Vortech or AVO, seriously torn
 

I've been following both threads for the AVO TC kit and the Vortech SC kit for some time now.

They both seems like a very good option, and really torn between the two. Here is what I am looking for:

Long term reliability - I don't want my BRZ to turn in to a garage queen.
Power - good power over all, not laggy nor spiky power.
MPG - I am not concerned with MPG.
Future potential - I'd like to have the ability to upgrade parts to create more power/balance, tuning once my car becomes a garage queen.
E85 - I will not be using E85 in Oregon, due to reliability issues.
Fuel pump and injectors - I'd like to use the stock parts for the initial kit. Will upgrade if necessary in the future if adding more boost.

If I go with Vortech, I will go to Perrin. If I go with AVO, I will go to PRE.

If I can get ~240WHP, I will be satisfied.

Just wanted some thoughts, pros/cons from fellow enthusiasts, or people that already have them installed.

Or wait for more kits to come out? Any advice, input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Bob@Drift-Office has been looking for someone to buy a Vortech kit so that he can tune it and compare it to AVO. Doesn't seem like anyone here in the NW wants to touch the supercharger option, though. I suppose once you see the quality of the AVO kit in person it really makes it a no-brainer.

Long term reliability - to make comparable power with the Vortech you would need to crank the boost up. -1 reliability. AVO's kit makes modest (better than the vortech) power with 5psi. Scalable in the sense that you can swap turbos out later on, upgrade fuel system, etc.

Power - AVO kit is in full boost ~3000 rpm. Vortech is instant.

MPG - If you were concerned I would tell you to stay N/A

Future potential - see long term reliability

E85 - garbage

Fuel Pump and Injectors - AVO @5psi and stock fuel system make 230whp and almost 200tq. Vortech SC with new injectors, fuel pump, smaller pulley, and e85 makes ~250whp and ~180tq.




Seems like a pretty easy decision for me, but Bob is dying for someone to bring him a Vortech.

Go Vortech or wait for the PD supercharger to come out. Turbos always seem to want the boost cranked up. ;)

With the supercharger, pulley size will be finite.

most of the 86 guys I talk to in PDX all wants the supercharger, especially the one from Innovate.

Just a word from the not so wise, don't get a set HP number in your head. Chasing hp numbers is a very costly and expensive game. I spent over $50k with my Evo IX and never really went that "big." I was making over 550whp on a mustang dyno and pulled on ZR1's all day long. But the funny thing is, I was always a little jealous of the guys who put down bigger numbers. There were guys putting down 750+ on the same dyno. It's a ridiculous psychological game to get in to.

Just try to define a purpose or tangible goal for the car, and be happy when you get there. If that's running a 11.99 in the quarter, or maxing out NASA TT Class points, or beating your buddies muscle car, that's great. But it's better to define a purpose than set a number.

-Andrew

I've been wondering this also.. Glad you asked lol.

I agree, my brother, also a old school car enthusiast, said the exact same thing. One of my close buddy, which tends to be a "one upper" has a 1000WHP Supra that I will never beat with my BRZ.

Thanks for the good advise, and I hope I don't fall in to that trap. I am usually competitive and that may play a part in this "horsepower" game.

Are you referring to this in the particular state, or over all?

I'm the manufacturer, so I probably shouldn't be butting in - but take a drive in a car with the vortech and a car with the avo, that may help you make up your mind.

Overall. I mean, if economy isn't an issue, and e85 was plentiful and cheap then it would really be great, but its not cheap, less efficient, and hard to come by in this area.

Based on what you're describing, the positive displacement supercharger is what you want. You will have lag if you go centerfugal supercharger or turbo. Getting a small turbo that doesn't give much more horsepower will reduce lag if they tune it to kick in early, but you'll still have it. Lag not only means waiting for power, but also less control over your car in the corners, or just learning to live with it. Positive displacement is the most reliable from what I've read, has the least things that can go wrong, easy to install/upgrade, basically exactly what you described.

I second this. You wouldn't buy a car before test driving it so why not do the same with something that changes the car this drastically. I would personally wait until you can also drive the 3rd type of forced induction, positive displacement supercharger as well.

I had a chance to sit in the Perrins Vortech SC'd BRZ a while back. Of course it was glorious. I need to test all 3 cars at the same time since every one of them, I will probably fall in love with it if I test it individually.

Twin screw is a viable option as well, not sure when the release date will be. But with the positive displacement SC, will it hurt the motor more than centrifugal if the boost is immediate and essentially "always" on? With centrifugal, you have the choice to crank up the boost by increasing RPM but rides like stock below 3kRPM? Just curious with the longevity issue with twin screws if they boost "instantly" even at low RPM.

AVO vs Vortech?

Wow you got it easy! I'm thinking AVO, FA20Club kit (286hp on 5.3psi is nice), Vortech or wait for Sprintex.

Too...many...options.