Help me understand the difference
Discussion
I had a 2005 BMW 645i until about a year ago when it died. I loved that car and the sound of the engine.
As it's replacement I got a 1998 Jaguar XKR.
4.4L v 4.0L Thugh the Jag is supercharged.
When I put my foot down in sport mode in the Jag, the engine sounds better, and it feels faster and the acceleration more exciting than the BMW did. It took me a long time to appreciate, but now I feel certain that the Jag is more exciting.
If they're both V8s and the cars have similar statistics/horsepower, can someone explain why the Jag seems more fun? Is it the supercharge?
As it's replacement I got a 1998 Jaguar XKR.
4.4L v 4.0L Thugh the Jag is supercharged.
When I put my foot down in sport mode in the Jag, the engine sounds better, and it feels faster and the acceleration more exciting than the BMW did. It took me a long time to appreciate, but now I feel certain that the Jag is more exciting.
If they're both V8s and the cars have similar statistics/horsepower, can someone explain why the Jag seems more fun? Is it the supercharge?
t ton more torque. Yeah, it’s like having another couple of litres, which in effect it is.
I remember a similar discovery, two Saab 9-3s, one none turbo 2.0 and one light pressure turbo 2.0, only 15/20 bhp in alledged outright power difference but my god, night and day difference to drive. The turbo was much much nicer.
People wax lyrical about N/A engines and they are often right, if the car is light, and/or the engine is massive but forced induction has its place as you found out.
I remember a similar discovery, two Saab 9-3s, one none turbo 2.0 and one light pressure turbo 2.0, only 15/20 bhp in alledged outright power difference but my god, night and day difference to drive. The turbo was much much nicer.
People wax lyrical about N/A engines and they are often right, if the car is light, and/or the engine is massive but forced induction has its place as you found out.
In addition to the Jag's engine being more powerful and torquey, there's also the difference in the car itself.
The XKR is 10cm lower in roofline, so you probably sit closer to the road. It is also 20cm shorter in wheelbase, which tends to increase pitch under acceleration, which also increases the sense of speed and excitement. I suspect there is probably more engine, road and wind noise, which also increases the feeling of acceleration.
Overall the BMW is a fairly modern 2000s car, whereas the Jag is a 90s car based on a 70s one (the XJ-S). Thus even though both cars are rated at about 5.5 seconds 0-60, it's probably a more exciting five and a half seconds in the Jag.
As others have said, it will be the torque from the supercharger.
My 2005 Alpina B5 (E61) is based on a 545i (4.4 V8 so the same engine as your 6 series had) but with updated internals, more cooling/intercooler, but most importantly a supercharger. Boost starts about 2.5k revs and by 4k the acceleration is frankly silly with revs flying up. Superchargers rock. I've driven more powerful (bhp) cars but nothing has made me giggle like a child as this thing does.
I started out with bikes, and still have bikes, and this car is the closest I've tried that feels like the way bike revs rapidly progress, since about 15 years ago I experienced piloting a 911 Turbo with a launch from rest which was memorably mental.
My 2005 Alpina B5 (E61) is based on a 545i (4.4 V8 so the same engine as your 6 series had) but with updated internals, more cooling/intercooler, but most importantly a supercharger. Boost starts about 2.5k revs and by 4k the acceleration is frankly silly with revs flying up. Superchargers rock. I've driven more powerful (bhp) cars but nothing has made me giggle like a child as this thing does.
I started out with bikes, and still have bikes, and this car is the closest I've tried that feels like the way bike revs rapidly progress, since about 15 years ago I experienced piloting a 911 Turbo with a launch from rest which was memorably mental.
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