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Author Topic: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars  (Read 3450 times)

Offline John S

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The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« on: March 20, 2012, 05:51:38 PM »

 :o No wonder motorsport's busy downsizing from 8 or 10 pots.  :swoon:       

Fascinating to see that the weight saving can actually make 3 better than 4 on small hatchbacks.  :crazy:

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/road-cars/opinions/the-rise-of-three-cylinder-cars/



Racing is Life - everything else is just....waiting. (Steve McQueen)

Offline cosworth151

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2012, 08:12:20 PM »
A number of years back, an idiot General Manager we had got some Geo Metro (Suzuki Swift) 3 poppers with automatics for our local service department. I drove a couple of them a few times.

THE WORST PIECE OF CRAP I EVER DROVE!!!   :sick:

For example, I was limping one up the hill downtown on Main Street and turned on the air conditioner. The car just stopped in the middle of the street!
“You can search the world over for the finer things, but you won't find a match for the American road and the creatures that live on it.”
― Bob Dylan

Offline Scott

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2012, 09:32:54 PM »
Drove a Smart for a weekend loaner when our VW Touran (minivan for those of you in NA) was in the shop.  Climbing the mountains around here it went through more gas than my VW did - and it was just screaming to try to get up them.  Two seater with enough room for two bags of groceries.  I'll never buy a car without enough engine to push it.
The Honey Badger doesn't give a...

Offline Jericoke

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2012, 03:42:43 PM »
Most of the entry level 4 cylinder engines in American cars have 120+ hp these days.

I love having that much power, but it's not needed.  I don't want granny running around driving up the price of gas on the way to Bingo.

Like anything else in life... the right tool for the job.  If you see a car as a way to get from A to B, then you don't need vast amounts of power.  (Of course, if you beleive that, then you're probably on the wrong board.)

Offline lkjohnson1950

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2012, 03:01:37 AM »
I owned a Fiat 128 with a 1300CC engine that produced a ferocious 62.5 BHP. You know It's low power when the manufacturer lists .5 BHP in the specs. You could drive absolutely flat out and most people would never notice.  :DD :DD :DD
Lonny

Offline cosworth151

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2012, 11:54:53 AM »
My MG Midget was listed as 64 BHP from the factory, but it wa still a fun little car in stock form. Remember, it didn't have any of the usual horsepower leaches (slush box, power steering pump, etc) It is also very, VERY light.
“You can search the world over for the finer things, but you won't find a match for the American road and the creatures that live on it.”
― Bob Dylan

Offline John S

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Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2012, 12:04:38 PM »
I owned a Fiat 128 with a 1300CC engine that produced a ferocious 62.5 BHP. You know It's low power when the manufacturer lists .5 BHP in the specs. You could drive absolutely flat out and most people would never notice.  :DD :DD :DD

In 1976 the firm I worked for had a mixed fleet of cars for us reps, Ford Escort 1600s, Fiat 128 1300s and Morris Marina 1800's. The Fiats were always taken first from the car pool as they could out accelerate & out corner the Fords and out corner & out brake the Marinas. Us youngsters didn't care about the horse power it's how they handled and how much fun they were.  ;)

I'm pretty sure the 128 is the donor car to the infamous Yugo model from Serbia(formerly Yugoslavia), right Cos




  
« Last Edit: March 22, 2012, 12:12:32 PM by John S »
Racing is Life - everything else is just....waiting. (Steve McQueen)

Offline Dare

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2012, 12:05:27 AM »
At this stage in life I'm just happy to get there,as cheaply
as possible

Bring on the 3 bangers
Mark Twain once opined, "it's easier to con someone than to convince them they've been conned."

Offline lkjohnson1950

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2012, 12:06:21 AM »
I wuv me 128. A little more power would have made it possible to have A/C which is almost a necessity in AZ. And according to the SCCA's scales (slalom don't you know) it weighed about 1800 pounds. Bent up the lip inside the fender and ran 175-70 13s. Could not lock the brakes with those tires on it!! It was a ball to drive.
Lonny

Offline Dare

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2012, 12:13:03 AM »
back in the late 60'sor early 70's I chose a 850 Fiat over a
VW Beetle because the Fiat was 100bucks cheaper,one of many
mistakes I've made in this life of mine.

2 other Chevy Vega and a early 60's Renault Dauphine

That's when I learned what dauphine meant in French
Mark Twain once opined, "it's easier to con someone than to convince them they've been conned."

Offline lkjohnson1950

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2012, 12:17:43 AM »
I would much rather have an 850 Spyder than a Beetle.
Lonny

Offline Dare

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #11 on: March 23, 2012, 12:47:24 AM »
I would much rather have an 850 Spyder than a Beetle.
   


Me too,it was a 850 Coupe
Mark Twain once opined, "it's easier to con someone than to convince them they've been conned."

Offline cosworth151

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #12 on: March 23, 2012, 12:25:58 PM »
Quote
I'm pretty sure the 128 is the donor car to the infamous Yugo model from Serbia(formerly Yugoslavia), right Cos

Right you are, John. That's why it was soooo easy to drop (I mean, shove in from underneath) a suitably tweaked X1/9 1500 engine in it.  :yahoo:  There was even one running around here for a while that had a 2 liter twin cam in it.
“You can search the world over for the finer things, but you won't find a match for the American road and the creatures that live on it.”
― Bob Dylan

Oatibix

  • Guest
Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2012, 12:18:12 PM »
I've only ever had experience of 2 3-pot cars, a daihatsu cuore courtesy car, but then my ex-wife bought a Daewoo Matiz, brand new about a year before they went bust!  I did get caught speeding in it about 6 months after she bought it, but the worst thing about that car was a year in (and after the warranty was null and void with them, but thankfully GM took it on), it lost a cylinder!  So having to limp the car to the garage on 2 cylinders was a bloody nightmare!

I hope that the 3 cylinder cars are a whole lot better in 2012, than they were in 2002!!

Offline Dare

Re: The rise of 3-cylinder production cars
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2012, 10:25:16 PM »
Daewoo has upped their game now,to rid themselves of
a bad reputation their now Kia,not a bad car at all
Mark Twain once opined, "it's easier to con someone than to convince them they've been conned."

 


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