Is the engine the most important part of the car for you?
Discussion
My suspension is most notably more important than the engine on one car I have as it is just unswervingly fantastic, the engine is very nice but a little lacking in raw Bhp (very acceptable torque) but is very good driver in modern traffic. (Système de contrôle actif du roulis, SC-CAR)
Es9j v.6
My daily, the important thing is comfort so I choose with that bias, the engine is a bog standard 2ltr turbo oil-burner.
My shopping car....who cares it cost £105 pounds
Es9j v.6
My daily, the important thing is comfort so I choose with that bias, the engine is a bog standard 2ltr turbo oil-burner.
My shopping car....who cares it cost £105 pounds
Well my E92 M3 was definitely better with a working engine under the hood!
But seriously, a mediocre engine with a good chasis can still work - Lotus of early days are a good example.
MX-5 have had a variety of engines - personally i thought the Mk 1 and 2 had underpowered, albeit reliable, heavy lumps (maybe they just wanted it to sound like an MGB), whereas the Mk3 and 4 have above average powerplants. I don't think they have to tick every box but some combination of 1. character 2. decent power output 3. reliability & fuel economy is very desirable. Does a 320d/520d satisfy 1 and 3? I'm not sure about that.
But seriously, a mediocre engine with a good chasis can still work - Lotus of early days are a good example.
MX-5 have had a variety of engines - personally i thought the Mk 1 and 2 had underpowered, albeit reliable, heavy lumps (maybe they just wanted it to sound like an MGB), whereas the Mk3 and 4 have above average powerplants. I don't think they have to tick every box but some combination of 1. character 2. decent power output 3. reliability & fuel economy is very desirable. Does a 320d/520d satisfy 1 and 3? I'm not sure about that.
Edited by fido on Monday 20th May 11:47
Good question.
The engine has always been very important to me both in terms of the power it makes and the sound. It wasn't always the case but these days I can happily tolerate tradeoffs in handling and chassis balance to get the right engine.
All my Merc's have been, to varying degrees, relatively blunt instruments. But I've never grown tired of the little rock they do when the unfeasibly large V8 fires up or the gorgeous noise they make.
I don't do B Road scratching so the handling is a secondary concern to me as long as the car is able to dismiss fast sweepers and handle long motorway journeys effortlessly
The noise, the wall of torque and the slightly incongruous top end do it for me all day long.
As I've said in other posts I drove an E46 320D extensively and loved the steering and balance but the whole experience didn't work because of the engine. I found the noise very intrusive and i had to constantly play with the gear box to keep it in it's relatively narrow torque band. Both of those things would have driven me nuts in stop start London traffic.
FWIW my ideal E46 would have been one of the larger engined Alpina 6 pot petrols. I did have a look back in the day but couldn't find one so went AMG C43 instead. Which is the definition of a car somewhat dominated by the engine. Not everyone's cup of tea but it suited me when I had to get something "family friendly" and I've just stuck with that formula ever since.
The engine has always been very important to me both in terms of the power it makes and the sound. It wasn't always the case but these days I can happily tolerate tradeoffs in handling and chassis balance to get the right engine.
All my Merc's have been, to varying degrees, relatively blunt instruments. But I've never grown tired of the little rock they do when the unfeasibly large V8 fires up or the gorgeous noise they make.
I don't do B Road scratching so the handling is a secondary concern to me as long as the car is able to dismiss fast sweepers and handle long motorway journeys effortlessly
The noise, the wall of torque and the slightly incongruous top end do it for me all day long.
As I've said in other posts I drove an E46 320D extensively and loved the steering and balance but the whole experience didn't work because of the engine. I found the noise very intrusive and i had to constantly play with the gear box to keep it in it's relatively narrow torque band. Both of those things would have driven me nuts in stop start London traffic.
FWIW my ideal E46 would have been one of the larger engined Alpina 6 pot petrols. I did have a look back in the day but couldn't find one so went AMG C43 instead. Which is the definition of a car somewhat dominated by the engine. Not everyone's cup of tea but it suited me when I had to get something "family friendly" and I've just stuck with that formula ever since.
Edited by AC43 on Monday 20th May 11:51
I think it's an important part of the package but I'm not sure if it's the most important. My LS400 had a beautifully smooth V8 but without the gearbox you could barely feel change and an interior so well insulated and comfortable you felt like you were driving around in your living room, it probably wouldn't have felt as special.
Edited by oilslick on Monday 20th May 12:24
Yes. I would rather an ordinary handling car with an incredible engine than a incredible handling car with an ordinary engine.
This is because I accept I'm probably not a skilled enough driver to notice the nuances between a great handling car and a merely ok one.
A great engine though, can excite from the very first turn of the key, or even just idling in traffic. For the past few years and into the future, I'd never pick a diesel or a four cylinder (unless boxer) probably for this reason.
My daily is an E46 with the 3.0 petrol, a modern day G30 2.0 diesel probably goes much, much faster, handles neater and is more economical to boot, but I couldn't ever be tempted to swap. I'm happier with a bigger, dumber, better sounding engine in something that probably (?) doesn't corner as well.
In a similar vein, the outgoing M140i is by far and away the most desirable hot hatch ever made for me, purely because of that growly 6 pot being so much more appealing than anything with a 4. It might not be the best handling but I probably wouldn't be able to tell just how much better a Type-R is or isn't for example.
This is because I accept I'm probably not a skilled enough driver to notice the nuances between a great handling car and a merely ok one.
A great engine though, can excite from the very first turn of the key, or even just idling in traffic. For the past few years and into the future, I'd never pick a diesel or a four cylinder (unless boxer) probably for this reason.
My daily is an E46 with the 3.0 petrol, a modern day G30 2.0 diesel probably goes much, much faster, handles neater and is more economical to boot, but I couldn't ever be tempted to swap. I'm happier with a bigger, dumber, better sounding engine in something that probably (?) doesn't corner as well.
In a similar vein, the outgoing M140i is by far and away the most desirable hot hatch ever made for me, purely because of that growly 6 pot being so much more appealing than anything with a 4. It might not be the best handling but I probably wouldn't be able to tell just how much better a Type-R is or isn't for example.
Nope, never something I would worry about, might consider fuel type.
I'd have liked a V8 TVR but couldn't afford one when buying one and have said if I venture back into classics it would only be a V8.
But modern cars, for me, it's a pointless thought. (other than hybrid etc. but as to the type of diesel or number of valves, no, never.)
I'd have liked a V8 TVR but couldn't afford one when buying one and have said if I venture back into classics it would only be a V8.
But modern cars, for me, it's a pointless thought. (other than hybrid etc. but as to the type of diesel or number of valves, no, never.)
Um, yes and no. Just depends.
For example the Lotus Elise has an adequate engine but the chassis was awesome. It was however let down by basic lack of boot space etc
The Merc has a fast enough engine - I actually went for the 300 because it was the fastest without being a V8 petrol destroyer - the costs of long distance driving net off against the performance of the engine.
The TVR well I had the 4 and bought a 5 so I guess that one answers itself..
The Passat I got the 170 Sport version when it was the fastest one over the 140 so I guess that one answers itself too.....
So I don't know !!
For example the Lotus Elise has an adequate engine but the chassis was awesome. It was however let down by basic lack of boot space etc
The Merc has a fast enough engine - I actually went for the 300 because it was the fastest without being a V8 petrol destroyer - the costs of long distance driving net off against the performance of the engine.
The TVR well I had the 4 and bought a 5 so I guess that one answers itself..
The Passat I got the 170 Sport version when it was the fastest one over the 140 so I guess that one answers itself too.....
So I don't know !!
cerb4.5lee said:
Alex said:
Reark said:
No, the chassis is.
Agreed. Chassis and handling for me, then engine.of course a great engine is wonderful, but a chassis makes the entire journey a joy.
put money where mouth is with Elise, MX5 and GT86.
the 86 is clearly the controversial one as it's an engine that only a mother could love, but after 6 years i've kept it.
Next addition will have 6 or 8 cylinders, simply because they're end of life in sub-100k cars.
also worth noting that most 4 pots are pretty dreary these days with turbos geared towards regulation not fun.
griffsomething said:
Yes. I would rather an ordinary handling car with an incredible engine than a incredible handling car with an ordinary engine.
Sums it up for me as well in general terms, although I can think of a few occasions over the years when its been the other way around in terms of ownership, but usually there have been additional factors at play in the decision.I think the engine is the least important for me on a daily car, from a performance perspective.
As long as it's got enough poke to keep up with traffic it's fine.
From my daily, I want comfort and practicality. If they had the range, I'd have an electric car tomorrow.
A sports car, or weekend toy on the other hand is all about handling and engine. Probably in that order.
As long as it's got enough poke to keep up with traffic it's fine.
From my daily, I want comfort and practicality. If they had the range, I'd have an electric car tomorrow.
A sports car, or weekend toy on the other hand is all about handling and engine. Probably in that order.
Chewbacca North said:
Being an American car fan it's ALL about the engine.
Kids these days are a bit different. Young lad at work getting his first company car answered my question of "What's it got?", to which anyone my age would have answered with the engine, he replied, 4 USB ports.
Kids these days are a bit different. Young lad at work getting his first company car answered my question of "What's it got?", to which anyone my age would have answered with the engine, he replied, 4 USB ports.
But equally depressing at the same time....
aeropilot said:
Chewbacca North said:
Being an American car fan it's ALL about the engine.
Kids these days are a bit different. Young lad at work getting his first company car answered my question of "What's it got?", to which anyone my age would have answered with the engine, he replied, 4 USB ports.
Kids these days are a bit different. Young lad at work getting his first company car answered my question of "What's it got?", to which anyone my age would have answered with the engine, he replied, 4 USB ports.
But equally depressing at the same time....
I guess that it sums up the world we live in now though regards cars to some degree. I'm struggling to embrace Electric because the noise of a nice Engine/Exhaust plays a big part of the ownership experience with a car for me.
No.
I've had good fun in cars with quite unremarkable engines - 1.8 4 cylinder Golf GTi for example
However I wouldn't buy a diesel nor anything below 1.6 because I know I wouldn't enjoy it.
A good V8 in a poor chassis - USA pick up for example, is fun, short term.
A car that's fun to thrash doesn't have to have a great engine - eg MX5 Mk1 but it would be better if it had a V6, V8 or Vtec
I've had good fun in cars with quite unremarkable engines - 1.8 4 cylinder Golf GTi for example
However I wouldn't buy a diesel nor anything below 1.6 because I know I wouldn't enjoy it.
A good V8 in a poor chassis - USA pick up for example, is fun, short term.
A car that's fun to thrash doesn't have to have a great engine - eg MX5 Mk1 but it would be better if it had a V6, V8 or Vtec
Lee, give it up. We all know by now you weren't fond of your 520d... Let's not go into the M3 either 
But seriously, for me it's a very large part. It needs to 'suit' the car. If the whole car is a cheap, unremarkable car I couldn't care less about what's powering it, but when it's something that's meant to be nice I want it to have a decent engine. the 2.0 diesels aren't ideal, but once moving they settle down well enough. It's more a 'powertrain' combo for me. The 2.0 diesels mated to an auto are more than enough, but uninspiring. A good petrol engine connected to a good gearbox either sludge pumper or manual is great too.
In short, yes. But provided it's suitable for the car's mission goal.
But seriously, for me it's a very large part. It needs to 'suit' the car. If the whole car is a cheap, unremarkable car I couldn't care less about what's powering it, but when it's something that's meant to be nice I want it to have a decent engine. the 2.0 diesels aren't ideal, but once moving they settle down well enough. It's more a 'powertrain' combo for me. The 2.0 diesels mated to an auto are more than enough, but uninspiring. A good petrol engine connected to a good gearbox either sludge pumper or manual is great too.
In short, yes. But provided it's suitable for the car's mission goal.
Is the engine the most important part?
Me - yes, without question. It defines the car, for better or worse. My Monaro VXR had a brilliant engine (6.2 litre V8) but the rest of the car was pretty average, with a terrible gearbox. No matter, the engine saved it. My Merc SLK diesel was precisely the opposite and I hated it.
My 20 year old daughter - who cares about the engine? Does it have Bluetooth so I can play Spotify and check my Insta when I'm driving?
My middle aged male friends - not bothered, as long as it's comfy and smoooooooth, with lots of tech, and looks good in the golf club car park.
Me - yes, without question. It defines the car, for better or worse. My Monaro VXR had a brilliant engine (6.2 litre V8) but the rest of the car was pretty average, with a terrible gearbox. No matter, the engine saved it. My Merc SLK diesel was precisely the opposite and I hated it.
My 20 year old daughter - who cares about the engine? Does it have Bluetooth so I can play Spotify and check my Insta when I'm driving?
My middle aged male friends - not bothered, as long as it's comfy and smoooooooth, with lots of tech, and looks good in the golf club car park.
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