Best, or just sweetest 4 cylinder engines?
Discussion
The Ford Zetec 1.6 series 2 (iron block). The engine was designed to cater for 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 capacities.
The 1.6 had so much meat between the bores - to the degree that an engine would never be designed as such if the target was 1.6 alone - that the block was extremely strong. It was sweeter than all of the Zetecs that followed.
Unremarkable from a performance perspective but in terms of sweetness it's right at the top for me.
The 1.6 had so much meat between the bores - to the degree that an engine would never be designed as such if the target was 1.6 alone - that the block was extremely strong. It was sweeter than all of the Zetecs that followed.
Unremarkable from a performance perspective but in terms of sweetness it's right at the top for me.
mwstewart said:
The Ford Zetec 1.6 series 2 (iron block). The engine was designed to cater for 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 capacities.
The 1.6 had so much meat between the bores - to the degree that an engine would never be designed as such if the target was 1.6 alone - that the block was extremely strong. It was sweeter than all of the Zetecs that followed.
Unremarkable from a performance perspective but in terms of sweetness it's right at the top for me.
The “sweetness” of an engine is objective and a moot point but I suspect my definition is the same as yours - a reasonably pokey engine that revs easily and smoothly through the full rev range without sounding strained or coarse and yet provides its output in a nice linear fashion.The 1.6 had so much meat between the bores - to the degree that an engine would never be designed as such if the target was 1.6 alone - that the block was extremely strong. It was sweeter than all of the Zetecs that followed.
Unremarkable from a performance perspective but in terms of sweetness it's right at the top for me.
It’s why I put the Vauxhall ‘red top’ at the top of my list. Not the pokiest by any means but merely by opening up both the external induction and exhaust side of things 170bhp+ was/is easily achieved without the need for forced induction.
Would assume a K20 for among the best, but I'll throw in some fondness in for Peugeots XU series petrol engines, in particular the XU9 J4 Mi16, and the later XU10 J4RS found in the 306 Gti6.
My first quickish car was a Gti6, I remember how amazed I was when I realised I could rev it to the redline without it getting breathless, whilst making a roar from the intake. Good memories.
My first quickish car was a Gti6, I remember how amazed I was when I realised I could rev it to the redline without it getting breathless, whilst making a roar from the intake. Good memories.
Some more votes from experience for the Subaru EJ, particularly the EJ20Y in the Liberty GT, the Peugeot XU series, and the later 3.0 Variocam in the 968, which is disarmingly smooth for its capacity even if it’s not the most alluring aurally.
Also, from experience, the 1.2 FIRE engine in the Mk1 Punto Sporting. Like other small Fiat engines it’s to be ragged to the redline in every gear on every journey and just adds so much to the experience.
Also, from experience, the 1.2 FIRE engine in the Mk1 Punto Sporting. Like other small Fiat engines it’s to be ragged to the redline in every gear on every journey and just adds so much to the experience.
Not sure about 4 pots ever being quick, smooth & quiet. It's like the hot matrix: you can only choose 2 
Anyway, I think the most enjoyable 4 pots are things like:
Alfa Twin cams - almost any of them
Lancia Twin cam motors in the same veign, lovely to use
E30 M3 motor
Honda VTEC (including the Turbo ones which are the best of their type in class)
Earlier Subaru
BDA has to be in with a shout
Anyway, I think the most enjoyable 4 pots are things like:
Alfa Twin cams - almost any of them
Lancia Twin cam motors in the same veign, lovely to use
E30 M3 motor
Honda VTEC (including the Turbo ones which are the best of their type in class)
Earlier Subaru
BDA has to be in with a shout
bern said:
Beethree said:
Honda H22 or B18.
The K20 is a ‘better’ engine, but loses quite a bit of the character the 90’s engines had.
Having owned all three I'm in complete agreement with this!The K20 is a ‘better’ engine, but loses quite a bit of the character the 90’s engines had.
I just will always have a soft spot for the B16 tho in my old EG6 Vti, it was raw and guttural which the other more refined units couldn't match, had a really pronounced Vtec crossover. Strangely the same engine in the EK Vti felt like it had something dialed out of it, and wasn't as quick as the EG6.
Retro.74 said:
bern said:
Beethree said:
Honda H22 or B18.
The K20 is a ‘better’ engine, but loses quite a bit of the character the 90’s engines had.
Having owned all three I'm in complete agreement with this!The K20 is a ‘better’ engine, but loses quite a bit of the character the 90’s engines had.
I just will always have a soft spot for the B16 tho in my old EG6 Vti, it was raw and guttural which the other more refined units couldn't match, had a really pronounced Vtec crossover. Strangely the same engine in the EK Vti felt like it had something dialed out of it, and wasn't as quick as the EG6.
Otherwise of the 4 pots I've had, 4g63t in my evo 5 was a favourite for the mega shunt and crazy noises it made
mwstewart said:
The Ford Zetec 1.6 series 2 (iron block). The engine was designed to cater for 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 capacities.
The 1.6 had so much meat between the bores - to the degree that an engine would never be designed as such if the target was 1.6 alone - that the block was extremely strong. It was sweeter than all of the Zetecs that followed.
Unremarkable from a performance perspective but in terms of sweetness it's right at the top for me.
Was this the engine in the mk5 Fiesta Zetec S? The black top?The 1.6 had so much meat between the bores - to the degree that an engine would never be designed as such if the target was 1.6 alone - that the block was extremely strong. It was sweeter than all of the Zetecs that followed.
Unremarkable from a performance perspective but in terms of sweetness it's right at the top for me.
That was a great little engine. I did the obligatory Pumaspeed full Milltek with 4-1 manifold and sport cat on mine, along with a map and it was a different car. It used to rev out so quickly. Good times.
biggbn said:
Nobody mentioned the a series yet?
The A series was a great little engine but it was neither that powerful, smooth or that revvy and, as such, not particularly ‘sweet’. Having said that I built many 1340cc full race engines in my times with different carburettor (pre fuel injection of course) set ups. The A series was, however, incredibly robust.Mazda L, as found in numerous Fords. It goes well enough, sounds nice and doesn't use that much petrol. It's also a nice engine to run through the gears as it gets more willing at higher revs.
The old 2.0 Ford SOHC/Pinto was a nice thing too, offering a fair amount of performance for its size.
The old 2.0 Ford SOHC/Pinto was a nice thing too, offering a fair amount of performance for its size.
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