5.0 vs. 3.8 decision again

[ppern]

my 2 cents. we all own genesis here so no need to bash anyone on the site.
i bought the v6 because that is what i could afford. never drove the v8. im sure the v8 is better. but for me the v6 is has enough power. Who even needs a v8 in today times. My mercedes E420 had 275hp in 1997 with a v8 and that was considered a lot back then. So yeah 311hp will do just fine.

 

[BRJACKET]

Back to me (the original poster). For some reason, I am leaning toward getting the black color in the 5.0. The black just looks a little more sporty to me (just my opinion) while other colors look like high end sedans. I have really swayed back and forth about the 5.0 and the 3.8. The main reason I am thinking about the 5.0 is that when my original 5.0 was in the shop for warranty they gave me a 3.8 loaner. I found that it had really good acceleration and was very pleased with the drive. However, in watching the mileage it only seemed to give me about 3 more miles per gallon than what I was getting with the 5.0. If the mileage difference was working out to be significant then I would be going with the 3.8 and would be very happy. It may just be the loaner I had but I was surprised with the mileage. I was driving in normal mode.

I also am looking to see which will give me the best deal and talking to a couple of dealers.

 

[Monolith2001]

Back to me (the original poster). For some reason, I am leaning toward getting the black color in the 5.0. The black just looks a little more sporty to me (just my opinion) while other colors look like high end sedans. I have really swayed back and forth about the 5.0 and the 3.8. The main reason I am thinking about the 5.0 is that when my original 5.0 was in the shop for warranty they gave me a 3.8 loaner. I found that it had really good acceleration and was very pleased with the drive. However, in watching the mileage it only seemed to give me about 3 more miles per gallon than what I was getting with the 5.0. If the mileage difference was working out to be significant then I would be going with the 3.8 and would be very happy. It may just be the loaner I had but I was surprised with the mileage. I was driving in normal mode.

I also am looking to see which will give me the best deal and talking to a couple of dealers.

There's been plenty of polarization of engine choice but ultimately if you have no concerns for price then you should get a another V8 Ultimate. As you said, the fuel economy difference is not substantial unless you drive the V6 leisurely. If the V8 Ultimate is above what you want to pay again and you think you'd be okay with the V6, then maybe you should consider a V6 Ultimate.

Color is completely subjective and we have always been fans of black cars but for the Genesis, black just hid too many of the great lines so we went with the Manhattan Brown. We considered white (which we normally hate) looked so sweet with the panoramic roof and would have really have looked boss once we tinted it but the Brown just looked unique and rich.

 

[jimb100]

There's been plenty of polarization of engine choice but ultimately if you have no concerns for price then you should get a another V8 Ultimate. As you said, the fuel economy difference is not substantial unless you drive the V6 leisurely. If the V8 Ultimate is above what you want to pay again and you think you'd be okay with the V6, then maybe you should consider a V6 Ultimate.

Color is completely subjective and we have always been fans of black cars but for the Genesis, black just hid too many of the great lines so we went with the Manhattan Brown. We considered white (which we normally hate) looked so sweet with the panoramic roof and would have really have looked boss once we tinted it but the Brown just looked unique and rich.

With mostly stop and go suburban driving I get 20 MPG with my V8. If you get 25 with the V6 (YMMV) you would use 100 fewer gallons of gas a year, assuming 10,000 miles. At $2.50 a gallon you save about $20 a month on gas. Driving a $45-55k car and saving $20 a month on gas doesn't seem like much of a plus for the V6.

 

[Monolith2001]

With mostly stop and go suburban driving I get 20 MPG with my V8. If you get 25 with the V6 (YMMV) you would use 100 fewer gallons of gas a year, assuming 10,000 miles. At $2.50 a gallon you save about $20 a month on gas. Driving a $45-55k car and saving $20 a month on gas doesn't seem like much of a plus for the V6.

I think I would go with saying that I preferred the V8 and accepted that it would have higher run costs. If I tried to economize it using your example, it makes me even more satisfied with the V6.

Your numbers are generous for the V6 with the way I drive but I suspect my V8 numbers would be low end as well but I will use your numbers. We average 25,000 miles a year. We typically start looking at a new car once we pay it off (5 years). That means we will have 125,000 miles or so. Doing the math, we would use 5000 gallons vs 6250 for the V8. Assuming we can keep the reasonable gas prices at around $2.50, we'd end up spending an extra $3100 or so. That is not trivial money and most things seem cheaper when you break it down overt time.

 

[jimb100]

I think I would go with saying that I preferred the V8 and accepted that it would have higher run costs. If I tried to economize it using your example, it makes me even more satisfied with the V6.

Your numbers are generous for the V6 with the way I drive but I suspect my V8 numbers would be low end as well but I will use your numbers. We average 25,000 miles a year. We typically start looking at a new car once we pay it off (5 years). That means we will have 125,000 miles or so. Doing the math, we would use 5000 gallons vs 6250 for the V8. Assuming we can keep the reasonable gas prices at around $2.50, we'd end up spending an extra $3100 or so. That is not trivial money and most things seem cheaper when you break it down overt time.

You're buying a $50,000 car and, to you, $3k over 5 years and 125,000 mi. Is a big deal?

You should buy the V6.

 

[amartz]

At the time I bought my 2012 3.8, only the V6 was GDI. The V8 was still multi-port injected. Between that and the significant price jump, I went with the V6, and haven't missed having a V8 all that much. And I have owned performance V8s before, so I know what I'm missing.

 

[Monolith2001]

You're buying a $50,000 car and, to you, $3k over 5 years and 125,000 mi. Is a big deal?

Well yeah. $3,000 is $3,000 and will fund a lot of things I like to do besides driving. Don't get me wrong, if the V8 puts a smile on someone's face that the V6 doesn't, maybe that's worth 3K to them and that's perfectly valid. I am not a guy who lives for my cars and I have a lot of buckets that the money is better spent on.

It may just be a philosophy thing. I scrutinize my bills for those $1.95 fees that they tack on even though it's not a lot of money. I don't spend money I don't want or need to. When I go to buy a car I never go for the "how much can you pay per month?" discussion (the few times I've done dealer financing). Tell me what the car costs and we go from there. I wouldn't finance $53,000 if I could get it for $3,000 less even though the monthly payments wouldn't be terribly different.

 

[jimb100]

Well yeah. $3,000 is $3,000 and will fund a lot of things I like to do besides driving. Don't get me wrong, if the V8 puts a smile on someone's face that the V6 doesn't, maybe that's worth 3K to them and that's perfectly valid. I am not a guy who lives for my cars and I have a lot of buckets that the money is better spent on.

It may just be a philosophy thing. I scrutinize my bills for those $1.95 fees that they tack on even though it's not a lot of money. I don't spend money I don't want or need to. When I go to buy a car I never go for the "how much can you pay per month?" discussion (the few times I've done dealer financing). Tell me what the car costs and we go from there. I wouldn't finance $53,000 if I could get it for $3,000 less even though the monthly payments wouldn't be terribly different.

Like I said, the V6 is the right choice for you.

This discussion seems to go round and round but I think you hit the nail on the head.

If you just want a nice, big car to drive from point A to point B while thinking of other things, the V6 is perfect for you.

If you value the V8's performance, the electronic suspension and a more involved driving experience, that's who the V8 is for.

I don't think its anything more than the difference in people.

But, not talking about you, for some to say that because the V6 is 'good enough' for them the V8 is 'overkill', unnecessary is trying to make a personal choice a universal truth.

I don't care what motor you choose for your car and lots of people who buy Mercedes, Audi and BMW don't care what motor is in their car. But all these companies and Hyundai, offer motors and options for people who do care how their car performs and handles.

No body says you have to care and those who don't are certainly in the majority.

 

[Monolith2001]

@jimb100: Agree with all that except "a more involved driving experience" since I don't know what that means. For me that is a manual trans and a peaky engine, riding my bike or parking my Armada.

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[jimb100]

@jimb100: Agree with all that except "a more involved driving experience" since I don't know what that means. For me that is a manual trans and a peaky engine, riding my bike or parking my Armada.

Hustling a big car through turns using the accelerator is a more involved driving experience.

As opposed to completing the turn, centering the wheel then applying the gas pedal.

 

[Brooklynk5]

If you get the 5.0 get the grey lol again . 3.8 get the Montecito Blue