Comments on: Why Are Superchargers So Rare? http://twoguysrally.com/2008/09/24/why-are-superchargers-so-rare/ Two guys on a journey into the Rally Racing world Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:24:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Dustin Tarditi http://twoguysrally.com/2008/09/24/why-are-superchargers-so-rare/#comment-750 Dustin Tarditi Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:18:38 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=146#comment-750 I've owned a couple (both naturally aspirated) and the snap oversteer is largely over-hyped. It can happen if you're going flat-out into a bend and lift the throttle, but my second 911 was a Carrera4 and the AWD made the car very forgiving in that regard. The 930 was tricky because you ran the risk of coming on boost (boost was not even close to gradual) suddenly and could really upset the car if not pointed straight. Aside from that issue (which you can learn to manage) the 930 is a wonderful car - tactile, expressive, responsive... I’ve owned a couple (both naturally aspirated) and the snap oversteer is largely over-hyped. It can happen if you’re going flat-out into a bend and lift the throttle, but my second 911 was a Carrera4 and the AWD made the car very forgiving in that regard.

The 930 was tricky because you ran the risk of coming on boost (boost was not even close to gradual) suddenly and could really upset the car if not pointed straight. Aside from that issue (which you can learn to manage) the 930 is a wonderful car - tactile, expressive, responsive…

]]> By: Charles Smith http://twoguysrally.com/2008/09/24/why-are-superchargers-so-rare/#comment-728 Charles Smith Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:06:41 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=146#comment-728 Yea, the fear of OH MY GOD MY CAR IS GOING TO KILL ME goes away once you figure out how to drive it (just as you found). I still have yet to drive a 911, although i know a few people who own them. Hrmm.... Yea, the fear of OH MY GOD MY CAR IS GOING TO KILL ME goes away once you figure out how to drive it (just as you found).

I still have yet to drive a 911, although i know a few people who own them. Hrmm….

]]> By: Dustin Tarditi http://twoguysrally.com/2008/09/24/why-are-superchargers-so-rare/#comment-726 Dustin Tarditi Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:57:35 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=146#comment-726 I used to fear turbos, based on the Porsche 930 "widowmaker" effect of lag-into-holy-cow-this-car-is-trying-to-kill-me. Having had a SC in a MINI Cooper S and a turbo in my WRX - I really prefer the turbo. It's much simpler to control boost with a turbo to dial in levels of performance and economy balanced with reliability. I have gotten over my 930 anxiety after driving plenty of 911s. NOS? Yeah - THAT concerns me. I'm not in the "car making" business, but I'm willing to bet that the cost/benefit of a turbo is superior to a supercharger when considering the extra parts needed to make it work efficiently. MINI (BMW) went from a supercharger in the Cooper S to a Turbo for that very reason - cheaper to make bigger gains. I used to fear turbos, based on the Porsche 930 “widowmaker” effect of lag-into-holy-cow-this-car-is-trying-to-kill-me. Having had a SC in a MINI Cooper S and a turbo in my WRX - I really prefer the turbo.

It’s much simpler to control boost with a turbo to dial in levels of performance and economy balanced with reliability.

I have gotten over my 930 anxiety after driving plenty of 911s. NOS? Yeah - THAT concerns me.

I’m not in the “car making” business, but I’m willing to bet that the cost/benefit of a turbo is superior to a supercharger when considering the extra parts needed to make it work efficiently.

MINI (BMW) went from a supercharger in the Cooper S to a Turbo for that very reason - cheaper to make bigger gains.

]]>