You're just coming at it from a different perspective, acewiza. I absolutely love driving, and I've had some time behind the wheel of cars like a '02 T/A Firehawk and a '92 Stealth R/T Turbo. They're enjoyable, but you can't really use what's best about them without going to jail. The most enjoyable car I've driven is a Miata, since I can legally use all the good things about it: great ergonomics, nice short shifter, light clutch, light-weight, great handling, 50-50 weight distribution without much overhung weight, minimal body roll, rear-wheel drive, smooth engine, and enough power to do a burn out and chirp the tires going into 2nd if I want. The open top on a warm evening is great too. More power contributes to the fun, but, to me, it's not necessary the way other attributes are. I like driving my Mazda3 because it feels great to drive it and it only costs a little more to operate than an all-out economy car.
4 bangers- Love'em or Hate'm?
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That's why I like Saabs, once again...
Tiny 4 cyls w/ lagless turbos make for fuel econ and fun. When my big ol 9-5 w/ little 2.3l 4 wheeled around a 530i on the on the twisty on ramp at about 75 mph, I thought wow, this is a 4 cyl car. Why do I need more?
Tiny 4 cyls w/ lagless turbos make for fuel econ and fun. When my big ol 9-5 w/ little 2.3l 4 wheeled around a 530i on the on the twisty on ramp at about 75 mph, I thought wow, this is a 4 cyl car. Why do I need more?
I went from a 1989 s10 with a 2.5 pontiac 4 banger to a Mach 1 mustang with 300 plus hp. Talk about a difference. The 4's have their place and I love the gas milage. My 2.5 never did idle right but it was a tough little engine. The rest of the truck fell apart before the engine gave up.
I will take any honda 4 and love em...
I love my 2.0L 4cyl Honda CR-V. the engine is smooth as silk, decent power, good fuel economy.
Can't wait to buy the new Turbo 2.3L 4cyl Acura RDX when it is released, definately will be a blast to drive with fuel economy to match.
Can't wait to buy the new Turbo 2.3L 4cyl Acura RDX when it is released, definately will be a blast to drive with fuel economy to match.
I have had 2 4 cylinder Accords, a 2001 and 2005. I can not think of a better engine for normal transportation. The only engine I have owned that I might have preferred was a Nissan 3.0L V6.
Other 4 cylinders I have enjoyed were the Opel designed 1.8L in the mid 80s Buick Skyhawk. My first 4 was a 1974 Opel Manta. Very smooth mechanicals but a Solex carburator with early emission controls that could not hold adjustment. The only real dog of a 4 banger I owned was a first generation Chevrolet Cavalier.
Other 4 cylinders I have enjoyed were the Opel designed 1.8L in the mid 80s Buick Skyhawk. My first 4 was a 1974 Opel Manta. Very smooth mechanicals but a Solex carburator with early emission controls that could not hold adjustment. The only real dog of a 4 banger I owned was a first generation Chevrolet Cavalier.
It's MUCH more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow. Modern 4 cylinder engines are more than adequate for most reasonable applications. It's not uncommon for a modern 4 to put out 150+ HP and 150+ ft/lbs of torque. Some put out 300 HP and lots of torque STOCK (Subaru WRX STI, for example).
Number of cylinders has little to do with an engine's power. Displacment, tuning and technology have a much greater impact on hp and torque. Any engine can be tuning for all low rpm torque, or all high rpm hp, regardless of number of cylinders. More cylinders can help make higher rpm because of lighter parts, but only the engine is designed for it. I have a mitsubishi fuso with a turbo diesel 3.3l 4 cyl that works great for its designed purpose. I have driven amazingly slow 6 cyl cars and very fast 4 cyl cars, and vice versa. It all depends on how the engine was designed to run.
ace, you're reading too much into the statement. I'm not talking about driving a Yugo fast. I'm saying periodically getting the most out of a car like my Saab 9-2X 2.5 normally aspirated car in something like an off-camber wet/sandy turn on public streets, is more fun than having a 300 HP WRX STI and not really being able to use it's capabilities on public streets withoug being a menace to yourself and others due to the extreme speeds that car could achieve. Either way, the grand majority of the time, you have to drive a certain speed/level of control not to be getting thrown in jail...not so much fun in the latter car.
I agree Titan. I would love to have something with 250+ horsepower, but my little Honda with 145 is pretty fun. I can rev it up pretty good getting on the freeway and passing and such, and its lots of fun. If I drove my dream car, Acura TL, or something else with some oomph the way I drive my little Accord, I'd get in A LOT of trouble!
Chrysler has some good 4 bangers...but they use to much gas...mileage is bad when compared to other 4 bangers...
I think a front wheel drive car is so much better with a 4 cylinder. I cannot stand high horse power cars in front wheel drive....especially if it is a heavier engine. Torque steer is brutal
The only way I'd ever live with a 4 banger is if it's attached to an Escort Cosworth (or WRC) or an RS200, both of which would have to be modded to 600 awhp/torque each and lightened to be < 2500#!! Mountune, Graham Goode, and Malcolm Wilson Motorsports could handle this for me, I'll bet. Can you say 2.5 second 0-60s/mid-low 10s 1/4 mile, and still go around turns quite well, thank you!
Fernando, I had a 1982 cadillac cimarron with the 1.8. Is this the opel motor you speak of?
Mine sucked through a 2 barrell computerized smog carburetor and pushed out through a TH125C 3-speed lockup transmission.
What should I have appreciated?
It did sound kind of cool and even kind of move when I had it revving to redline, which the economy calibration of the slushbox mostly prevented.
Mine sucked through a 2 barrell computerized smog carburetor and pushed out through a TH125C 3-speed lockup transmission.
What should I have appreciated?
It did sound kind of cool and even kind of move when I had it revving to redline, which the economy calibration of the slushbox mostly prevented.
"My dream 4 banger is a Ford 460 V8 block with one cylinder bank cut off and obviously custom crank and camshaft. Just imagine, a 3.8 liter pushrod 4 banger. I'd drop it in a Ford Ranger pickup and have me a real tractor!"
This engine exists, you'll have to find and old boat though. Mercruiser used this powerplant a few decades ago, it was their own design. Powerful but problematic.
I have a 2.4l I-VTEC Honda 4 banger and I remain amazed at how quiet, strong, and efficient it is......with a 5 speed manual.
This engine exists, you'll have to find and old boat though. Mercruiser used this powerplant a few decades ago, it was their own design. Powerful but problematic.
I have a 2.4l I-VTEC Honda 4 banger and I remain amazed at how quiet, strong, and efficient it is......with a 5 speed manual.
My previous commuter car was a Nissan Sentra SER with the SR20DE ?? 2.0 liter/ 5spd. manual. That was a sweet 140 hp motor which built up power all the way to the 7500 rpm redline. It was like owning a 2 door motorcycle. I now commute in an 02' Buick Century which is a totally different type of car. The funny thing is that I only get about 2 mpg less in the Buick than in the SER (26-27 vs. 28-29).
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