Is there any point to putting a turbo or supercharger in an econocar?

[DietDrThunder]

Why not. Chevrolet did it in 1962, took their 98hp boxer six, added a turbo charger, and vola, 150hp, then upped it to 180hp in 1965. I say go for it.

 

[wiretap]

My 03 Lancer.. after the turbo kit, I could pretty much keep up with my buddy's 04 Mustang GT. But then, it went through two stage 2 WORKS clutches and I put a new one on and sold the car.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Fast, Reliable, Cheap. Pick two.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Maybe your passengers will enjoy the ride like in this 1962 Turbo charged Oldsmobile Jetfire commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Km9qlhaR0

 

[vshah]

it can also be used as a fuel SAVING method, smaller engine + turbo for similar power with lower fuel consumption. but that would be something from the factory, obviously

 

[Draftee]

The 1.4 litre VW engine has a supercharger and turbocharger and was last years international engine of the year.

The four-cylinder combines a turbocharger and supercharger in one compact unit. The result is power of up to 178bhp, but what’s most impressive is the engine’s specific power that attains 127.1bhp per litre of displacement. And with 240Nm of torque coming good at 1,500rpm, it’s easy to see why the jurors that look for performance and sporty characteristics were impressed.

But power is just part of the story for this year’s International Engine of the Year. The TSI derivative mated to VW’s DSG system emits 144g CO2/km, and in a Golf application, fuel consumption is rated at 6.2litres/100km (45.5mpg). With those figures, it’s little wonder that TSI won.

http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/winners_09/winner.html

 

[exdeath]

it can also be used as a fuel SAVING method, smaller engine + turbo for similar power with lower fuel consumption. but that would be something from the factory, obviously

In practice it doesn't work that way. 99% of people are going to floor it at every light and race everything in sight because the turbo feels fast. Boost is addicting. But they will still pretend they are getting good MPG.

I get a kick out of how many Prius drivers I see jack rabbit starting and trying to race and pass everyone, esp. when they have this smug look and think they are getting 60 MPG and saving the world.

 

[DietDrThunder]

I get a kick out of how many Prius drivers I see jack rabbit starting and trying to race and pass everyone, esp. when they have this smug look and think they are getting 60 MPG and saving the world.

I experienced this same thing when driving to Yellowstone last summer. In Denver when we exited the highway to find a resturant, there were several Prius' in traffic and many were jack rabbit accelerating at traffic lights. On the highway the speed limit was 75 mph. I had the cruise control set at 80 mph, and I kept seeing these Prius' passing me doing 85 to 90 mph. Go figure.

 

[CurseTheSky]

it can also be used as a fuel SAVING method, smaller engine + turbo for similar power with lower fuel consumption. but that would be something from the factory, obviously

It's only saving fuel if you stay out of boost. And if you're hell bent on saving fuel by keeping the RPMs low, what's the point in having the turbo there in the first place? It's good for passing or merging on occasion, sure, otherwise it's a complete waste.

In my mind, econocars are econocars, and sports cars are sports cars. There are a surprising number of power adders available for my '08 Fusion V6, but I'll never buy them. It's a daily driver, and 221 BHP is already excessive for normal street use. I'll just stick with my 24-25 MPG combined (~60% city, 40% highway), and take out the Mustang which will get half that (or worse) when I want to get thrown back in my seat.

 

[DivideBYZero]

In practice it doesn't work that way. 99% of people are going to floor it at every light and race everything in sight because the turbo feels fast. Boost is addicting. But they will still pretend they are getting good MPG.

I get a kick out of how many Prius drivers I see jack rabbit starting and trying to race and pass everyone, esp. when they have this smug look and think they are getting 60 MPG and saving the world.

I love being passed by a Prius that's doing 90Mph on the motorway. It puts a nice smug grin on my face, as I know I'm way more fuel efficient at those speeds than he ever could be.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

For the 3 grand that the turbo/super charger kit will cost you, you can get an 80's Mustang/Camaro/Firebird. That you can use as your fun car.
Something to think about is you do not want your one and only means of transportaion to also be your project car.

My 87 T/A has been worked over and a custom ECU and is pretty mean on it's own. Add the 150hp shot of giggle juice and the upcoming STS turbo kit and it'll be a mean sumbitch. Only problem with putting the turbo kit on it with the NOS is if I want to race at the track I'll have to put a roll cage in.

 

[StageLeft]

I've never seen a Prius go fast because to go fast you need at least some desire and motivation in yourself and Prius owners are dead inside. They have no souls, like gingers.

 

[KIAman]

The main point is adding power to a light car. Rather than removing weight from a powerful car or adding more power to an already powerful car which would cost more money and change the handling and safety of the car.

LBs/HP. The lower, the better.

My current car (sports sedan) has 13.3lbs per HP.
My wife's car (econocar) is 21lbs per HP.

If I boost my car by 50hp, it drops to 11lbs per HP while adding 50hp to wife's car drops it to 15lbs.

 

[marincounty]

I love being passed by a Prius that's doing 90Mph on the motorway. It puts a nice smug grin on my face, as I know I'm way more fuel efficient at those speeds than he ever could be.

What do you drive that is more efficient than a Prius at 90mph? I'm curious because my brother rented a Prius and said he was getting over 40mpg at 80mph.

 

[overst33r]

It's only saving fuel if you stay out of boost. And if you're hell bent on saving fuel by keeping the RPMs low, what's the point in having the turbo there in the first place? It's good for passing or merging on occasion, sure, otherwise it's a complete waste.

Not true. A proper low pressure turbo makes the car more efficient than it would be with out one.

At least that's what Saab thinks.

 

[TehMac]

Maybe your passengers will enjoy the ride like in this 1962 Turbo charged Oldsmobile Jetfire commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Km9qlhaR0

:thumbsup;

I wonder if Ford ever developed any turbochargers.

It'd be awesome to twin turbocharge a '67 302 and call it "Son of Cobra Jet"

 

[HarryLui]

For most people, no.

For few, yes.

Driving a 85 GLH with 2.5L and 12psi is a blast.