Turbo Vs. Super

Lemunade00 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 08:22 PM

Ok i know its the age old question.. but i finally have got enough money together for one or the other.. And i would really like to know what ppl out there think.. most bang for the buck.... this is going on a 3.2 m3 engine.. any advice is helpfull.. thanks

Brekyrself · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 08:46 PM

Well it depends on what you want to do with the car. First off if your going to be tracking, get a supercharger because the power curve is more linear. The SC will behave like a normal NA engine just with a lot more power. Now the turbo on the other hand will make full boost at around 3000-4000rpm! The turbo makes all its boost way down low because they can spin up faster since there working off the exhaust not the crank.

I would have to say a SC (vortech blower) is more reliable because its not always going to be making so much boost in normal driving. One nice thing about the turbo though is that you can use the boost controller and adjust it to however you like. If you want a drag car get the turbo! Another added bonus of the turbo is the blowoff valve

Brad D. · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 08:51 PM

Here is your answer.

Lemunade00 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 11:44 AM

welp i have been looking around and reading alot since i last posted this.. the cheapest SC i found was the ESS.. which is offering 357Hp.. i am really striving for atleast the 400mark.. but i still wanna keep this car some what of a daily driver.. but you as said.. we all the luv that sound of that blow off on the turbos..

i am still up in the air with this.. lol

caball88 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 11:52 AM

i was reading alot about this as well, and i thought that the turbos were the way to go cause you get most the power down low in the rpm range. but looking at cost the supercharger seems to be more reasonable. you get about the same amount of power even tho its in the upper part of the rpm and it's cheaper and easier to install. you can use the money that you save to get a big brake kit to help stop all that new power as well. i'm sure if you up the boost a bit on the supercharger that you can get to 400hp.

Joey325i · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 12:51 PM

Go for RMS Stage 2, my cousins pushing 392HP to the ground on 91 octane, hes almost to the 400 RWHP mark

///MCubed · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 01:48 PM

Two different animals in terms of price, performance, and use. Having had both, I chose to go and stay with turbo. Like I said, two different animals with too many variables to really present an unbiased opinion. If you gave me more information as what the intended use/application would be (i.e., track, daily use/street racer, ego booster, etc.), amount of HP and TQ you wanted, I would be able to give you a better answer.

scottycs · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 01:57 PM

You can have a blow off valve on a supercharger. My friend has one on his

supercharged civic si.

Quote:

Originally posted by Brekyrself
Another added bonus of the turbo is the blowoff valve

PDX///M · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 02:19 PM

I think the answer is pretty simple. If you want a race car and you have a lot of money then turbo it. If you want a reliable daily driver then just add a SC.

When you start getting up in HP (~400) you are going to need to replace other pieces of the car. For example a better clutch, better brakes to stop you when your hauling ass

For the money the SC is hard to beat. The ESS kit is the best HP/$ ratio out there.

Now if your really wanting more than just the SC I might suggest the upgraded CAMS and Full exhaust. That will also depend on the city you live in because exhaust probably isn't legal.

Here is what I am doing:

ESS SC system ($3900 with group buy discount)
Brembo Brakes (or something comparable $2000)
Racing Brake ducts for cooling ($200)
Supersprint Cat Back Exhaust ($650) (has to be street legal)
Carbon Fiber Hood ($800) (maybe)

Still with all of those options you still are $2000 less than the turbo kit.

If you want to look at the groupbuy info check out:

http://home.attbi.com/~kbleck

Lots of info there

Lemunade00 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 05:20 PM

i for sure know brakes are going to be key.. and i checked out the thread.. if i were to get in on that deal when would it get to me.. i have a may10th deadline..

PDX///M · #11 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 05:58 PM

First order will go in this week if I get 10 people ready to go. Otherwise the 2nd order will go in after the deadline for the GP which is March 31st.

Lemunade00 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-17-2002, 06:28 PM

Ok the SC in the group buy is the ESS VT right? I tried finding out info on there VX SC that is supposed to be coming out. Anybody heard any specs on it???

Hellrot Sachin · #13 (**permalink**) 03-17-2002, 07:23 PM

Personally, I'd go supercharger before turbo. Yeah, it's cool to have a turbo, but in the end, the power is about the same. I was shocked to see the AA dyno runs netting around 300rwp. Supercharger power seems more usable because it's linear. You can power through a turn with moderate boost whereas in many cases, excessive boost down low makes it hard to plant.. Plus, the cost is less than 1/2..

HRS

CKim · #14 (**permalink**) 03-17-2002, 11:52 PM

As someone who's currently supercharged (roots blower on my '00 Integra GS-R), I would say that a turbo is a better bet than the centrifugal blower (which only makes full boost at redline).

Granted the blower will have a more linear power curve, and no lag, the turbo will definitely make more power at the same boost levels because there's no parasitic drag. Also, most superchargers don't have intercoolers and the hot air reduces the amount of power made, and also can create problems with detonation.

Instantaneous boost is also not always a plus. While you won't get instantaneous full boost with a centrifugal SC, you do with a roots blower, and I'm finding that I'm having tip-in detonation problems. Boost hits too fast, timing is over-advanced in the mid-range, and then you get pinging. Also, if you get part-throttle boost, you'll still be running open loop, and you'll tend to run lean, which can also cause problems.

I'm planning on getting an e36 M3 sometime in the near future, and I'll most likely be turbo-ing it (building my own system, hopefully).

FaRTaLOTTT · #15 (**permalink**) 03-18-2002, 12:22 AM

I thought AA now makes you purchase a big brake kit and requires you to take at least one Driving school prior to purchasing a turbo kit from them. At least that's what I read in the new issue of European car regarding the AA turbo kit in the '95 M3 that spanked a Viper. =) You should take that into consideration in regards to pricing since you only have enough for one or the other.