When we hear about a V8 we automatically think American. The V8 engine is just awesome. There is no question about it. The sound that it produces and the power it makes is just breathtaking. But is it better to have 2 more cylinders?
V8
When you think of cylinder count, you automatically think that it is in some way correlated to the engine displacement. That's fairly true until you come to the V8. You can find lots of V8s that are 2.5 liters and you can find them all the way up the spectrum to 8 liter monsters. You find bored V8s you find boosted V8s you find them all. American cars use V8s very freely. They are cheap to make, they produce a great amount of power and they always put a smile on your face. I love the sound of a good V8 that has straight pipes and a blower on it. Nothing sounds better to me, not even listening to Mozart or Beethoven. My favorite V8s will have to be the LS series. These V8s are powerful and old school with their single cam design. They are also very compact. They make great power and sound cool. When placed in a car they sit low and bring the weight to the bottom of the car for handling and compactness. The Chevy Corvettes used them from the 97 model all the way up to the new C7.
V10
When you think of V10, Europe comes to mind. Ferrari and Lambos have put some nice V10s in their cars. They are a bit more sophisticated than the V8s and also have a wide range of displacement. They sound good and spool the RPMs quite well but they are hard to modify and work on. They are not really a platform that your average enthusiast can work on. Even most mechanics have never worked on V10s. My favorite V10 has to be the S 85 used in the M5 E60. That was just amazing. Naturally aspirated with a bit over 500 horses and it sounds great.
Verdict
V8s for the win. I love a platform. I like to customize and be able to tinker with the engine. Give it some more horses, replace the intake, slap some straight pipes on it and have some fun. I don't want to be afraid of breaking the engine. I blew up a Corvette engine ones. Found a replacement for about 4 grand and was back on the streets within a couple weeks.
