Hey Blageurt:

I have driven a Grand Sport C6 Vette (with a GM employee bud--top speed is 190 mph although I think I only hit about 120--really quick) and a new Boss 302 Mustang (top speed limited to only 155), and a recent Subaru Sti (top speed again limited to 155 but boy does that sucker hook up) and would challenge your statement if the trailer is not part of the deal.

I really like trucks (love 'em actually) but you guys have to get real here. I have been in SO many party conversations with guys who had an old 1971 (low compression) Pontiac Grand Prix that "went 150 miles per hour" or daddy's old 327 1968 Chevy Impala that went 135 mph....yeah right.

With the trailer, I concede totally.

But if you put up enough bucks, I'll borrow/rent a Grand Sport Vette and take you on with no trailers...how good does your van stop from 190 mph? The Vette will do 12.2 second quarter miles dead stock.

It's all good, really, but comparing watermelons to apples is like comparing watermelons to apples...

George

 

Peak horsepower numbers are far less important than torque curve. Compare the dyno sheets from a 6.8L V10 to a 400hp Mustang and see. Useable torque is what makes a vehicle driveable. But I love your comparison about 'falling off a cliff'. literally LOL.

Besides that, I was comparing it to the large majority of vehicles on public roads. My previous vans (1997 GMC 2500 4.3L and 2003 E250 4.2L), and a few 4-banger cars I've owned in years past- there was always a distinct realization that a soccer mom with an attitude could hold a lead on me in a throttle-competition... in her Dodge Grand Caravan or similar.

I've owned fast cars, such as my Pro Truck asphalt stock car @ www.JoshuaBorem.com, and a twin turbo Mustang 5.0, a 5.0 with nitrous, two mostly-stock 5.0's, and a 79 Pontiac Trans Am 6.6L.. And LOTS of slow cars.

All I am saying is that this V10 van is refreshing. It absolutely zips thru traffic like a stock 5.0. (throttle-wise; not braking or turning)

And regarding your comment about "a truck being a viable hot rod" - it's just about the fact that I spend SO much time driving the van. Minimum 600 miles per week, usually closer to 1,000. If I didn't spend so much time above 70mph; I'd DEFINITELY have the lower gears.

Life's too short to lack torque.

With all that said; I like you YoGeorge; I hope I don't come across as negative.

 

You are correct. Against the listed cars a diesel van won't win......especially at higher speed due to aerodynamics and the power bands. I would say that a hopped up turbo diesel (van or truck) could beat a lot of the cars that are on the road from a stop (if traction didn't become an issue) upto 60-80mph depending on other aspect such as gearing. At the lower speeds the areo is not as big of a factor. It also plays into the strong suit of a diesel engine which is the torque....not the HP.......and yes the handling would not even compare to car (in general). The issue with the "This is faster than that" debate is that the "Faster at what?" question is not addressed.

 

I like all you guys as well and yes, I know about torque and horsepower curves. Electric motors put out their max torque at zero RPM, so new-gen hybrids will have the potential to give a real good kick off a start line.

If you want to soup up your trucks "just because", go for it. I just have a hard time with claims like "beat anything to 45 mph" etc. Cars have a lot of gears these days, so the torque multiplication gets pretty darn good at launch, and tires are tons better than they were in the old days.

New Vettes and hot Mustangs will pull off 4 second 0-60 times and I just don't think V10, hopped up diesel, or supercharged 5.4 vans are gonna run under 4 seconds. And as speeds increase (say 1/4 mile runs) the vans have a further aero disadvantage. Show us yer time slips if you want to prove me wrong.

Again, I love trucks and vans, and know how guys like to brag about their rides, but I don't have a lot of tolerance for statements that are not based on reality.

That said, I still would love to own the Jarvis van which really pulls off quarter mile runs in the 10's...and I'm old enough to have seen the Little Red Wagon run in its heyday (it was almost a van)

George

 

i didn't see this asked yet but what gears do you have? my old 2000 E350 XL van had 5.4 and 3.73 combo and that van was horrible in power, my new (well it was in 2010) has 5.4 and 4.10 combo and that thing if it wasn't loaded down with tools and parts would do noting but blaze the tires, even with the payload all you can feel is the tires trying to spin when you give it the skinny pedal

 

Given the performance of the 5.4 and its liking higher RPM's with your 4:10 gears what sort of mileage are you getting? I'm running an '03 E250 5.4 3:73 gears and as a daily driver weigh in at 7,800#. That's about my average full load, it doesn't vary too much up or down and I never ever tow anything.