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...
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
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
Renault f4r as found in the 1*2 rs clios. Its not a particularly nice noise most of the time but the slug of torque at 3k followed by all the power at 5.5k with a couple of k left to play with makes it feel wonderfully Cheeky.
The turbo version in the meg sounds like a fighter jet at full chat but loses some of the character of the NA
The turbo version in the meg sounds like a fighter jet at full chat but loses some of the character of the NA
I think there's an option somewhere for realistically affordable engines we should all experience, while these TVR and Honda engines I'm sure are great, they come attached to expensive cars.
For example, a Jaguar V8 can be had for not a lot of money. As can a Lexus V8, and a BMW V8 in a 7 series. A BMW straight 6 in any description (the 2.5 is fine, the 3.0 better) and a Rover V8 of some description isnt massive money with wheels and stuff attached.
A Volvo 5 cylinder turbo is well worth hunting out, easily under a grand for an S60 2.4T.
I actually quite like the K Series engine, the NA 180hp one
I dont have any plans to own one anytime soon though
For example, a Jaguar V8 can be had for not a lot of money. As can a Lexus V8, and a BMW V8 in a 7 series. A BMW straight 6 in any description (the 2.5 is fine, the 3.0 better) and a Rover V8 of some description isnt massive money with wheels and stuff attached.
A Volvo 5 cylinder turbo is well worth hunting out, easily under a grand for an S60 2.4T.
I actually quite like the K Series engine, the NA 180hp one
I dont have any plans to own one anytime soon though 
My two road car engines so far:
BMW M54 3.0ltr straight-six, a really lovely thing. Quiet and cultured at low revs and capable of impressive economy. The mid range shows plenty of torque and the noise gets a bit snarly. Keep it pinned and it sings round to the red line, showing enthusiasm, composure and creamy smoothness to the last rpm. Drive 60,000 miles with this engine in the nose of an E39 530i. Still my favourite all rounder.
Rover K-series 1.8. An engine with plenty of detractors based on a head gasket reputation (caused by the installation in some cars and some crappy Rover cost cutting dowls). But, stick it facing north-south in a caterham, tune it appropriately and its a fantastic engine. Shame the head gasket reputation overshadows the Kg/Bhp stats for an n/a engine, very impressive.
BMW M54 3.0ltr straight-six, a really lovely thing. Quiet and cultured at low revs and capable of impressive economy. The mid range shows plenty of torque and the noise gets a bit snarly. Keep it pinned and it sings round to the red line, showing enthusiasm, composure and creamy smoothness to the last rpm. Drive 60,000 miles with this engine in the nose of an E39 530i. Still my favourite all rounder.
Rover K-series 1.8. An engine with plenty of detractors based on a head gasket reputation (caused by the installation in some cars and some crappy Rover cost cutting dowls). But, stick it facing north-south in a caterham, tune it appropriately and its a fantastic engine. Shame the head gasket reputation overshadows the Kg/Bhp stats for an n/a engine, very impressive.
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