I just know that the GTO is not capable of 30mpg on the highway....even at 65mph based on my coworkers experience with his 2005. He has 10,000 miles on it now and he gets 18mpg mixed driving. Now, the GTO doesn't have the cylinder deactivation system that the new Tahoe has......so maybe that will make the difference. I hope that GM can get those #'s out of a 400hp V8......because that is the type of engine I'm into. I am not into turbo I4's boosted to hell.....I like old fashioned cubic inches of raw power. I am a big fan of the 'there's no replacement for displacement' theory. If the auto manufacturers can make this historically thirsty engines start to sip instead of gulp.........well that would be a great achievement IMO.

 

Oil availability world-wide is unknown......there could be vast oil reserves that have not even been discovered yet. What is known is refining capacity.....that is what controls market prices of gasoline and other petrolium based products. Refining capacity has not changed since the 1970's. There are two undeniable truths to the market for gasoline.....1) China, India and Russia are not going to stop growing anytime soon. 2) America's demand for refined oil products is not goig to decrease. So, what does this mean for the future? Same amount of gasoline being refined....but more people demanding it. It's Economics 101 here people, the price is going to go up. That's a fact. The only part of the supply chain that people can control is refining capacity. We can't control the Earths oil reserves.....we can only look for them and use them up. We cannot replenish the oil reserves. So, back the the thing we can control, refining. How many refineries are being built by the big oil companies this year?

 

We'll see...and as demand for oil increses, I think EPA regulations will loosen that will allow more refineries to be built domestically.

Numerous corporations have tried to build refineries during the past 20 years but the red tape was too much for any to deal with. I think a Saudi company was most recent in New Mexico but after spending hundreds of millions they pulled out and gave up.

 

Does your friend own an auto GTO by chance? The auto get's only like 16-22mpg, which sucks. Also...I'm more leaning towards the Vette, not the GTO which weighs about 500-600 more pounds.

But, I'm completely with you on that...I don't care for I-4 Turbo's either. While they are making more and more power...they are also becomming less and less fuel efficent. When a 400HP V8 can get more mpg on the highway than the EVO's I-4 turbo...it beg's the question (other than size and weight), why are we sticking ever bigger Turbo's in I-4's again?

This is based on the EPA...(which I don't have a problem with but many do, fyi)

Anyway, if the new Camaro with cylinder deactivation system can hit 30mpg in the highway (with it's V8)...that's just amazing!!!

 

^Sorry for that off-topic chat with Bascho...

 

Weight wise, I wouldn't be surprised if the 4G63, turbo, intercooler, and associated plumbing weighed around 400lbs. GM's aluminum Ecotec weighs ~350lbs, and the 4G63, which is capable of the same displacements and so is probably approximately the same size, is probably close to 400lbs without any of its turbo equipment, what with its iron block and all.

With that said, I would imagine that designing a single engine in NA and turbo forms would be much cheaper and easier for a small company to swing than designing a small, OHC I4 for economy cars and designing an almost completely different OHV V6 or V8 for more performance-biased cars. Besides that, tradition and consumer bias against large displacement engines as fuel-guzzling, inefficient relics of the past pretty much preclude most companies developing OHV engines from scratch for mainstream cars when their current engines are well received by the public.

 

^true, but if the "old tech" was proved to provide more power and fuel economy...I think eventually, people would get the message.

Think of it...we all always say that most people don't care about the specifics of cars, just looks and quality basically...so I doubt they would by a "new tech" engine equiped car when it made less power and sucked down more gas.

But...many times, image is everything...sadly, personally I like substance and the bottom line.

 

Argh, argh, argh, argh!!!

 

Saw a Solstice on the road today and it's the first car that invoked car envy in me. It truly is beautiful from any angle. I don't know much about the engine or handling, but looks-wise it's killer.

Nice job Pontiac.

 

It's a 6MT. I too am sorry about going off-topic guys.

 

HELLS YEAH!!!

 

I was not impressed until I saw it in person. It's really a beautiful car aside from Virginia requiring front license plates. It's obvious they didn't think about that (or didn't care) on the Solstice.

 

Me too! There is just nothing like the V8 rumble.

 

^meee tooo, let's form a club within the rx8club...lol (the rV8club)

I have never owned a gold old American V8, but I hope to one day!

Oh no...now we will get banned, lol.

 

The rotary whirl is pretty good too though Admit that and you can stay.

 

^^ I would join that club. I've had 5 different V8 powered cars (all Ford's......big surprise right). 4 Mustangs and a T-bird. I can tell you, A V8 lump is very nice......looking & sounding with torque to spare. My '66 would spin the tires through 3rd gear

As I try to determine what my next car will be......I have thought hard about pulling out the Renesis and using a S/C 4.6 DOHC Cobra engine in the RX8. I can get the entire engine and 6-speed trans from Ford for $5K. But then I really want the new Shelby GT500 bad!!!!! Decisions decisions.......good thing I have 2 years to decide.

 

I admit that......especially when up over 6500RPMs

 

LOL, admit it...I embrace it with open arms. I love my rotary...my two fav engines are the rotary and the V8.

 

As far as looks, the Sky/Solstice wins hands down. This is coming from a Miata owner.

 

Me too! I've grown up with Mustangs (my father had 3) and I had one (which is now my father's project car). Man the 302 mill has torque and sounds mean. You should hear one with a mild racing cam... the lumpy idle and awesome roar when the throttle is opened. ARGH! ARGH! ARGH! ARGH!

I dunno... if you're going to do a swap with the Renesis, I'd thnk you'd be better off with the 302 or 351 (or stroker versions). Like pics posted on this forum have shown (LS2 in a 3 series with LOTS of room to spare), pushrod motors are compact and you'll need that not only to make it fit easily, but also so you can sit it deep enough into the engine bay to try to maintain the weight balance.

Recent pics of the GT500 are a little disappointing. They've changed the hood... concept to production changes I suppose, but I like the original one better. If I could both afford it and be able to purchase one when i am ready (waiting list)... I'd seriously consider getting the GT500. Or you can just get a GT, strap on a Kenne Bell S/C, your choice of aftermarket suspension, a little aftermarket work on the interior and end up with a car FASTER than the GT500 and LESS EXPENSIVE. But I like the looks of the GT500 better than the GT...

 

A fellow employee purchased a Pontiac Soltice. He has only driven it to work once in two months - what a panzy. I tried talking him into the Mallet coversion, but he would not budge. I will most likely see it this Summer coming to the office. Maybe I'll get a ride in it

He does not know how to drive though, so maybe he will let me drive it!

 

The solitice is one ugly car. The sky is much better lookin imo. Still, the mx-5 is a cult car and I doubt the soltice/sky will ever reach that status.

 

^maybe....maybe not, too early to tell. For GM's sake...I hope it kicks the MX5's butt...so then the MX5 will have to respond....then, sit back....

..and ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!

 

The MX5 will have problems out selling these twins. Some rag did a MX5 vs Solitice and the MX5 hands down beat it in every catagoery. As Americans, we are shallow and most would chose looks over performance. I already have the RX8 and I would chose this rebaddged Sky to keep it company. IMHO the SKy is one sexy biotch, this coming from a former very satisfied Miata owner.

 

Someone I know in town may be trading in there 8 and getting a solitice, I just might have to take it for a spin