Horse Power vs curb weight

HP doesn't tell the complete story.

You have to look at HP and Torque ratings, and where on the power band
they make that max HP rating, at what RPM do they make that max rating.

A 4 cyl engine in a car too heavy for it to move will probably get
lower mpg than the same car with a V6 that has no trouble moving the
load down the road.

Before I bought another Ford I'd ask the tech in the shop if the
automatics trannys last more than 65k miles, if the brake rotors still
warp every 5 - 10k miles, and if replacing a heater core requires a
loan application.

Steve
|
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight 

Your are right to consider weight an important number. I see car reviews
in the papers the omit weight and I laugh and laugh and ....

Steven is correct about hp, torque, and their distribution vs rpm.

Numerous ratings (hp, mpg, etc) used to be subject to biased testing.
I more-or-less ignore hp ratings altogether.

You've driven a Fusion? An in-line 4 cyl. can have a very different
"feel" from a V6.

What is "pickup"? When you gotta floor it 'cause a pigmobile is
bearing down on you? When you're just accelerating in normal
competitive traffic?

I'd be very careful about interpreting what recent owners tell
you. Some will be objective, some will exhibit various/sundry
bias.

I'd put 70+% of the decision weight on the comparative driving
"feel" of the 2 vehicles. Are you gonna be 100% comfortable with
the car, day after day, for years and years? Another 20% on
expected reliability.

Good Luck,
Puddin'
On Sat, 17 May 2008 17:29:45 -0700 (PDT), happyD <jdagrx.RemoveThis@optonline.net> wrote:

>I'm considering a '07 Fusion, 4 cyl. 5 speed manual, currently drive
>'03 Olds Alero V6 automatic. The Olds has plenty of pickup and decent
>gas mileage (26-27 mpg) for the driving I do. Would like to get a
>Fusion but wouldn't like to get mpgs so the 4 maybe the way to go but
>I would hate to give up the pickup. I was comparing curb weight vs
>hp. The Olds 3100 lbs, with tthe V6 producing 170 hp. The specs on
>the Fusion, 3150ish lbs with the 4 cyl producing 160 hp. I don't
>think I would see a difference with the Fusion. Is this assumption,
>curb weight vs HP valid or are there other consideration to consider?
>
>anyone out there with the 4 cyl 5 speed Fusion - how the car?

" ... and the bees made honey in the lion's head."
- from "If I Had My Way", Blind Willie Johnson
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight 

On May 17, 10:27 pm, "Max Power" <u... RemoveThis @haxors.com> wrote:
> modern, fuel injected, is this realy the deciding point? are you taking them
> to the strip?
>
> "happyD" <jda... RemoveThis @optonline.net> wrote in message
>
> news:a72d0507-a685-4fca-885e-e918b724e07b@34g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > I'm considering a '07 Fusion, 4 cyl. 5 speed manual,   currently drive
> > '03 Olds Alero V6 automatic.  The Olds has plenty of pickup and decent
> > gas mileage (26-27 mpg) for the driving I do.  Would like to get a
> > Fusion but wouldn't like to get mpgs so the 4 maybe the way to go but
> > I would hate to give up the pickup.   I was comparing curb weight vs
> > hp.   The Olds 3100 lbs, with tthe V6 producing 170 hp. The specs on
> > the Fusion, 3150ish lbs with the 4 cyl producing 160 hp.     I don't
> > think I would see a difference with the Fusion.   Is this assumption,
> > curb weight vs HP valid or are there other consideration to consider?
>
> > anyone out there with the 4 cyl 5 speed Fusion - how the car?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Just need a family car. Dealer has a decent deal on 4 cyl 5 speed 07
Fusion with 8500 miles. It's not the car of my dreams but will get
me through while I put two kids through college.
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight 

"Steven Stone" <xxspfleck.DeleteThis@xxcitlink.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.2299ebb5e35935de98971f@news.frontiernet.net...
> HP doesn't tell the complete story.
>
> You have to look at HP and Torque ratings, and where on the power band
> they make that max HP rating, at what RPM do they make that max rating.
>
> A 4 cyl engine in a car too heavy for it to move will probably get
> lower mpg than the same car with a V6 that has no trouble moving the
> load down the road.
>
> Before I bought another Ford I'd ask the tech in the shop if the
> automatics trannys last more than 65k miles, if the brake rotors still
> warp every 5 - 10k miles, and if replacing a heater core requires a
> loan application.
>
> Steve
> |

I have a Lincoln Zephyr... same car as a Fusion. Good car man. And the
tranny, is made by Toyota. 85,000km and not one mechanical problem...just a
few minor interior things, but no rattles, nothing.

Brad
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight 

"Brad and Karen" <BradandBrooks RemoveThis @shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:9M9Yj.279147$pM4.3402@pd7urf1no...
>
> "Steven Stone" <xxspfleck RemoveThis @xxcitlink.net> wrote in message
> news:MPG.2299ebb5e35935de98971f@news.frontiernet.net...
>> HP doesn't tell the complete story.
>>
>> You have to look at HP and Torque ratings, and where on the power band
>> they make that max HP rating, at what RPM do they make that max rating.
>>
>> A 4 cyl engine in a car too heavy for it to move will probably get
>> lower mpg than the same car with a V6 that has no trouble moving the
>> load down the road.
>>
>> Before I bought another Ford I'd ask the tech in the shop if the
>> automatics trannys last more than 65k miles, if the brake rotors still
>> warp every 5 - 10k miles, and if replacing a heater core requires a
>> loan application.
>>
>> Steve
>> |
>
> I have a Lincoln Zephyr... same car as a Fusion. Good car man. And the
> tranny, is made by Toyota. 85,000km and not one mechanical problem...just
> a few minor interior things, but no rattles, nothing.
>
> Brad
>
>
PS: Steve, my comparison vehicle is a lightly modded 1993 Cobra. The Zephyr
will hang with the Cobra in every area except acceleration. But it'd catch
right back up during braking. Surprises me how much the Zephyr corners like
the Cobra too.

That's it.

Brad
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight 

"Brad and Karen" <BradandBrooks DeleteThis @shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:9M9Yj.279147$pM4.3402@pd7urf1no...

> I have a Lincoln Zephyr... same car as a Fusion. Good car man. And
> the tranny, is made by Toyota.

Actually the automatic transmission in the Zephyr is made by Aisin AW,
which is only partially owned by Toyota (but probably effectively
controlled by Toyota). In the past I believed it was from the same
family of transmissions as the six speed automatic used in Camrys, but
it isn't. It is a different family. And now the MKZ (the replacement
for hte Zephyr) with the 3.5L V-6 uses a Ford built 6 speed automatic
(as does the Taurus, Taurus X, Edge and Sable).

> 85,000km and not one mechanical problem...just a few minor interior
> things, but no rattles, nothing.

My Fusion is close to 30k miles (48k km) and it has never had a
problem. It has not been back to the dealer since the day I drove it
off the lot. I am very happy with the car. I have a V6 AWD, which
unfortunately is not hte best set-up for mileage. I am averaging a
little over 22. I suspect a four cylinder manual would average over 25
the way I drive (I am not the ost fuel efficient driver
unfortunately - drving the same vehicle, my SO will usually get 1 to 2
mpg better than me).

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight 

why not just drive it and see if its got enough power for you, simple
really.





"happyD" <jdagrx RemoveThis @optonline.net> wrote in message
news:a72d0507-a685-4fca-885e-e918b724e07b@34g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> I'm considering a '07 Fusion, 4 cyl. 5 speed manual, currently drive
> '03 Olds Alero V6 automatic. The Olds has plenty of pickup and decent
> gas mileage (26-27 mpg) for the driving I do. Would like to get a
> Fusion but wouldn't like to get mpgs so the 4 maybe the way to go but
> I would hate to give up the pickup. I was comparing curb weight vs
> hp. The Olds 3100 lbs, with tthe V6 producing 170 hp. The specs on
> the Fusion, 3150ish lbs with the 4 cyl producing 160 hp. I don't
> think I would see a difference with the Fusion. Is this assumption,
> curb weight vs HP valid or are there other consideration to consider?
>
> anyone out there with the 4 cyl 5 speed Fusion - how the car?
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight 

"Steven Stone" <xxspfleck.RemoveThis@xxcitlink.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.2299ebb5e35935de98971f@news.frontiernet.net...
> HP doesn't tell the complete story.
>
> You have to look at HP and Torque ratings, and where on the power band
> they make that max HP rating, at what RPM do they make that max rating.
>
> A 4 cyl engine in a car too heavy for it to move will probably get
> lower mpg than the same car with a V6 that has no trouble moving the
> load down the road.
>
> Before I bought another Ford I'd ask the tech in the shop if the
> automatics trannys last more than 65k miles,

I can vouch for the Ford transmissions. I've never had to replace one in my
life. I did have a probem with a 1992 F150 E4OD after 100k miles when my son
decided he could use it to pull a buddies 4x4 ot of a swap. Turns out the
problem cost $500 to fix, but I was ready for a new truck, so I traded it
off. My other Fords have never had a transmission problem at all (a couple
with over 140K miles).

> if the brake rotors still
> warp every 5 - 10k miles,

Last warped rotor I had was 22 tears ago on a 1986 Sable. There were OK
until I had the brakes done, The idots at the garage ruined them with a bad
resurfacing job. I absolutely refuse to let shops turn my rotors if there is
not a problem. If there is a problem, I replace them.

> and if replacing a heater core requires a
> loan application.

I am afraid at least for many cars, not just Fords, this is still true.
Fortunately I've only ever had to replace one in 39 years of driving.

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Horse Power vs curb weight