engines?

[atomicpulse]

Which would be a better buy for a daily drive, a 4 cylinder or a V6 engine?

[Sticky]

It depends on the engine...A honda engine can go for awhile...and so can a Chevy 4.3 (217,000 Miles on my friends S-10). It also depends on how it is driven. I've heard bad things about chevy 4 bangers though.

[curtis73]

For a daily drive, the number of cylinders matters very little. A 2.0 liter 4-cylinder is just as capable as a 2.0 liter 6-cylinder, its just that typically the six is smoother since the power is divided among more pulses. Its all dependent on what you want. Look at power, torque, and MPG and choose the one that suits you best.

In general, for a daily drive, look at torque numbers. The higher the torque at the lower the RPM rating, the better your daily drive will be. The Honda S2000 makes tons of power from its little 2.0L engine, but you have to rev it to 7000 RPMs to get it. Fun to drive, but you have to drive it. It requires thought and a little different driving technique.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by curtis73

For a daily drive, the number of cylinders matters very little. A 2.0 liter 4-cylinder is just as capable as a 2.0 liter 6-cylinder, its just that typically the six is smoother since the power is divided among more pulses. Its all dependent on what you want. Look at power, torque, and MPG and choose the one that suits you best.

In general, for a daily drive, look at torque numbers. The higher the torque at the lower the RPM rating, the better your daily drive will be. The Honda S2000 makes tons of power from its little 2.0L engine, but you have to rev it to 7000 RPMs to get it. Fun to drive, but you have to drive it. It requires thought and a little different driving technique.

This lack of low-end torque is made worse by an automatic transmission.
Generally, pushrod engines make less peak power than an OHC engine, but make more low-end power and torque. This makes them well suited for an auto trans, especially around town.
GM has been roundly criticised for hanging onto pushrod engines, instead of going to an OHC design throughout their product line.
But for basic utility transportation such as in trucks, minivans and basic family cars their pushrod engines are IMHO more pleasant to drive than an OHC design.