09-14-2004, 10:19 AM
IS. Because nobody calls the 2.4 in the TSX a "truck motor". Ok, seriously.
I think it's going to mostly depend on your taste and character. The 2J, while getting old, is still a stupidly bulletproof square motor with excellent characteristics.
The TSX's S4, on the other hand, is oversquare. 87mm bore, and a massive 99mm stroke! Seems like honda is trying too hard to squeeze torque out of this motor, and relying on the head design (which is excellent) to keep it breathing. The 2J doesn't need valve timing tricks and gadgetry to keep breathing. The 2J, with proper mods, will rev higher than the S4 will, while still having excellent low-end torque characteristics. It's just a better engine. The S4 tries to be too much. Streetable, with the torque that americans love, while high-revving and enough horsepower so the damned thing gets out of it's own way. If toyota would give the 2J a facelift, with some hot-hot VVT-i action, it would blow the S4 away in every aspect. As it stands, the 2J holds it's own against the S4, without all of the technology.
And for me, I'm not saying technology is the devil, or that VTEC sucks. It doesn't, it's very cool. But at the end of the day, I could probably tear a 2J apart and put it back together. It's a simple, square, I-6, belt-driven-cam, naturally balanced engine. Engines don't get better than that. IF they were the same price, the measly difference in fuel economy isn't enough to convince me not to buy the IS. As it stands, assuming I could find a mannytranny, the IS would get my vote on engine alone. Nevermind the ease of working on Rear-drive platforms, or the better (imho) handling, or the better (except for the ass) looks of the IS.
And that's my ramble. I think they should bring the IS200 here. I could deal with a 2.0 I-6. It'd have plenty of HP, and ought to bring the price down substantially. Would whoop the RSX's ass.
I think it's going to mostly depend on your taste and character. The 2J, while getting old, is still a stupidly bulletproof square motor with excellent characteristics.
The TSX's S4, on the other hand, is oversquare. 87mm bore, and a massive 99mm stroke! Seems like honda is trying too hard to squeeze torque out of this motor, and relying on the head design (which is excellent) to keep it breathing. The 2J doesn't need valve timing tricks and gadgetry to keep breathing. The 2J, with proper mods, will rev higher than the S4 will, while still having excellent low-end torque characteristics. It's just a better engine. The S4 tries to be too much. Streetable, with the torque that americans love, while high-revving and enough horsepower so the damned thing gets out of it's own way. If toyota would give the 2J a facelift, with some hot-hot VVT-i action, it would blow the S4 away in every aspect. As it stands, the 2J holds it's own against the S4, without all of the technology.
And for me, I'm not saying technology is the devil, or that VTEC sucks. It doesn't, it's very cool. But at the end of the day, I could probably tear a 2J apart and put it back together. It's a simple, square, I-6, belt-driven-cam, naturally balanced engine. Engines don't get better than that. IF they were the same price, the measly difference in fuel economy isn't enough to convince me not to buy the IS. As it stands, assuming I could find a mannytranny, the IS would get my vote on engine alone. Nevermind the ease of working on Rear-drive platforms, or the better (imho) handling, or the better (except for the ass) looks of the IS.
And that's my ramble. I think they should bring the IS200 here. I could deal with a 2.0 I-6. It'd have plenty of HP, and ought to bring the price down substantially. Would whoop the RSX's ass.
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442