Edmunds CarPool

VW builds great diesel engines, but the turbo gasoline engine in the Passat wasn't the greatest quality-wise.

Karl, as the owner of an '06 WRX Limited wagon, I have to agree. The new 2.5 turbo has very little turbo lag, and is very user-friendly. As I'm sure you're aware, this engine just won the best "engine of the year "in the 2.5L category.
 
http://www.subaru-global.com/lineup/eoty/index.html
 
I have yet to get under 20 mpg, which is a nice bonus these days.
 
Years ago I owned a 86 Saab 9000 turbo, and this WRX engine is light-years better. Best part is I don't have to wait a minute to let it spool down before shutting it off (unless I really get on the gas before shutting down).

Sorry blueguydotcom, but the E23 745i was a purely grey market car in terms of U.S. sales (it had buffalo hide seats, too). Like the Ferrari 400i, plenty of grey market 745i models made it over here during the "grey market crazy" 1980s, but none were sold here, officially, by their respective manufacturers.
 
You can read more about them here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E23

Karl, I know they were grey market but they were sold here nonetheless. Additionally, I didn't bring up the turbodiesels BMW sold here...so turbo in gas cars may be new in the USA but not turbo cars per se.
 
Also, I'm wondering why you mentioned "this new breed of turbos should provide hefty bumps in performance with minimal fuel mileage penalties (assuming the driver doesn't keep the engine in constant boost)."
 
You know the 335i engine hits the boost from 1400-rpm. There's very little chance of staying out of the boost. Like VW's delicious 2.0T, the engine's always on the boost.
 
BTW, the 3 series sedan has the turbo for 07 too (07 model designators will be 328 and 335 - turbo model). You can order one right now from a dealer for either delivery or ED.

I guess I thought it was clear that I wasn't talking turbodiesel engines in reference to BMW offering their first U.S.-sold, turbo engine. To me the statement "Uh, BMW had a 7 series turbo. The E23 745i was a turbo and it was sold here." doesn't sound like you were referencing the 745i as a grey market vehicle.
 
As for boost, I'm sure the new 335i uses low RPM boost to reduce lag and smooth out the driveability at low speeds, but I'd also bet that, once you're at a steady speed, the turbo backs out of boost when you aren't trying to accelerate. I can't confirm this because I haven't driven one personally, but I'd bet BMW set it up that way (especially considering the price of fuel these days). Thus the driver will have a good deal of control over how often the engine is in boost, as well as the resultant fuel mileage.

We'll see. I'm interested in the e90 with the turbo. Hopefully, they'll do something to tighten up the car's suspension in the near future: maybe a ZHP-like performance package. I'm anything but pleased by the Buicky-softness of my 06 e90 with the supposed sport package. An LSD and real exhaust would be nice too.

In regard to BMW offering a turbocharged 3 series coupe, all I can really say is, "Why not?" While it's easy to say something like that, I'll back that statement up with some reasoning.
 
Performance vehicles garner a lot of respect with their powerful, naturally-aspirated engines. Time and again, BMW has shown that their engineering (well, except for iDrive) is sound; it speaks for itself. With BMW's peers beginning to include turbos in their mode lineups, it would almost be foolish not to do the same. After all, the automotive industry is subject to the will of its customers - and they have spoken.
 
When you have the exemplary powerplants provided in BMW vehicles bolstered with a turbo, you really can't go wrong with taking an inherently good engine and making it even better. It's like fudge (or caramel) sauce on top of your ice cream which is pretty good on its own. These makes tout the driving experience and I, for one, don't see how a turbo could do anything but enhance that experience along with the image it projects.
 
Thumbs up, BMW.

The funny thing about turbo and BMW, and what you might be hinting at in your intro: you're seeing an admission by BMW that inline-6 couldn't do the job a turbo could do. Other turbo car makers, like Audi, have been told, inline-6 is the best engine. It's just funny, is all. Nothing wrong with it.

Interesting to see Honda give in as well. They do have turbodiesels, and a turbo'd kei-cars in Japan, but they've always prefered natural aspiration for any market they have control over.
 
Strange for them to start with an SUV too, in a segment with a demographic that looks at "4cyl turbo" and only sees "4cyl". (I've heard people talk about the Mazda CX-7 and wish it had a V6 for passing power... right.)
 
I think it's time for the type-R to move to turbo power!

I don't think the addition of a turbo will hurt BMW's image at all.
 
I think most BMW shoppers don't know and don't care what's under the hood, as long as the blue and white propellor is on the hood. The BMW performance fanatics will welcome more power, regardless of how it's made. The fact that it's making more power while maintaining fuel efficiency and keeping additional weight to a minimum will be bragging points to them. People who dislike BMWs will use the turbo as an excuse to hate the car even further--not that anything BMW does will make them like the brand.

I still have a 1989 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo Convertible. Sure, the Turbo has had to be replaced but it still runs. Quite a bit of turbo lag with that 3 speed Torqueflight though....

Off topic, but related to talking back.
 
My 18yr old sister is researching cars and when I directed her to edmunds.com, she said the site was "confusing as ****." It's true, there are WAY too many things to click on on the front page. And when you view cars by categories, and click on 2007 cars, there are no overviews. If that's the case, those links should direct you to 2006 cars.
 
I'll find the more appropriate place for feedback, but even I don't know where that is yet.

I'm hype about the new Acure 4 cyl turbo. I'd love to see it in the RSX sedan, if they continue that model.

That's "Acura" with an "a". Sorry.

RSX is dead. No RSX for 07: http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/01/si-rsx-r-i-p/

I meant to say TSX, the sedan.

More talking back..
 
When do you guys drive the new wave of GM vehicles? Im talking the Avalanche/Escalade EXT, Suburban/Yukon XL, and the new crossovers, the Outlook/Enclave/Acadia and the Aura. I'm especially curious about the Aura as it maybe the best GM sedan yet.
 
Here's a turbo memory from about 20 years back....remember the Buick GNX? It could smoke almost anything on the drag strip back then, for a low price. I still love the looks of that car.

Ahightower - oh, a turbo in the TSX. Yummy., Tighten up the suspension, add an LSD and that'd be a blast. I adore the 6 speed in the TSX. And I really like the vehicle's dimensions.

i forsee a great seller in a TSX w/SH-AWD and the RDX's turbo 4-banger. :) Hmmmmm... Honda, are you listening? :) I have fond memories of my Nissan SR20DET every time I drive my 240 up and down Angeles Crest Highway... Now if I can only get my engine legalized I wouldn't be so afraid to drive it and buy a new battery every year because I don't drive it enough! Ugh! Hahaha!

Navigator, we just had a 2007 Avalanche in the test fleet, and the story should be going up very soon. I posted about it a few weeks ago and I can tell you that, overall, I was very impressed. Very good interior quality! As for the others, we drive the new Silverado/Sierra in a few weeks, so that story should be up in September/October period. I know Motor Trend just had a bunch of stuff on those vehicles. As far as I can tell, MT either broke the embargo or GM LET them brake the embargo. Gee, that never happens with the print books...

Thanks for responding Karl. I stopped by a Chevy dealer today and I saw three trims of the Avalanche in LS, LT and LTZ form. While the LS and LT were nothing special, the LTZ really did blow me away regarding the interior. It looks more like a luxury car interior than a truck one. And look at the features it packs. Navigation, backup camera, xm radio, bose sound, leather and more. Sadly, it was also pretty expensive at $61,100 CAD.

The next gen TSX is supposed to have the RDX's motor and SH-AWD so it will become realtiy in the next couple of years. The current 6 speed manual TSX is a very well put together package, handles great, very affordable but its a bit short on power.
 
Finally a Honda 4 banger with some TORQUE! I have an idea Honda, the 2.3 turbo, in a Civic Si (R) sedan, high performance version of SH-AWD, 17inch wheels, Type R suspension/chassis tuning, Brembos, and 310hp/300lb ft of torque! True EVo/STi fighter for.......31 grand!
 
Personally, I dont have any major issues with turbos unless it has abundant lag but with todays variable geometry turbos, its almost undetectable.

hondacura4, sounds more to me like a Legacy GT Spec. B fighter, not an STI /EVO fighter.

Read my second paragraph again, it has referrence to a Civic. That would obviously be the EVO/STi fighter I was speaking of.