More power, or more cylinders?

More power, or more cylinders?

Author
Discussion

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

246 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
GravelBen said:
I would actually drive both instead of making a choice based on a number.
I absolutely agree with you. How a car works in the real world is much more significant than facts and figures.

ReedyGT

353 posts

176 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
I have had a few V6's but still prefer the noise (and get up and go) from my 4 pot....

Yes it has two turbos and is a boxer engine, but still prefer the character it to ANY other engine that I have owned... and that has been many!

jbi

12,671 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
You lose smoothness and refinement when going from 8 to 6 and from 6 to 4 cylinders.

It depends what you really want from the car.

Some people will suffer the poorer fuel economy to retain the characteristics of the increased cylinder count.

Volvo tries to cater to both crowds with it's inline 5.

Better balance than a 4 cylinder and better consumption than a 6

toon10

6,166 posts

157 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
As the owner of a 325 E90 I'd normally say I'd prefer the sound and creamy linear delivery of the 6 cylinder. I've never been a big fan of forced induction. Having said that, modern turbo's don't deliver the same nothing/everything jerky responses they used to. (I remember driving a Saphire Cosworth and I though it was broken until the turbo erventually kicked in!)

The 335 is supposed to feel more linear and not like a traditional turbo. I'd have to test the new 4 pot to see if I could live with it. I suspect it will still be smooth given BMW's engine advances but I'm not sure it will sound as nice.

In the past I've had 2 V6's and a 2.4, 4 pot Accord. I loved the revvy nature of the Honda but it never sounded as good as the 6 cylinder cars.

MR2_SC

316 posts

184 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Sometimes less cylinders are better. Especially when trading a four cylinder for a twin or single cylinder. Although i'd also like a v4... I guys the trouble is that an inline 4 is fairly common so people search for something a bit different with more character.

Edited by MR2_SC on Thursday 14th June 20:12

irocfan

40,388 posts

190 months

Friday 15th June 2012
quotequote all
For me it has to be a 5+ for the noise - I love my V8s and will be getting one again at some point (hopefully within 3 years). Forced induction is also fun - a supercharger on a V8 really does sound awesome

GravelBen

15,683 posts

230 months

Friday 15th June 2012
quotequote all
ReedyGT said:
I have had a few V6's but still prefer the noise (and get up and go) from my 4 pot....

Yes it has two turbos and is a boxer engine, but still prefer the character it to ANY other engine that I have owned... and that has been many!
Secondary warp mode is quite nice isn't it hehe