Vue 2004, V4 5-speed Manual---Opinions?

My husband and I test drove a Vue today. We took it on the highway and it
seemed to have good power even though it was only a V4, 5-speed. So, I am
wondering if there are any red flags with this car that any of you know of?
We could go to the V6 FWD automatic, but we may want to buy another car
(possibly an Ion 2, 2004), and the V4 manual makes this option much more
affordable. We also like the better fuel economy. Thanks for any help.

In article <XsMyc.30293$1c4.18699@fed1read06>,
says...
> I've heard good stuff about the Ecotech engine - and you can't go wrong with
> a traditional manual transmission either.

Though the ecotec is a good engine I wouldnt get a suv or van or
anything larger than a L300 with a 4 cylinder. Small displacement
engines tend to be too overworked to last or get good fuel mileage in
big vehicles. If one desides on a ecotec in a vue a manual is a must.

> Small note: It's actually an I4 (inline 4, meaning the 4 cylinders are in a
> row). A bazillion years ago Saab made a V4 with dual exhaust, pretty neat.

V4's are rare, usually if its not inline its horizontally opposed. Eh...
The weirdest engine i've seen was a V5. I think audi makes that.

Blah blah wrote:
> The weirdest engine i've seen was a V5. I think audi makes that.

How do you 'V' a five banger? I know there are straight 5's but I'm
interested in how a V5 is put together.

Cheers!

Glomis

In article >,
says...
> Blah blah wrote:
> > The weirdest engine i've seen was a V5. I think audi makes that.
>
> How do you 'V' a five banger? I know there are straight 5's but I'm
> interested in how a V5 is put together.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Glomis

Very very carefully

Honda
http://www.bikernet.co.za/library/mo...es/honda-2.jpg

VW
http://www.semler.dk/press/pressimag...6534_small.jpg


You just have to change the seperation in the crank journals and the
crank weights. The pistons no doubt dont share any crank journals so
they can be spaced out in what ever maner to make them the engine
smooth. Border line silly mostly.

I can't speak for the Saturn, but I have a Ford Escape with a 2.0 litre
4 with 5 speed trans, and it has plenty of power for moving the vehicle.
I also just returned from a 4500 mile vacation circuit and got 27.8 MPG
average over the distance. It has over 75,000 miles so far.
So, unless you're into heavy duty towing or need extra power to get to
the gas stations quicker (and more often), I wouldn't worry about a 4
cyl/5 speed combo on a vehicle like the Vue.
I've also read that the automatic CVT option on the Saturn is pretty
efficient compared to a normal automatic. I'm waiting for a few more
years to see how they hold up before getting one, though.

JPH

Blah blah wrote:

> In article <XsMyc.30293$1c4.18699@fed1read06>,
> says...
>
>>I've heard good stuff about the Ecotech engine - and you can't go wrong with
>>a traditional manual transmission either.
>
>
> Though the ecotec is a good engine I wouldnt get a suv or van or
> anything larger than a L300 with a 4 cylinder. Small displacement
> engines tend to be too overworked to last or get good fuel mileage in
> big vehicles. If one desides on a ecotec in a vue a manual is a must.
>
>
>>Small note: It's actually an I4 (inline 4, meaning the 4 cylinders are in a
>>row). A bazillion years ago Saab made a V4 with dual exhaust, pretty neat.
>
>
> V4's are rare, usually if its not inline its horizontally opposed. Eh...
> The weirdest engine i've seen was a V5. I think audi makes that.
>
>
>

That Honda pic is interesting. I just assumed that having three pistons on
one side and two on the other would unbalance the engine. I guess there
must be some correction somewhere. How does the engine compensate - I'm
guessing the firing order? And if that is so, then wouldn't the pistons on
the '2' side get more strokes than those on the '3' side?

And thanks again for those pics!

Cheers!

Glomis

"Blah blah" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
> > Blah blah wrote:
> > > The weirdest engine i've seen was a V5. I think audi makes that.
> >
> > How do you 'V' a five banger? I know there are straight 5's but I'm
> > interested in how a V5 is put together.
> >
> > Cheers!
> >
> > Glomis
>
> Very very carefully
>
> Honda
> http://www.bikernet.co.za/library/mo...es/honda-2.jpg
>
> VW
> http://www.semler.dk/press/pressimag...6534_small.jpg
>
>
> You just have to change the seperation in the crank journals and the
> crank weights. The pistons no doubt dont share any crank journals so
> they can be spaced out in what ever maner to make them the engine
> smooth. Border line silly mostly.
>

In article >,
says...
> That Honda pic is interesting. I just assumed that having three pistons on
> one side and two on the other would unbalance the engine. I guess there
> must be some correction somewhere. How does the engine compensate - I'm
> guessing the firing order? And if that is so, then wouldn't the pistons on
> the '2' side get more strokes than those on the '3' side?
>

No its the same crank, same number of rotations no piston fires more
than any other. It all has to do with balance. Its not like a v6 with
just 1 cylinders wacked off. There is no dead spot because the all the
pistons are spaced evenly apart in a 360 deg circle. The compensation
comes with the way the crank is balanced. Its no different than how a
inline 5 would work. The only reason its in a v5 configuration is to
save space so it can fit under the hoods of small cars. 4 pistons long
is as big as you can go when a engine is mounted transversely. An inline
5 or 6 would never fit in something the size of a cavalier.

Dork!

2 1/2 cylinders on each side.

Jeesh!

;-)



"Glomis" > wrote in message
...
> Blah blah wrote:
> > The weirdest engine i've seen was a V5. I think audi makes that.
>
> How do you 'V' a five banger? I know there are straight 5's but I'm
> interested in how a V5 is put together.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Glomis
>
>

Ok...I think I've got it now. Seems like an awfully complicated design
process though!

Blah blah
> No its the same crank, same number of rotations no piston fires more
> than any other. It all has to do with balance. Its not like a v6 with
> just 1 cylinders wacked off. There is no dead spot because the all the
> pistons are spaced evenly apart in a 360 deg circle. The compensation
> comes with the way the crank is balanced. Its no different than how a
> inline 5 would work. The only reason its in a v5 configuration is to
> save space so it can fit under the hoods of small cars. 4 pistons long
> is as big as you can go when a engine is mounted transversely. An inline
> 5 or 6 would never fit in something the size of a cavalier.

Hmmm...never thought of that! I'll try to put a little more thought into my
comments, lest I make a silly one again! :-)

Cheers!

Kirk Kohnen wrote:
> Dork!
>
> 2 1/2 cylinders on each side.
>
> Jeesh!
>
> ;-)
>
>
>
> "Glomis" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Blah blah wrote:
> > > The weirdest engine i've seen was a V5. I think audi makes that.
> >
> > How do you 'V' a five banger? I know there are straight 5's but I'm
> > interested in how a V5 is put together.
> >
> > Cheers!
> >
> > Glomis
> >
> >
>
>