10 best engines of 2007

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Wards announces "Ten Best Engines" list for 2007
Posted Dec 13th 2007 9:28AM by John Neff
Filed under: Etc., Green
It's that time of year for all the end of year awards and top ten lists to surface, but Ward's always brings something different to the table. Rather than pick out the best car or truck that was new this year, the automotive trade journal picks the ten best engines, and this year it focused on motors that manage to balance the competing demands of more power and more fuel economy.

Click the name of any engine below to view, or tour the Ten Best Engines list in our gallery.

The real question is whether or not you think Ward's got its "Ten Best Engines" list right? What engines are missing, or more importantly, which ones don't deserve to be included? You can read our opinion after the jump and leave your own in the comments.

source: Wards announces "Ten Best Engines" list for 2007 - Autoblog
 
* Audi AG: FSI 2.0L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
Good, but i think the RS4 probably has a better engine.

* BMW AG: 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i Coupe)
No qualms, I drove a friend's 335 two days ago...that engine is epic.

* Daimler AG: 3.0L DOHC V-6 Turbodiesel (Mercedes E320 CDI)
A diesel DC (non-cummins) made the list...WTF?

* Ford Motor Co.: 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang Shelby GT/Bullitt)
See above. The motor feels like its going to explode if you get it higher in the revs.

* General Motors Corp.: 3.6L DOHC V-6 (Cadillac CTS)
Ew...Get the V8

* General Motors Corp.: 6.0L OHV V-8 Hybrid (GMC Yukon Hybrid)
WTF...Yukon Hybrid...where do i begin with whats wrong with that. The fact that the thing was named the US' GREEN vehicle of the year is just disgusting.

* Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Accord Coupe)
Just no....NO. Honda can and has done a lot better.

* Mazda Motor Corp.: 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)
Ill give this one to em cause i havent driven it and dont know what its features are.

* Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.7L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G37)
YES PLEASE. Perfect engine...Torque everywhere, and the body that carries it is hot as well.

* Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
Yes again. Another hot car. Test drove one before i bought the s2k.
 
* Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
Yes again. Another hot car. Test drove one before i bought the s2k.

I'd own a IS350 right now if it wasnt for having ZERO tranny choices.

auto trannies FTL!
 
I didnt mind the auto...it shifted perfectly and would even let me rev the piss out of it. just like the g37.
 
I didnt mind the auto...it shifted perfectly and would even let me rev the piss out of it. just like the g37.

That's why when in "manual mode" the car would shift on its own if you held it at a random RPM? not reving to redline but holding it like at 4K rpm in 2nd gear.

BMWs auto not only shifts much after but it will let you drive around at 5K rpm all day long in 2nd gear with out shifting.

The sales lady told me the Lexus shifts even when manual mode to keep the engine safe. She also told me the Engine was too big and too powerful for a 6 speed manual.

I'm sorry but the Lexus IS350 auto tranny is a piece of shit. It shifts no better then a basic auto tranny from a Nissan Altima. IS350 new is almost touching into 50K OTD.

I don't care what the MSRP says, it's total BS you CANNOT buy an IS350 for the MSRP. at least not around here, you are forced to get a 7K option.

For that money I'd rather put extra money up and buy a 335I or even a loaded 328i

Since I'm looking at replacing my beater, I might pick up a IS350 but the auto is really a big problem with me.

Try test driving a IS350, 328I 335I and A4 back to back and get back to me on how great that Lexus tranny is. Also make sure you manual shift it using the paddle shifters, again leave it in a set gear, pretend you're about to enter a turn or head up a hill and watch in amazement as the Lexus auto shifts for you even when in manual mode, I really have no clue why lexus has paddle shifters, they're pointless. I gave up using them and just stuck it in D.
 
youre probably right about it autoshifting if you forget. i only did a straight line accel to see how fast the shifts were. That was not bad at all, and for daily driving. i dont think it would be a big issue for me.

the 335 is MUCH better than the lexus and i didnt even think to try one when i was buying my car. Im glad i didnt buy one of the 40k car...that month w/o a paycheck would have eaten my soul.

try the G37 though...its in the same price bracket as the IS and its pretty crazy good.
 
youre probably right about it autoshifting if you forget. i only did a straight line accel to see how fast the shifts were. That was not bad at all, and for daily driving. i dont think it would be a big issue for me.

the 335 is MUCH better than the lexus and i didnt even think to try one when i was buying my car. Im glad i didnt buy one of the 40k car...that month w/o a paycheck would have eaten my soul.

try the G37 though...its in the same price bracket as the IS and its pretty crazy good.

I cant get into the G37 when I could easily boost the Z.
Im looking at the A5, 328/335 C350 and maybe if the price is right an IS350, only problem outside of the auto crap on the IS350 is that they're everywhere, they're pretty cheap used due to that reason so thats is in a way a plus.
 
I will never support merc...just will not happen...all the other ones i have no moral problem with.

The 335 is fun. If youre really thinking about it...test drive one...i think you might want to trade the Z.
 
hey my car has one of those engines listed...sorta. i got the 2.3L NA motor in my Mazda 3 rather than the turbo version. good motor!!
 
If you've ever listened to, ran, or been near the following:

A Gordini Alpine-Renault engine
A Cosworth built Formula 2000
a twin cam Jaguar i-6
a Lamborghini V12
a Lotus twin turbo V8
a Lola V12
a RUF 911 boxer 6 or a
Ferrari 4 valve V12


Then you know not what an excellent motor is.

Also, all of these motors pale in comparison to motorcycle engines. With no doubt.
 
+1 on the Ferrari motors. Pure sex.


I also don't really see how the 4.6L is such a great motor. 2.3L Direct Injection, low emissions TDI, yeah - but a 4.6L V8 with a blower? Eh?


The Veyrons W16 isn't up there either.
 
+1 on the Ferrari motors. Pure sex.


I also don't really see how the 4.6L is such a great motor. 2.3L Direct Injection, low emissions TDI, yeah - but a 4.6L V8 with a blower? Eh?


The Veyrons W16 isn't up there either.

No more than a handful of people will ever gaze upon one in real life.

Like listing Jay Leno's Patton:
jay-lenos-tank-car.jpg
 
That's why when in "manual mode" the car would shift on its own if you held it at a random RPM? not reving to redline but holding it like at 4K rpm in 2nd gear.

BMWs auto not only shifts much after but it will let you drive around at 5K rpm all day long in 2nd gear with out shifting.

The sales lady told me the Lexus shifts even when manual mode to keep the engine safe. She also told me the Engine was too big and too powerful for a 6 speed manual.

I'm sorry but the Lexus IS350 auto tranny is a piece of shit. It shifts no better then a basic auto tranny from a Nissan Altima. IS350 new is almost touching into 50K OTD.

I don't care what the MSRP says, it's total BS you CANNOT buy an IS350 for the MSRP. at least not around here, you are forced to get a 7K option.

For that money I'd rather put extra money up and buy a 335I or even a loaded 328i

Since I'm looking at replacing my beater, I might pick up a IS350 but the auto is really a big problem with me.

Try test driving a IS350, 328I 335I and A4 back to back and get back to me on how great that Lexus tranny is. Also make sure you manual shift it using the paddle shifters, again leave it in a set gear, pretend you're about to enter a turn or head up a hill and watch in amazement as the Lexus auto shifts for you even when in manual mode, I really have no clue why lexus has paddle shifters, they're pointless. I gave up using them and just stuck it in D.

My roomate has the IS350, and loves it! As for the tranny, it doesnt really get in the way at all. the shifts are fast and crisp, he ran a 13.4 at over 106 mph in stock form. he has done several track days with it, and wouldnt trade it for anything. He also bought it after owning a g35 6mt.
 
My roomate has the IS350, and loves it! As for the tranny, it doesnt really get in the way at all. the shifts are fast and crisp, he ran a 13.4 at over 106 mph in stock form. he has done several track days with it, and wouldnt trade it for anything. He also bought it after owning a g35 6mt.

The IS350 is a nice car and it is fast, but the auto is not fast. Don't get me wrong its still on my list of cars for a beater. But to say the Auto tranny is really good... no, its not.
BMW 328i shifted much faster and my god, it didn't shift on its own when in manual mode!!!!!

As far as trading in the Z for the 335I meh, its hard to think about that. I love my Z. =)

It has crossed my mind just to down size my garage but, that would be really hard to do.

Maybe.......
 
I hear you on the fact that its still an auto... and if i was wanting an all out track car it wouldnt be on the top of my list. but as far as somthing nice to drive everyday, and commute in (traffic sucks in seattle) i wouldnt buy anything else.

As far as trading in the G35, they had a problem with oil consumption on theirs. Infiniti did all sorts of tests on it, and finally came up with a solution... replacing the engine. so instead of doing that he traded it in on the is350.
 
I don't know of any auto tranny that i would buy and be satisfied with. I just like the driving experience of a manual car. there is just something weird about the paddle shifters that bugs me. shifting without a clutch isn't worth it for me.
 
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