I am also trying to decide between the 3.0L in a 185 or 175 (same price!) vs the 4.3L in a 185. I will use it on a lake for skiing and cruising. Boattest has tests of a 176 which claim an incredible 9.5 MPG for the 176 with a 3.0L compared to less than 5.0MPG for the 185 with either the 3.0L or 4.3L and not much difference. Would this high MPG also be true for the recent 175 with the 3.0L?
176 with 135HP 9.5MPG at 3000 RPM http://www.boattest.com/boats/test_results_Printp.aspx?ID=162
185 (2006-) with 135HP 3.0L 4.94MPG at 3000RPM
http://www.boattest.com/boats/test_results_Printp.aspx?ID=968
185 (2006-) with 190HP 4.3L 4.86MPG at 3000RPM
http://www.boattest.com/boats/test_results_Printp.aspx?ID=967
Does anybody have experience with the 175 that confirms this high MPG on more recent model years?
I test drove the 4.3L 185 and thought it easily had enough power and is probablky worth the price difference, but if gas goes way up again, I might be wishing for the 3.0L in the 175.
------------------------
lakeray
176 with 135HP 9.5MPG at 3000 RPM http://www.boattest.com/boats/test_results_Printp.aspx?ID=162
185 (2006-) with 135HP 3.0L 4.94MPG at 3000RPM
http://www.boattest.com/boats/test_results_Printp.aspx?ID=968
185 (2006-) with 190HP 4.3L 4.86MPG at 3000RPM
http://www.boattest.com/boats/test_results_Printp.aspx?ID=967
Does anybody have experience with the 175 that confirms this high MPG on more recent model years?
I test drove the 4.3L 185 and thought it easily had enough power and is probablky worth the price difference, but if gas goes way up again, I might be wishing for the 3.0L in the 175.
------------------------
lakeray