Which is better? Supercharger or turbo?

[greekdaddy000]

Listen, In the end all it comes down to is how much weight your adding to the car. Usually if your custom building a turbo system for anycar there is extensive hosing and piping involved. Which adds a $h!Tload of weight where you don't need it. My recommendation is going with the supercharger. Although the turbo might pump out a little more power, the reduced weight will prove itself!

[Sean M3]

But all those INSANELY powerful cars you see use turbos, correct? You can get much more power out of a turbo by tuning it than you can a S/C, correct?

[BMWGuy206]

Yes and Yes. Its rumored that there's a 800+bhp turbo M3 somewhere in FL being tuned. I highly doubt a centrifugal M3 will see those numbers even with N20.

[Sean M3]

Originally posted by BMWGuy206
Yes and Yes. Its rumored that there's a 800+bhp turbo M3 somewhere in FL being tuned. I highly doubt a centrifugal M3 will see those numbers even with N20.

DAYYUUUM, I wonder how much work that had done to it....Are BMW's capable of getting into the 1000 HP range like Supras and Skylines??? I'm pretty sure they can, but it would cost a HELL of a lot more to do on a BMW than a Skyline or Supra, correct?

[frankenstein]

A turbo will always have the capacity to create more power - spinning at 100k rpm and making 30+ lbs of boost is how you get a single turbo supra to make 1000hp (trust me on this one ) In order to gear a supercharger to make that much boost, it would probably kill at idle.

You might ask, then why are so many drag cars supercharged? Because they are already huge displacement engines, and 9 pounds of boost is probably already challenging the ability for the head to remain clamped on Even with alcohol, those cars are probably detonating all the way down the track.

[ridgeracer]

Originally posted by klasic
Which is better?

Well that is not really a fair question, it depends on a lot of factors and what the goals are. Do you want instant throttle responce? Do you want something that gets good gas mileage? Do you want the power to come on in the top end? What size motor are you working with in the first place? Is the motor built to withstand the added boost and temps?

If one was "better" than the other you would only see it used, but the fact is you have turbo and superchargers being used by companies today. Ford and MB are using a quite few turbos in their cars, and Porsche, Subaru, Nissan, and others are using turbos.

If you want to talk plain efficency the turbo is normally regarded as the better option because it is not in use when off boost, but MB has added an electronic clutch to its supercharges so it is only in use when required as well.

there are many setups for both superchargers and turbochargers, and really what ever is best depends on the application.

For me the turbo is the better option because normally you can tune more hp out of them, and they offer more flexibility, than and I know a whole hell of a lot more about them.

Turbo is better out right if power is what you are looking for.

[JinXed]

I hate to see the "Which is better?" question, becasue it is a lot a matter of preference. I prefer SC becasue of its simplicity. I prefer turbos because they are fun as hell when you hit a 2-3 just perfectly, and hear the blowoff for a split second before slamming it into gear and taking off like a bat outta hell! I think turbos are more fun to drive because of the slam-you-back-into-your-seat accelleration when the turbo hits the peak of its boost band. (Not sure what its really called) I think superchargers are more for a daily driver, and any time its an automatic. When an auto shifts, its faster (mostly) than any person can (without a drag auto or a LENCO), and RPMs drop to a safer lever, where the SC can be of more help. I dont recall ever driving an auto that was turbo'd.. But id think that the fast shifting without letting the RPMs down (like a SC drops RPMs, partially because of the engine load caused by the belt) would generate boost spikes. I'm not an FI expert here, just what i think from what ive worked with 'em. I love this discussion. Just wish I had more $$ to SC my car! -JinX

[postmaster]

why is an S/C better for daily driver dont turbo's get better MPG because they dont work as much

[bmwman91]

I dont think there is an overall "better" system. Each had benefits and detriments, and each is better for certain applications.
I wanna start by saying: Yes, TC's can produce more power easily, BUT lets be honest here...is anybody here planning on running more than 20psi boost? I don't think so (not trying to be snotty). Here's an interesting bit of info: The SCCA Auto-X champ, (Mike?) Reitmeir drives a Supercharged E36 M3. I have seen it in person at a BMWCCA Auto-X. It does not look like he has a problem with them. I am planning of SC'ing my car in the next year (running no more than 12psi) with a centrifugal SC unit. I have long debated whether to SC or TC, and I am gonna SC. Perace all............