<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Sniff
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blue nose
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:If you just have to have one, go for the Hemi.

?? What is an Hemi?[/quote]

It is a powerful type of engine. In this case a 5.7 litre V8

I would doubt if you would get one for rental, unless you saw Roger for one of his specialist cars.

Also why would you want one in Florida - the 3.5 litre engine has masses of power.
[/quote]The Hemi is the top of the range, it has an engine which shuts half of its cylinders down when not needed e.g. when your stuck in traffic or driving in town at low speeds,which means you should save a bit on fuel consumption.
[/quote]
Sorry, but that's not correct. The 300 may well shut down half its cylinders when not required, but that's not the definition of a Hemi. Hemi doesn't stand for 'half', as you might be suggesting.

Hemi (from "hemisphere") or "crossflow cylinder head" is a design of internal-combustion engine in which the cylinder head's combustion chamber is of hemispherical form. The term, "Hemi engine" is a trademark of Chrysler Corporation, though the concept is used by many manufacturers.

The hemispherical cylinder head increases the engine's efficiency through reduced thermal energy loss and increased airflow through the engine (a hemisphere has the lowest surface area to volume ratio, meaning the most space for combustion while losing the least amount of energy to the engine walls). Drawbacks such as increased production cost have meant that it has been a rare design. Placing the intake on the opposite side of the engine also reduces the air intake temperature and increases efficiency.

Chrysler have been making Hemi engines since the 1950s. Porsche and BMW are also notable users of the hemi design.
[/quote]


not all "crossflow engines" are hemis,infact most are not.jaguar were using a hemi engine in the 40's just before chrysler used them.

Dave