Originally posted by: DougK62
They're generally as quick or quicker than a similar 3800 equipped car. It's a great engine, and I believe it made the 10-best list once. It was cancelled because it was so much more expensive to produce compared to the 3800 and they both made similar power. The 3.5 DOHC was also a packaging nightmare and less reliable when compared to the 3800. Still a great engine though.
Why complicate and make things more expensive when the venerable 3800 series still does the job just as well, if not better.
Originally posted by: DarkManX
the intrigue does have a 3.5, there was also a 3.4 engine, I think the alero had it.
Excellent points you made. That's also one of the reasons I got the car I did. It's not the most reliable car in the world, but it has what I want and it does what I want, so to me it's the best choice. RWD, locked diff, V8, nice wide tires, no power windows, yes power brakes, no head unit or speakers (got them later)... basically less gimmicky stuff, but the guts are there. Oh and it's an 85 iroc I had all this choice because I shopped for months on end, so I didn't settle until I found something I liked in enough ways to satisfy me.Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
GM made two 3400's. One was a very expensive, very pita to work on DOHC V6. The other is a cheap pushrod V6. The cheap one is still being used.
I agree with you on the complication deal. When I ordered my Dakota, I looked at what I DIDN'T need. Front ABS? None of my cars had it, and locking up the brakes was never an issue. Didn't get it. Cruise control? Had it, never used it. Power door locks? It's a two door truck, and I'm the only one ever in it. Don't need them. Power windows? I kinda like not having to insert the key to roll the windows down, didn't get them. Sliding rear window? Don't need it, it's easier to see in the back without it. Fog lights? They never seemed to help. Then I looked at what goes wrong on cars after a few years most often (nusience wise): Power windows, power door locks, cruise control units...
I thinK I saved myself alot of headaches. Although it may sounds like I ordered a stripped down model (esp. w/ a manual tranny), someone poking thier head under it wouldn't be able to tell. Tire+handling package, heavy duty service, limited slip diff, V8. I got the stuff I'd use. Most people just want everything without considering that they have to maintain it all.