Affordable iconic engines we all should experience
Discussion
As all us petrol heads know, engines in modern affordable cars are getting less and less characterful and also suffer from delayed throttle response due to meeting ever lower co2 levels. We need to enjoy these N/A V6's and V8's whilst we still can as well as screaming 4 pots such as the v-tec Honda's.
I bought my busso as I wanted to experience it in it's last incarnation as a 3.2, having previously had a 2.5 in a 156. I'll be honest in the fact that as much as I love the lines of the Alfa Gt, I would not have had one without the busso. Engines for me make the car, and they can make me grin even on start-up, I love the busso's instant throttle reponse and that lovely creamy sound that turns into a race car scream as it gets on up the rev range, It feels so much quicker than it actually is on paper, plus the fact that it looks so good that most owners spend more time detailing the engine than the actual car;). You can experience this master piece of an engine for around a grand in a 156 in 2.5v6 form. A 3.2 starts at around £4k in a GT, 147/156 GTA or a late GTV, these cars will only appreciate from here on in as there are so few about.
What other great engines are out there that you think we all should experience as car lovers whilst we still can? They must be affordable so say under £10k, it doesn't matter about running costs or how fast they are, as we all know how something extremely fast with no character can be extremely boring as well...
I bought my busso as I wanted to experience it in it's last incarnation as a 3.2, having previously had a 2.5 in a 156. I'll be honest in the fact that as much as I love the lines of the Alfa Gt, I would not have had one without the busso. Engines for me make the car, and they can make me grin even on start-up, I love the busso's instant throttle reponse and that lovely creamy sound that turns into a race car scream as it gets on up the rev range, It feels so much quicker than it actually is on paper, plus the fact that it looks so good that most owners spend more time detailing the engine than the actual car;). You can experience this master piece of an engine for around a grand in a 156 in 2.5v6 form. A 3.2 starts at around £4k in a GT, 147/156 GTA or a late GTV, these cars will only appreciate from here on in as there are so few about.
What other great engines are out there that you think we all should experience as car lovers whilst we still can? They must be affordable so say under £10k, it doesn't matter about running costs or how fast they are, as we all know how something extremely fast with no character can be extremely boring as well...
V6todayEVmanana said:
Opened this thread expecting a photo of one of these, nice to see the 3.2 mentioned by the OP.
This one sits in my Alfa Gtv 3.0.
Lovely smooth delivery, screams at it goes up the Rev range. Nice low down torque for traffic and lazy driving.
Poor fuel economy in start stop but 27mpg cruising around 70 on the motorway.
Takes the punishment of track days even at 120k
Go on then ...This one sits in my Alfa Gtv 3.0.
Lovely smooth delivery, screams at it goes up the Rev range. Nice low down torque for traffic and lazy driving.
Poor fuel economy in start stop but 27mpg cruising around 70 on the motorway.
Takes the punishment of track days even at 120k
Monkeylegend said:
A bit older but the 150 bhp version 2.5 litre straight 6 in the TR6, and the Lotus twin cam in the Elan.
I would also agree with the Buick/Rover V8 in the TVR, any version.
Also the Merc 2.1 litre diesel.
Love that TR6 engine for sound, never driven one though unfortunately.I would also agree with the Buick/Rover V8 in the TVR, any version.
Also the Merc 2.1 litre diesel.
Merc 2.1 diesel? Christ! keep it clean please, no tractors.
Motorrad said:
I'm biased but the M119 5ltr V8 found in Mercedes from the 80/90s is fantastic.
Smooth, loads of power, low down grunt and loves to rev. It's great even now but must have been a marvel in it's day.
What do they sound like when liberated? I know they're super smooth and I bet they have a good soundtrack with the right exhaust modifications.Smooth, loads of power, low down grunt and loves to rev. It's great even now but must have been a marvel in it's day.
AmitG said:
Any Jaguar V12. A sublime driving experience, and a feast for the eyes and ears. Try one before they are all scrapped or legislated out of existence.
You can pick up a working XJ40 V12 with MOT for less than a grand. Of all the cars I have owned, I miss that one the most. No other car has given me the same sense of connection between man and machine.
I reckon it's worth a try at a grand as you can scrap it when the inevitable happens, or sell it for parts.You can pick up a working XJ40 V12 with MOT for less than a grand. Of all the cars I have owned, I miss that one the most. No other car has given me the same sense of connection between man and machine.
Most spend that just on upgraded suspension.
vrooom said:
tuned a-series with cam upgrade and tuned exhaust. it howls toward to redline. it is reliable too if you keep on top of it.
and I liked K-series. very responsive engine.
Lot of love for the K-series. I would never have even considered one before this, take it the V6 is the best one?and I liked K-series. very responsive engine.
300bhp/ton said:
Trouble is, some engines just aren't in cars I want to own.
No offence to the Alfa, but I'm not really interested in any of the FWD shopping cars they've made in the past 20 years. If I could afford a Lancia Stratos replica, then this is an engine I'd consider. But Alfa's themselves are just too "meh".
True, horses for courses and all that. I can see why a lot of people wouldn't like them or don't get them, but for certain people like me they get under your skin and you become an annoying fan boy. But like I say, I wouldn't be in mine if it wasn't for the engine, in fact I was never a big fan of the GT and wanted a 147/156 GTA, but the bloody thing has got me good and proper now. No offence to the Alfa, but I'm not really interested in any of the FWD shopping cars they've made in the past 20 years. If I could afford a Lancia Stratos replica, then this is an engine I'd consider. But Alfa's themselves are just too "meh".
But I also love the sound of a proper engine note going by and need to own as many as I can, whilst I still can.
rohrl said:
I'm not sure I'd agree with this.
My car is turboed and yet so long as you're above the boost threshold of about 2500rpm the throttle response is crisper than many modern naturally aspirated cars I've driven. Certainly better than my mother's Alfa 156 which had a very noticeable lag between putting your foot down and seeing the revs rise.
I think this is due to modern electronic management.
Your mom probably had an Alfa 156 twin spark?, which although is a nice engine and feels very lively in the upper rev ranges, it also has nothing below 3000rpm. Especially the 1.6 and 1.8 versions, the 2.0 had more torque so it wasn't as noticeable. I had 2 twin sparks and both felt like they had turbo lag below 3k, above that they come alive and sound great for 4 pots.My car is turboed and yet so long as you're above the boost threshold of about 2500rpm the throttle response is crisper than many modern naturally aspirated cars I've driven. Certainly better than my mother's Alfa 156 which had a very noticeable lag between putting your foot down and seeing the revs rise.
I think this is due to modern electronic management.
hornetrider said:
'Affordable iconic engines'
I'd go with the following.
1. VW VR6. Sub 2k will get you into a Golf VR6. Wonderful sounding engine, my first of greater than 4 cylinders. At the time reminded me of a touring car engine and was a quantum leap above all the 4 pots I'd had previously. Not powerful by today's standards but back in the day 176bhp and 60 in the low 7s felt quick!
2. Busso V6. No more needs to be said - 4k will get you a nice GTV, fill yer boots. Sensational.
3. Porsche flat 6. The howl of one of these on song is one of the all time great engine notes. Water cooled can be had for anything north of 5k however to get the even more sublime air cooled you're now realistically looking at 15k to the sky is the limit!
4. BMW inline 6. I've had a few of these in 2.8 and 3 litre guise. A lovely turbine smooth power plant with high levels of refinement. It's a great shame these engines are effectively legislated into history as they provide a wonderful driving experience.
5. BMW V8. My current engine. Smooth, powerful, lovely note and a fair pit of poke. Not as vocal as it could be albeit this can be remedied, I'd say the balance of power and yes, economy makes it a realistic everyday proposition for most folk if mileage isn't ridiculous and you can cope with high 20's average empeegees.
6. Mercedes supercharged V8. I've never owned one but from the moment I heard an SL55 AMG on full chat I knew that one day I would have to buy one. They simply sound awesome. And that engine in an E-Class is now very affordable so if you can afford the running costs then surely this has to be the pinnacle of what can be achieved for little cost.
Great post. I'd go with the following.
1. VW VR6. Sub 2k will get you into a Golf VR6. Wonderful sounding engine, my first of greater than 4 cylinders. At the time reminded me of a touring car engine and was a quantum leap above all the 4 pots I'd had previously. Not powerful by today's standards but back in the day 176bhp and 60 in the low 7s felt quick!
2. Busso V6. No more needs to be said - 4k will get you a nice GTV, fill yer boots. Sensational.
3. Porsche flat 6. The howl of one of these on song is one of the all time great engine notes. Water cooled can be had for anything north of 5k however to get the even more sublime air cooled you're now realistically looking at 15k to the sky is the limit!
4. BMW inline 6. I've had a few of these in 2.8 and 3 litre guise. A lovely turbine smooth power plant with high levels of refinement. It's a great shame these engines are effectively legislated into history as they provide a wonderful driving experience.
5. BMW V8. My current engine. Smooth, powerful, lovely note and a fair pit of poke. Not as vocal as it could be albeit this can be remedied, I'd say the balance of power and yes, economy makes it a realistic everyday proposition for most folk if mileage isn't ridiculous and you can cope with high 20's average empeegees.
6. Mercedes supercharged V8. I've never owned one but from the moment I heard an SL55 AMG on full chat I knew that one day I would have to buy one. They simply sound awesome. And that engine in an E-Class is now very affordable so if you can afford the running costs then surely this has to be the pinnacle of what can be achieved for little cost.
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