I'm not sure I see the logic in having the 3.9L on the GTP for 1 year, then upping to a 3.6L DOHC w/only 11 more horseys for 07. I know the 3.9L will continue on in th GT and convert, but it just sems like a lot of trouble for very little gain. And I doubt a 6sp manumatic with the 3.6L would be that much quicker 0-60 since the 3.9L manumatic can hold a gear up to redline, requiring only 1 shift on the way to 60. No shift at all if you're naughty... Hopefully the 6sp auto will be a manumatic with the same characteristic of holding a gear up to/past redline.
Posts by mphred
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The boatload of torque the 3.9L has is available at a very low 2300-2500 rpm from what I've read. I have no doubt that there will be slight improvement in acceleration 0-60 on the new 3.6 while in auto mode because of the gearing, but when I really want to move out from a standstill, I put the tranny in it's manual mode. I seriously doubt that the DOHC's torque peak is below 3000 rpm (DOHC's are inherently revvier) and the difference in quickness will probably be negligible between the '06 and '07 GTPs. There's just not a big difference between 6.2 sec and 6.5 secs anyway, IMHO. Definiely not a reason to trade an '06 for an '07 GTP. If I were looking to buy right now, I'd wait for the '07. Just a more modern, efficient, lighter package. But I'm not going to slit my wrists just yet or even think about trading in my new '06 until A) the warranty is up or B) the car is significantly upgraded. By the time GM gets around to doing that, something else will have probably captured my imagination...
Yeah, you're right about an OHC being a more efficient package than an OHV. Wonder what Ferrari could wring out of 3.9L OHV or 3.6L OHC. I guess my personal disappointment with the 3.6L is the fact that that is a huge (relative) amount of displacement and losing only 0.3L in a transition to OHC design it "could have been a contender"- translated: should be light years ahead of the 3.9L numbers-wise, and yet it is awful close to the power output of the older design. I'm sure GM plans to get moe power out of it down the road, though.
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