I always liked the thought of turbos. In the older ones ( example,Buick Grand National)they give you a real kick in the pants (sometimes lag is good ) and there is alot of fun WOW factor. Not good for you canyon/track jockeys but out on the street its fun.I had the impression superchargers were muscle car crude. Now I have changed my mind ,the SC Mini is like being in a video game ,the way it takes off and sounds. However turbo cars are alot easier to mod, that little twin scoll turbo on the '07's is the first thing I bet you'll see replaced with something bigger ,just for more power at the expense of lag. To get down to it, I can't afford a new turbo Mini and like the old new Mini better in some ways, so the supercharger is here to stay for a while.

 

For what it's worth department:

We had a 2007 MSC out autocrossing today. I talked to the owner after our runs were over and asked him how he liked it. He said he loved the torque, and hated the throttle lag.

He was about 5'5" maybe 150 lbs. Fairly new tires.
I'm 6'7" closer to 280, and tires that no longer have any tread left on the outside edges.

His best time beat mine by about 1.5 seconds.

I wouldn't say the turbo is the supercharger killer.

 

Well, when every autocross I've been in was decided by 10ths of a second... I would think a 1.5 second difference is HUGE!!!

 

is that the SC will go bye-bye because of mileage more than anything else. Then it will be reserved for a few very special applications. The only reason we have it now is it's cheap......

Matt

 

Was there more than a 100 pound difference in the drivers?

If you're going to draw a conclusion, draw it an ALL the presented facts.

 

is only a few % of the weight of the car. Seen how many fat drag racers there are?

Matt

 

OK... I'm trying not to jump to any conclusions, here. Are you saying this was some 90lb. string bean you were racing against?

 

In a 1/4 mile track, street cars generally pick up or lose 1/10 of a second for every 100 pounds lost or gained. On a smaller car with low HP (relatively speaking), the difference can be greater as it has a larger impact on the HP to weight ratio. At an autocross, the greater weight also impacts cornering and braking as well. 130 lbs difference will certainly slow you down. Just how much depends on the length and layout of the course... Plus, I think we've all seen examples of 1.5 second differences at an autoX in drivers among the same category of cars...

 

Didn't see my post up there?

 

 

No, I'm sorry. I didn't read close enough.

So the trick will be how to stash 3 or 4 50lb. sandbags into his trunk next time. Then you'll get him for sure!

 

supercharger has 50% efficiency while a turbocharger has 70+% efficiency

 

Works for me!

Actually makes me want to get into better shape. Just one more reason among many.

 

but the idea is basically sound.

Matt

 

^^ Of course but with a more efficient forced induction you will in turn have more power.

 

For all out performance & tunability you can't go past a turbo.
I am sure once the tuners are up to speed the turbo Mini's will easily outperform the supercharged variety.
Having said that, a huge part of the reason i purchased a Mini was the fact it was supercharged & if i was looking to buy a turbo'd car i would go for another STI or EVO.
I don't like the idea of all that heat buildup from a turbo in such a small car, not to mention the idea of a turbo in a front wheel drive, (torque steer).
Now if Mini were to produce an AWD turbo version that may be a different story..

 

And this is why I'm looking to get out of the SRT. I don't know how the S/C Mini's handle power but, I can imagine the turbo ones will get like mine. My turbo hit's full boost below 3k rpm, this makes it very tempermental on the street (I'm still on the stocker for those who wanted to know). Sure the turbo can make TONS of power but, high hp fwd cars are a handful even in a straight line. If any of you would rather a turbo I'll trade you for your s/c Mini anyday.

 

Bebo... not to knock your SRT... but to be simple and to the point... the MINI is a much better made car.. I have driven both MINI and NEON SRT, that's why I say I am not knocking it...

the R56 (factory turbo MINI) and a couple of the "worlds fastest MINIs" street and are not "a handful to me.... although I never got to launch the MINI USA drag car on full boost with nitrous... like on it's 10 second pass.... but I saw the driver's (hubie) eyes and I am pretty sure that was a good time...

I have a twincharged mini.... (Turbo and supercharged) on the average I keep her at 400 hp.... and 350 ft lbs... still pretty easy to drive... runs low 12s with best trap at 127mph on cheap 50$ street tires...

so my point is... don't worry too much about comparing them.... jsut go drive them for your self.... I highly recommend making the change... you will not be dissapointed....

 

Hey Tuls you have a very impressive mini. How much heavy traffic have you driven in your Mini?(sorry to get a lil off topic) I am not as fast as you but, I bet you have twice the traction I have. I'm still on stock rims & w/o an LSD (6" wide one legger). I imagine if I spent more time & money on the Skittle I could make it more controlable but, I'm triing to shift from straight line performance to more of a handling thing. I want to autocross & the Mini is one of the best platforms out there for that. Back to the turbo vs supercharging, they both have different advantages & disadvantages, I'd say if you drag either turbo or twincharge but, if you mostly drive the twistys then s/c will provide torque while making the power more managable.

 

accually I drive in traffic alot... ok well not so much anymore but that's only as of the last three months.. but I did live in LA long enough to "enjoy" the traffic... and the traffic in AZ too.. not as bad as LA ... but 112 degrees makes for a good time... LOL

as for the twisties... that's where I live... I grew up road racing.. and that's my heart... running the canyons of the west... and the twisty mountain roads of the east is a blast...especially with all that TQ...

I mentioned the Drag cause well ... it's what it is... a hp calculator... but... all in all... you can't beat a twisty road...

I think no matter what you will enjoy the MINI... R56 or R53... as the R56 has a very well sized turbo and to me felt almost identical other than the extra go... and the free feeling over 4K due to the lack of parasitic drag from the SC...

however.. I personally like the R53s body better... though I want to get a Clubman to add to the family... LOL

 

Both technologies have been around a long time. The classic turbo problems are pretty well licked. However, I went with a new 2006 Supercharger because I didn't want a first year production run 2007 turbo and know that the supercharger can be quicker at legal street speeds in the US. If I were in my home country of Germany where we are able to drive at extended high speeds, I'd want a turbocharger.

 

Man, I feel like I've been missing out now.

 

ha ha naw man... yer only missing out now that you know... now go get you a MINI!... LOL

 

I like the "feel" of driving the S/C over a turbo, but maybe that's just me.

 

That's what we did too.