a 46K sticker, I got for 40K since it sat on a lot. New ones are only just over 50K, a lot of car for the money. Over 85,000 km, hardly any issues. My Wife wanted it because she loved the 2010 Challenger SE, me not do much because I had to fix it.
First, the 3.5 V6 was part of that terrible series of engines. Anyone who says they are great, I offer exhibit A😁. First it developed the usual dreaded tick. I then lost track of one oil change, 7996 km on no synthetic 10W30. It started using a liter every 5000 km and was using about one every 3000 km by the time I traded in at 180,000+ km. Also no new seat leather replacement available anywhere. The my Wife wanted to trade it in was the fuel gauge was going wonky. Plus rust was starting in front of the rear tires. The paint was absolute sh*t, the 2017 is much better but still chips fairly easily, kind of like the Camaro's. It must be manufactures figuring out waterborne paint. It was one more thing to do on it. I wanted the POS Dodge gone. It was paid for but it needed something that wasn't a basket case. My Oldsmobile's take that spot.
I also own a 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport. What a pile of sh*t it has been. First the 3.9 V6 was dangerously under powered and meh for mileage 21 at best. I swapped in a 5.9 Magnum better power but then came the usual plenum separation, mine was almost failing. I added the thick aftermarket aluminum vs the steel factory plate with too long of bolts. The Magnum heads cracked going into the city to pickup a washer. I borrowed my 2017 GMC, reinforced my like of the LT powered trucks. If anything major goes wrong with it, it is gone. Because I owe nothing I bought awesome tires, even studded. It probably won't go through as much snow as my 94 Z71 would. It is just heavy enough to not float on top but not heavy or tall enough to sink right down. I have never owned a Ford ever. They have their issues, I have worked on plenty as an Apprentice technician. They have come a long way since the 70's when they were the worst cars on the road. They offer a lot more I like the Mustang and Bronco are exhibit A and B in my price range.
GM does do good things like release that awesome hot V twin turbo DOHC V8. That thing looked awesome. They spent a fortune to develop it, made it ridiculously expensive to manufacture and only made it in one vehicle for one year! WTF!
Also I am more critical of motors like the LS under performing because almost all of them were rated over 300 hp and 350 ft/lbs of torque. I am not going to figure out why a manufacturer's claims don't add up, not my job, THEY FAILED!
The reason I give the Olds 350 as pass, most were rated under 200 hp, as low as 160 and maybe 275 ft/lbs of torque. I expect almost nothing out a motor rated in peanuts. On a motor rated at 360 hp and 385 ft/lbs, I expect a lot. It hasn't been any thrill at all to drive these many miles for work.
My 94 Z71 was actually fun, I wish there wasn't issues with 454 TBI, it went like an animal, I had throttle sticking and TPS issues. Now a 5.3 LT would have beat it, I admit it. A stock 5.3 LS in a truck, not even close idle to 4000 rpm. Over 4000 rpm the LS would have probably edged it out but surprisingly close, funny what more air flow will do from the 454 TBI. A truck with 5.3 LD and the same drivetrain would have been choking on the dust for a long way. Neither had an ideal tune, the open loop was a big issue on the 94 with the sbc swirl port factory tune below freezing. Closed loop was good. The worse it ran, the colder it got, probably because open loop lasted longer. Every single sensor checked out FYI. The next mod was going to be a tunable ECM the next spring. Oh and that 4L60E was an almost fresh rebuild that I snagged for $500 with a 30 day warranty. I still have the Corvette servo that was going go in as well in Spring. Yes, it actually had a good 4L60E, there I said it. I even had the B+M shift controller, it boosted line pressure like newer models tow/haul button. It shifted nice on setting one, I used 2 for towing. Unfortunately, a circulating block shorted out and burnt it to the ground. I miss that truck.
I wish there was a stock W31 and LS1 dyno test but finding both won't happen. I would actually like to see a 70 Olds 350 with a 4 spd cam stock dyno test. High compression and not a big cam to kill low end torque like a W31, only 216/217 duration.
Yes the LS stock has an advantage over any stock Olds motor. Talking by design, without changing anything inside, not as what GM delivered in MOST factory trucks.
I bought my Challenger GT because it had good looks, enough interior space, every option, good performance, AWD and had a 46K sticker, I got for 40K since it sat on a lot. New ones are only just over 50K, a lot of car for the money. Over 85,000 km, hardly any issues. My Wife wanted it because she loved the 2010 Challenger SE, me not do much because I had to fix it.
First, the 3.5 V6 was part of that terrible series of engines. Anyone who says they are great, I offer exhibit A😁. First it developed the usual dreaded tick. I then lost track of one oil change, 7996 km on no synthetic 10W30. It started using a liter every 5000 km and was using about one every 3000 km by the time I traded in at 180,000+ km. Also no new seat leather replacement available anywhere. The my Wife wanted to trade it in was the fuel gauge was going wonky. Plus rust was starting in front of the rear tires. The paint was absolute sh*t, the 2017 is much better but still chips fairly easily, kind of like the Camaro's. It must be manufactures figuring out waterborne paint. It was one more thing to do on it. I wanted the POS Dodge gone. It was paid for but it needed something that wasn't a basket case. My Oldsmobile's take that spot.
I also own a 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport. What a pile of sh*t it has been. First the 3.9 V6 was dangerously under powered and meh for mileage 21 at best. I swapped in a 5.9 Magnum better power but then came the usual plenum separation, mine was almost failing. I added the thick aftermarket aluminum vs the steel factory plate with too long of bolts. The Magnum heads cracked going into the city to pickup a washer. I borrowed my 2017 GMC, reinforced my like of the LT powered trucks. If anything major goes wrong with it, it is gone. Because I owe nothing I bought awesome tires, even studded. It probably won't go through as much snow as my 94 Z71 would. It is just heavy enough to not float on top but not heavy or tall enough to sink right down. I have never owned a Ford ever. They have their issues, I have worked on plenty as an Apprentice technician. They have come a long way since the 70's when they were the worst cars on the road. They offer a lot more I like the Mustang and Bronco are exhibit A and B in my price range.
GM does do good things like release that awesome hot V twin turbo DOHC V8. That thing looked awesome. They spent a fortune to develop it, made it ridiculously expensive to manufacture and only made it in one vehicle for one year! WTF!
Also I am more critical of motors like the LS under performing because almost all of them were rated over 300 hp and 350 ft/lbs of torque. I am not going to figure out why a manufacturer's claims don't add up, not my job, THEY FAILED!
The reason I give the Olds 350 as pass, most were rated under 200 hp, as low as 160 and maybe 275 ft/lbs of torque. I expect almost nothing out a motor rated in peanuts. On a motor rated at 360 hp and 385 ft/lbs, I expect a lot. It hasn't been any thrill at all to drive these many miles for work.
My 94 Z71 was actually fun, I wish there wasn't issues with 454 TBI, it went like an animal, I had throttle sticking and TPS issues. Now a 5.3 LT would have beat it, I admit it. A stock 5.3 LS in a truck, not even close idle to 4000 rpm. Over 4000 rpm the LS would have probably edged it out but surprisingly close, funny what more air flow will do from the 454 TBI. A truck with 5.3 LD and the same drivetrain would have been choking on the dust for a long way. Neither had an ideal tune, the open loop was a big issue on the 94 with the sbc swirl port factory tune below freezing. Closed loop was good. The worse it ran, the colder it got, probably because open loop lasted longer. Every single sensor checked out FYI. The next mod was going to be a tunable ECM the next spring. Oh and that 4L60E was an almost fresh rebuild that I snagged for $500 with a 30 day warranty. I still have the Corvette servo that was going go in as well in Spring. Yes, it actually had a good 4L60E, there I said it. I even had the B+M shift controller, it boosted line pressure like newer models tow/haul button. It shifted nice on setting one, I used 2 for towing. Unfortunately, a circulating block shorted out and burnt it to the ground. I miss that truck.
I wish there was a stock W31 and LS1 dyno test but finding both won't happen. I would actually like to see a 70 Olds 350 with a 4 spd cam stock dyno test. High compression and not a big cam to kill low end torque like a W31, only 216/217 duration.
Yes the LS stock has an advantage over any stock Olds motor. Talking by design, without changing anything inside, not as what GM delivered in MOST factory trucks.
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