How many different engine configurations have you driven?

[YankeePorker]

So as I was driving this morning I was musing about the huge variety of engine configurations that are and have been available as means of propelling our cars. I started counting up how many different engine configurations I have driven (obviously not all personally owned) and quickly realised that I’d have to write this down to arrive at my conclusion. Results as follows (FE front engined, RE rear engined):

FE Flat 2 in-line (Citroen)
FE Straight 3 transverse (Opel)
RE Straight 3 transverse (Smart)
FE Straight 4 transverse (VW, Vauxhall, BMC, Lancia, etc)
RE Straight 4 transverse (Renault)
FE Straight 4 in-line (Merc, BMW, Volvo)
ME Straight 4 in-line (Commer)
RE Flat 4 in-line (VW)
FE Straight 5 transverse (Volvo)
FE Straight 5 in-line (Audi)
FE Straight 6 in-line (BMW)
FE V6 in-line (Dodge, Ford)
FE V6 transverse (Honda, Dodge)
RE Flat 6 in-line (Porsche)
FE V8 in-line (Dodge)
FE V12 in-line (Aston)

Grand total for me then of 16 different engine configurations driven unless I’ve overlooked others. I’ve never driven any mid-engined cars, and am missing various V and W engine designs, rear engine designs, rotary and other configurations that I’m sure others will raise. And then there’s the whole question of electric vehicles.

So how many of these and other boxes can you tick?


Edited to correct Audi 5 in-line.
Edited to add VW van with flat 4 in-line in the arse end.
Edited to add the appalling Commer van, my only ever mid-engined extravaganza.....

Edited by YankeePorker on Thursday 20th November 17:49

Edited by YankeePorker on Thursday 20th November 18:01

Edited by YankeePorker on Thursday 20th November 18:17

[PositronicRay]

I4 transverse
I4 inline
I4 Mid inline (don't laugh reliant Supervan 3)
I3 transverse
I5 inline
I5 transverse
V5 Transverse
V6 inline
V6 transverse
I6 Inline
V8 Inline
Flat 6 Rear
Flat 6 Mid
V8 Mid
V10 Mid
V10 Front
V12 Inline front
W12 Inline front

18

Don't ask me for turbos and gearbox combos as well, life's too short.

ETA some rotary thingies as well so 19

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 20th November 17:21

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 20th November 17:36

[Hudson]

I4 Petrol - Mondeo mk1
I4 Turbo-diesel - Mondeo mk3 tdci, Astravan (yawn)
I6 turbo-diesel - BMW E34
I4 twin-turbo diesel - BMW 123D
V6 petrol - Mondeo ST24
VR6 petrol - Golf 4motion
I5 petrol turbo - Focus ST225

(Driven, not owned)
V6 Twin turbo - Nissan GTR
V8 supercharged - Shelby GT500 (660bhp!)
V8 N/A x2 - 'Vette Z06 and Dodge Challenger
V12 - BMW 850i

12 in total.

[vit4]

I4 - all manner of dross
V6 - Alfa 156 GTA
I6 - various buses

D minus - must try harder

[YankeePorker]

Hudson you're cheating to get your numbers up, there was no breakdown for diesel/petrol or turbo/NA. Otherwise I'd have to do my count up all over again damn it!

We have a leader at 18.....

[YankeePorker]

PositronicRay - what was the inline 5?

[PositronicRay]

YankeePorker said:

PositronicRay - what was the inline 5?

Audi Coupe, 90, 100 & 200

[Andy665]

FE V2 - inline - Morgan
FE I3 - Aygo
FE I4 inline - lots
FE rotary - RX8
FE I4 transverse - lots
FE F4 - Alfasud Sprint
RE !4 - Grinnall
ME I4 - Toyota Previa
FE V4 - Fulvia
FE I5 inline- Audi 80
FE V5 Transverse - Bora
FE V6 inline - Audi A6, Passat
FE V6 transverse - GTV
FE I6 transverse - Wolseley 2200
FE I6 inline - E36 328i Sport
RE F6 inline - Boxster
FE VR6 transverse - Golf
RE V8 inline - Tatra
FE V8 inline - Jaguar S Type
FE V10 inline - LFA
RE V10 inline - R8
FE V12 inline - 550 Maranello

Edited by Andy665 on Thursday 20th November 17:52

Edited by Andy665 on Friday 21st November 16:12

Edited by Andy665 on Friday 21st November 16:14

Edited by Andy665 on Friday 21st November 16:16

[YankeePorker]

PositronicRay said:

Audi Coupe, 90, 100 & 200

Damn, I had the Audi 100 down as a transverse 5. Yay, one more for me then, up to 14.

[PositronicRay]

Andy665 said:

I5 - Audi 80

I'm gonna call foul on that one.4


ETA I'm wrong they did make one late saloon and cabrio

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 20th November 17:55

[Andy665]

PositronicRay said:

I'm gonna call foul on that one.

Mid 1980's Audi 80CD (B2)- 2.1 litre, carbs 115bhp - gutless

Edited by Andy665 on Thursday 20th November 17:57

[PositronicRay]

Andy665 said:

Mid 1980's Audi 80CD (B2)- 2.1 litre, carbs 115bhp - gutless

My bad.

[PositronicRay]

Andy665 said:

FE V2 - inline - Morgan
FE I3 - Aygo
FE I4 inline - lots
FE I4 transverse - lots
RE !4 - Grinnall
FE V4 - Fulvia
FE I5 inline- Audi 80
FE V5 Transverse - Bora
FE V6 inline - Audi A6, Passat,
FE V6 transverse - GTV
FE I6 transverse - Wolseley 2200
FE I6 inline - E36 328i Sport
RE F6 inline - Boxster
FE VR6 transverse - Golf
RE V8 inline - Tatra
FE V8 inline - Jaguar S Type
FE V10 inline - LFA
RE V10 inline - R8
FE V12 inline - 550 Maranello

Edited by Andy665 on Thursday 20th November 17:52

VR6 transverse and V6 transverse is splitting hairs a bit?

[Chris944_S2]

I3/4/5/6
V6/8
VR6
W8
V12

[kambites]

I haven't really kept track, but I can give at least one example of each of these:

Single cylinder moped of some sort.
Inline-3 Kia Picanto.
Inline-4 Elise.
Inline-5 Focus ST.
Inline-6 various BMWs.
V4 Transit.
V6 350Z.
Cross-plane V8 Mustang.
Flat-plane V8 Esprit.
V10 Audi S8.
V12 750i.
VR5 Golf
VR6 Corrado
Boxer-4 Impreza
Boxer-6 911/Cayman/Boxster
wankle - RX8

I'm pretty sure I've ridden a bike with an inline-2, but I'm buggered if I can remember what it was.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 20th November 18:30

[YankeePorker]

Just remembered all the miles I did in a friend's Commer van. Got to know that engine between the front seats very well unfortunately - does that count as mid-engined?

[PositronicRay]

Thanks for that Boxer 4 (alfasud and Subaru) up to 20 now

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 20th November 18:07

[Limpet]

Including bikes:

Single cylinder - BMW F650CS
Inline twin - Kawasaki GPZ500S
Inline three cylinder - Daewoo Matiz
Inline four - most vehicles I've owned
Inline five - Volvo S60 T5
Inline six - various BMWs
Vee Twin - Suzuki TL1000S
Vee four - Honda VFR 750
Vee five- Golf V5
Vee six - Alfa 156 2.5 V6
Vee eight - Audi A8 4.2
Vee twelve - Jaguar XJS
Flat twin - Citroen 2CV6
Flat four - Alfa 33 1.7ie

[PositronicRay]

YankeePorker said:

Just remembered all the miles I did in a friend's Commer van. Got to know that engine between the front seats very well unfortunately - does that count as mid-engined?

[YankeePorker]

You're cheating with the bikes - I'm waiting for the wag who counts his ride on lawn-mower now!