Team-BHP - Turbo 4 cylinder Vs N/A V6 engine

what should one choose? a 240+ HP V4 turbo, or a 240+ HP V6.

in other words, am i better off buying a bigger engine or a smaller engine with turbo? and why?

There's a saying... no replacement for displacement ;). Go for the V6. The biggest plus of a larger engine is that it wont be strained as much as the smaller engine when delivering that power. Also the downside of a turbo is turbo lag... something that would be non existent in the V6.

ROC, turbo lag also depends on the size of the turbo chosen. However, personally I would choose a TC. The feeling you get when the turbo spools and pushes you back is addictive. Besides I love the sound from the BOV and the Turbo whine itself.

I would prefer a bigger engine anyday but that's a personal preference. As for the Turbo well in my opinion there are less things to go wrong in an NA engine than a Turbo one but do take into account the FE factor as well. I think the NA engine might not be as fuel efficient as a Turbo one.

Fell in love with Turbo ever since saw the first of the Mad Max series wherein the Hero had installed this alien looking contraption protruding out of his car's hood that could be started with the flick of a switch. And the resulting boost would propel the car as if it had an Ariane rocket in its tail..

Tried a lot to find a similar thing to install in my '73 Amby but no garage wallah had heard of this. TBHP wasn't even in liquid stage (read embryonic) and internet was something that functioned on Mars.

A big engine of course gives you that kick-off but at the cost of fuel. A TC gives you a similar effect for less fuel consumed. What is a small time delay for fuel saved..

advantages of turbo -

1. High Fuel efficiency
2. Extra power always available when needed
3. Lower costs - in terms of RTO registration/roadtax/insurance as these charges are directly proportional to the engine CC.
4. Lesser engine weight (Only marginal though)

Disadvantage -
1. Additional component hence increases the complexity of the whole setup
2. Needs additional care - During start/stop/idle
3. Failure rates of Turbo before engine are high.

To minimize or eliminate Turbo lag we are getting twin turbo engines now a days. I forget the model/make of the car but it was advertised recently as twin turbo. One Turbo for low speeds and the second one for medium to high speeds.

I'd go with the V6 because:

1. More refinement
2. No turbo-lag (or the chances of)
3. Linear power vs spiked
4. Ability to bolt on a turbo later and whup the I4 240 bhp turbo!

BTW who still makes a V4 engine?

I guess it also depends on what kind of driving style you have. I mean, are you looking for a good cruiser or an all out performance vehicle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reignofchaos (Post 475694)

There's a saying... no replacement for displacement.

agree: if the price is nearly same...

All depends upon individual preference.

Do you like tinkering? Are you into perfromance mods? Do you like gradual upgradations? I4 Turbo it is. (The 4G63 EVO block delivers 280+ off the showroom. We don't need examples of modded EVOs now, do we..some eye-popping figures can be achieved.)

Do you like muscle? Do you like to waft around in oodles of torque? Do you prefer simpler things in life? Don't like grease on your hands? Have cordial relationship with the local gas stations? V6 it is.

Have loads of cash? Think different? Mad? Eccentric (like some of us)?
V6 turbo it is....

Quote:

Originally Posted by veyron1 (Post 476365)

Have loads of cash? Think different? Mad? Eccentric (like some of us)?
V6 turbo it is....

That would be V8, and they dont require a lot of cash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r (Post 476390)

How about an I6, twin sequential entry turbo? Sigh...

is that the same as a 2-stage turbo?
one runs at lower revs and other at higher revs to take care of lag?