Stock is best

[Carer]

Recently my Impreza got recall to so call "ECU program software upgrade" and it turn up to give better FC and throttle respond, meaning better power with less fuel. Initial factory setting may not be the best for new model.

if the source is credible, go for it.

 

but if its from some bogus wk shop run by mechanics who think they know best, beware

[Freestylers09]

cars as in its stock are designed in various part to have what it is, thats why it's the 'best' it can get..from aero dynamic,to engine etc etc

 

if someone mod it..some 'performance' is lost it's individual section etc...

 

to build a 'perfect' stock car..not take 1 to 2 years to design out one...

 

this is the beauty of engineering....

 

 

[macrosszero]

Actually I think that manufacturing is down to such an exact science that MTBF is considered in the construction and design. Gone are the days where cars are heavily over-engineered and would literally last decades.

 

Pushing that extra 50hp would require additional engineering in order to maintain a reasonable MTBF, which costs the price of the car to go up beyond their price point.

 

Given that the guys who are happily chipping and boosting away at the cars are unlikely to be thorough enough to go the whole hog to upgrade their car to take that 50hp, by reprogramming their DSG gearboxes, upgrading their drivetrain, brakes, etc, expect failures to come knocking sooner.

 

Price, performance, reliability, pick any two. That adage holds even more true for modified cars.

[Cerano]

cars as in its stock are designed in various part to have what it is, thats why it's the 'best' it can get..from aero dynamic,to engine etc etc

 

if someone mod it..some 'performance' is lost it's individual section etc...

 

to build a 'perfect' stock car..not take 1 to 2 years to design out one...

 

this is the beauty of engineering....

 

wrong... you forgot manufacturers have to account for market placement

 

otherwise a tuned Audi 2.0T can easily outrun its 3.2FSI V6

[Kiadaw]

I agree,stock is always best.Car companies don't spend millions on R & D so that the they can produce below par performance cars.Everything is researched,designed and manufactured for the best optimal performance,right down to the sze of the tyres.

 

Mostly true, but not 100%.

 

There is always the cost factor (target production cost), Can the parts meet the volume required, & how easy is it to mass produce, emission, reliability etc.

 

Something like aftermarket welded manifold would be difficult to mass produced, hence most mass production car manifold are cast, which limit air flow.

 

Or carbon fiber parts, they are light but also very expensive & hard to mass produce.

 

Just illustrating a few examples.

 

 

[Dunno]

I agree,stock is always best.Car companies don't spend millions on R & D so that the they can produce below par performance cars.Everything is researched,designed and manufactured for the best optimal performance,right down to the sze of the tyres.

 

It really depends on the driver. Even if stock, if the driver just wack the car all the time, it will still not last as long. Mods do give the car not only more power but better overall drive. The power can be tuned to be delivered very linearly, which does not do much damage to the engine and gearbox. Drive it normally and the power delivery feels very smooth and when you need more power, you've got it on your right foot.

 

My car has got its ECU flashed. My normal casual driving routine (ie, 80%of the time) has the rpm all below 2000 from 1st all the way to 6th gear and maintains at 2000rpm @ 100kph in 6th gear. Gear changes occur at 2000rpm, peak torque occurs at 1500rpm, similar to stock. How would that spoil the engine and gearbox compared to stock? Will stock last longer if the driver takes off at 3000rpm and gear changes takes place at 6000rpm most of the time?

 

So it really depends on the driver, not the car.

[Carer]

wrong... you forgot manufacturers have to account for market placement

 

otherwise a tuned Audi 2.0T can easily outrun its 3.2FSI V6

 

true. but how abt a tuned 3.2fsi?

[Zze121]

if the source is credible, go for it.

 

but if its from some bogus wk shop run by mechanics who think they know best, beware

 

It from MI, ya my friend go for Unichip but the first tuner is not giving good service, he manage to find a 2nd one who done a good job.

[Freestylers09]

every tuned car can outrun many other cars

 

but dont forget parts are touched..etc etc..

 

the amount spend is different...

 

this is what i mean

 

but to have the exact optimal saving on FC,etc etc..is different story liaoz...

 

 

[Dunno]

wrong... you forgot manufacturers have to account for market placement

 

otherwise a tuned Audi 2.0T can easily outrun its 3.2FSI V6

 

Another point to take note. Audi is the authorised tuner for MTM. They make another couple of thousand bucks off from Audi owners by tuning for them. You want your 2.0T to outrun a 3.2FSI, you pay me some more money

[Dunno]

true. but how abt a tuned 3.2fsi?

 

3.2FSI is NA, not much gains from tuning. But of course, 2.0T can never get the V6 engine growl of the 3.2, no matter what they tune.

[Cerano]

true. but how abt a tuned 3.2fsi?

 

3.2 FSI is NA.

 

very little modding potential.

[Freestylers09]

my tuned means mod etc etc

 

not purely tune...haha

 

ok off topic liaoz..keke

[Cerano]

every tuned car can outrun many other cars

 

but dont forget parts are touched..etc etc..

 

the amount spend is different...

 

this is what i mean

 

but to have the exact optimal saving on FC,etc etc..is different story liaoz...

 

simply by correcting ignition timing and AFR you can get >30bhp on tc/sc cars. no parts changed. if you drop in a piggyback to allow more parameters to be tweaked think of >50bhp gains.

 

and power is gained by running lean not rich. and running lean means less gas squirted. meaning better fc

[Felipe]

agree with your mech. if u want the lowest possible running cost, go with stock. i won't say it's the best settings, as stock is always conservative, but for daily use, i don't see the point of playing with the mods in the front. they tend to compromise reliability in the long run.

[Zze121]

Boys always enjoy pushing machine to the limits but factory wants to make something that last.

Edited July 5, 2010 by Zze121

[Dennisk]

for NA cars, you can upgrade your suspension and brakes for better driving...

[Mockngbrd]

I du agree... A stock version of my car will not be able to handle as well as it does now.