I’m lookin at some cars on marketplace and I’ve come across some clean 85 lesabre coupes but they have the v6. I’ve driven 307 cars and while they are slow they’re still able to keep up with modern traffic enough to drive. Is the v6 that much slower or is the difference marginal?

 

Nice cars, the 307 is quicker but the V6 is considered a vastly superior engine...

Head to Head specs. 1985 Le Sabre coupe.

0-60 V6= 15.1
0-60 V8= 12.3

If you are an easy going driver both will do. But if you are the on the go type of driver, don't even consider the V6. Especially in busy cities. Anything over 10 seconds leaves you open to being cut off all day long in active traffic. Merging onto parkways and expressways with short entrance ramps was challenging with a Y code 307 for me 25 years back... My 87 Cutlass was slow back in the late 1990s, switched to an 85 Cutlass with the V6 and a shift kit and she merged easier... and was overall more fun to drive. Both were coupes. It's possible the cat was becoming increasingly clogged on the 87... But as an occasional driver it didn't overly bother me.

 

^^^ Good advice^^^

The 231CID is lighter than the 307CID making up for some of the torque and HP sacrificed with a 231 vs. a 307. The 307 is a lot smoother and IF an Olds 350 swap may be in your future, the 307 would be easier, neater and cleaner. The 231 doesn't have the 307 intake coolant leak corrosion problem to my knowledge and there is more room to work in the engine bay.

If I could pick either it would be the Olds 307 due to the extra torque and HP and the smoother running.

 

I owned a 96 98 with the Series II 3.8l and even being naturally aspirated it was a great car. If you want to get a car with the 3.8l get one that's supercharged though.

 

Thank you Sugar Bear. And right back at you.

I missed the weight difference between the 2 models and its chunky. The V6 version is 200 lbs lighter while having a TH200 to the V8s TH200-4R.

Yes sir. The end result of the average newer car having double the power they had around 1980. Now a days you need an intercooled 3.8 GN just to be able to efficiently navigate in modern traffic. From once owning the streets to barely making the cut today... wild. Even though the highest state speed limits have not changed much since 1970. The dance from 0-75 is key.