Not a chance.

The M104 is so much better off the line. It got 2.65:1 gears because it has the muscle to pull them, and went to a 1st-gear start like it should have, smooth and fast. My daughter's doesn't have ASR, will smoke the tires from a start without touching the brakes, try that in a M103 car, ... the extra hp and torque is quite evident (I've had 3 M104s and 2 103s).

Couple that with the improved fuel mileage, low-RPM torque to eliminate the downshifting/revving, and the simple fact that the wire harnesses on all of the early '90s cars with either engine degrades, it's a better engine.

Now when you add the Euro-style all-glass headlamps instead of the M103 cars' crappy plastic-fantastic ones, the better cluster lights of the later cars, the all-up and all-down windows/sunroof of the '90s models, the '90s models' better seats and interior, the M104's larger 4-puck brakes replacing the 1-puck floaters, the updated 2-color tail-lamps with rear fog and clear front corners, updated front and rear trim/hood/trunk, clamshell storage armrest and tambour-door storage box, ... etc., it's a much nicer package.

I've had both, and the M103 car is an excellent car. However, given the choice between a '94/'95 and an earlier car, no comparison and I'd never go back, the M104 cars are IMO that much better.



Looked it up, even with the taller 2.65:1 gears the extra 40hp/41lb-ft was still good for .4seconds 0-60 (8.0 from 8.4).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff