Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
The 1st gen S-10/GMC S-15 was Cd 0.475 and with mild streamlining (Gale Banks Syclone ) got down to Cd 0.315 which was lower than a Corvette at the time.
Your grandad's S-10,in 2WD configuration is Cd 0.42,a much cleaner starting point.
If this lower drag,smaller frontal area,lighter truck can handle your hauling and pulling duties,then it would have better 'beginning' parametrics than the Dodge.
With a comprehensive streamlining package you could drop below Cd 0.2.
This would get you easily above 30 mpg,based on early powertrains.
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The S-10 is a 4.3L 6 cylinder 4x4 with off road package and a medium aggressive tread pattern. It's rated at 14/18 15mpg combined with the automatic tranny.
My full size turbo diesel easily gets better fuel economy even with a full load. I like the Dodge better because I have pulled heavy with it before, I can crash through the forest without caring about dents, and it has bench seating. The downside is it has 350,000 miles on it, the brakes suck, the AC is out, the speedo and cruise stopped working, and the front end is perpetually sloppy. Oh, and it needs a tranny rebuild.
I suspect the only reason the Chevy doesn't have more problems is that it only has 60k miles on it.
I've thought about a bed topper for either truck, but I only drive the thing when I'm hauling something.