Best, or just sweetest 4 cylinder engines?
Discussion
As a long time devotee of 5, 6, 8 and upwards cylinder-ed cars i often wonder if there are any smooth, powerful 4 bangers around? The A45 AMG is obviously epic from a performance point of view, 420 bhp and supercar 0-60 times are stunning efforts but i find them raw, loud and uncompromising.
What 4 cylinder cars have been made that are quick but smooth and quiet?
What 4 cylinder cars have been made that are quick but smooth and quiet?
biggbn said:
Honda four pots?
^ ThisThe old zingy 1.6 VTEC engines were fun to ring out. But they werent great on power. But when we got to the 197BHP CTR engine, it changed the game. They got quick and that engine was amazing. Smooth and sweet to use. Did a trackday at Castle Combe in an EP3 CTR years ago, didnt even break into a sweat until I cooked the brakes of course. Not the only cracking Honda engine, but they have a reputation for a good reason.
Another vote for Honda 4 pots. By far the best out of all the 4 pots I’ve tried. Vw prob next best. Then BMW. Then Ford, Kia, Hyundai. Worst were Vauxhall and Fiat. I don’t like how Vauxhall engines are tuned at all. No top end, very grumbly, noticeable vibrations through major controls.
Matt Watson did some youtube stunt, running some cars without engine oil. Unsurprising the Honda 4 pot lasted the longest. Read a car magazine article in the past that said they are built to tighter tolerances than the competition, that Soichiro Honda wanted their engines to be the best.
Matt Watson did some youtube stunt, running some cars without engine oil. Unsurprising the Honda 4 pot lasted the longest. Read a car magazine article in the past that said they are built to tighter tolerances than the competition, that Soichiro Honda wanted their engines to be the best.
Edited by wyson on Friday 5th August 19:36
Honda S2000 has a cracking engine, late '90s tech.
I have a Lancia with a Lampredi 1.6, very sweet engine..1960's tech with 1980's fuel injection.
Alfa busso Nord twin spark, as in 75, early 164 etc. very good engines, well built, chain timed..1980's variable valve timing tech developed from 1950's Busso Nord.
Don't know about any contemporary examples, but these old petrol engines were designed to be zingy, i.e. needed to be revved up for full power.
I have a Lancia with a Lampredi 1.6, very sweet engine..1960's tech with 1980's fuel injection.
Alfa busso Nord twin spark, as in 75, early 164 etc. very good engines, well built, chain timed..1980's variable valve timing tech developed from 1950's Busso Nord.
Don't know about any contemporary examples, but these old petrol engines were designed to be zingy, i.e. needed to be revved up for full power.
cherryowen said:
Not driven any, but I have read good things about the four-pots fitted to Porsche 944 / 968
I've driven the 968 with the 3.0 four. Wasn't it one of the biggest fours ever put in a production car? I think it was around 240bhp. Anyway it felt lovely and torquey and made a bassy rumble at low revs. Gave really good performance in its day. Not bad for the early to mid 1990s. I'd love to own one now!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff