You said the stock 1zz was sluggish, underpowered, and lacked character, but I disagree. Mine is still 1zz currently and it surprised me with how fun that engine is. It has basically the same torque curve as the 2zz on low cam, great throttle response, and a surprisingly nice noise with the right exhaust. The way the power builds to the redline is really fun, and it pops and burbles a little off throttle. I'm still planning on 2zz swapping mine in the future, but honestly it's still super fun with the stock engine.
Both great cars. The trend I usually come across is that from a third person perspective individuals generally lean towards looks before personality. "Never judge a book by its cover" is such a true statement. The SW is widely recognized as the more handsome car, but when people go to drive either one of these, it's almost always the ZZW that gets picked as the better driver's car.
w30 all the way for the curves, 1zz turbo, 2zz/6speed, k20/24 6speed. Drag racing? sw20, k swapped, turbo. W30 enthusiasts were suggesting everything in this video ten+ years ago, but were heavily ignored. Just data The w30 chassis a much better handling chassis than the ae86, s13.
As an FYI the "stu stu stu stu" when you get off throttle (that people seem to LOVE) is from the compressed air in the piping reversing direction and coming back out the turbo inlet. There either isn't a BOV installed (I can't see one) or the BOV isn't tuned correctly. This smashes your compressor wheel into the thrust bearing and will destroy a turbo in short order. This was very common on 86/87 Grand Nationals needing new turbos after 40k miles. I'd let the owner know to rectify that ASAP. Another FYI for best boost recovery place it as close to the throttle body as possible and give it flow priority. Right at the 120 degree bend before the throttle body next to whatever is sticking out of it now would be perfect.
Yup. That's off throttle compressor surge, which is not as detrimental to a turbo than on throttle surge, but it's not good for it in the long run. Most gen 4 owners I know don't use a BOV because they like that sound. I also have a Gen 4 swapped MR2 Turbo, but I have a HKS BOV.
@@Lobo_Argent agreed, but even without the engine swap it's very good. I'm not sure if it was available in the US, but in the UK there was an 'S' version of the Elise with the same stock engine as the MR2, making 134HP.
9:15 good catch but prolly overspeed for that corner man, double yellow there for a reason 25:50 And it's for midship runabout 2 seater Great video tho, looking forward to more mid-engine driving and your thoughts in dynamics vs the lotus
Unmodified id probably choose the w20, but with the way these are both setup id choose the w30. The lighter, smaller, and responsive car would speak to me more. W20 must definitely be cool to own and collect tho
i wish that you had more of a decisive take on your preference during your final thoughts. thats at least why i clicked- was curious to see which you would take. otherwise nice vid!
God these are some beautiful automobiles . So pure and purposeful. These two vehicles on much more special in my opinion and overrated vehicle such as a Mazda RX seven Honda S2 K.
@@thrasher10000 and yet there were many at and over 3k lbs depending on options. Many just barely over at 3050lbs but someone on the forums had theirs weighed at 3250 and another at 3370 with full options. At 2800 lbs your car represents the lowest weight, which is cool.
@@iluvcakes19 yes that’s true plenty are heavier, GTS was the lightest barebone JDM spec while the GT was more luxurious / feature rich with leather and ABS. Possibly the US spec Turbo were all a bit heavier, I’m not sure. Mine is actually sitting at 2730 lbs now after an engine swap to the 2GR-FE, seems like a good deal having a much bigger engine that somehow weighs less ha
@@thrasher10000 2730 lbs is amazing especially if for a road car. Congrats! Bet that car flies!! I've seen a few stripped ones down to as low as 2600 lbs. But IDK about you, I need my AC 😂
@@reecebower9934 I think you will not see much backlash to that statement. W30 is a great car but looks are not the strong point. They take well to aftermarket aero bits though. SW20 is the opposite, any kit that radically changes the appearance makes it look worse
@@thrasher10000 I'm not into doing that stuff to cars. I have a VW 337. They only made 2500 of them and I would never change the body or interior that would completely de-value the vehicle. I only do performance mods. I also have a 98 a4 quattro that I'd never change the appearance of.
Fun fact, you can actually swap the gen 3 steering pinion into the gen 2 and get a similar steering feel, totally modernises the sw20 steering feel
You said the stock 1zz was sluggish, underpowered, and lacked character, but I disagree. Mine is still 1zz currently and it surprised me with how fun that engine is. It has basically the same torque curve as the 2zz on low cam, great throttle response, and a surprisingly nice noise with the right exhaust. The way the power builds to the redline is really fun, and it pops and burbles a little off throttle. I'm still planning on 2zz swapping mine in the future, but honestly it's still super fun with the stock engine.
Both great cars. The trend I usually come across is that from a third person perspective individuals generally lean towards looks before personality. "Never judge a book by its cover" is such a true statement. The SW is widely recognized as the more handsome car, but when people go to drive either one of these, it's almost always the ZZW that gets picked as the better driver's car.
w30 all the way for the curves, 1zz turbo, 2zz/6speed, k20/24 6speed.
Drag racing? sw20, k swapped, turbo.
W30 enthusiasts were suggesting everything in this video ten+ years ago, but were heavily ignored. Just data
The w30 chassis a much better handling chassis than the ae86, s13.
As an FYI the "stu stu stu stu" when you get off throttle (that people seem to LOVE) is from the compressed air in the piping reversing direction and coming back out the turbo inlet. There either isn't a BOV installed (I can't see one) or the BOV isn't tuned correctly. This smashes your compressor wheel into the thrust bearing and will destroy a turbo in short order. This was very common on 86/87 Grand Nationals needing new turbos after 40k miles. I'd let the owner know to rectify that ASAP. Another FYI for best boost recovery place it as close to the throttle body as possible and give it flow priority. Right at the 120 degree bend before the throttle body next to whatever is sticking out of it now would be perfect.
Yup. That's off throttle compressor surge, which is not as detrimental to a turbo than on throttle surge, but it's not good for it in the long run. Most gen 4 owners I know don't use a BOV because they like that sound. I also have a Gen 4 swapped MR2 Turbo, but I have a HKS BOV.
Ever since I saw the Techno Pro Spirit MRS flying through the touge, I was hooked and wanted one ever since.
W30 is one of the most underrated cars of all time. Closest thing you can get to an Elise for literally a fraction of the price.
Swapping a 2zz with transmission into the ZZW gives you a poor man’s Elise for a fraction of the cost 💪
@@Lobo_Argent agreed, but even without the engine swap it's very good. I'm not sure if it was available in the US, but in the UK there was an 'S' version of the Elise with the same stock engine as the MR2, making 134HP.
@@Lobo_ArgentWhich is probably why they never put the 2ZZ in the W30 because it would have impacted Lotus Elise sales.
Can’t go wrong with a W20. Such beautiful and timeless cars.
9:15 good catch but prolly overspeed for that corner man, double yellow there for a reason
25:50 And it's for midship runabout 2 seater
Great video tho, looking forward to more mid-engine driving and your thoughts in dynamics vs the lotus
Unmodified id probably choose the w20, but with the way these are both setup id choose the w30. The lighter, smaller, and responsive car would speak to me more. W20 must definitely be cool to own and collect tho
i wish that you had more of a decisive take on your preference during your final thoughts. thats at least why i clicked- was curious to see which you would take. otherwise nice vid!
God these are some beautiful automobiles .
So pure and purposeful. These two vehicles on much more special in my opinion and overrated vehicle such as a Mazda RX seven Honda S2 K.
The thumbnail looks like a tax form lmao
"I want a car to bite" ... Get a Viper. It'll bite but could be fatal 😂
W20s apparently are great with the 2GR-FE engine swap.
Can confirm it’s the perfect engine for it. I started with the 3SGTE then 3VZFE now 2GRFE. The engine now feels and sounds as exotic as the car looks
Considering it's in the lotus, it only makes perfect sense. I helped a buddy pull a 2gr a while ago for his but the project is stalled.
Fact, that car is NOT well under 3k lbs. It's actually approximately 3k lbs and sometimes more.
@@iluvcakes19 my 1992 GTS is 2800 lbs, so yes well under 3k
@@thrasher10000 and yet there were many at and over 3k lbs depending on options. Many just barely over at 3050lbs but someone on the forums had theirs weighed at 3250 and another at 3370 with full options. At 2800 lbs your car represents the lowest weight, which is cool.
@@iluvcakes19 yes that’s true plenty are heavier, GTS was the lightest barebone JDM spec while the GT was more luxurious / feature rich with leather and ABS. Possibly the US spec Turbo were all a bit heavier, I’m not sure. Mine is actually sitting at 2730 lbs now after an engine swap to the 2GR-FE, seems like a good deal having a much bigger engine that somehow weighs less ha
@@thrasher10000 2730 lbs is amazing especially if for a road car. Congrats! Bet that car flies!! I've seen a few stripped ones down to as low as 2600 lbs. But IDK about you, I need my AC 😂
I love both but the W20 has a little more “special” factor.
I'm probably gonna get some back lash. But the w20 is a beautiful car. And the w30 does absolutely nothing for me.
@@reecebower9934 I think you will not see much backlash to that statement. W30 is a great car but looks are not the strong point. They take well to aftermarket aero bits though. SW20 is the opposite, any kit that radically changes the appearance makes it look worse
@@thrasher10000 I'm not into doing that stuff to cars. I have a VW 337. They only made 2500 of them and I would never change the body or interior that would completely de-value the vehicle. I only do performance mods. I also have a 98 a4 quattro that I'd never change the appearance of.
Need a supercharged or black top swapped AW11 next to compare