[brucepick]

OK, I didn't differentiate between hp vs. torque. Torque is more significant in just about every meaningful sense.

For trucks that need to be large and have large load capacities of course the needs are different.

But many large vehicles drive to work daily, carrying only a driver and a lunch or a few papers. I just don't buy the concept that these vehicles need to have a load capacity of one or two tons, and that the engines need to move that load as if the weight weren't there.

I'm still driving a beast I bought when gas was $1.60. I bought my first Volvo wagon when I had a business that required me to be able to lug stuff around and it served very well. Now with gas above $3 and climbing, my next car will be smaller and get better FE - but that's off in the future somewhere.

Meanwhile, I'm doing what I think most of us are doing - attempting to get the best possible FE from our current vehicles.