There's not nearly enough supercharged 4-cyls out there

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 05/20/2014 at 22:19 • Filed to: None

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Why is that? The only ones I can think of off the top of my head are the MR2 and the Cobalt SS.

YSI-what can brown do for you > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:20

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Don't forget the 037!

Sn210 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:22

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the Mini Cooper S used to be supercharged before they switched to a turbo

vdub_nut: scooter snob > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:24

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Ion Redline as well, though it served as the basis for the blobalt, so it really doesn't count as a different car.

Axial > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:25

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Because superchargers are not as efficient as turbochargers.

They do sound much better, though, especially when driven by gearing or chains.

RazoE > Sn210 05/20/2014 at 22:25

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The Cobalt SS also went turbo. I think the Ion Redline was cut before its version went turbo.

RazoE > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:27

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The Previa had a supercharged 4 cyl because the NA version was so weak.

Related to the Cobalt SS, the Ion redline was also 4 cyl S/C

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:28

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a lot of the Mercedes C class Kompressors were supercharged 4 cylinders, I think they're turbo now though.

Textured Soy Protein > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:30

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Except it has since moved on to an also-supercharged V6 in its current form.

Textured Soy Protein > Axial 05/20/2014 at 22:32

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Regarding sound,

The Transporter > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:33

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The irony of superchargers is that they usually require an engine with a bit of power to begin with to work properly. Superchargers are directly linked to the crankshaft and delivering compressed air into the intake manifold takes a lot of power. That's why you usually see them in V8s. That being said, there are a bunch of aftermarket supercharger kits for the Miata.

jariten1781 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 22:34

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And my miata.

lonestranger > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 23:08

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VW G60 with its weird-ass (read: failure-prone) G-Lader supercharger.

DarrenMR > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 23:08

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Checking in, first gen Mini Cooper S.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 23:24

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Superchargers require engine torque to spin, especially if you want them to work well at low RPMs, and usually they run out of steam a bit at high RPMs.

comparatively turbochargers are not directly driven, and recover thermal energy from the exhaust, rather than taking energy directly off the crankshaft.

A small displacement engine doesn't have a lot of torque to spin a supercharger right from idle to quickly replace and surpass the torque the supercharger is taking first.

A turbo doesn't drag on the crankshaft so directly, but also doesn't add power at lower rpms, or as instantaneously, but usually lighter mass, quick spinning engines tend to be flogged at higher rpms for peak horsepower, which a turbo is more efficient at providing, rather than peak torque lower in the RPM band.

A larger engine, like a V8 has the torque at idle to keep the supercharger spinning without too much drag to the engine at such a low RPM, and overcomes that drag much more easily, and torque tends to be the name of the game, which a supercharger adds more quickly, directly tied to the speed of the crankshaft.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/20/2014 at 23:37

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The first-gen R53 Cooper S.

The supercharger on this sounds absolutely glorious. Get it above 3000 and it really starts to sing and sound like a jet engine. In fact, one could say that it even sounds like a Shelby Mustang, minus the V8 bass note.

Takuro Spirit > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/21/2014 at 00:00

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Subaru built a S/C'd boxer for a show car.

Shame it, or an SPT add-on S/C kit, never made it to production. Boxer rumble + supercharger whine = JIZZZZZZZZZZ

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Takuro Spirit 05/21/2014 at 00:10

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I've seen a couple of S/C'd EZ30's. They were splooge too.

offroadkarter > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/21/2014 at 00:12

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because turbo 4 cylinders just work better. supercharged 4 cylinders are good for a mild power bump and thats about it. Also, sticking a giant honking blower on the side of the engine wouldn't be easy.

Dsscats > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 05/21/2014 at 00:14

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I can attest to that. I test drove one and fell in love.

Spoon II > YSI-what can brown do for you 05/21/2014 at 00:26

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One of my favorite cars of all time!

Burrito de EJ25 > Takuro Spirit 05/21/2014 at 01:08

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Is there video of this thing?! I need to hear it!

samssun > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/21/2014 at 01:10

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Elise/Exige and Ariel Atom (Honda or GM Ecotec)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 05/21/2014 at 01:38

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Mercedes m111 in 99-00 c230k. I own one and daily it, it will go sideways if you want it to, and the magnetic clutch means it only kicks in when you need the power so it gets great mpg's. Mercedes m271 in c203k and w203k. Though the m271evo used in 204's is turbocharged.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Takuro Spirit 05/21/2014 at 01:43

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Baby, I got your hook up.