General Car Conversation
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,019
Likes: 496
From: Knoxville, TN
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
Likes: 236
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,096
Likes: 1,740
From: Ohio
End result is my original thought of anything under 5.0L isn't a real V8, 5-6 is normal and 6-7 is a good size was proven accurate after a few years of tiny V8s. The only reason the 4.0 is so nice it because it has enough boost pressure to essentially be a 10L engine from 21psi, it still suffers from being "fake" though.
You really need a supercharger system to have true instant response, even then the best engine I've ever had in terms of response and immediate torque is my W12. RPM simply doesn't matter at all.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,019
Likes: 496
From: Knoxville, TN
Well I wasn't, small V8s never really quite impressed me and after not driving the 460 for a while on top of having/regularly driving the D4s when I went back it felt very weak.
End result is my original thought of anything under 5.0L isn't a real V8, 5-6 is normal and 6-7 is a good size was proven accurate after a few years of tiny V8s. The only reason the 4.0 is so nice it because it has enough boost pressure to essentially be a 10L engine from 21psi, it still suffers from being "fake" though.
You really need a supercharger system to have true instant response, even then the best engine I've ever had in terms of response and immediate torque is my W12. RPM simply doesn't matter at all.
End result is my original thought of anything under 5.0L isn't a real V8, 5-6 is normal and 6-7 is a good size was proven accurate after a few years of tiny V8s. The only reason the 4.0 is so nice it because it has enough boost pressure to essentially be a 10L engine from 21psi, it still suffers from being "fake" though.
You really need a supercharger system to have true instant response, even then the best engine I've ever had in terms of response and immediate torque is my W12. RPM simply doesn't matter at all.
And yeah of course, if the EPA didn't ruin cars we'd have massive V8s with superchargers. One can dream.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
The best example is Striker and going back to the LS460 after being used to the turbo 8 and 12 he has. It’s also true for me being used to the TTV8, driving even a NA V8 just feels sluggish at low RPMs.
No NA engine has the torque down that low. honestly, I’m getting to where I would rather have a good turbo 4 than a NA V6 in a mainstream car.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 335
Likes: 26
From: NA
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
I get that in a performance car where you want to be reviving it up but in an every day car just in normal driving I totally disagree. I like the easy power down low in the rev band
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 335
Likes: 26
From: NA
I find NA better in a RX or ES luxury type vehicle as well. It's quiet and smooth. Smooth equals luxury to me.
Last edited by Sodbuster1; Aug 27, 2023 at 02:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
Lots of extremely quiet and smooth turbo powertrains out there too, like the one in my S Class. No more V6 in the new RX, I havent driven the new one but I would venture to say its way more responsive than the old V6.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 335
Likes: 26
From: NA
Yeah, I just bought a 22 RX 350 Luxury for a reason. Trust me, I'm not only person who prefers a NA V6 to a turbo 4. I didn't mind the turbo 4 in the NX, a smaller less luxury oriented vehicle.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 335
Likes: 26
From: NA