Why did Buick go to superchargers?

[1QUICK85]

I was at a car show/hop and I over heard a guy telling another, while looking at my car, that Buick/GM went to superchargers for some stupid reason. I forget what he said, but it was stupid and I just rolled my eyes at the other guy. Of course the other guy couldn't tell if I was running a turbo or a supercharger, so he was even worse.
It just got me thinking about it and all I really came up with is it saves space under the hood especially on a FWD car with the engine going sideways?? So, anyone have some ideas or the real answers?
-Nick.

 

[Quiky One]

My guess would be its easier to make. You can use the regular headers and exhaust. Just a guess.

Jason

 

[85HOT-T]

People don't know how to properly take care of a turbo engine.

 

[Gary Wells]

I think that a factory supercharger set-up will pass smog cleaner and for more years that a factory turbo set-up will. just a guess though. I am sure that both smog requirements and warranty claims play a major role in this issue. I think that smog parameters/tolerances were much looser in '87 than they are now for new cars.

 

[BlackMetal]

I think all the reasons people have mentioned so far are good. No tricky exhaust routing, people don't understand turbos (they want immediate power and low maintenance), and it could have something to do with the ever-stricter emissions regulations.

 

[madhat]

and ofcourse, alot of people dont like teh turbo lagzors

 

[BuickMike]

From what I heard, the EPA requires new vehicles to reach a certain emissions standard within 10 seconds of startup and aquiring that goal is much harder with a turbo because the turbine housing will soak up some heat taking it longer to heat up the catalitic converter. I'm sure this is just one of many reasons why GM went to superchargers. It all boils down to cost.

02-05 Subaru turbo cars (except the STI) have a cat before the turbo and 2 after. They got rid of the pre-turbo cat for 06 and use a smog pump now to compensate somehow.

 

[we4turbo]

One word.... TORQUE... At the time GM didn't have a wrong wheel drive (FWD) transmission that would hold up to the torque of the 3.8 turbo.

I call GM late in 87 to get the production numbers, and ask that same question. That is what I was told back then.

This is also stated in special on the GN and GNX. "American Muscle Car".



David.

 

[85HOT-T]

One word.... TORQUE... At the time GM didn't have a wrong wheel drive (FWD) transmission that would hold up to the torque of the 3.8 turbo.

I call GM late in 87 to get the production numbers, and ask that same question. That is what I was told back then.

This is also stated in special on the GN and GNX. "American Muscle Car".



David.

This is true, I have heard the same thing.