The "better motor" debate:

[carrrnuttt]

The debate has seemed to be that the "Domestic companies build better muscle" while "Japanese companies build better small-displacement motors".

Besides the fact that companies are weird now...being that Dodge is owned by an essentially German company, or that Mazda is owned by Ford, and other such oddities, there's more evidence to end this debate:

In perusing my issue of Sport-Compact Car, I came across a couple of interesting tidbits.

The Ecotec (Chevy) motor that is being campaigned in the NHRA's sport-compact class right now, sporting over a thousand horses, is built with mostly production parts, including the head and block. The way SCC put it was "Theoretically, you can build this 1,000-hp turbocharged Ecotec for yourself using the GM Performance Parts catalog and a humongous turbocharger system".

Also, in the same issue, there is an article about some NHRA sport-compact class cars.

In the pro-RWD class, the Bullish Motor Racing "Toyota Solara" has recorded a pass of 6.786 at 205mph, while the Turbonetics "Celica" recorded a 6.745 (trap-speed was not noted). They are predicting that these cars will be in the 6.50's by seasons end. Well, the current "Pro-stock" (pushrod V8) E.T. record in the "classic" NHRA series is 6.670 set in a "Grand Am".

The Bullish car is powered by a well-modified Supra motor (2JZGTE, 3.0ltr), while the Turbonetics car has a twin-turbo Toyota V8 in it.

Please don't use this thread as an arena to spout flames, or I will delete your post myself. This is just an observation, and consequent discussion as to how far both "sides" have come in such a short time.

[esp]

so whats the debate about? basically which motor an import one or a domestic one is better? i read it all and by the end of it i was confused? both motors you talked or quoted about are nice motors. so whats the debate on which is better over all? like reliability and all that neat stuff? this is me

[Jimster]

I've got to say that the times you posted for the Solara and Celica are both extremely impressive One thing that I still notice is that most DOHC/SOHC motors lack the torque of thier pushrod counterparts- If we make an exception for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (Out-torques even the Viper!) which is a high displacement V8 anyway. But smaller diplacement motors are fast catching thier Detroit counterparts as the pure genius of of some engineers allows more power to be made with less displacement. So really it seems Technology IS the replacement for displacement- especially after reading your post

[Amish_kid]

I beleive every company has their strong points in making engines, like Nissans vq series motor seems to be fairing rather nicely in the Maxima and 350z. Domestics I find have a lot of trouble making decent Fwd platforms as in my opinion none of them are any good due to the fact that the full sized cars are really underpowered like a Impala only has a 200 HorsePower with the highest options that's pretty weak for a full sized family sedan when all of its direct copetiton be it from Toyota to Nissan have more power (Altima 235, Maxima 265, and Camry with 220). Also newer domestic motors are notoriously known for going straight to Hell after 120,000 kms I've seen it happen to quite a few Intrepids, Malibus and Taurus all around that area burning oil and having knocks and pings in the motor (might have been a coincidence ) But I can't see it as being one. Althought not all Import companies build decent motors 2 I'm thinking of and I know most people will think of is Hyundai and Kia(My friends 2002 Sonata starting burning oiling at 60k). But still again I don't know if there were isolated incidents. All in all I find that Import companies have a good thing going with their Fwd motors and drivetrains Domestics should keep to what they know being Rwd cars like from decades past.

[carrrnuttt]

Originally Posted by esp

so whats the debate about? basically which motor an import one or a domestic one is better?

That's it.

Basically, I'm saying there is NO debate. The anti-"domestics" say that domestics can't build good 4-bangers like the Japanese, the "domestic" proponents say that the "domestic" companies rule when it comes to V8/drag muscle.

This proves that both sides were both somewhat wrong.

(Disclaimer: I put "domestic" and "imports" in quotation marks, because this is a very vague definition of the car...a lot of so-called "domestics" are built outside of the U.S., with non-U.S. parts even, while a lot of "imports" are built in the U.S....i.e., my Sentra was built in Smyrna, Tenessee, Camaros are assembled in Canada.)