Boxer engine

[Geoffrey]

Just picked up a brand new Mazda 323 for my wife from a local dealer today.
It's a 5 speed manual with a 1.8l engine.

Driving home, I felt the harshness of the engine, evening in the rev range
between 2000-3000rmp. Comparing with the 2l boxer engine in my 2001 model
Forester, the 4-in-line of the Mazda engine sounds and feels so un-refined.
Noticed the problem while test drive the car a couple of weeks ago, the
dealer said it was probably from the abused test vehicle.

I have always been driving either boxer (Legacy the Forester lately) or 6
cylinder (Toyota Cressida with in-line 6) in the last 10 years, I probably
forgot the difference between boxer (or 6-cylinder) and a small in-line-4. I
understand boxer has a much better running smoothness due to its
self-balance, therefore it doesn't need elaborate counterbalance used in
most of in-line 4-cylinder engines. Still it made me really appreciate the
Subie boxer engine.

One thing did make me to regret the purchase of this particular Forester
model was how easy the Mazda engine pulls the car away compare with the 2l
boxer engine in the Forester. I guess extra 200kg+ weight of Forester
(1360kg against 1120kg of Mazda) really makes a big difference, even the
boxer has 200ml extra capacity.

It's interesting to know that the 1.8l Mazda engine has exactly the same max
power of 92kw as that of 2l boxer, but the boxer has a advantage in max
torque value. I probably should have waited for another few month to get the
current Forester with 2.5l boxer engine.

The other thing I noticed is the my Forester feels much more solid compare
to the Mazda. Surely the extra 200kg comes from somewhere.

 

[Steve Bukosky]

Driving home, I felt the harshness of the engine, evening in the rev range
between 2000-3000rmp. Comparing with the 2l boxer engine in my 2001 model
Forester, the 4-in-line of the Mazda engine sounds and feels so un-refined.
Noticed the problem while test drive the car a couple of weeks ago, the
dealer said it was probably from the abused test vehicle.

The boxer engine is one reason I bought the Forester over a Honda
CR-V. I like the Honda brand. I've had Honda motorcycles and
currently have a Gold Wing with a six cylinder boxer engine. Smooooth!
I appreciate the engine everytime I near 6,000rpm and there is zero
engine buzz. That holds for both the Gold Wing and the Forester. Best
thing next to an electric motor!

I also had a Corvair and old VW, neither a good representation of the
boxer but I remember the Corvair being smooth. Also used to be an
aircraft mechanic and all the engines were boxers, but none were very
smooth. Usually that was because of vibration from the flywheel
(propeller).

 

[FFF]

The boxer engine is one reason I bought the Forester over a Honda
CR-V. I like the Honda brand. I've had Honda motorcycles and
currently have a Gold Wing with a six cylinder boxer engine. Smooooth!
I appreciate the engine everytime I near 6,000rpm and there is zero
engine buzz. That holds for both the Gold Wing and the Forester. Best
thing next to an electric motor!

I also had a Corvair and old VW, neither a good representation of the
boxer but I remember the Corvair being smooth. Also used to be an
aircraft mechanic and all the engines were boxers, but none were very
smooth. Usually that was because of vibration from the flywheel
(propeller).

I find it strange that you should be surprised of the lack of smoothness on
boxers with less than 6 cylinders. On a H4, you have two (50%) of the pistons
going through the compression phase simultaneously which, by design, will cause
a rougher running engine at lower RPMs.

At higher speeds, the simultaneous firing of at least two cylinders will give
you a higher amplitude and subjectively higher sustained sound levels. Of course
you can add cylinders to smooth out that phenomenon, but you'll just end up with
another sewing machine motor.

The sound of the air cooled VW is a cultural event - a childhood memory for me -
and, IMHO, the best representation of a Boxer there is. Just a little on the
rustic side.

florian

 

[Sam Hain]

The sound of the air cooled VW is a cultural event - a childhood memory for me -
and, IMHO, the best representation of a Boxer there is. Just a little on the
rustic side.

florian?

ever hear a Porsche 993 3.6l hittin close to 7k rpms?

 

[Sam Hain]

The sound of the air cooled VW is a cultural event - a childhood memory for me -
and, IMHO, the best representation of a Boxer there is. Just a little on the
rustic side.

florian?

ever hear a Porsche 993 3.6l hittin close to 7k rpms?

 

[Rick Courtright]

I grew up with Bugs in the family starting with a new '55 that came over
on the boat with a fellow my father worked with, back in the days when
you could just buy a car anywhere and ship it back to the States... it
had the semaphore turn signals, a few other "German market" features, no
gas gauge (some of you will remember the "reserve switch" on the floor)
and for a while I thought it was REALLY fast. It took a couple of
explanations to help me figure out 100 km/h wasn't racing speed. So,
yes, I understand the "cultural" nature of that sound!

ever hear a Porsche 993 3.6l hittin close to 7k rpms?

That sound is NOT a "cultural event." More like a religious
experience...

Rick

 

[Andrew Thrift]

ever hear a Porsche 993 3.6l hittin close to 7k rpms?

No, ever hear a wankel rotary hitting 12000rpm ???

 

[Cam]

No, ever hear a wankel rotary hitting 12000rpm ???

no to both but ever hear a 1.5L V16 supercharged 1950s BRM winding up ?
? Check out
http://www.billzilla.org/engread.htm

Try the Loud Pass and listen to it wind into the distance.

 

[Edward Hayes]

No but I've heard a Porsche 4Cyl 4 cam 1960 RS at 11,000 rpm and it was sweet. eddie
Andrew Thrift wrote:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 17:33:09 -0800, Sam Hain wrote:




The sound of the air cooled VW is a cultural event - a childhood memory for me -
and, IMHO, the best representation of a Boxer there is. Just a little on the
rustic side.

florian?

ever hear a Porsche 993 3.6l hittin close to 7k rpms?



No, ever hear a wankel rotary hitting 12000rpm ???



no to both but ever hear a 1.5L V16 supercharged 1950s BRM winding up ? ? Check out

http://www.billzilla.org/engread.htm

Try the Loud Pass and listen to it wind into the distance.

 

[Rick Courtright]

No, ever hear a wankel rotary hitting 12000rpm ???

Yup, but it's just not the same! Out on the track's one thing: try it
inside a garage on a dyno... ouch! My ears never did recover.

Rick

 

[Matt Arvidson]

no to both but ever hear a 1.5L V16 supercharged 1950s BRM winding up ? ?
Check out

Truly the most glorious sound I have ever heard! Makes me go a little ...
misty.

Matt

 

[Edward Hayes]

Yes I have as one was at the Sebring race track here in Florida ~ 1965??
eddie