Do we still have engine snobbery?

[E55BOF]

…there aren’t many who can look down on a Mercedes-AMG ForFour AMG Sport Plus Black Series Night Edition Premium Plus 125 Navi facelift powered by Brabus.

Sure of that?

 

[RSTurbo50]

The straight 6 is sweet.

And a 4 pot turbo vs a normally aspirated straight 6 means .... even though the world seems to think it has disappeared .... turbo-lag.

With the greatest of respect you haven’t answered the question. How is it better other than the noise maybe slightly sweeter? The newer 4 pot will ride just as well, will probably be better performance wiser, be more fuel efficient, lower tax, less insurance and get you to your destination probably in more comfort. So again why does it pain you to driver the smaller 4 pot when ultimately it maybe a better car?

 

[Dryce]

With the greatest of respect you haven’t answered the question.

Sticking 'with the greatest respect' is just a way of saying you don't get my answer - which was concise, considered, and answered the point.

But one bit of your list intrigued me ....

get you to your destination probably in more comfort

??????

By what logic, or on what planet ?

Seriously?

 

[RSTurbo50]

Sticking 'with the greatest respect' is just a way of saying you don't get my answer - which was concise, considered, and answered the point.

But one bit of your list intrigued me ....



??????

By what logic, or on what planet ?

Seriously?

You sound like you believe to know an awful lot, maybe you do but I don’t know you. So again in what way does an extra two cylinders get you to your destination in more comfort?

Are you the prime example of engine snobbery? Let’s not forget that you are no better or of a higher class for having two more cylinders, again maybe explain your point?

 

[Dryce]

That said there’s a possibility that I may be unfairly dismissing engine snobbery because of viewing it from the position of privilege, in this case engine privilege…

Thing is - in the next few years it will be a discussion of whether 4 pots are better than 3 pots - with anything above 4 well forgotten.

And then a few years after that we'll only be left with more esoteric snobberies - such as the subtleties of engine windings or regenerative braking strategies or battery preheating performance or self driving kill ratios. (My Tuzla Modelle 65 kills fewer pedestrians than your Gizmo Freebird 100).

So thing is to enjoy the current snobbery while we still can.

 

[Dryce]

You sound like you believe to know an awful lot, maybe you do but I don’t know you. So again in what way does an extra two cylinders get you to your destination in more comfort?

Hang on a minute - *YOU* made the statement about comfort ... so it's for you to answer not me.

Are you the prime example of engine snobbery?

Yes. Absolutely.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

My view is that it's better just to do the job properly .... and hook up a diesel to the turbo (or turbos).

I’d still like a Delta S4 though!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

And having had SWMBO move from a 6 pot BMW to a 4 pot turbo BMW - she might not recognise the difference - but it pains me every time I drive the current incarnation.

I've been driving 6 cylinder petrol BMW's for a couple of decades now and was a bit sniffy about the prospect of a 250 bhp 4 cylinder. BMW petrol. But having driven one now - Manuel too - I was surprised at how good it was. Not so sure about the sound, but the performance and mpg was impressive.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Thing is - in the next few years it will be a discussion of whether 4 pots are better than 3 pots - with anything above 4 well forgotten.

Don't mention the BMW B38 three cylinder, as in the 318i and MINI. Oh, the noise, the noise !

Dreadful bloody thing, but it does have its fans.

 

[RSTurbo50]

Don't mention the BMW B38 three cylinder, as in the 318i and MINI. Oh, the noise, the noise !

Dreadful bloody thing, but it does have its fans.

They don’t sound great but got to say the Mini with that engine goes like a stabbed rat

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

They don’t sound great but got to say the Mini with that engine goes like a stabbed rat

Agreed, great gearbox as well, I'm told. (And then there's the weight).

But the sound, the sound !!

 

[ToeKnee]

goes like a stabbed rat

Staggers along for a short while leaving a trail of fluids..........?

 

[Londonscottish]

With the greatest of respect you haven’t answered the question. How is it better other than the noise maybe slightly sweeter? The newer 4 pot will ride just as well, will probably be better performance wiser, be more fuel efficient, lower tax, less insurance and get you to your destination probably in more comfort. So again why does it pain you to driver the smaller 4 pot when ultimately it maybe a better car?

I'd rather have a more tuneful and less efficient 6 or 8.

Personal preference and all that. My mate could put a lighter, more efficient 4 pot in his TR6. But he wouldn't, would he?

 

[davymead]

They don’t sound great

Really
Both induction and exhaust note is glorious at full chat.

 

[Bellow]

I must be the only one who likes the sound of triples. From a low down 'thrumble' to an ever so slightly strangulated scream as they rev out - I like!
I did think Autocar were talking tosh describing the smart triple as sounding like 'half a 911' - until I drove one. The lack of secondary vibes is the clincher though. The rocking couple at idle didn't bother me - and I've had passengers who actually enjoyed it.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I must be the only one who likes the sound of triples. From a low down 'thrumble' to an ever so slightly strangulated scream as they rev out - I like!
I did think Autocar were talking tosh describing the smart triple as sounding like 'half a 911' - until I drove one. The lack of secondary vibes is the clincher though. The rocking couple at idle didn't bother me - and I've had passengers who actually enjoyed it.

TBH, I do see your point. Horses for courses.

And a Brit can't be disrespectful of Harris Hall's finest, nor the Morgan, nor the MINI....

 

[SpikyMikey]

I've been driving 6 cylinder petrol BMW's for a couple of decades now and was a bit sniffy about the prospect of a 250 bhp 4 cylinder. BMW petrol. But having driven one now - Manuel too - I was surprised at how good it was. Not so sure about the sound, but the performance and mpg was impressive.

What did Manuel think about it? or does he know nooooothing; he is from Barcelona?
In terms of BMW 4 vs 6, I'm quite taken with my mine. Yes it isn't as creamy smooth as a 6 and it doesn't sound as delightful at full Dobbin, but tbh I have the choonz turned up a lot of the time so don't notice. The ZF8 does a fantastic job of keeping things moving along as briskly as I'll ever need and the Twin Power Turbo seems not too laggy (to me anyway).
And the money saved by getting a 4 rather than a 6 (and the fact that a Benzin 6 would never get over 40 to the gallon) would buy an awful lot of Jaffa Cakes.

 

[SpikyMikey]

I must be the only one who likes the sound of triples. From a low down 'thrumble' to an ever so slightly strangulated scream as they rev out - I like!
I did think Autocar were talking tosh describing the smart triple as sounding like 'half a 911' - until I drove one. The lack of secondary vibes is the clincher though. The rocking couple at idle didn't bother me - and I've had passengers who actually enjoyed it.

My sister in law had a Daewoo Matiz, with a 3 pot. It was hideously underpowered but still a giggle to drive: wringing it out (and you had to if you wanted to make any kind of progress), it made a fabulous noise.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

What did Manuel think about it? or does he know nooooothing; he is from Barcelona?
In terms of BMW 4 vs 6, I'm quite taken with my mine. Yes it isn't as creamy smooth as a 6 and it doesn't sound as delightful at full Dobbin, but tbh I have the choonz turned up a lot of the time so don't notice. The ZF8 does a fantastic job of keeping things moving along as briskly as I'll ever need and the Twin Power Turbo seems not too laggy (to me anyway).
And the money saved by getting a 4 rather than a 6 (and the fact that a Benzin 6 would never get over 40 to the gallon) would buy an awful lot of Jaffa Cakes.

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[ChrisHGTV]

My sister in law had a Daewoo Matiz, with a 3 pot. It was hideously underpowered but still a giggle to drive: wringing it out (and you had to if you wanted to make any kind of progress), it made a fabulous noise.

I had a very funny experience in a Matiz. Driving from Venice to the Dolomites for a bike race (Maratona). I was following a couple of friends who‘d seen sense and hired a Punto. The poor Matiz was literally foot to the floor the whole way in order to keep up. I couldn’t even have the aircon on as it was enough to make me drop back. I quite liked the little thing in the end, it didn’t give up. My friends said it was hilarious looking in their rear view mirror to see me in this tiny car all red faced from the heat!