TangoRed

I didn't mean for it to sound like that, just saying its certainly not more than ever.

It's not a result of gov't dictating per se...but I think of Mercedes phasing out the E550 (confirmed) and possibly the ML550 in the future, for example.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

v8's are still available, we get it, and they have to be getting better, because there has to be a reason for someone to spend a huge difference in price and less fuel economy. so that's not the point.

but what is the point, and cannot be disputed, is that car companies cannot make it compelling for large numbers of people to buy v8's (vs 4's, 6's) because it will HURT THEM with the increasingly demanding cafe.

sure cars like v8 mustangs and challengers are still available, but that's easy for them because the numbers are so TINY as far as impact to their overall cafe number.

but if you want to see the big shift on v8's, you've only got to look at the best selling vehicle in america, the f-150. i expect the majority sold are now v6's, which is directly because of cafe - ford's spent billions making their v6 'good enough' for truck owners so that it will help ford's overall cafe number improve (because they have no choice or pay massive fines).

anyone who thinks a v6 f-150 is better or the same as a v8 f-150 is delusional due to cost of vehicle and forced improvement of the v6, less and less people will enjoy the v8. but yes, your point that it's still available and that v8's continue to improve is obviously true.

so vehicle companies work to encourage people to accept and buy vehicles with smaller engines, fewer cylinders, screaming turbos, heavy cargo-restricting batteries, annoying start/stop features, etc.

Och

iTrader: (3)

See, I don't know if thats true in the case of F150. Most people buy these trucks for work, in fact a lot of them are purchased by companies and driven by employees. I don't think it matters for them what kind of engine it has, as long as its reliable and gets the job done. Hillbillies downsouth can still purchase a V8 version if they wish to do so.

mmarshall

Come on, Mike, read my posts. Where did I say that the V8 was dead? ...nowhere. I said that while, because of Government edicts, it is definitely being cut back and (generally) on the way out, exceptions would probably be made for heavier-duty trucks/SUVs and high-performance cars.