While I agree that boosted engines hardly ever achieve their claimed MPG, I’d argue they’re beneficial because they weigh less and provide equivalent or even more power than a larger engine option.

I’m the guy with the incorrect Mustang and Challenger engine options. Definitely did not do enough research and got those details wrong. Sorry about that.

Look at the Mustang now. The lighter weight, torquey Ecoboost 4cyl Mustangs are putting up comparable lap times compared to its V8 variant. I personally would prefer the V8 in my car, but the pentastar-powered Chargers/Challengers are nothing to turn your nose up to.

Very bad. 

Yup that makes more sense. I remember it being rather large for being so underpowered. 

That further proves my point. If the average car was that slow, it makes the “muscle car” from that era not seem as bad. Fast forward to 2006, where one can get a 300HP Mustang for under $30k, and Dodge is selling 4,000lb vehicles with less than 200hp in them. 

Hardly any vehicle made more than 300hp in that era.

Name another place where two people argue horsepower figures on one of the worst engines ever put in to a vehicle that weighed about 4,000lbs

Even the later gen vehicles had decent V6 power. Once the pentastar arrived, 300hp was the base power for vehicles in this segment

We’re both half right. The 2.7 made 190hp but it was never offered in the Challenger. We’re both in the ballpark lol

That span in the mid-2000s where Ford/Dodge’s entry level engine in their vehicles were anemic and paired with horrible transmission.

Ok I see where you’re coming from. I’m with you there

would probably give you about the same drivability and interior space, with much increased capacity.

I agree there. The obviously cheaper option is mirrors. I’m thinking more mainstream middle of the road vehicles. Every new car has a billions cameras and sensors for all the other safety goodies, why not two more cameras?

I’m a firm believer that most of those assists will make a worse driver. If you can’t exercise proper defensive driving, you’ll never improve it. Too reliant on lane keeping and blind spot detection.

That explains the lack of it in the states, but it seems to be the same worldwide as well

I honestly thought more vehicles would replace side mirrors with some sort of camera system. I’m personally glad they haven’t yet, but I thought that would arise before the self driving craze.

digital speedometers in cars have never made a significant dent in the market

Sumitomo Ice Edge winter tires. Also very effective on a RallyCross course.

I’ve seen you mention your cheap chinese winter tires a few times. So I’ll throw my experience in for your reference. I have Sumitomo Ice Edge winter tires that I also use for SCCA RallyCross. They were $50/tire which puts them in the “used tire” tier of price. The difference between them and my Pirelli P7 HP all…