"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
12/02/2014 at 15:50 • Filed to: None
7
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"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown)
12/02/2014 at 15:50 • Filed to: None | 7
| 12 |
In the land of the automotive enthusiast, power is a funny thing. You want more, so you buy more. You're complacent. Then you're no longer complacent. So you buy more mods.
Read the original article here (opens in new window)
What a circle. The thing with turbo cars is the bang-for-the-buck with simple bolt-ons is hard to beat. A $1000 exhaust and $500 tune can net 30% or more power in some cases. And since it's the rush of torque that is measured on the butt dyno, it's instantly gratifying.
With my BMW M3 there wasn't much more torque to be had but you sure can get that bastard to pull hard on the top end after a few breathability mods. Top end meaning 6000 to 8200 RPM, of course. The problem with this, for me at least, was that the M3 was my daily driver and as such I was rarely in that part of the power band so the power mods I did went mostly unnoticed. Not the best way to drop $2,500. Get headers, they said. You'll love it, they said. Nope. Most regrettable purchase of 2013. Maybe even the most regrettable mod I've ever done, short of the shocker sticker.
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Knowing that I may eat my words later, I'll say it anyway. With my WRX, I think I'd be happy with about 300 horsepower to the ground. Should be achievable with a catted J-Pipe (downpipe to the rest of you), intake and tune. The turbo is small so if I want more it's much larger dollars. Deterrent enough.
And my WRX is a daily driver and it must stay reliable. I have zero intention of drag racing. In fact when I commute I'm almost always in the slow lane. I keep the digital display on the vacuum/boost gauge and try my hardest not to go in to positive pressure in hopes of better fuel economy. My rational is I'm conserving fuel so when I can so that I can hoon around later and not feel bad. God, I might be a dumb ass, after all. Can't be the only one, right?
//Follow me on Twitter: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
HiredDriver
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 15:54 |
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Whoa. It's as if I'm having a conversation with myself.
William Byrd
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 15:55 |
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You're hooked already!
"Just one more mod...I'll stop there".
HammerheadFistpunch
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 15:57 |
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Thats why I choose to buy something slow. No matter how many mods are on it, its still slow so why bother. thats not to say there isn't 100 other places to spend money on it...a tent would be nice for example.
crowmolly
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 15:58 |
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I agree. You aren't driving around with your dyno sheet taped to the window. Usable power for the street is a great thing. The argument as to "how much" has probably been around since forever. 300-350whp is where I'd be satisfied. You can have a very mildly behaving, non high-maintenance car with those numbers.
There's also something to be said for durability. If you mod your daily driver and put more stress on the entire package there's a chance that things will break sooner than expected. Or fuel economy goes down, or it runs hot, stall speed is super high, etc etc.
Your boy, BJR
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 15:59 |
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RallyWrench
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 16:16 |
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 16:38 |
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"I keep the digital display on the vacuum/boost gauge and try my hardest not to go in to positive pressure in hopes of better fuel economy."
This is the saddest thing I've read all week.
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 16:50 |
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I've stopped at about 300whp with my WRX. But sometimes, it's hard...I'm going to end up upgrading the fuel pump for reliability reasons, which will make the eventual gap to 350whp that much smaller. Though knowing what broke or started making weird noises the last time I retuned, I really need to remember the costs can be so much higher than the sticker price.
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RightFootDown
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/02/2014 at 16:52 |
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LOL
E92M3
> RightFootDown
12/02/2014 at 17:25 |
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hmm i was considering a primary cat delete and tune for mine. $1600 for 25hp. You're saying it wasn't worth it?
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RightFootDown
> E92M3
12/03/2014 at 09:44 |
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I found it worthless. If you're at the track (not autocross) in the high RPMs a lot then, yeah, it might be worth it.
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E92M3
> RightFootDown
12/03/2014 at 11:51 |
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I do track mine a 3-5 times a year. Still is .2 seconds a lap really worth it? Maybe not...