Car spoilt by Engine or Engine that makes the Car ?

[dtmpower]

Following the Clarkson comment about the LFA's free revving engine and that my E46 diesel reacts more slowly then a coal fired power station.

Which cars are improved by their free revving reactive engine and which are spoiled by their lethargic low revving bus-like power plant?

The 330Cd I am driving at the moment can't be described as slow - but the engine is never revving up, it's just gearing and torque between 2000rpm and 3000rpm that provides propulsion. Not very inspiring.

Edited by dtmpower on Tuesday 19th February 16:35

[kambites]

I think the VX220 turbo is the best example of a car ruined by its engine that I've ever driven. Not a bad engine in itself, but completely unsuitable for the application, IMO.

For cars made by their engines... I think almost anything that was produced with the old Alfa V6 in it.

[Lee540]

BMW 728i.. why bother, such a small engine?
BMW 518i.. why bother, such a small engine?

[Slow]

Ford focus mk1 tddi not the tdci, a whole 90bhp, the car its self is nice to sit in.
Could do with a few extras but the thing sure does like to waft lazyly about even with foot down.

[Zod]

Lee540 said:

BMW 728i.. why bother, such a small engine?
BMW 518i.. why bother, such a small engine?

I think you should check your calendar. It's 2013 now.

[anonymous-user]

My Lexus is200 is a case in point, Great car, superbly built and great to drive but its just lacking 50 or so BHP to be fantastic to drive,

[SuperHangOn]

Lee540 said:

BMW 728i.. why bother, such a small engine?

Because it wafts the car along perfectly well, sounds good and returns respectable MPG?

[Mastodon2]

Any Type R - the engine is the star of the show. Such a shame that Honda are going to turbo route. Inevitable I suppose, but still sad.

[Loplop]

Lee540 said:

BMW 728i.. why bother, such a small engine?

The 0 - 60 doesn't impress, but it's good for 140 leptons, it's bulletproof and for such a big car will return pleasing MPG.

A 730i of the same vintage is no more of a car.

[vit4]

Focus mk1 with the 1.4 engine. My mum has one and it is so, so nearly a great drive. The 1.8 engine sounds about the best balance and to be honest would barely be any thirstier because of not needing to work it so bloody hard.

[Republik1980]

Pug 405 Mi16...?

I know the 405s have their followers but to me it's a boring '80s froggy barge.. nobody can deny the ability of the 1.9 Mi16 lump housed within, though


Other end would perhaps be the Porker 944 - just can't get my head round a four-pot that big for some reason..

[rhinochopig]

Republik1980 said:

Pug 405 Mi16...?

I know the 405s have their followers but to me it's a boring '80s froggy barge.. nobody can deny the ability of the 1.9 Mi16 lump housed within, though


Other end would perhaps be the Porker 944 - just can't get my head round a four-pot that big for some reason..

I was going to post that - as an ex-owner. I can't think of a more mismatched car and engine TBH. The Mi16 was an exec mobile packed with electric toys, and yet the engine was a coarse lump that needed to be thrashed to death to make progress. Far far better used in the 205.

[wildman0609]

Republik1980 said:

Other end would perhaps be the Porker 944 - just can't get my head round a four-pot that big for some reason..

have you driven one though? the 16valve 3.0 in the s2 was mega. so much torque.

[Dr Z]

Republik1980 said:

Pug 405 Mi16...?
Other end would perhaps be the Porker 944 - just can't get my head round a four-pot that big for some reason..

Weight? Weight distribution? What does a Flat-6 of the same era weigh compared to the 944 engine?

[Zod]

Dr Z said:

Republik1980 said:

Pug 405 Mi16...?
Other end would perhaps be the Porker 944 - just can't get my head round a four-pot that big for some reason..

Weight? Weight distribution? What does a Flat-6 of the same era weigh compared to the 944 engine?

Can't imagine the 944 engine being light, given the presence of the balance shafts.

[Bonefish Blues]

kambites said:

I think the VX220 turbo is the best example of a car ruined by its engine that I've ever driven. Not a bad engine in itself, but completely unsuitable for the application, IMO.

Completely agree - it's the one that came to my mind, too.

Peversely perhaps I thought that the zingy little 101bhp 4 in Mrs BFB's E36 316i was the making of it. Slow as a slow thing in absolute terms, but it was a lovely thing to rev. and made a sort of zizzing noise that was quite nice, too. Coat please...

[blueg33]

3.0l H6 boxer engine really makes the Subaru Outback.

[Valgar]

Daihatsu Sirion Rally 2 or 4, basic small car with a cracking 110ps 1.3 engine, sorry if you're the guy who bought it off me, I thrashed it all the time, shame the rest of the car was so average.

[PKZ4M]

Z3M Coupe..... Loved it myself despite the odd looks and old school suspension..... as that 6 cylinder M engine is a peach!

Original Elise..... Fab car to look at and steer, but 1.8 K series was the weak link, albeit a light weight one.....

[DanB7290]

The DeLorean (the model which us mere mortals could buy, not the one fitted with a flux capacitor), it looks fabulous, and yet it's 2.8 V6 produced at best 150bhp