It's all in the engineering and what the people want and will buy. If you want fuel efficiency you aim for that and usually sacrifice HP. If you just want more HP you can play with how fuel is delivered, compressed and exhaust. Things like turbo charging are effectively force feeding the engine more that atmospheric pressure would give you making it behave as more displacement. If you want insane durability it may sacrifice fuel economy.

If you recall the air cooled VW Bug flat 4 cyl I was at a race track and without hiding some huge engine a guy or shop custom machined the engine such that it won that day doing a 9 second 1/4 mile! That's VERY fast if not familiar with times for that game. Engine may have only lasted a few races though - dunno and couldn't go talk to them but saw that in person. May not have used "gasoline" as the fuel either?

Lots of engineering and testing with compromises for what an engine can and will do. Factor efficiency, power, durability, price and demand for selling it all play a part. No Skodas sold in US that I know of. The US demands that a vehicle meet tons of specs to be sold here and many companies just won't do it,

T

Don't look at the horsepower only, look at the RPM level it is at and what the torque rating of the engine is. A small engine with a short stroke and little pistons will rev like crazy and can make nice HP but only at ungodly high revs and with almost nothing on the low end would be worthless on the street. Bear in mind that I can pull an 80,000 gross weight on a semi down the highway doing maybe 1500 RPM and the engine is only rated at 350hp. But it puts out 1000 foot-pounds of torque and thats why it can do what it does and last a million miles before it gets ovehauled if its properly operated and maintained.

Crack me up. Bought new, a '78 Honda 550 Four K bike that red-lined at something insane like 12,000 RPM! Say what! Freaking thing would do 70+ MPH in second gear if your arse stayed on the thing! Wanted the 750 but it was a bit taller and was more insane no doubt but I could put both of my heels on the ground on the 550 so I bought that one.

I know they make much more insane stuff now but that frickin bike was a nuke with power as it was for me. Always weighed nothing myself so it flew and would have with minimal wings.

Had to get a "sissy" bar for the back as I was losing passengers! Not into speed really but it was fun and amazing until what we call is a June Bug hit me like a cannon ball in the chest at some ungodly speed was like an elephant rifle shot!

OMG and more now than then,

T

Drove quite a bit one of 500 made Merc. Cougars with some unknown HP as they lie. Said 400 or so - Bull. Was 427 "R" coded (1968)

Thing would make you lips curl! Everyitng chrome underhood. Factory done - no games. INSANITY ON WHEELS! Have been told a mint one is a MIL $$ car right now!

The weird thing though is it did just fine with a 2006 s60, and have had no problem diagnosing BMW, MERC, etc but seems not to want to function on older models. Is is the software itself or just less info from the OBD available on older models?

Could be the evaporator is freezing up.

Do you hear the blower running when air isn't blowing out the vents? Does it blow out any of the other vents such as floor or defroster?

blessedvoldad : At a glance that sound like evaporator icing as mentioned. If so you would notice lower air flow out vents without changing fan speed setting and lack of condensate dripping out to ground which goes without notice driving along.

Seems like since you noticed this 300 miles into trip you are not going back for a fix no matter what unless it has some transferable warranty of some kind.

If, and this is still if icing and can duplicate it now where your destination is you could just park engine running when this happens and shut down A/C after noticing no water/condensate dripping and then as it melts would commonly make one huge puddle as it melts then work again. When happening you might also notice a frosted up return line from the evaporator seen underhood.

Could be some other cause entirely and needs the observations to begin to narrow it down. If you are going to take this on please indicate what what Skills and equipment you have. If under warranty and might be if even thru manufacturer do check on that.

If not taking on the problem just detail your observations as best you can to the shop of your choice that does have A/C experience and the equipment.

A/C is one area where doing things wrong easily makes problems worse and more expensive,

T

I guess it depends on how much you want to spend. I've noticed OTC is usally cheaper that SO especially on updates. I haven't used OTC too much but both OTC & SO have gaps in coverage. The advantage the Modis or Verus has over OTC is a 4 channel DSO compared to OTCs 2 channel.

If you are going to go with OTC it seems like a Pegisys might be a better bet, unless you are getting a real good deal on the Genisys. I got to use a Pegisys a little bit ago for just a little bit. I did like it's touch screen better than the Verus. Plus I noticed you got Euro & med truck as part of the package.

If you decide on SO I would stay away from the Verus right now. I think they released it to soon. Our shop got one a few weeks back & I still have got use to it yet. It's a nice unit but I've noticed when things get fast I still grab my Modis 1st......

I will have to admitt the Pegisys did impress me. I would like to demo one for a week... The one thing I'm leary about is the 2 channel scope. Most of time it's fine but there are a few times where you need that 3rd & 4th channel.....

i currently have the "pegishit" and have finally got otc to take it back.i have had nothing but trouble with it.i think it was released too soon.in 6 months i have had it it has been 2 otc 2 times amd updated at least 4 times.not a good product

What problems were you having with it?

I purchased an evo 4.0 6 weeks ago and found out the tool keeps locking up on me, I wasted my time with tech support and am now stuck with a tool that locks up every time I use it. The OTC reps point fingers at each other and I sit with a turd I have to send in for repair. That equals to me purchasing a tool that basicly is refurbished. tech support reads que cards. the famed printer option only works with obsolete printers. BIG PLUS is that the battery goes dead by itself in 3 days plugged into it so don't expect it to be ready when you need it. OTC tech says that is how the tool is designed and claims no secret to It. The classic does not have the battery drain so go for that one if you are not going to use it every day. I will be posting my experience with this tool on you tube so other people know what to expect because no customer service to keep customer happy equals bad publicity. the tool was neat when it works but it has made me lose more jobs because of not working. I was a loyal customer that started with a 2000. then a 4000. now a new evo that locks up every use. there is limited info about this unit so BEWARE ! now I am stuck with it and I don't want anyone else blindly purchasing this unit without a real world opinion about it from a former OTC loyal customer. Wish I would have at least tried the snap on unit.I was treated real bad in this deal ! I shure hope not every one is getting a lemon like mine.

Its been a year now and it has been sent to repair 3 times. still locks up after about 8 cars worth of use and it is out of warranty. the tech told me that I am messing it up somehow and that they will charge me to repair it. I am just going to have to post the conversation on you tube so everyone intersted in buying one can see how it turns out in the end.

I have a pico 4 channel high resolution scope.........I just need a scan tool.I have a auto enginuity scan tool/escan scan tool and a snap on scan tool....the mtg2500.I love my auto enginuity and also my escan.

Although the OTC will do much more on a GM product, I would prefer using the snap on any time. The menu system in the OTC is pretty slow.