Demetris
Well-Known Member
Junkman said:A car comes as a whole package, including the engine, which gives every car it's typical heartbeat and character. If I don't like it, I don't buy it.
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Junkman said:A car comes as a whole package, including the engine, which gives every car it's typical heartbeat and character. If I don't like it, I don't buy it.
ghce said:But what if you own a Morris Minor :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
Graeme
webmaster said:I thought all Minors were fitted with Fiat Twin-Cam engines ?
GrimV8 said:EccentricRichard said:GrimV8 said:Interesting thread as I choose to drive a 4 cylinder daily over a V8, as it's fun to drive and is economic enough.
Have you driven a 4 cylinder car Richard?
Haven't driven a four-pot P6, just ridden in one, noticed it was slow and a bit unrefined next to a V8. Also, for me, sound is a big part of what makes a car, and, for that, the V8 is much nicer than the four-cylinder...
Incidentally, one exception to the four cylinders sound dull rule is Honda's Civic Type R/S2000 engine - I encountered a chap recently with an S2000 he'd supercharged with a centrifugal supercharger. 320bhp at 9,000rpm, but also something like 260 ft lbs of torque at 3000-ish rpm - not all that low, but low enough to give it real usability. Also, 320bhp and 260ft lbs from a two-litre four, that's unbelievable... and it howled like a wounded beast. If you've ever been lucky enough to hear a V8 Ferrari (up to the 360) at full chat, you'll know what I mean.
Interesting I'd like to hear your view after actually driving them to be honest.
The V8 appeals to me because it is far from refined. Rovers left that behind with the 3 Litre IMO That V8 engine configuration with the uneven firing arrangement is awesome. The brute force of each plug firing is even apparent at walking pace as it romps through any gear you pick 8) Don't get me wrong, it's my favourite engine of all time. I even have a 360BHP one in my Capri but the 4 cylinder is smooth and charming bearing in mind its lack of 1 1/2 litres
Compare the figures on a 2200TC to a 3500 and you might be shocked how close behind that ol' 4 banger is :wink:
All the later engines you mention are great in their own environment and feats of modern engineering, but I feel no place for them in my P6 unless you wish to create a bit of a monster like my Capri rather than a daily driver
EccentricRichard said:The V8, far from refined? My dad's old one was very smooth indeed... great long-distance cruiser. There was one lovely occasion when the exhaust fell off right behind the engine, though... roared through Surrey sounding like a Spitfire (Supermarine, not Triumph!).
ghce said:But what if you own a Morris Minor :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
Graeme
GrimV8 said:EccentricRichard said:The V8, far from refined? My dad's old one was very smooth indeed... great long-distance cruiser. There was one lovely occasion when the exhaust fell off right behind the engine, though... roared through Surrey sounding like a Spitfire (Supermarine, not Triumph!).
Yep, compared to a straight 6 configuration they're quite coarse. Jump in a P4 or P5 and you don't know it's running at the lights compared to the V8 The 8 has an uneven firing pattern of RLLRLRRL which gives it its character and burble we all love 8) They do sound ace on loud pipes :wink:
Yes, same as the early ones, but on the later engines they went from 18436572 (Rover Pattern) to 18726543 for smoother idle and power delivery apparently. I think this is also why the Ford Essex V6 is so smooth due to its LRLRLR patternEccentricRichard said:GrimV8 said:EccentricRichard said:The V8, far from refined? My dad's old one was very smooth indeed... great long-distance cruiser. There was one lovely occasion when the exhaust fell off right behind the engine, though... roared through Surrey sounding like a Spitfire (Supermarine, not Triumph!).
Yep, compared to a straight 6 configuration they're quite coarse. Jump in a P4 or P5 and you don't know it's running at the lights compared to the V8 The 8 has an uneven firing pattern of RLLRLRRL which gives it its character and burble we all love 8) They do sound ace on loud pipes :wink:
Of course - did it have the standard V8 firing order as exemplified by the classic Chevy small-block? Of course it's no straight-six or V12, but it's pretty damn smooth.
GrimV8 said:EccentricRichard said:The V8, far from refined? My dad's old one was very smooth indeed... great long-distance cruiser. There was one lovely occasion when the exhaust fell off right behind the engine, though... roared through Surrey sounding like a Spitfire (Supermarine, not Triumph!).
Yep, compared to a straight 6 configuration they're quite course. Jump in a P4 or P5 and you don't know it's running at the lights compared to the V8 The 8 has an uneven firing pattern of RLLRLRRL which gives it its character and burble we all love 8) They do sound ace on loud pipes :wink:
Tom W said:GrimV8 said:EccentricRichard said:The V8, far from refined? My dad's old one was very smooth indeed... great long-distance cruiser. There was one lovely occasion when the exhaust fell off right behind the engine, though... roared through Surrey sounding like a Spitfire (Supermarine, not Triumph!).
Yep, compared to a straight 6 configuration they're quite course. Jump in a P4 or P5 and you don't know it's running at the lights compared to the V8 The 8 has an uneven firing pattern of RLLRLRRL which gives it its character and burble we all love 8) They do sound ace on loud pipes :wink:
Even with the excessively silenced standard exhaust and lots of insulation, my Jag V8 still has the same classic offbeat burble. At idle, it's more noticeable as an uneven vibration than exhaust noise. Far more characterful than a flat plane crank V8.
That used to be my Dads thing with the Rover engine in his workshopunstable load said:Back in my yoof, I used to work for one of the bigger Mercedes dealers in Cape Town and we used to set up the alloy V8's so you could stand a cigerette up on the air cleaner. It doesn't get much smoother or refined than that.
Honestly, though.............
My P6 with the Crane cam will never be that smooth and that's just how I like it.