A different kind of v8 vs turbo 6.

[apolloxbgt]

For those that don't know,ford have dabbled with turboing since long before the ba xr6t.They were playing with them as early as the xd,and again with the ea.

The aftermarket has had a few goes too,ie the Dick Johnson turbo xe's,Dick again with the xf's,which apperently wouldn't tow a caravan up a hill on a 40c day so failed the ford durabilty testing and missed out on factory warrenty backing.The likes of AIT tried it with xe's xf's and ea's.

So we come to my simple question.

If Ford had released a turbo i6 earlier,would they be selling v8's today?

Would they need to?

Think about it,hypotheticly if we had been brought up with hot turbo 6's that mopped the floor with the generals v8's of the 80's & 90's would we even want v8's?

Opinions.

[Falcon Coupe]

What if Ford released a Twin turbo V8, would we want a 6T ?

Who really knows, the racing success of the Turbo Sierras didn't stop the public wanting V8's.

[apolloxbgt]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

What if Ford released a Twin turbo V8, would we want a 6T ?

Who really knows, the racing success of the Turbo Sierras didn't stop the public wanting V8's.

I can see your point that the Sierras whipped the holden v8's on the track for the most part.But they wern't readily availble for the average joe to go in buy off the showroom floor,at least the gm v8 always was in one form or another.

[falzoony]

They had an XE with a turbo, they only made a few of em. it was a dick johnson special. heres a link.
http://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/muscle/68820
this is just to back up what you said before. I love these models.

[Flouro_Joe]

Dumb choices for a poll, especially the last one. Ford admits that they made a mistake dropping the V8 during the XE. Holden very nearly did the same except that Street Machine Magazine did the "V8's til '98" thing. The first unleaded carburettored VL V8s had less power than the VN sixes anyway.

[apolloxbgt]

Originally Posted by Flouro_Joe

Dumb choices for a poll, especially the last one. Ford admits that they made a mistake dropping the V8 during the XE. Holden very nearly did the same except that Street Machine Magazine did the "V8's til '98" thing. The first unleaded carburettored VL V8s had less power than the VN sixes anyway.

1st choice,it would appear ford v8's havn't died,they have just gotten heavier.

2nd choice,the turbo 6 would have been a completly aussie (apart from the honda designed head) performance engine.

3rd choice, you obviously havn't heard of a character called Ralph wiggum,mabey your dumb?

Fords biggest mistake when they dropped the v8 was not providing a decent alternative.

A few people have missed the point,I love v8's as much as anyone,that's my gt in my avatar,I'm not saying drop the v8's now.I'm asking would they have ever come back if there was a decent,aka turbo,alternative.

[mrs302au]

they also had a 4wd XE? (i think it was) which im sure was a turbo 6...it was only a one off thing though

[freak6]

i think people are always drawn towards the grunt of the V8.
they also played around with a supercharged6 in the EA, i think they only mad a prodotype.
anyway i have herd a lot about the V8s being discontinuted with the new falcon but i think thats a load of crap.

[uranium_death]

V8s will never die. They grunt like a constipated wharfie and let off more pollution than Bessie the Cow! God bless the 8!

[andrewts]

I don't think you could stop selling V8s. No matter how much better Turbo 6s are supposed to be, or are, however you look at it, there's just nothing better than the grunt and growl of a V8.

[schnoods]

Its not all about what works, rather its what sells.

Demand for V8's are still pretty strong now as they ever have been. If i couldnt buy a Ford 8 i woulda bought a holden.

[Serial_Fool]

Turbocharging would of been a great subsitute for the V8 in the 80's, but at the time it wasn't profitable for ford to do it so they kept marching along with N/A 6........


Just another missed oppurtunitie by Ford Australia.

[PHATXR8]

Yes, they would have had to to survive.

I think Ford should continue with V8's, even though the T6's are great engines. If they stop selling Falcon v8's, like they did in the 80's, they will lose another generation of potential Ford buyers.

It never ceases to amaze me how many new V8 Holdens are out there today. Almost every Statesman I see is a 6 litre v8 (and there are alot of them getting around Wagga), and there are heaps of SS's and Calais too!

Aussies love powerful 8's, and if Ford don't give the public want they want, then they will get them from Holden. As much as I hate saying it, if Ford was to stop selling Ford V8's, then I would definately buy a Holden v8.

I love the note that you get with an 8.

[flappist]

The primary reason why Ford dropped the V8 was fuel consumption and the public perception that petrol would be $1,000 per litre by next week.
A turbo 6 would not have used less fuel so would not have been seen as a solution.

The early turbos were rather laggy and nasty and were no where near as refined as current units and really would not have replaced the V8s of the day.

Even now there is a V8 market for those who wish to buy them. It is interesting to note that the V8 market is moving closer to the "performance" end of the scale and away from its original purpose which was mostly to provide more torque to tow or carry loads.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by flappist

The primary reason why Ford dropped the V8 was fuel consumption and the public perception that petrol would be $1,000 per litre by next week.
A turbo 6 would not have used less fuel so would not have been seen as a solution.

The early turbos were rather laggy and nasty and were no where near as refined as current units and really would not have replaced the V8s of the day.

Even now there is a V8 market for those who wish to buy them. It is interesting to note that the V8 market is moving closer to the "performance" end of the scale and away from its original purpose which was mostly to provide more torque to tow or carry loads.

I think this question would be more relevant say in 20 years time. AFAIK the baby boomer are still alive and kicking, and guess what cars ruled when they were kids. Hence the GTHO etc pricing, they want new cars well.

[Powdered Toast Man]

flappist read my mind. Turbos weren't as refined back then so they wouldn't have been an acceptable V8 substitute.

I also agree with polyal, I think in 20 years or even 10 years time turbos will be much more common, petrol versions for performance and diesel for more everyday cars. I reckon there will be some hipo turbo diesels too.

[King Nothing]

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast Man

flappist read my mind. Turbos weren't as refined back then so they wouldn't have been an acceptable V8 substitute.

I also agree with polyal, I think in 20 years or even 10 years time turbos will be much more common, petrol versions for performance and diesel for more everyday cars. I reckon there will be some hipo turbo diesels too.

But what on earth will the p-platers drive? : Everyone knows that turbos are the tool of the devil

[fou_bleu]

I'm not quite sure! :S

[DJL351]

Put it another way....

If the Turbo I6 was intro'd in the EA...

What level of output would we have seen for the EB-ED V8?
Would having the I6 "charged" cause Ford to push the 200KW EB GT/Sprint motor in to the base cars?
What would the later E-Series had? 215, 220, 230 KW????????

What would my GT have noe if the I6 was turbo'd back in 1987?????

D

[schnoods]

Originally Posted by DJL351

Put it another way....

If the Turbo I6 was intro'd in the EA...

What level of output would we have seen for the EB-ED V8?
Would having the I6 "charged" cause Ford to push the 200KW EB GT/Sprint motor in to the base cars?
What would the later E-Series had? 215, 220, 230 KW????????

What would my GT have noe if the I6 was turbo'd back in 1987?????

D

Maybe thats what they shoulda done, from a v8 lovers point of view.

One thing that ticked me off was Ford playing catchup. No wonder there is so many VN SS's getting around, people have to get their fix somewhere!

Even with the introduction with the Gen3 with the holdens in the VTII, Ford still persisted with the 5.0L (not that its bad, i have one) and bringing the 220kw motor out 5 years late IMO.

Its the same with the shapes too, when Holden brought out the VR it took a while before the EF arrived, likewise with the VT - EL II and now with the VE with the Orion.

I just hope with the Orion that they bring out a Cracker of an 8!

[Ryan]

Long live the V8.

I don't care what anyone thinks, V8s hold a very special place over here.

Sure you can get a Turbo 4 or 6 that will whoop its a**, but the V8 will always sound better, and what's stopping strapping a Turbo or Supercharger on it anyway? (Seems alot of Import monkeys, are scared of facing forced V8s)

[TZENU]

Just like DJL351 said..
Follow the trend
Imagine what the power of the GT's would be now :evil3:

It would be HSV trying to keep up with the blue oval!

[Falcon_Phill]

My cats breath is more like vinegar.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by Falcon_Phill

My cats breath is more like vinegar.

Why, did you pickle it? :

[Mr Mooch]

I think my only argument is that there is nothing like the sound of a nicely tuned V8 through dual exhausts.

Mr Mooch

[Aeron]

I think there is always a place for the V8.

[Flouro_Joe]

Formula One got rid of the turbos, they had had their day.

[Mechan1k]

Meeoooww