Why the apparent hate for 4-pots?

[gazchap]

Surely it's not just because they (generally) sound awful compared to V*s and I5/6s?

Is it because the Barry Club of Great Britain tends to drive around in 4-pots with trashcans attached to the back?

[MadRob6]

Probably because they're so mainstream and generally a bit dull.

I quite like my 4-pot though, has a nice sound to it and everything but then not everything has a 2.5 litre 4-pot

[Zip106]

For a moment there I thought you meant brakes.

No, it's just snobbery.

[ewenm]

I've got a 4, a 5 and an 8. The 4 sounds fantastic in its current application and is perfectly suited to the job (light, revvy, powerful enough yet economical if need be).

I suspect many people dislike 4-cyls because they've only experienced them in under-powered over-weight cars.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

I suspect because they are generally used in pretty humdrum vehicles, and well, sound a bit dull compared to the alternatives.

[Gad-Westy]

It's only the noise for me, though I certainly don't hate four pots. It's just that a great sounding four pot is an exception rather than general rule.

[kambites]

Familiarity breeds contempt.

I don't even think I4s sound objectively worse than other cylinder layouts. They're just common and hence dull. If we'd all grown up in a world where I3s were the norm, I suspect an I4 would sound exotic and exciting.

Edited by kambites on Friday 6th August 10:23

[patmahe]

To be honest I think its a lot of butch posing. Certainly a 4-pot won't sound as good as a 6-cylinder (straight or V) or V8. But they are good, simple, reliable engines generally, that are simple to work on yourself.

It might be nice to tell someone, I have a big V8 or whatever but the costs of running and maintaing that engine properly can be very high. I'd also say that due to having less power you often find 4 pots are very driveable engines - easy to extract the best from. I find 6 and 8 cylinder engines a bit more difficult, but then I don't have much experience of them so maybe its just a matter of practice.

[Isimmo]

Zip106 said:

No, it's just snobbery.

Nail, head... Hit....

[Zip106]

I have a flat 6 and I don't think it sounds all that good. (but it certainly shifts )

Much prefer the sound of a V but I've had some pretty decent 4 pots in my time.

[C2]

As a rule most 4 pots do sound dull and boring to me, however there are exceptions.

E30 M3 with the Groupe A Carbon Intake, now that's a sound no car enthusiast can scoff at. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS2Qr8RY4ns&pla...

[Mr E]

I actually quite like the k series in the back of the Elise

[aka_kerrly]

Isimmo said:

Zip106 said:

No, it's just snobbery.

Nail, head... Hit....

willy waving isnt it. Like my old boss who used to bang on about how much better his V6 was due to its power delivery, smoothness, how exotic sounding it was and in his view only proper cars had more than 4 cylinders. His car, a Vectra v6 has one of the laziest underpowered V6s i have ever experienced.

dave

[Kozzy]

Does anyone here dislike the sound of a flat 4? The Subaru's forced induction flat fours sound fantastic IMO.

Anyone watching live rally events will know how good 4 cylinder engines can sound.

[cv01jw]

I think it just depends on the 4 pot engine in question.

I have only ever had 4 cylinder cars; my current 1.6 Octavia is dull and sounds awful when revved but the 1.8 VVC I had in the 25 was great and sounded fantastic when you gave it some welly.

I am (as of tomorrow) moving up to the joys of a 5 cylinder car so might change my opinion soon though!

[Gad-Westy]

Kozzy said:

Does anyone here dislike the sound of a flat 4? The Subaru's forced induction flat fours sound fantastic IMO.

Anyone watching live rally events will know how good 4 cylinder engines can sound.

I never quite know if I like the noise or not but they certainly sound different. Always know an Impreza noise before I see the car.

[thinfourth2]

C2 said:

As a rule most 4 pots do sound dull and boring to me, however there are exceptions.

As a rule most cars do sound dull and boring to me, however there are exceptions.

[Zip106]

Kozzy said:

Does anyone here dislike the sound of a flat 4? The Subaru's forced induction flat fours sound fantastic IMO.

Anyone watching live rally events will know how good 4 cylinder engines can sound.

Having had one years ago it still makes me smile when I hear one.
IMO, Subaru's turbo'ed 4 sounds better than my Porsche turbo'ed 6.

(Ooo.... thats done it...)

[Jag-D]

For me it's because I've grown up with Cologne and Essex V6, Ford V8s, Rover V8s and indeed Chev V8s

Owned a couple of straight 6 BMWs and never thought I could enjoy a 4 pot...

Then I bought a facelifted Vecturd Estate and the 1.8 engine made me laugh. Pretty game for a 1.8 dog transporter, always sounded quite good for a four banger and decent mpg.

The Volvo didn't sound so exciting, but it was a lovely car and served me well

Then I ended up getting the MX5 and to be honest, the 4 pot sounds ace!

No doubt I will be back with big engines at some point,but now I appreciate 4 pots more

[RobM77]

aka_kerrly said:

Isimmo said:

Zip106 said:

No, it's just snobbery.

Nail, head... Hit....

willy waving isnt it. Like my old boss who used to bang on about how much better his V6 was due to its power delivery, smoothness, how exotic sounding it was and in his view only proper cars had more than 4 cylinders. His car, a Vectra v6 has one of the laziest underpowered V6s i have ever experienced.

dave

The engineering truth is that obviously if there are more bangs per revolution the engine's going to be smoother, sound different and drive differently, that's not snobbery, it's just common sense. I think "hate" is too strong a word for a four pot, but I can understand people preferring more cylinders to four.

As for the Vauxhall V6, obviously if you like V6s you can't say you prefer all V6s to I4s, because obviously some are going to be utter piles of poo (like the standard Vx V6), and some are glorious (the NSX V6 for example).