MX-5 OC Forum

Hi

Can anyone help a simple question Turbo or Supercharger?

I have a 2003 1.8svt

And can any recomend anyone in the Bradford area to fit 1?

Cheers

G'day Ian

That's a bit like asking which type of baked beans you prefer, or Heineken V Fosters. Anyone who has gone the FI route will have done so for different reasons. The best way to find out which suits you is to get a ride in both. Talk to the area coordinator of the local Owners Club [ Neil ] He's got a turbo Mk 1 and I'm pretty shure that there is at least one supercharged car in the Yorkshire ridings

Here's some details on contacting Neil

Try to get a passenger ride in each kind, then find out how much each installation cost. If you like the experience and can afford the one you prefer then go for it.

Both types of forced induction work well - there is no right or wrong solution. Geoff has a supercharger, I have a turbo, we're both very happy.

The budgets for installation for either can run from a few hundred pounds (if you go for secondhand parts and can do a bit of fabrication) to several thousand pounds for off-the-shelf kits. If you aren't handy with spanners it gets expensive.

I'd ask myself why I would want one at all. Not to diss either you understand - I'm a fan of both - but just because a turbocharger and supercharger have different characteristics in how they develop their power. I've always found turbos more exciting because power comes in later in the revband whereas s/c power delivery is more linear. But having asked this question myself already (because you never stop spending money on these things, do you) I've figured that if its just more power I want, a nice, sweet, tuned, lightweight 5 would be ample.

Thought about a V8 at all?

Elvie:

I'd ask myself why I would want one at all. Not to diss either you understand - I'm a fan of both - but just because a turbocharger and supercharger have different characteristics in how they develop their power. I've always found turbos more exciting because power comes in later in the revband whereas s/c power delivery is more linear. But having asked this question myself already (because you never stop spending money on these things, do you) I've figured that if its just more power I want, a nice, sweet, tuned, lightweight 5 would be ample.

Good point. I had to add power to mine (the championship I was in moved to bigger, faster tracks and my car was already the slowest thing competing). It's faster now but it's not really any more fun to drive on the road.

Elvie:

Thought about a V8 at all?

Ha. I've done a V8 swap and fitting a turbo is much easier.

 If you can wait till the National Rally you can try my Mini s/charger powered car

Very smooth linear power delivery...great noise...good MPG off boost...easy to fit.

190 BHP ...0-60 in 6.5 0-100 in 17.7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN-5GChcYqk

Alan

 turbo power can be pretty linear if you use the right size turbo, something like a T2554 on a 5 works well. Threshold is about 2krpm so low and from where you need it. A larger turbo may have a treshold of 3k rpm for example which might be a bit less useable for normal road use.

for ultimate power go for turbo, for better driveability go supercharger (no lag and hence sudden rear end breakaways coming off roundabouts) you may sacrifice a bit of power overall but its nicer to drive.

Dr. Eunos 

Locke-alike:

 If you can wait till the National Rally you can try my Mini s/charger powered car

Very smooth linear power delivery...great noise...good MPG off boost...easy to fit.

190 BHP ...0-60 in 6.5 0-100 in 17.7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN-5GChcYqk

 

Alan

 

What setup are you using for the video and telemetry? does it work by gps for the track map?

Steve.

Geoff Walton:

shure

Have you already stopped using the ENGLISH language!...........................LOL

Hi Ian,

If you not already found the Forum it might be worth taking a look on http://www.mx5nutz.com

Regards

Rod

 Turbos are often more powerful - its easier to turn up boost (within limits!) than swapping pulleys etc. I've standard FM 2 turbo running at stock 12psi and ran fastest 1/4 mile at the OC Spring rally at Elvington. I fluffed second to third gear change (it hit the rev limiter so quickly that I didn't have time to react!) so almost certainly could have been quicker but still turned in 14.2 seconds 1/4 mile and terminal speed of 108mph - my first and only attempt! My car isn't by any means the most powerful out there and a better driver (or driving someone else's car because I had visions of a new clutch or rear end before dumping the clutch) would have been quicker. But still not bad for a 21 year old car!

stevetkocz@yahoo.co.uk:

Locke-alike:

 If you can wait till the National Rally you can try my Mini s/charger powered car

Very smooth linear power delivery...great noise...good MPG off boost...easy to fit.

190 BHP ...0-60 in 6.5 0-100 in 17.7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN-5GChcYqk

 

Alan

 

Just watched your vid, sure looks like fun and loving the charger wine.

 

What setup are you using for the video and telemetry? does it work by gps for the track map?

Steve.

Performance box for the data logging

RacechronoAVI for the digi dash overlay

and Corel video studio to edit all together...the PB does ideed use a very accurate  (20Hz) gps unit

I can look at my lines thru every corner with each lap to see if one is quicker than another...but thats more for when im racing

The racechronoAVI works with a lot of mobile phones fitted with GPS...so you could just strap your phone to the car and record that way.

Alan

I have been asking myself this question for ages! I have very little knowledge on FI, all i have ever owned are n/a petrol cars.

I'd like to throw some questions in:

1. which is better £/bhp or are they similar?

2. i'm guessing that a SC would offer better reliability? is this true?

3.what are servicing costs on SC and turbo's? i.e. re-building etc. Please note, i know very little, so i am just going off things i've heard.

taff eunos:

for ultimate power go for turbo, for better driveability go supercharger (no lag and hence sudden rear end breakaways coming off roundabouts) you may sacrifice a bit of power overall but its nicer to drive.

Dr. Eunos