Best 3 cylinder car engine ever made?
Best 3 cylinder car engine ever made?
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Discussion

dvshannow

Original Poster:

1,660 posts

166 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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As per 4 and 5 cylinder thread but far smaller pool of candidates, 3 pots are hardly known for performance, sound or character

Anyone have any ideas for nominations?

Rough101

3,059 posts

105 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Volvo T3 is sewing machine smooth, we have one in the pool, you can forget to change gears it’s so quiet. No real turbo lag.

Truckosaurus

13,277 posts

314 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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I'm not a motorcyclist but I assume the Triumph Triple is suitably fruity.

For motorcars, the Ford triple in the latest Morgan 3-wheeler must be a contender for most characterful.

It is a shame that Lotus never got around to putting the Volvo T3 into anything.

paradigital

1,107 posts

182 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Rough101 said:
Volvo T3 is sewing machine smooth, we have one in the pool, you can forget to change gears it’s so quiet. No real turbo lag.
See, to me that would make it the worst 3-Cyl engine. To me one of the allures and charm of a 3-cyl is the off-beat thrum they can make, add a decent (but not obnoxious) exhaust note and in most situations they sound far better than a 4-cyl.

Unreal

10,883 posts

55 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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The 1.0 in the Charade GTti was special. The 1.6 in the GR Yaris is pretty amazing too.

AndrewGP

2,082 posts

192 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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The 3 cylinder in the GR Yaris is pretty amazing but I think the Ford Ecoboost paired with the road legal Formula Ford deserves a mention!


RosscoPCole

3,630 posts

204 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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VW Up GTi 3 cylinder is pretty special. Great engine for under 1 litre.

anonymous-user

84 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Koenigsegg Gemera TFG engine. Isn’t it about 600bhp? Not sure if it can run on its own without the electric motors though.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,037 posts

265 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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I chatted to a geezer at Snetterton who had the engine from one of these in his combo



He thought it was the dog's


Baked_bean

1,945 posts

222 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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I think that 3 cylinder engines can be very charming.

I like the 1.5 in the mk8 Fiesta ST, it is underrated IMO….revs well and has a nice power delivery.

anonymous-user

84 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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The original Smart triple was a brilliant wee thing, Daihatsu made some lovely triples, my F56 has a BMW 1.5 diesel triple which is a cracking engine also.

cuprabob

19,758 posts

244 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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The 3 cylinder 2 stroke in the Kawasaki KH750, nicknamed "The Widowmaker" at the time.

Equus

16,980 posts

131 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I chatted to a geezer at Snetterton who had the engine from one of these in his combo



He thought it was the dog's
The East Germans used to fit tuned versions of that engine into 3-point hydroplanes, which we used to race against with tuned Hillman Imp-engined boats. The Wartburg engine was not to be sneezed at, in tuned form. The Imp engine could give about 125bhp from 998cc, so the Wartburgs must have been about the same.

V 02

2,420 posts

90 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Ford 1.5 EcoBoost inline 3, is a hoot in the Fiesta ST

BMW B38 - being related to the excellent B48 (30i series) and B58 engines (M140i, 40i series) makes it especially pleasant. Makes a lovely noise, like a baby M140i especially with an exhaust. Quick enough and really stands out in the Mini Hatch, easily tuneable

Volkswagen 1.0TSI EA211, so refined while still retaining a bit of character, torquey for what it is.

Honda Earth Dreams P10A2 1.0 i-VTEC , again a characterful engine


Toyota G16E-GTS, because GR YARIS!

finlo

4,453 posts

233 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I chatted to a geezer at Snetterton who had the engine from one of these in his combo



He thought it was the dog's
Almost a very apt user name!

NDA

25,708 posts

255 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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My other half has an Audi A3 with a 1.4 3 cylinder engine.

I am not going to say this is a great engine - but I've had many cars over the years and was genuinely surprised how 'powerful' this car feels and drives. I'd have thought a 2 litre 4 cylinder. Shows how little I know I suppose, but it was my first time driving a 3 cylinder. She also pays £30 a year in road tax, which is about the same as driving a lettuce. £200 less than the EV road tax about to be charged.

V 02

2,420 posts

90 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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NDA said:
My other half has an Audi A3 with a 1.4 3 cylinder engine.

I am not going to say this is a great engine - but I've had many cars over the years and was genuinely surprised how 'powerful' this car feels and drives. I'd have thought a 2 litre 4 cylinder. Shows how little I know I suppose, but it was my first time driving a 3 cylinder. She also pays £30 a year in road tax, which is about the same as driving a lettuce. £200 less than the EV road tax about to be charged.
The A3 1.4 and 1.5 are 4 cylinders.

Only the 1.0tfsi is a 3 cyl

V 02

2,420 posts

90 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Not a bad noise from the BMW B38. Based on the B58 so it has quite a refined sound especially if paired up with an exhaust from the 6cyl

languagetimothy

1,779 posts

192 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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My Ibiza FR sport has a 1 ltr turbo 3cyl and goes quite well for all its 115hp. Takes off particularly well once in “sport” mode




InitialDave

15,141 posts

149 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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I'm going to cheat and say the Mazda 20B.