BUICK 3800: The best engine EVER!
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Knoxville, TN
I dont think it was FWD, I'm pretty sure it was actually a BOF with live rear axle. I may be wrong.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
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From: Maryland
Every minivan I’ve ever driven lights the front tires up real easy.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,271
Likes: 549
From: Knoxville, TN
BTW they dropped the AWD in the Previa and switched to FWD when the S/C came out; it was a front-based system.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
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From: Maryland
No, you are not correct. The Previa was mid engined RWD and mid engined AWD. They were not FWD. Look it up...I did.
1990s Chrysler vans lit the front tires up. It’s the mass of the van and the low traction of the FWD. Other minivans were RWD.
1990s Chrysler vans lit the front tires up. It’s the mass of the van and the low traction of the FWD. Other minivans were RWD.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,312
Likes: 510
From: Long Island
basically everything about 90s GM (actually just GM in general) is just cheap plastic junk... you had cars with a 5.7 liter V8 that barely made 250 hp, the same figure toyota was able to get from a V8 nearly 2 whole liters smaller while being even more reliable
even the 3800 makes terrible figures for its size, and are known to eventually start leaking coolant internally from it's plastic intake manifold to the point that the engine can hydrolock, it's also just horribly antiquated
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,562
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From: ON/NY
uhh... what? 90s toyota had possibly the best powertrains ever! you had things like 1UZ, 2JZ, 1MZ, 1FZ (what's in your LX 450) etc... it was often known for the bodies / frames to start going but the engine would keep going
basically everything about 90s GM (actually just GM in general) is just cheap plastic junk... you had cars with a 5.7 liter V8 that barely made 250 hp, the same figure toyota was able to get from a V8 nearly 2 whole liters smaller while being even more reliable
even the 3800 makes terrible figures for its size, and are known to eventually start leaking coolant internally from it's plastic intake manifold to the point that the engine can hydrolock, it's also just horribly antiquated
basically everything about 90s GM (actually just GM in general) is just cheap plastic junk... you had cars with a 5.7 liter V8 that barely made 250 hp, the same figure toyota was able to get from a V8 nearly 2 whole liters smaller while being even more reliable
even the 3800 makes terrible figures for its size, and are known to eventually start leaking coolant internally from it's plastic intake manifold to the point that the engine can hydrolock, it's also just horribly antiquated
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,628
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: WA
There was never a FWD Previa in the US.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,562
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From: ON/NY
That may be one reason why they are long-lasting. Lower power often means less stress on the engine's internals, unless people floor the pedal all the time trying to make up for that lack of power....and something tells me, from watching how you posted for the last 10 years, that you usually don't drive that way.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,312
Likes: 510
From: Long Island
They are good but not as spec competitive. We have two 90s powertrains. They are super long lasting, smooth and well built. But they lack competitive power. I think our LX is 210hp and my 4Runner is 235hp in 2004. General Motors was clearing far better power figures in the 90s. I think GMs 4.8 was at 285hp in 1998
also according to the almost always accurate wikipedia, the 4.8 in 1999 only made 255 hp and wasn't until a few years later it was rated at 285