Engine configurations: what have you driven?

[barrett]

Despite everything this year, I did manage to drive a couple of nice cars, including - a first for me - a car with a straight-six engine. This led me to idly contemplate the various different power configurations I have experienced over the last few years, and there is a fair bit of variety. In the spirit of nothing better to do, I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

Starting small: a single-cylinder Mochet

Several flat-twins, including the 1929 Tatra T12

A transverse triple DKW

A flat-four Hotchkiss-Grégoire

A 'square four' Trojan

Various inline fours, including a Herald

Several transverse fours, including a clutch of BXs

A straight-six XK150S

A couple of V6 Lancias including this lovely B24

A couple of flat-six Corvairs

A couple of V8s, including the Flathead Ford

And a V12 Lincoln-Zephyr

so, what configurations have you driven? What do you like best? And can somebody let me have a go in a V16 Cadillac, a Double Six Daimler and something with a radial-rotary engine? Oh, and a Rotary NSU please. I think then I can tick most of the obvious ones off the list....

[SiC]

I think you won your own thread with your first post. 

What I've driven? Plenty 4-pot and 3-pots. Also driven+owned Rotary, flat-6, v-6. 

Still want to try/own more cylinders on a car at some point soon too.

[hairnet]

cars

two pot visa 2cv

three pot peugeot

four pot lots of transverse been in a gsa citroen not driven one tho flar four had beetle flat four long time ago

suitcase visa

mx5 longditudinal minor

5pot audi coupe 80s

six pot  v6 nissan/honda straight 6 bmw

v8 had a go in a landy with one

bikes had bmw singles bmw flat twin honda parallel twins revere v twin triumph 3 pot in line 4 hondas

v four pan euro or vfr 800

flat 6 goldwing - never rode a morbidelli v8 only photographed one..........

never done a v10 or v12

[2flags]

Single cylinder  Honda 50 moped, twin cylinder Honda CB175 [with the 5 speed gearbox] V4, V6, V8, inline 4, inline 6, transverse 4, transverse 3. Have ridden in a Jaguar V12. Glorious.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

1 hour ago, barrett said:

Despite everything this year, I did manage to drive a couple of nice cars, including - a first for me - a car with a straight-six engine. This led me to idly contemplate the various different power configurations I have experienced over the last few years, and there is a fair bit of variety. In the spirit of nothing better to do, I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

so, what configurations have you driven? What do you like best? And can somebody let me have a go in a V16 Cadillac, a Double Six Daimler and something with a radial-rotary engine? Oh, and a Rotary NSU please. I think then I can tick most of the obvious ones off the list....

My grandfather had a Cadillac before the war but it had only the eight cylinder engine unfortunately. It still looked fabulous in the photographs I saw of it as a child though. Have you driven a straight-eight? My grandfather had just ordered a new Cadillac in 1939 so was unable to take delivery. After the war it took him a while to get the foreign currency together to buy another  car and he was unable to get a Cadillac because of the huge demand for them. He was able to buy a  Buick Roadmaster though, which he took delivery of in 1948. When driving it from the docks he was followed by a police motorcyclist for a number of miles who eventually stopped him just to have a look at the car. The Buick had the straight eight 'Fireball' engine which he reckoned was smoother and quieter than the Cadillac. He loved that car and kept it for many years. 

[RayMK]

1 hour ago, barrett said:

 

 

A transverse triple DKW

 

A wonderful selection to have actually driven!  However, the above made my eyebrows flutter somewhat: 'Transverse?"  The earlier and similar looking F89 had a transverse twin but the triples had longitudinally mounted in line units - unless you were driving a special. There has, after all, been at least one Saab 96 triple modified to have a 2stroke 6 cylinder engine though I can't recall how it was configured.

The first and only straight 6 that I've driven (owned) was a BMW 520i (E28). It was the superb engine which caused me to buy it.  You've driven far more types than I could even hope to experience. V10, V12 and V16s would not be on my bucket list, but a 2stroke triple and a rotary would be nice. Straight 5s make a nice sound. Unfortunately the transversely mounted petrol unit in our V70 was almost inaudible but I did drive an Audi 100 with a longitudinally mounted 5 that sounded great. That was back in the early 80s. I've been in a Tatra 603 and waggled its controls but did not get the chance to try its air-cooled V8 underway. Fascinating sound and technology though.

Edited January 4, 2021 by RayMK
Forgot to add 603 to Tatra

[eddyramrod]

Well now...

Aircooled upright twin (Fiat 500).

Transverse triple (Daihatsu Charade and the current Suzuki)

Fours: flat (Beetle and Impreza), V (Corsair), inline (too many to count), transverse (ditto).  Mounted in front of me (all formats) or behind (flat and transverse).

Fives: inline FWD (Audi, not mine) and transverse FWD (current Volvo).

Sixes: inline, transverse and V (V pointing forward or across).

V8: RWD and 4x4.

And with Satan's Fuel:

Fours both inline and transverse

Sixes inline.

Not sure what was in the Aston and Ferrari when I did a Supercar Experience Day.  Not even sure which models they were.

Are we including single-cylinder mopeds?

[LightBulbFun]

lets see 

driven a single Cylinder diesel in the form of the 1 Ton dumper at the FoD (as well as the singe jingle Petrol engined field bikes)

done the Flat twin, in my own personal Invacar Model 70 and 2 other AC Model 70's! (Dolly and TPA) as well as the 2CV  

done a transverse 3 cylinder  in the first 2 driving school cars I think... (2018/2019 Peugeot 308/208)

done a few inline 4's now I think but @Zelandeth's old Lada Riva 1.5E and @Yoss's Skoda favorit come to mind ticking the longitudinal and transverse fronts  

dont think I have done anything with 5 cylinders

drove an inline 6 in the form of the Jag/Daimler S1/S2 I cant quite recall which, and a V6 in the form of @catsinthewelder's safrane V6 

not done anything bigger, am hoping I can get a go in @mat_the_cat's Stella before anything else, so I can hand on my heart say "the first V8 I drove was a Hyundai Stella"  (and promptly get punched in the face probably LOL)

[PhilA]

Uhm, let's see...

1 cyl:

Royal Enfield early post-war 350cc

My little 49cc Chino-Russian moped

Lister Diesel earth dumper

2 cyl:

650cc v-twin Kohler engined lawn mower (in my shed)

3 cyl:

Toyota Yaris 1.0 inline 3

Subaru Justy 1.2 inline 3

4 cyl:

Many inline 4's from 750cc to 2.5l

VW Beetle and Bus- 1600 flat 4's

5 cyl:

Volvo V50

6 cyl:

Rolls-Royce straight 6 turbo diesel in an old Seddon-Atkinson tanker truck

Humber Super Snipe flathead 4.0l

Bunch of V6's from many sources

Few BMW inline 6's, M3, Z4 etc

7 cyl:

No, but I have sat in an airplane with a 7 cylinder radial

8 cyl:

Bunch of V8's, Rover, Dodge, Chevy

Pontiac Chieftain- flathead inline 8, 4.4l

 

That's pretty much it, never driven anything with a v10 or v12, v16 

 

The Chieftain is available for box-ticking purposes most of the time!

 

Phil

[Inspector Morose]

Right, I’ll bite.

1cyl.

Actually, can’t think of anything at the moment but I’m sure one will come to me eventually

2cyl

horizontal flat twin - 2cv
Horizontal transverse twin - 1904 Wolseley 
Transverse twin - Various Trabants, Goliath, IFA F8
In line twin - Fiat 126

3cyl

Various Wartburgs, Saab saloon and estate.
Daewoo Matiz
Corsa 1.0

4cyl

Yes, transverse, in line, boxer and horizontal in line (Albion Claymore)

5cyl

1983 Audi Quattro rally car 

6cyl

In line, horizontal in line, horizontal boxer, front mounted, rear mounted and side mounted (AEC Q)

8cyl

Various  V8 including Tatra 603. 
Packard Super 8 inline flathead.

12cyl

Rapport Forte, Daimler double 6 

 

Not comprehensive by any means but I admit, it did help that I used to help to look after a motor museums collection!

 

[Ohdearme]

Hmmm, no prices because it’s 2 am but...

air cooled twin (classic 500)

1.0 3 cyl fwd - a ironically titled skoda Rapid. hire car for a month between company cars, it sounded quite good under load but did not like the passes around Cumbria.

I4 - many, many, 

I5 - Just the Volvo V70T

I6 - BMWs, e39, e36 and an I6 diesel 525d and @HillmanImps jag

Flat 6 - taking my friends company Cayman s round the Nurburgring - for a few white knuckle laps and then beer and (separate) beds in belgium

V6 - Laguna, A twin turbo Galant VR4, 2.5v6 156, a few Mark 1 Shoguns

W6 - The Sharan Shitheap wagon 

V8 - e39 540, e39 535 and a ‘carjack me yellow’ Hertz rental Corvette for an American road trip over 11 states  in 10 days.

V10 - Borrowed a brief kidney busting run in a relatives RS6 Estate

Also, full elec in a leaf 

hybrid electric in an outlander phev.

 

 

[ChinaTom]

I drove a transverse 6 Epica, although it was called a Tosca in that market (Thai)

my Jag fired on 11 for the first few months I had it. 

also had a spin in a V5 Golf once.

also again, a W6? Other than that Siemens built Rumpler thing, I had no idea VW did W6. 3 banks of 2? More on that please!

[bunglebus]

I must have had a sheltered life, 90% inline 4s, a handful of flat fours, single cylinder 2 stroke bikes and a V6 in my ownership. Had a drive of inline 6 BMWs and a V8 Cobra replica. 

Front engine/RWD, front engine/FWD and rear engine/RWD layouts. 

Incidentally have VW ever made a car with the engine at one end and the drive wheels exclusively at the other?

[somewhatfoolish]

6 hours ago, RayMK said:

A wonderful selection to have actually driven!  However, the above made my eyebrows flutter somewhat: 'Transverse?"  The earlier and similar looking F89 had a transverse twin but the triples had longitudinally mounted in line units - unless you were driving a special. There has, after all, been at least one Saab 96 triple modified to have a 2stroke 6 cylinder engine though I can't recall how it was configured.

'The Monster' had two DKW-derived triples joined end-to-end and mounted transversely, it was fast but suffered from terminal understeer rendering it no use for the rallying it was intended for.

[Ohdearme]

6 hours ago, Ohdearme said:

Hmmm, no prices because it’s 2 am but...

air cooled twin (classic 500)

1.0 3 cyl fwd - a ironically titled skoda Rapid. hire car for a month between company cars, it sounded quite good under load but did not like the passes around Cumbria.

I4 - many, many, 

I5 - Just the Volvo V70T

I6 - BMWs, e39, e36 and an I6 diesel 525d and @HillmanImps jag

Flat 6 - taking my friends company Cayman s round the Nurburgring - for a few white knuckle laps and then beer and (separate) beds in belgium

V6 - Laguna, A twin turbo Galant VR4, 2.5v6 156, a few Mark 1 Shoguns

W6 - The Sharan Shitheap wagon 

V8 - e39 540, e39 535 and a ‘carjack me yellow’ Hertz rental Corvette for an American road trip over 11 states  in 10 days.

V10 - Borrowed a brief kidney busting run in a relatives RS6 Estate

Also, full elec in a leaf 

hybrid electric in an outlander phev.

 

 

Forgot I also drove a pre-production demonstrator RX-8 rotary when they came out, very weird how smooth and silent it was all the way past 9500 rpm. 

[Low Horatio gearbox]

A thread like this came to me  last week... then I got distracted and forgot about it 😖. (Go on somone do gearboxes you've mashed then )

 

I 3  : Corsa C

I 4 :  yes 😁

I 5: V70

I6 : some Jag xj6's (one my second Car but never roadworthy 😫)

V6 : Audi A6 and jag x type

V8: Daimler  2.5 saloon (first car) , Rover v8

Rotary: RX7  so smooth

 

So I've still singles, doubles, V4's V5, straight 8, V10, V12 to go (maybe W12 and raidials I suppose) 

Best engine wise a tough call between the Rover V8 or Mazda rotary. The Rover has bags of torque and all the sounds, the rotary is turbine smooth and makes a good noise but was less torquey, both has less than stellar fuel economy  tho. Honorable mention the the Volvo  5 pot, smooth and made a decent noise and could still offer 40 mpg  plus on a long run despite driving thru an Auto box. 

 

[anonymous user]

Lots, but some of it modern/boring.

1 cyl Messershmitt 

2 cyl 2cv, Trabant (and my current Panda)

3 cyl Wartburg (and a Suzuki Alto)

4 cyl Triumph 1300 (Fwd inline) Corsair 2000e (V4 Rwd) Lancia Gamma (Fwd flat 4) Beetle (Rwd flat 4) Morgans (Rwd inline 4) Mini (Fwd transverse 4) Loads of other 4 cyl.

5 cyl Volvo 

6 cyl Cortina (Rwd V6) Bond Equipe (Rwd inline) Lagonda M45 (rwd inline) Bentley MkVi (Rwd inline) Alfa 164 (Fwd V6) Jeep (4x4 inline)

7 - no

8cyl Porsche 928 (Rwd V8) Chrysler 300c (Rwd V8) Rolls Royce Phantom V (Rwd V8) Range Rover (4x4 V8)

9 - no

10- no

11 - no

12 - XJS  (rwd V12) 

[chaseracer]

2 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

'The Monster' had two DKW-derived triples joined end-to-end and mounted transversely, it was fast but suffered from terminal understeer rendering it no use for the rallying it was intended for.

Had a good look at that when @Inspector Moroseand I visited the Saab museum during our 2017 'day trip to Calais' mission-creep experience.

Those were the days, and will be again.

[hennabm]

Ok, so let me think;

1 pot
Several mopeds - mainly SS50s

2 pot
DAF 33
Fiat Twinair Punto

3 pot
I've driven several 4 pots missing a pot at the time. I have had my paws round a small number of 3 pots including the Daihatsu type thing and the later BMW engine (yuk).

4 pot
Many, including the boxer Alfa engine; V4 Fords; VW including Karmann Ghia.

5 pot
I once had an Audi 100 2.2 Avant. A great engine.

6 pot
A good number of BMWs including 3 on fleet all with 6 pots under the bonnet.
BMW M1 - yes really.
E type 6 pot.
D series turbo and none turbo
Volvo B10M
R series coaches

8 pot
D series Perkins V8
Rover SD1
Rover P6 3500
 

None reciprocating engine types;
RO80 - still had the original engine. This was brought in to the Ford dealership where I was working as a Px. I had to service it for resale.
BMW I3. 
 

[Asimo]

V8: only once, did not impress. (928)

V6: hired many, owned one. (GTA)

Straight 6: all Diesels but for one BMW. 

Straight 5: Peak Audi, the KJetronic 2.2 single cam. Really hard to fault, simple, strong, invigorating noise.

Flat 4: VW, Citroen, Lancia,  Subaru. Tried an Alfa. The 1015cc Citroen and the 2500 cc Lancia my favourites. Both returned about the same mpg.

V4: Ford Transits (many) A really shite engine, rough and thirsty. But dead reliable, dead simple and weirdly endearing. Would happily have another in my van.

Straight 4s: Far too many of these as they are all horrid; buzzy, rough things that are sometimes worthy of respect but never of love. Feeblest was in an Austin 10, strongest is the 2.4 in our Suzuki.

Straight 3: Various hires and Honda Insight. Smarts and Massey Fergusons. So much nicer than equivalent four cylinders. There is more vibration, but it is less objectionable.

Straight 2: Autobianchi 500, like a Fiat 500 lying on it’s side. Proves that Citroen were right to go flat for a twin.

Singles: The FOD dumper apart, All motorcycles. The best engine configuration for a bike as fewer cylinders won’t work.

Wankel Rotary: NSU Ro80 (good engine, great car), RX8 (Meh engine, yuk car)

I’d like to try a 3cylinder two-stroke but I have decided to never buy another car for myself with less than 5 cylinders. Ideally it would have an air-cooled pushrod engine at the rear. I can only think of one car that fits those criteria so some compromise may be called for.

Can someone lend me a Flat twelve Ferrari  please?

 

 

[task]

V8 - Manuals and Autos both 4x4 and RWD - MGB / Jensen / RRC/ D1 / P38 / Series 3 V8 / Daimler V8250 / Daimler Dart

V6 - Diesel Disco, Petrol Scimitar and Series 3 Landy with Essex V6 conversion

Straight 6 Petrol Fluid Fywheel Pre-Selector in a DB18 Daimler and Consort Daimler

Transverse 4 FWD - Astra Diesel, various VWs
Transverse 4 AWD - T5 4mo, Discovery sport, Freelander
Inline 4 - Sprinter, MGB

Yet to drive an electric car!

[Macscrooge]

Gosh!  Can't compete with the previous posts but here goes:

Petrol:

3 pot transverse -Daihatsu Charade, Copen, Sirion

4 pot N-S - various with and without turbos, including Volvo 300, 200, 700, 900 series, Avenger, Merc 190 & E200

4 pot transverse - various with and without turbos, including Rover 214, Mondeo, BX,  Pug 309, Saab 9-3 & 9-5 etc etc 

flat 4 - Subaru Forester

5 pot  - Volvo 850, Audi 100

straight 6 - BMW 520 (c 1984), 440i, Volvo 960, Rover 2600

V6 - Lexus GS300

V8 - Lexus LS400, Rover SD1

4 pot inline hybrid - Lexus IS300h

4 pot transverse hybrid - Toyoya Auris

V6 transverse hybrid - Lexus RX540h

Diesel:

3 pot transverse  - I think there was a small VW as a loan car

4 inline - Shogun

4 transverse - various, Astra Mk3, Pug 205, 309, 405, Honda CR-V, Saab 9-3 etc

5 inline(?) - Audi 100

6 inline - BMW 430d, 435d

Electric - Tesla X

And what about gearbox types and examples?

Manual 4 (Pug 104), 5 (Maxi), 6 (VW Touran), 4 with o/d (Volvo 940)

Auto 2 (Daimler DS420), 3 (Acclaim),  4 (Saab 9-3), 5 (Shogun), 7 (Merc E), 8 (BMW 4)

Automated 6  (FIAT)

CVT - Volvo 343D, Lexus RX etc

1-speed electric - Tesla

 

 

Edited January 6, 2021 by Macscrooge
updated with more info

[catsinthewelder]

I've driven quite a lot of vehicles but without much variety in engines.  I'll try and add some vehicles that haven't appeared above.

1 cylinder, Yamaha TZR125, Jailing JH125L, KTM 250.

2 cylinder.  Honda CM125, Honda CB500.

3 cylinder.  Suzuki Celerio,

4 cylinder, Lancia Trevi, VW type 2, Suzuki Bandit.

6 cylinder, Renault Safrane, Reliant Scimitar, Daimler Sovereign

8 cylinder, Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Inspector Morose]

14 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

'The Monster' had two DKW-derived triples joined end-to-end and mounted transversely, it was fast but suffered from terminal understeer rendering it no use for the rallying it was intended for.

This monster?

The DKW engine that the Saab units were derived from was in fact the two cylinder (according to Saab who insist that the three cylinder was wholly their own design)  but when they stretched to three, the resemblance is remarkably striking!

[BL Bloke]

Compared to some folk on here my list is very short but here goes.

3 cyl - Skoda Fabia

4 cyl N-S - Audi 80, Austin A35 x2, Morris Oxford VI, Vauxhall Chevette, Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1, Lada Riva, Ford Granada Mk3

4 cyl transverse - BMC 1300 (ADO16) x3, Maxi x5, Allegro x4, Rover Metro, Rover 45, Skoda Fabia, Citroen Saxo, Peugeot 205, Ford Fiesta, Ford Ka Mk1

V8 - A quick spin around the field at Chumley  in @Schaefft's Lincoln Mk VIII, also the only time I've driven an auto box.

[HMC]

Rotary- (RX8)

Flat twin (2cv/ Messerschmitt tiger)

straight twin (goggomobil transporter) 

3 cyl vag TDI (polo 1.4)

v4 (Saab 96)

slant 4 (Saab 900 classic)

straight 4- various, plus CLK with supercharger

flat 4 (beetle karmann cab)

straight 5-(  w123 300d merc, d5 Volvo)

narrow angle v5 ( golf v5)

straight 6 (64 S type jag, various xj40/bmw) plus turbod bmw diesel

v6 (Rover 827/ Alfa 166/156 ) plus turbod v6 merc diesel

flat 6 turbo (996 911)

v8 - cls500/s500/ltd crown vic/stag

flat 12 (1971 917LH- (Not) just seeing who read this far down)

v12 - (jag xj12 s3)

I probably enjoyed the HO2 in the 2cv simply as it was fun to push to its maximum at all times. I never blew one up despite being pretty unforgiving to them.

 

[Schaefft]

And what a fine example it was!

For me:

I4: So many

Flat4: A very particular GSA of this parish, Rally training WRX before that

I5: Volvo C70 Turbo of a friend plus was it an 850 Estate at the NE meet?

I6: E46/E38/E39 BMWs/Senator

V6: Safrane, C5 A6, Xedos 6

V8: Just look at my signature, plus a few more

That means no Flat 6, V12s or i3s (among other more exotic configurations) yet!

[Skizzer]

I’ve owned various configurations:

Single: Honda CLR125 CityFly

V-twin: Honda XL125V Varadero

Triple: Triumph Street Triple 675

Inline four: Audi 80 B3, Renault 16

Transverse four: lots  

Slant four:  Vauxhall 2300S, Lotus Elite

Flat four: Lancia Gamma

Flat six: Porsche Cayman

Straight six: Vauxhall Royale, BMW 320i, Jaguar XJ6

V6: Ford Granada (inline), Rover 75 (transverse)

V8: Rover 3500, Discovery 1

V12: XJ-S

 

Missing: I’ve driven a flat twin Fiat Nuova 500, a V5 VW Bora and couple of Audi inline fives (a Coupe Quattro and a 90) but not owned one; never driven a straight eight, a V10, a flat 12 or a rotary. 

[Marina door handles]

 

Having been in the motor trade I can tick off quite a few but some remain elusive...

 

No cylinders - Driven an Mazda RX8

1 Cylinder - my own Yamaha YBR 125 motorbike.

2 Cylinders -Nope

3 Cylinder transverse - Pug 107

3 Cylinders transverse avec Turbo - My partner had a Citroen Cactus, couldn't feel the blower it was so weedy...

4 cylinders transverse/inline - too many to list

Flat 4- My own Subaru Forester and a trade in Impreza STI.

V5 - Drove a friends Seat Toledo V5, the engine was the best bit of the  car- characterful! 

Inline 5 transverse - Alfa 156 Diesel, customers car.

Straight 6 - Lots as i worked at a BMW dealers for a bit, most memorable were a very short drive in a Alpina B10 Bi Turbo, to be honest the engine wasn't very exciting because I was pottering carefully in a valuable and ultra rare LHD car,  was a case of very briefly driving a proper hero car and there was quite a lot to take in,,,

V6 - Driven a few Alfas with the classic Busso, Fords 2.8 cologne engine in a Capri and the Essex in my Scimitar. Also driven the GM diesel V6 but in a Saab. 

Flat 6 - Drove a customers 996 - 911

Radial 7 cylinder - Nope! 

V8 - A Few mostly BMWs and a classic Rover V8 in a P38 Range Rover.

Straight 8 - Nope

V10 - I wish

V12 - Again I have BMW to thank for this having driven both 7 and 8 series V12 models but I have also driven an XJS V12 -trade in - loved it! 

V16/W16 - Errr nope 

 

 

[wuvvum]

Single: Nope, unless you count motorbikes.  (I've driven the single-cylinder dumper round the FOD, but not counting that as it wasn't mine and I didn't drive it on the road)

In-line twin: Ligier Ambras x2

Flat twin: Assorted 2CVs and a DAF 33

V-twin: Again, only motorbikes

Transverse triple: Innocenti, Daihatsu Sirion, Subaru Justy, Hyundai Getz, Suzuki Swift

In-line four: Renaults 4, 5, 6, 12, 21 Turbo, 25 and Novaquatre, Morris Minors x2, Standards 10 and Vanguard, Vauxhalls 10, Viva and Cavalier Mk1, Audi 80, many Rover P6s, DAF 66, Triumphs 1300 and Dolomite, Hillmans Hunter and Minx, Humber Hawk, Mercedes 190E x2, 230E, 230TE and 220D, BMWs 318i and 518, Reliant Regal, LDVs 200, 400 and Convoy, assorted Transits, Dodge 50 Series x3, Commer Walkthrough, Iveco Daily x5

Transverse four: Hundreds of the bloody things

Flat four: two Beetles, four Subaru Legacys, two Alfa 33s, two Alfasuds, one Lancia Gamma

V4: Various Saab 96s and a Mk1 Transit

In-line 5: two Audi 100s, assorted Volvos 850, S60 and V70, Mercedes C250D, Fiat Marea x2, VW T4 and LT35

In-line 6: assorted BMWs and Mercs, VW LT (old shape), Volvos 164, 760 TD and 940 TD, Jaguar Series III 4.2, several XJ40s, Daimler Conquest Century, Triumphs 2000 and 2500, Leyland Roadrunner, Ford D series, Iveco Eurocargo

Transverse 6: Austin Princess 2200HLS

V6: Lots

Flat 6: Subaru SVX

V8: Rovers P6 and SD1, Cadillacs Seville, STS and Fleetwood, Ford LTD, Jaguar X308, Chevrolet day van, Toyota Celsior

V12: BMW 750iL, Daimler Double 6, Jaguar XJ-S

Rotary: Mazda RX-8

 

There's probably others I've forgotten, but that's all the categories covered at least.  I've never driven a V5, a V10, a straight 8 or a V16.