Re: Nissan Z, step aside

On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:55:31 GMT, still me <wheeledBob@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:

>On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:34:10 -0700, Scott in SoCal
><scottenaztlan@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>>>480 hp 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6
>>
>>That's a deal-breaker right there. Well, that and the price. :)
>>
>>Why deal with turbo lag, engine parts that glow bright orange after
>>you drive your car and melt if you don't cool them down properly when
>>you can just get a larger NA engine?
>
>Apparently you haven't driven any modern, cooled, high power turbo's.

You're right, I haven't. But I was thinking of test-driving a 335i in
the next few days.

>With a 3.8L there will be more than enough takeoff torque and the
>(modern design, and especially twin) turbo will kick in plenty soon. A
>good turbo driver will have it spinning off the line and the challenge
>will be keeping the wheels down rather than generating power. 

There's no question a turbo will generate power at higher revs. The
question is, given all the drawbacks, what's the advantage of a
smaller turbocharged engine vs. a larger, normally-aspirated engine?
Sure, you save a little weight, but is that worth all the hassles?

>Nothing glows anymore and nothing melts or requires specific cool
>down. 

My understanding is that the cool-down is still necessary, but the
cars just come with "turbo timers" to take care of the cool-down
automatically, making the process less error-prone. 

>I think you need to drive a newer turbo for a few days and
>appreciate what it adds. 

Got one to loan me? :)