400 hp Rotary or 300 hp Subaru?

[lazylongboarder]

250 hp Twin turbo subaru or 285 hp 13bt-REW twin turbo rotary.

A 3rd generation 2 rotor turbo Rotary (13bt-REW or 13bt-RE [cosmo version])is 260 lbs and able to handle 400 hp in stock form. (RE and REW only[2nd generation motors handle 300 hp stock])

A 3 rotor turbo Rotary (20Bt-TT) is 480 lbs but is able to handle 500 hp on stock internals (can you say ''wheelies in 3rd with all that weight behind you) A NorthStar V8 is 510 lbs.

A Subaru motor (EJ20TT) is 330 lbs and able to handle 300 hp in stock form .

It seems that the advantages are obvious but there is more to it. Rotary's are extremely efficient (the renisis motor in the RX8 is a naturally aspirated 1.3 liter with 240 hp!) but get terrible gas mileage. Rotary's are obnoxiously loud. N/A motors with free flowing mufflers average 115 db's. 115 db's is like a 747 jet 100 feet away (without earplugs)! I thought a high compression Vdub was loud with a stinger until i heard these things. When I say terrible gas mileage i mean it. 3 miles to the gallon on the average 400 hp rotary compared to the 14 mpg for the subaru.

My plan is to get 550 hp with either motor on pump gas after I rebuild the motor with forged this and strengthened that.

Motor weights include radiator,turbo(s), and intercooler unless specified. Stroker VW motor is 285 lbs, no radiator, no intercooler.

All numbers are claims being some-what reliable.

Also, a well tuned turbo Subaru motor's sound is practically orgasmic when let loose.

[LLVWGL]

the subaru sound, flat-4, and good mileage would do it for me.

[ricola]

I thought you were set on an ecotec?

I'd go Scooby just for the sound

Rich

[vujade]

use the flat 4

[lazylongboarder]

Originally Posted by ricola

I thought you were set on an ecotec?

I'd go Scooby just for the sound

Rich

I saw an inline 4 sticking out the back end of a bug and I hated it. I wish it would work. I decided I want a decklid. And the weight is also a factor. 400 lbs inline vs. 260 lbs rotary. In the end I'll like the weight ratio better than the power. 140 extra pounds is a lot of weight especially behind the rear wheels. Wheelies are cool but not in corners.