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Is the V-6 the best handling?

4K views 21 replies 16 participants last post by  77rednecktruck 
#1 ·
Noticed that there is a significant weight penalty for adding a V-8 to the Jeeps.

A base 2wd Laredo weight 4470 lbs, while a loaded Overland Summit comes in at a porky 5210 lbs.

This is 740 extra pounds for the Overland Summit to carry around. It also reduces the payload by 440 lbs.

Weight distribution on a V-6 is a sports car balanced 51% Front and 49% Rear.
Weight distribution on a V-8 is a pretty nose heavy 54% Front and 46% Rear.

The V-6 is all aluminum while the v-8 is Cast Iron Block with Aluminum heads.

This may explain while some say the V-6 has plenty of power, while others feel it is underpowered.

V-8 only revs to 5,800 rpm while V-6 Revs to 6,400 RPM.

Be interesting to see them go up against each other on a tight road course.:slapfight:
 
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#5 ·
First of all.... A hemi would arse rape my V6 dog... Second of all I think I'd Sh!t myself when approaching the first tight bend on a track when slowing from high speed (assuming my V6 makes it to said 'high speed')to make the curve.

I can't say this enough to anyone on the fence between V6 and V8; Don't get the V6
 
#6 ·
Your weight comparison is somewhat apple to oranges. Base Laredo is missing a lot of other parts comparing to Overland Summit. One includes Quadralift (air suspension+tank+compressor). Other is trunk opener. And I am sure there is more. HEMI by itself adds 300 lbs (if I am not mistaken). Plus as soon as you get HEMI you get different 4WD system.
 
#7 ·
Best handling would likely be a V-6 RWD for weight reasons. However, if we're talking 4x4s, then the higher trim levels (with QTII or QDII) would be the ones to go with thanks to the Sport mode (with the lessened stability/traction control and rear biased torque split).

The V-8 would would definitely be faster in a straight line, but it is possible that the V-6 might regain the advantage in the corners. Now, how much of that would be arguable, since we are talking a high center of gravity 5000 pound SUV. But the V-6 runs the same size tires, so it isn't at a contact patch disadvantage.

I'd think if you could keep the Pentastar on boil through use of the autostick, it would probably be competitive with the Hemi equipped model on a tight road course. Much of a straightaway though, and the V-8 might just run away with it.
 
#9 ·
I know from experiance that a summit with 20"s in sport mode might not be a SRT8 but it sure as hell isn't like trying to road race a Tahoe. Point being, with 50% more torque and QDII, I would say that there is no competiton between the two in any form or fasion. Any way you look at it, a stock V6 (any trim level GC) will never out perform the V8 ( any trim level GC) in anything. With the exception of gas mileage and possibly breaking.

Thats not to say that the V6 isn't a great motor, it is. It will move a rather large and heavy vehicle forward while towing something like 3500lbs. It will get better gas millage than a V8 most of the time. It is not a torque monster and it never will be.

Everyone knows that as soon as they (the industry) cracks the codes for programming that through very mild upgrades, a power tune and the elimination of torque management, the hemi will put out almost 400hp and 400 lb/ft of torque. Short of a power adder the V6 will never get anywhere near that.

I guess what I'm saying is quit arguing over apples and cumquates (oranges are even too close of a comparison). Something worth comparing would be the old 4.7 to the 5.9, or the 5.9 to the 5.7. Or even the old V6 to the new V6 but not the new v6 to the 5.7.


This was not directed at anyone peronally so please don't take it that way. Thank you everyone for allowing me to voice my opinion. (Now stepping off soapbox and exit stage left);):D
 
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#13 · (Edited)
Honestly the V6 compares better to the 5.7 than the 5.7 to the old 5.9. The new V6 makes ~50 more hp than the old 5.9 though 80 ft lbs less peak torque. The fact that the 5.9 makes only 240 hp but 340 ft lbs of torque tells me the 5.9s torque falls off really fast as the RPMs rise. I had a 99 Dakota RT and for as big as its motor was and how light the truck was (~3900 lbs) it was slow. My 02 4.7 Dakota was significantly faster even though its rated outputs were lower it had a much better power curve. The 5.9 had no power above 4500 RPMs it was just really flat up top.
 
#15 ·
srt8 is in a whole different class


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#16 ·
Uncle Paul's post is completely valid and I think it does explain the discrepancy between some V6 lovers and haters.

I have a V6 Laredo X that weighs in at 4660lbs compared to the loaded up overland that weighs 5210lbs - that is a 550 lb difference which would without a doubt be noticeable in everyday driving. That’s like driving around with 4 adult passengers at all times vs no passengers at all.

Back in my track days the rule of thumb used to be that for every 100lbs you lost in curb weight you would drop +/- a tenth in the quarter mile. This means that a V6 overland would potentially be running a half second slower over a 1/4 mi than a Laredo X due to weight alone. That being the case I can see why some people would feel the V6 is underpowered. I consider the V6 in my X to be adequate for normal driving / occasional light towing, but if it were lugging around an extra 500+ pounds at all times I can see why some might be frustrated with performance.
 
#20 ·
This makes a lot of sense, My laredo seems plenty fast. At no point do I wish I had more power, maybe due to the weight of my base laredo.
 
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