does it really cost that much more to make a bigger engine?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

cars like G25/G35/G37, and IS250/350 have the same engine, just more displacement.
usually the equipment is the same or very similar, but the price bump is $2k or more.

so does it really cost ~$2k more to build an engine with 1L more displacement?
or is it a case of, 'they charge more because they can'?

 

[BoberFett]

charge more because they can'?

Yes

 

[Hellotalkie]

Do you think "3d tv's" actually cost 500-1000 more to produce than regular tv's...nah

 

[MotF Bane]

Please attend Econ 101, then stop posting.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Please attend Econ 101, then stop posting.

make me.

 

[exdeath]

Do 4 ghz cpus really cost $1000 when they clock lock the same exact chips to 2 ghz and sell them for $150?

Cars are the same way, it exploits human need to be better than everyone else with an exponential price curve that takes advantage of their being willing to pay 100x more to be .001% better than their neighbor. It cost nothing for the company so why not do it if people are lining up to give you their money?

 

[dpodblood]

OP raises a good point. It also makes me wonder why there aren't any manufactures making basic, basic cars with huge engines. Seems like you can only buy expensive fast cars, or inexpensive slow cars. Why can't someone build a Kia rio equavalent with a 300HP v6?

 

[jaha2000]

They did...
It was called the late 60's. Then the oil thing happened, the insurance thing happend, the tree huggers happened.... Ect Ect

 

[dpodblood]

Yeah I realize that, but it isn't like we aren't making big thumping v6/v8/v10's these days. We just aren't putting them into cheap cars. The closest modern day equivalent would be pony cars like the mustang, or camaro, but I wouldn't really consider them "cheap" except in comparison to BMW, Infinity, etc.

 

[ElFenix]

Yeah I realize that, but it isn't like we aren't making big thumping v6/v8/v10's these days. We just aren't putting them into cheap cars. The closest modern day equivalent would be pony cars like the mustang, or camaro, but I wouldn't really consider them "cheap" except in comparison to BMW, Infinity, etc.

the vast majority of people would rather buy creature comforts once some minimum amount of power is reached. and nowadays that minimum is reached with I4s.

 

[LTC8K6]

OP raises a good point. It also makes me wonder why there aren't any manufactures making basic, basic cars with huge engines. Seems like you can only buy expensive fast cars, or inexpensive slow cars. Why can't someone build a Kia rio equavalent with a 300HP v6?

It would smoke the front tires and torque itself into a tree every time you stepped on the gas...

 

[dpodblood]

It would smoke the front tires and torque itself into a tree every time you stepped on the gas...

Hmm that's not really true at all. The new Maxima is 290 HP, and I don't think it destroys itself every time you touch the pedal.

 

[KDKPSJ]

OP raises a good point. It also makes me wonder why there aren't any manufactures making basic, basic cars with huge engines. Seems like you can only buy expensive fast cars, or inexpensive slow cars. Why can't someone build a Kia rio equavalent with a 300HP v6?

I personally don't want such cars to be on the market. If there were, those will be ricers' dream. lol.

Hmm that's not really true at all. The new Maxima is 290 HP, and I don't think it destroys itself every time you touch the pedal.

It doesn't, because it's $ 35k car. Not many high school kids can afford it. But now, if you have a car like you want, Rio-like inexpensive basic car with 300HP engine, and combine it with immature high school (even college) kids, you will find more of that car under the tree than on the street.

 

[ShawnD1]

so does it really cost ~$2k more to build an engine with 1L more displacement?
or is it a case of, 'they charge more because they can'?

Yes it costs more. Yes they are ripping you off (sometimes).
-bigger transmission
-bigger differential
-bigger everything


There are videos on youtube where idiots twin turbo a Honda Civic but don't change anything else. The transmission literally blows apart and there are pieces of it on the road.

 

[bruceb]

ShawnD1 pretty much summed it up. Also add better suspension to handle more power, engine computer is programmed different, dash instruments may need recalibrating, bigger radiator. And depending on the motor, the block may be bigger, the pistons and rods bigger, higher capacity fuel injectors, bigger starter. So not all of it is just because they can. But some (say about 40&#37 probably is.

 

[dpodblood]

I personally don't want such cars to be on the market. If there were, those will be ricers' dream. lol.




It doesn't, because it's $ 35k car. Not many high school kids can afford it. But now, if you have a car like you want, Rio-like inexpensive basic car with 300HP engine, and combine it with immature high school (even college) kids, you will find more of that car under the tree than on the street.

Haha they do that with their 90 HP Civics anyway, but I get your point.

 

[HarryLui]

Plus bigger wheels and bigger tires too.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

ShawnD1 pretty much summed it up. Also add better suspension to handle more power, engine computer is programmed different, dash instruments may need recalibrating, bigger radiator. And depending on the motor, the block may be bigger, the pistons and rods bigger, higher capacity fuel injectors, bigger starter. So not all of it is just because they can. But some (say about 40%) probably is.

Don't forget, to make a new block is going to require completely re-engineering the block and everything that goes in it.
Then you have to invest in new tools to make those parts ect.

 

[Bignate603]

Yeah I realize that, but it isn't like we aren't making big thumping v6/v8/v10's these days. We just aren't putting them into cheap cars. The closest modern day equivalent would be pony cars like the mustang, or camaro, but I wouldn't really consider them "cheap" except in comparison to BMW, Infinity, etc.

They don't because it would cannibalize the sales of their more expensive and more profitable cars.

 

[bruceb]

I did say that the block may be bigger. In some cases, like the old small block Chevy the 305/350 was basically the same block. Larger pistons, rods and camshaft, carburetor made the change in displacement / horsepower

 

[HybridSquirrel]

OP raises a good point. It also makes me wonder why there aren't any manufactures making basic, basic cars with huge engines. Seems like you can only buy expensive fast cars, or inexpensive slow cars. Why can't someone build a Kia rio equavalent with a 300HP v6?

it would probably not sell that well to be honest. not everyone wants a small fast car, but almost everyone wants a small fuel efficient car. there is a much bigger market for fuel efficiency than hauling ass.

 

[bruceb]

Maybe you want a small car. I like a car with a bit of room, what they call mid-size and a V6 motor.

 

[MiataNC]

Back when I worked for Toyota/Lexus we were told that it cost roughly the same in time (time to assemble) and raw materials to build a Camry and a Lexus LS400. Obviously a lot more goes into the actual costs by the time all is said and done, but I did find that interesting.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Back when I worked for Toyota/Lexus we were told that it cost roughly the same in time (time to assemble) and raw materials to build a Camry and a Lexus LS400. Obviously a lot more goes into the actual costs by the time all is said and done, but I did find that interesting.

an ls400 has reclining, heated and airconditioned rear seats, and is able to park its self. I would say that is more pricey than a camry .


i also worked for lexus a while. yay.

 

[ShawnD1]

I personally don't want such cars to be on the market. If there were, those will be ricers' dream. lol.

btw there is such a thing as a small car with more power. Most companies offer some kind of performance compact car. Honda has the Civic Si, Toyota has the Corolla XRS, Mazda has the Speed3, Subaru has the WRX and STI.

They can't put a full size V6 in a small car. It's just too big and too heavy. FWD cars are already sitting at something like 60/40 weight split on the wheels. Put a bigger and heavier engine on top of the front wheels and it would handle like shit. Subaru gets around the weight issue by using a turbo, and those add significant cost.