ward's 10 best engine nominees
07-14-2001, 04:44 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 491
old, but they still like the VQ engine. I posted this in the TL-S forum also and might get some unhappy replies.
http://www.wardsauto.com/default.asp?action=en#who
Who was Tested, Who Was Bested
Our sometimes catty summaries for each Best Engines nominee, with a personal touch
Audi 1.8L turbocharged DOHC I-4
170 hp, 166 lb.-ft. (A4)
+ Love that little turbo puff.
- Too much hp manipulation among models.
= Eminem: Small. Big bark.
Audi 2.7L Twin-turbo DOHC V-6
250 hp, 258 lb.-ft. (allroad)
+ Storming torque, techno-weenie appeal.
- Startlingly poor fuel economy.
= Bette Midler: Belts it out with the best of ’em.
BMW 3L DOHC I-6
225 hp, 214 lb.-ft. (530i)
+ No-excuses power increase.
- Hey, these things aren’t gettin’ any cheaper.
= Muhammed Ali: Floats like a butterfly, and you know the rest.
DaimlerChrysler Mercedes 2.6L SOHC V-6
168 hp, 177 lb.-ft. (C240)
+ Can hook it up to a 6-speed manual.
- A 2.6L engine should mean C260 on the badge.
= David Spade: Trying just a little too hard.
DaimlerChrysler Mercedes 3.2L SOHC V-6
215 hp, 221 lb.-ft. (C320)
+ More than meets the eye. Way more.
- The throttle-action god wants a word with you, Mercedes.
= Mark McGuire: Big hitter, snappy glove.
Ford 2L DOHC I-4
130 hp, 135 lb.-ft. (Focus)
+ Agreeable enough, good NVH.
- Gotta have a manual to actually enjoy it.
= Gloria Estefan: Petite and punchy.
Ford/Lincoln 3.9L DOHC V-8
252 hp, 267 lb.-ft. (Lincoln LS)
+ Pretty cheap for a V-8 luxo-boat.
- Outgunned by a lot of good sixes.
= Barry White: Smooth but too slow.
Ford 5.4L SOHC V-8/5.4L supercharged
260 hp, 350 lb.-ft. Ford F-150 Harley Davidson
+ Hands out a butt-whippin’, truck style.
- Two valves is looking like two too few.
= Arnold Schwarzenegger: Powertrain of choice for traffic Terminators.
General Motors 2.2L DOHC I-4
135 hp, 142 lb.-ft. (Saturn LS200)
+ Quite smooth, sadly unnoticed.
- Specific output isn’t competitive.
= Susan Sarandon: Nice, but a little off- base.
General Motors 3L DOHC V-6
182 hp, 190 lb.-ft. (Saturn LS300)
+ Good mill for the money.
- Usually snoozing when the pedal is pressed.
= Dennis Miller: Works too hard at being laid-back.
General Motors 3.5L DOHC V-6
215 hp, 230 lb.-ft. (Intrigue)
+ Brawnier than import V-6s.
- Underachieving output, tech spec.
= Atlanta Braves: All the pieces, yet can’t win the big one.
General Motors 5.7L LS6 OHV V-8
385 hp, 385 lb.-ft. (Corvette Z06)
+ Omigod acceleration.
- Pushing this design’s retirement date.
= Tim (the tool man) Allen: No need to tweak this for more power.
General Motors 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel V-8
300 hp, 520 lb.-ft. (GMC Sierra HD)
+ Glorious refinement, hideous torque.
- Louder than the average bear.
= Mr. T: I pity the fool who don’t like diesel!
Honda 1.8L DOHC VTEC I-4
127 hp, 114 lb.-ft. (Civic EX)
+ Four-cylinder nirvana.
- Nondescript to a fault.
= Bill Gates: Unassuming but successful.
Honda/Acura 1.8L VTEC DOHC I-4
195 hp, 130 lb.-ft.(Integra Type R)
+ Rev-to-the-moon circus act.
- One-hundred-thirty lb.-ft? In America?
= Howard Stern: Entertaining but too much noise.
Honda 2L VTEC DOHC I-4 (S2000)
240 hp, 153 lb.-ft. (S2000)
+ Normal-aspiration benchmark.
- Earmuffs should be standard equipment.
= Bruce Lee: Fists of Fury.
Honda/Acura 3.2L VTEC DOHC V-6
260 hp, 232 lb.-ft. (CL Type S)
+ Satisfying personal cruise missile.
- "Numbers" don’t jibe with the "feel."
= Steven Seagal: Stretching to be some- thing it isn’t.
Honda/Acura 3.5L DOHC VTEC V-6
240 hp, 245 lb.-ft. (MDX)
+ New level of SUV engine refinement.
- We can’t totally forget it’s a minivan engine.
= Marlon Brando: Deserves respect without necessarily earning it.
Nissan 3L DOHC I-6
227 hp, 217 lb.-ft. (Maxima Anniv. Ed.)
+ World’s best throttle response.
- Three-foot-long gearshift lever.
= Conan the Barbarian: Still slays all competitors.
Nissan 3.5L DOHC V-6
250 hp, 250 lb.-ft. (Pathfinder)
+ More refined than SUV buyers deserve.
- Gritty around the edges. Pushing the displacement envelope?
= Lee Marvin: Tough but cleans up okay.
Porsche 2.7L DOHC H-6
217 hp, 192 lb.-ft. (Boxster)
+ Best soundtrack in the business.
- Have to live with that weak step-off.
= Steve McQueen: Shut up, Leonardo, and watch a real man act.
Toyota 1.5L DOHC I-4 hybrid
70 hp, 82 lb.-ft. (Prius)
+ Subtle, subtle.
- Hard acceleration is NOT part of the formula.
= Dr. Science: It knows way more than you do.
Toyota 1.8L DOHC I-4
138 hp, 125 lb.-ft. (MR2 Spyder)
+ Refreshingly athletic.
- Not as smooth as you’d like.
= Britney Spears: Too energetic to be a one- hit wonder.
Toyota 2L DOHC I-4
148 hp, 142 lb.-ft. (RAV4)
+ Gives the shirt off its back.
- Still masquerading for a V-6.
= Beaver Cleaver after a summer in the weight room.
Toyota/Lexus 3L DOHC I-6
215 hp, 218 lb.-ft. (IS300)
+ Never met an inline six we didn’t like.
- Please FedEx us 40 hp, 6-speed manual.
= Buffy the 3-Series Slayer: On a mission.
Toyota/Lexus 4.3L DOHC V-8
300 hp, 325 lb.-ft. (GS 430)
+ Insert: iron-fist/velvet glove cliché.
- Still a touch too clinical.
= Frank Sinatra: Class act that’ll kick your butt if you ask for it.
Volvo 2.3L turbocharged DOHC I-5
247 hp, 243 lb.-ft. (S60 T5)
+ Can’t deny that’s a lot of ponies.
- Driveability isn’t a strong suit.
= Braveheart: Subtle as a battle axe.
http://www.wardsauto.com/default.asp?action=en#who
Who was Tested, Who Was Bested
Our sometimes catty summaries for each Best Engines nominee, with a personal touch
Audi 1.8L turbocharged DOHC I-4
170 hp, 166 lb.-ft. (A4)
+ Love that little turbo puff.
- Too much hp manipulation among models.
= Eminem: Small. Big bark.
Audi 2.7L Twin-turbo DOHC V-6
250 hp, 258 lb.-ft. (allroad)
+ Storming torque, techno-weenie appeal.
- Startlingly poor fuel economy.
= Bette Midler: Belts it out with the best of ’em.
BMW 3L DOHC I-6
225 hp, 214 lb.-ft. (530i)
+ No-excuses power increase.
- Hey, these things aren’t gettin’ any cheaper.
= Muhammed Ali: Floats like a butterfly, and you know the rest.
DaimlerChrysler Mercedes 2.6L SOHC V-6
168 hp, 177 lb.-ft. (C240)
+ Can hook it up to a 6-speed manual.
- A 2.6L engine should mean C260 on the badge.
= David Spade: Trying just a little too hard.
DaimlerChrysler Mercedes 3.2L SOHC V-6
215 hp, 221 lb.-ft. (C320)
+ More than meets the eye. Way more.
- The throttle-action god wants a word with you, Mercedes.
= Mark McGuire: Big hitter, snappy glove.
Ford 2L DOHC I-4
130 hp, 135 lb.-ft. (Focus)
+ Agreeable enough, good NVH.
- Gotta have a manual to actually enjoy it.
= Gloria Estefan: Petite and punchy.
Ford/Lincoln 3.9L DOHC V-8
252 hp, 267 lb.-ft. (Lincoln LS)
+ Pretty cheap for a V-8 luxo-boat.
- Outgunned by a lot of good sixes.
= Barry White: Smooth but too slow.
Ford 5.4L SOHC V-8/5.4L supercharged
260 hp, 350 lb.-ft. Ford F-150 Harley Davidson
+ Hands out a butt-whippin’, truck style.
- Two valves is looking like two too few.
= Arnold Schwarzenegger: Powertrain of choice for traffic Terminators.
General Motors 2.2L DOHC I-4
135 hp, 142 lb.-ft. (Saturn LS200)
+ Quite smooth, sadly unnoticed.
- Specific output isn’t competitive.
= Susan Sarandon: Nice, but a little off- base.
General Motors 3L DOHC V-6
182 hp, 190 lb.-ft. (Saturn LS300)
+ Good mill for the money.
- Usually snoozing when the pedal is pressed.
= Dennis Miller: Works too hard at being laid-back.
General Motors 3.5L DOHC V-6
215 hp, 230 lb.-ft. (Intrigue)
+ Brawnier than import V-6s.
- Underachieving output, tech spec.
= Atlanta Braves: All the pieces, yet can’t win the big one.
General Motors 5.7L LS6 OHV V-8
385 hp, 385 lb.-ft. (Corvette Z06)
+ Omigod acceleration.
- Pushing this design’s retirement date.
= Tim (the tool man) Allen: No need to tweak this for more power.
General Motors 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel V-8
300 hp, 520 lb.-ft. (GMC Sierra HD)
+ Glorious refinement, hideous torque.
- Louder than the average bear.
= Mr. T: I pity the fool who don’t like diesel!
Honda 1.8L DOHC VTEC I-4
127 hp, 114 lb.-ft. (Civic EX)
+ Four-cylinder nirvana.
- Nondescript to a fault.
= Bill Gates: Unassuming but successful.
Honda/Acura 1.8L VTEC DOHC I-4
195 hp, 130 lb.-ft.(Integra Type R)
+ Rev-to-the-moon circus act.
- One-hundred-thirty lb.-ft? In America?
= Howard Stern: Entertaining but too much noise.
Honda 2L VTEC DOHC I-4 (S2000)
240 hp, 153 lb.-ft. (S2000)
+ Normal-aspiration benchmark.
- Earmuffs should be standard equipment.
= Bruce Lee: Fists of Fury.
Honda/Acura 3.2L VTEC DOHC V-6
260 hp, 232 lb.-ft. (CL Type S)
+ Satisfying personal cruise missile.
- "Numbers" don’t jibe with the "feel."
= Steven Seagal: Stretching to be some- thing it isn’t.
Honda/Acura 3.5L DOHC VTEC V-6
240 hp, 245 lb.-ft. (MDX)
+ New level of SUV engine refinement.
- We can’t totally forget it’s a minivan engine.
= Marlon Brando: Deserves respect without necessarily earning it.
Nissan 3L DOHC I-6
227 hp, 217 lb.-ft. (Maxima Anniv. Ed.)
+ World’s best throttle response.
- Three-foot-long gearshift lever.
= Conan the Barbarian: Still slays all competitors.
Nissan 3.5L DOHC V-6
250 hp, 250 lb.-ft. (Pathfinder)
+ More refined than SUV buyers deserve.
- Gritty around the edges. Pushing the displacement envelope?
= Lee Marvin: Tough but cleans up okay.
Porsche 2.7L DOHC H-6
217 hp, 192 lb.-ft. (Boxster)
+ Best soundtrack in the business.
- Have to live with that weak step-off.
= Steve McQueen: Shut up, Leonardo, and watch a real man act.
Toyota 1.5L DOHC I-4 hybrid
70 hp, 82 lb.-ft. (Prius)
+ Subtle, subtle.
- Hard acceleration is NOT part of the formula.
= Dr. Science: It knows way more than you do.
Toyota 1.8L DOHC I-4
138 hp, 125 lb.-ft. (MR2 Spyder)
+ Refreshingly athletic.
- Not as smooth as you’d like.
= Britney Spears: Too energetic to be a one- hit wonder.
Toyota 2L DOHC I-4
148 hp, 142 lb.-ft. (RAV4)
+ Gives the shirt off its back.
- Still masquerading for a V-6.
= Beaver Cleaver after a summer in the weight room.
Toyota/Lexus 3L DOHC I-6
215 hp, 218 lb.-ft. (IS300)
+ Never met an inline six we didn’t like.
- Please FedEx us 40 hp, 6-speed manual.
= Buffy the 3-Series Slayer: On a mission.
Toyota/Lexus 4.3L DOHC V-8
300 hp, 325 lb.-ft. (GS 430)
+ Insert: iron-fist/velvet glove cliché.
- Still a touch too clinical.
= Frank Sinatra: Class act that’ll kick your butt if you ask for it.
Volvo 2.3L turbocharged DOHC I-5
247 hp, 243 lb.-ft. (S60 T5)
+ Can’t deny that’s a lot of ponies.
- Driveability isn’t a strong suit.
= Braveheart: Subtle as a battle axe.
07-14-2001, 06:46 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hehehe Acura 3.2 Hehehehe
Gotta love it!
Max:
"This is unquestionably the best-revving V-6 ever."
"World’s best throttle response"
"Conan the Barbarian: Still slays all competitors."
"– Three-foot-long gearshift lever."
= $120.00US SMC Short Shifter...oh boy a whole $120.00US!
CL-S/TL-S
"Numbers" don’t jibe with the "feel."
I'm just quoting the facts!
Max:
"This is unquestionably the best-revving V-6 ever."
"World’s best throttle response"
"Conan the Barbarian: Still slays all competitors."
"– Three-foot-long gearshift lever."
= $120.00US SMC Short Shifter...oh boy a whole $120.00US!
CL-S/TL-S
"Numbers" don’t jibe with the "feel."
I'm just quoting the facts!
07-15-2001, 06:07 AM
#4
looks like the maxi engine is gonna take back a crown for us for the 8th? straight year. But they might be talking about some other nissan engine, i didn't know we had a I-6, i'm going to talk to the dealer about my engine getting swapped, I-6's are easier to work on 
07-15-2001, 06:01 PM
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 42
IMO
First off the VQ is a great engine. I'm pretty happy that the J32A2 even got nominated for this award. My only problem with this is the validity of the award. When such basic mistakes such as calling the VQ an I-6 and the J32A2 DOHC instead of SOHC it makes me wonder...
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