turbo or v6??

[A.BLAKE]

Im buying a new 2 after some time with out one and i need power, NA 2.0 will not do!! Cant decide do i buy another turbo.. my last turbo was a pain in the ass mechanicly... or go with a v6 conversion.. V6 conversion (from woodsport) with the 3.0 seems ok but it only coughs up 160 odd bhp.. and im not sure if thats enough. Im thinking spend 3 grand on a 3sgte and im flying.. Any way who owns a 3.0 on here? is it scary turbo fast?? does the tourque make up for it? Who is the best company in england to build a really good 3ste that wont break down all the time??

[cvega666]

i think it's a totally different story, hard to compare tbh. Turbo will be always more fun, but more unreliable (however i'm sure someone here will differ).
For driveability I guess v6 will win, more torque down low, etc.
I'd go for a turbo though (which I am going to in April). More fun and can't beat the sound.

[Moo]

Turbo will be always more fun, but more unreliable (however i'm sure someone here will differ)

Yes, I do In 8 years of ownership the only major thing that went wrong with my tubby was the pipes from hell leaking. Other than that it hasn't missed a bit. Tubby's aren't inherently unreliable but as with all cars, if maintenance and servicing are neglected and it's had a hard life it will be more likely to keep going wrong. Get a nice example that's been well looked after and it should be ok.

Can't offer much of a comparision on v6 versus turbo as have never owned or been out in a v6 but if you're after raw power then I'd say it has to be a tubby everytime. More power in stock form and plenty of scope for extracting more ponies without blowing the bank. That's just my opinion. I'm sure some v6 owners who've experienced both will be along to give a more informed opinion

[cvega666]

as I said - each car is almost an individual case, but thanks for reinforcing my goal to turbo my 2

[Fourveesix]

Since ive had both engine types ( in a celica) i can comment a little on this.

I had the 3sgte engine and it never let me down in some 5 years of ownership ( i still have it in boxes doing a rebuild on it) so id echo the comments regarding it not being any more unreliable than any other engine.
Its probably due to poor or lack of maintainance and mechanical sympathy, such as letting it cool after a long high speed run before switching off thats the major contributor to a breakdown rather than any inherent weakness in the engine itself.

For me, the 3sgte's credentials as a basis for a powerful, reliable engine just arent in doubt, theyre proven.

The only downer for me with that engine is the sound.
In the celica it was always muted and just buzzed along all nicely, but it didnt have any soul as such, even tho it was pulling you along at a high rate of knots.

Swapping in the V6 gave it plenty of soul but it tends to loose out in the power stakes, not so with the 2grfe thats currently being, however a big drawback is fuel consumption, especially on the earlier 3vz and 1mz's, they do tend to drink it like a wino especially when booted.
Although they do have a good dollop of torque lower down the cams and heads strangle top end breathing, which is why they make a comparatively poor 61 hp per litre.

Gte with the turbo only becomes the big engine you always wanted when the turbos in the "lets play" zone whereas the V6's are always the big engine so fuel consumption can suffer.

As always, its a personal choice but after having both of them, for me the GTE engine is still the way to power, the v6 is the way to a great soundtrack and a good dose of grunt but it will always be playing catchup in the power stakes due to its compromised design(earlier engines).

Dont forget also the rebuild costs for one vs the other, v6 has more of everything.

[Steve-O 2007]

V6 sounds great but a Turbo with airfilter, decat and exhaust also sounds great cant beat that turbo whistle / sucking sound

[A.BLAKE]

shame the 2gr isnt more availeble it seems like the perfect choice..
I must say my 3sgte did run perfectly for a long time. it was only when i started upping with the boost it all went pear shaped. How much more can be extacted from the 6 without forced induction?? Not so worried about fuel consumption driving a 560 sec at the momnet

[Fourveesix]

shame the 2gr isnt more availeble it seems like the perfect choice..
I must say my 3sgte did run perfectly for a long time. it was only when i started upping with the boost it all went pear shaped. How much more can be extacted from the 6 without forced induction?? Not so worried about fuel consumption driving a 560 sec at the momnet

Probably cracked the ring lands on the pistons, seems to be a common thing when the boost is raised on the gte's.

Most ive seen using a set of heads i ported and flowed on the 3vzfe was 215.8bhp or suchlike which was up from 185 stock, however theres no way to know whether the fuelling or ignition was optimised, certainly the cams were still stock which isnt going to help.

[RST]

Just remember before you jump between N/A to V6 or Tubby -there's always BEAMS engines. If you like to drive like a tubby rather than looking for lazy torque I'd recommend you look that option also.

3sge and 3sgte are pretty much bullet proof, it's the tinny rattly can called the rest of the car they're bolted to which usually let them down.

The only downer for me with that engine is the sound.
In the celica it was always muted and just buzzed along all nicely, but it didnt have any soul as such, even tho it was pulling you along at a high rate of knots.

...I take it you had a 185 then because my 205 was very loud to drive compared to most cars I've had. Could hear every brap from the back and every suck and blow from the front. Mine wasn't modified much at all.

[Charged]

? is it scary turbo fast??

No it isn't.. based on you even asking that question, 3SGTE is your best option

Who is the best company in england to build a really good 3ste that wont break down all the time??

Century Motorsport

[jasongtr]

my v6 is ok, not mega powerful/fast, but i know a few people with turbos and they always seem to be off the road and/or having huge amounts of money spent on them

very juicy though.

and if i still want to chase bigger BHP ill chuck supercharger on it

[calum4492]

the amount of cash u'd spend buying a 2 then slappin a v6 in it, im my opinion wouldnt be worth it wen u could get a sgte and tart it up, besides it would be alot faster

[A.BLAKE]

Kinda moving towards turbo.. My aim is to build something as close as possible to a trd2000gt... Budget is about 10grand all in including buying a car body kit, wheels and tunning.. have paint and bodywork all sorted though.. Not sure weather to buy a clapped out turbo and fully re-build the engine... or buy one in good condition (if there are any left) and hope fot the best. I want a rev 3 and over 300whp maybe 400 any ideas?? what are good wheels for the trd kit??

[jasongtr]

i understand how people buy these cars and over time plough loads of money into them. But to have £10k to spend straight away on a replica seems mad when you can buy a pretty good car for that money - not an mr2.

[Signori]

Quite a simple answer to this question that turns up all the time....

Sound = V6
Speed = Turbo


Sub 300bhp tubby and you won't ever have issues, unless you're a numpty and don't maintain it properly.

[A.BLAKE]

10 grand is alot but... i just sold my sl 450, i have owned a m3, and a boxter and my mates got a s2000, and i have a nice mercedes to drive every day this is just a toy... for meeeeee im sure if i wanted to sell i would lose all the money but im not going to sell it im going to crash it at the nurburgring well maybe not but you get my point... LOL

[jasongtr]

with a 10k budget if you are still wanting an mr2 then you could do a 2gr build i would of thought, or at least turbo/supercharge a 3vz or 1mz, then you would have the best of both worlds a v6 sound track and more power.

not knocking a turbo mr2 but given the choice id have the sound of a v6 any day, and no matter what anyone says keep throwing more power at a car and it will break down more.

[loudandproud205]

My 21 year old 170,000 mile tubby never break's, it's me that break's it as am an idiot

Joking aside every problem I've found on mine has been down to a person that played before, and am sure if the clutch hadn't gone then it would still be taxed waiting for the day's that look like the sun may shine and

[fimmo]

white trd is a rev 4 turbo
aqua/green one is a supercharged v6
black one is a standard v6

all mine.









MY opinions...

my fave for for just going out for a blast..

supercharged v6, but for everyday blasting and having a good drive def rev 4 turbo

scv6 has a brilliant soundtrack and heavy torque pull but the rev 4 turbo spool sounds as good if not better some days and once that turbo spools up it pulls hard too so its horses for courses.

everyday driver / winter car is my black v6, engine wise just a standard 3vz-fe and currently about to get coilovers and better wheels but after driving the rev 4 turbo all summer last year getting back into a standard v6 felt a bit flat, i was used to that BOOST too much lol

IN MY OPINION... if i was to build one from start right now, i'd either go the new v6 2gr, or late spec turbo. but if i had to decide right ow... go for the turbo.

much easier for parts, vast knowledge not just a handful of specialists, and less insurance issues, although i havent had any of those to be honest but when you say its a turbo thats it, if you say v6 or scv6 then the questions and papaerwork start, nothing major but still to keep in mind!

[vishpish]

daym man I'm looking forward to seeing these ^^ in the flesh!

imho I chose v6 for reliability as I'd been stung with so many issues on my 3sfe and 3sge engines. I also like the idea of having a smoother torque and powerband - really helped when I was dicking with the drifters last summer at crail!