Looking for a boost?

2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

I'm not ready for a new car quite yet, but I sure do love this boost idea. Maybe I'll buy a turbo kit. You can get a turbo or supercharger installed on many kinds of vehicles, regardless of the make or model. There are plenty of options available, especially if you drive an import. Turbo kits aren't cheap- but they are available for hardcore enthusiasts. Do your homework then have a talk with a professional about what would work best for your vehicle. With a turbo or supercharger kit, you can add a good dose of horsepower to just about any ride.

Boost isn't just about speed and horsepower either You can look for a turbocharger to make a practical car even better. Turbo diesel is one example- adding a turbocharger to an economical diesel engine increases its performance considerably while not being overly harsh on mileage. It also enhances the torquey diesel engines power-curve, making it more like a gas engine to drive. The last diesel Volkswagen I drove did a fairly good job of disguising its taste in fuel, and felt just like driving a very economical gasoline engine.

So now, in the tradeoff of economy or power it seems you can have both. Do you fuel yourself on adrenaline? Do you not have a lot of money for gas? Think of it like this: when gas is expensive, you can drive sensibly, get around 40MPG in some cases and relax, knowing you have done your part in being a sensible and value minded motorist. When the gas prices drop to a comfortable level from time to time, your right foot can summon up bursts of power that throw you, smiling, into your seat, complete with the signature soundtrack which comes with a turbocharged or supercharged engine. I think I've just shown how to have your cake and eat it too.

2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

Which one would I pick? That comes to a matter of how hard core I think I am. Interesting thought. I would love either, really, but I think for every day living, it would be the Cobalt. Perhaps I would jump ship from time to time to get a dose of senselessness from the SRT-4. The Cobalt is less powerful. But it's also less extreme, less noisy and more relaxing to drive. That's why the SRT-4 is so appealing to those of you who are more hard core than I am. Maybe I'm getting old, or something.

Add this if you like...
Think one turbo is fun? Try 2 or even 4!
Some of the world's fastest cars use more than one turbocharger for added performance. The Porsche 911 Turbo, Lotus Esprit V8, Ferrari F40, Noble M-12 GTO, and Toyota Supra have twin-turbo setups for more boost. Moreover, some super-exotics like the Buggati EB-110, as well as concept cars like the Ford GT-90, have quad-turbo engines pushing out figures approaching 1000 horsepower.