V8 vs 6 cyl. repentance

[sals54]

OK, so I'm the son of a gun who started the fight about the V8 vs 6 argument. I'm also here to tell you that I've had a chance to drive the flat 6 powered wagon around town. Now this is what these cars are made for. I'm sure that in 1957, you didn't have too many traffic patterns moving along Route 66 at 80 mph. Virtually all the driving being done at the time was in and around town. Well, I can tell you that this car handled that beautifully. I'm still not crazy about the lack of power, but this car drove well, handled comfortably, and stopped on a dime every time. And to top it off, I still got all the thumbs up and the lookers as they drove by and waved. This was a much nicer experience than the terror on the freeway last week.
6 cylinders RULE ! ! ! ( just not above 60 mph )

[Mark57]

My first couple of cars were VW Beetles... (horizontally opposed 4 cylinders) - so when I first drove an inline 6 (a 185 flathead in a '58 Transtar), it seemed like a powerhouse. Everything is relative!

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar
3E-6/7-122 </h5>

[Mark57]

My first couple of cars were VW Beetles... (horizontally opposed 4 cylinders) - so when I first drove an inline 6 (a 185 flathead in a '58 Transtar), it seemed like a powerhouse. Everything is relative!

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar
3E-6/7-122 </h5>

[pitbulllady]

quote:Originally posted by Mark57

My first couple of cars were VW Beetles... (horizontally opposed 4 cylinders) - so when I first drove an inline 6 (a 185 flathead in a '58 Transtar), it seemed like a powerhouse. Everything is relative!

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar
3E-6/7-122 </h5>

I know what you mean; for years, I drove a Toyota RAV-4 with a 4-cylinder engine, so when I got a chance to drive a Stude Champion with the original inline 6, it felt like I'd upgraded from a donkey to a Thoroughbred! Then, when I got that '61 Cruiser with the V-8, that was like upgrading to a cheetah. Even the flathead six handles hills better than a four-cylinder.

pitbulllady

[pitbulllady]

quote:Originally posted by Mark57

My first couple of cars were VW Beetles... (horizontally opposed 4 cylinders) - so when I first drove an inline 6 (a 185 flathead in a '58 Transtar), it seemed like a powerhouse. Everything is relative!

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar
3E-6/7-122 </h5>

I know what you mean; for years, I drove a Toyota RAV-4 with a 4-cylinder engine, so when I got a chance to drive a Stude Champion with the original inline 6, it felt like I'd upgraded from a donkey to a Thoroughbred! Then, when I got that '61 Cruiser with the V-8, that was like upgrading to a cheetah. Even the flathead six handles hills better than a four-cylinder.

pitbulllady

[N8N]

I learned to drive on my mom's Renault Encore with the 1.4 liter four-cylinder... everything since then has been an improvement! I don't think I have ever driven such a dangerously underpowered car... I think it had something like 60 horsepower; just didn't do the job pulling the hills of western PA.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight

http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[N8N]

I learned to drive on my mom's Renault Encore with the 1.4 liter four-cylinder... everything since then has been an improvement! I don't think I have ever driven such a dangerously underpowered car... I think it had something like 60 horsepower; just didn't do the job pulling the hills of western PA.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight

http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by N8N

I learned to drive on my mom's Renault Encore with the 1.4 liter four-cylinder... everything since then has been an improvement! I don't think I have ever driven such a dangerously underpowered car... I think it had something like 60 horsepower; just didn't do the job pulling the hills of western PA.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight

http://members.cox.net/njnagel

N8,

I remember those.....but never had one. Those were a couple steps up in the Renault pecking order from the famous "LeCar", right? (Never had one of those either......)

Paul
Winston-Salem, NC

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by N8N

I learned to drive on my mom's Renault Encore with the 1.4 liter four-cylinder... everything since then has been an improvement! I don't think I have ever driven such a dangerously underpowered car... I think it had something like 60 horsepower; just didn't do the job pulling the hills of western PA.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight

http://members.cox.net/njnagel

N8,

I remember those.....but never had one. Those were a couple steps up in the Renault pecking order from the famous "LeCar", right? (Never had one of those either......)

Paul
Winston-Salem, NC

[tutone63]

I had just the opposite experience. I learned to drive in my fathers 68 Pontiac with 350+ hp. He took it away from me after I gunned it and fishtailed it into a ditch...three months after he let me drive it daily. Pretty much everything after that has felt underpowered.


She may have bugs and she may have dings, but that just proves I drive this thing!!

[tutone63]

I had just the opposite experience. I learned to drive in my fathers 68 Pontiac with 350+ hp. He took it away from me after I gunned it and fishtailed it into a ditch...three months after he let me drive it daily. Pretty much everything after that has felt underpowered.


She may have bugs and she may have dings, but that just proves I drive this thing!!

[LarkVIII]

I used to drive a 61 Metropolitan daily. About as powerful as 2 gerbils running on a wheel

63VY4 Leakin' Lena Hagerstown MD

[LarkVIII]

I used to drive a 61 Metropolitan daily. About as powerful as 2 gerbils running on a wheel

63VY4 Leakin' Lena Hagerstown MD

[Roscomacaw]

I agree with Sal here. I had a 54 Champion Starliner to drive awhile back. Dang thing was right pleasant around town. Even had a soothing exhaust note. Probably sent a few folks to their chiroprator to have the kinks taken out of their necks![}]

Sometimes - goin' slow let's 'em get a better look at ya![]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

I agree with Sal here. I had a 54 Champion Starliner to drive awhile back. Dang thing was right pleasant around town. Even had a soothing exhaust note. Probably sent a few folks to their chiroprator to have the kinks taken out of their necks![}]

Sometimes - goin' slow let's 'em get a better look at ya![]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe