FI, Worth the money or not?
 

I recently purchased a 2013 frs a month or so ago and I absolutely love the car. Having previously owned a mustang gt the handling and cornering of this car compared to my previous mustang is night and day difference. I live in a mountainous area so having a car for back roads and windy mountain roads is much more enjoyable. The power is the only thing I feel like this car is lacking. I've been doing research online about turbo kits, but It seems hard for me to justify spending 4000-5000$ if not much more to turbo it when I'm only seeing an average of 300whp. I understand the car is extremely light but how does the car feel/perform, and I'd like to get some feedback to see it the money was well spent. I don't drive the car daily but I like to drive it when I can so I suppose I could maybe push a couple extra pounds but I dont have any E85 pumps around so thats out of the question. I'd like to start autocrossing the car and going to track days though and it seems like FI is necessary when It comes to the FRS/BRZ. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

(Note: If I go FI I'd go turbo so S/C is out of the question)

Take a ride in a turbo'd twin and then tell me you don't want FI after it. One ride in a higher horsepower FRS is all it took for me.

What I can tell you is when searching for a kit be very honest with yourself concerning power goals. Also, whatever you think you will spend it would be wise to add 20% to that figure.

You realize 300rwhp is damn near double what you have now, right? Our dyno puts most stock twins at 167rwhp.

I still wouldn't consider a 300hp twin a fast car, but it certainly makes the car enjoyable to me. If I ever had to pull my turbo setup off my car, knowing it wouldn't go back on, I'd sell the car.

You should put up a poll. I'd guess 70-80% would say its worth it. If you broke it down by SC owners and Turbo owners, I would guess 80-90% of Turbo owners would say it was worth the money.

For me it has been worth the money installing a turbo. I've had some minor issues but in general, the car is so much more fun to drive.

ADVICE: I recommend you install it yourself, that will make troubleshooting problems much easier (because you will know the system much better vs if someone else installed it). But to install it yourself, you basically need a 2nd car to drive around for the few days/weeks your Twin is out of commission.

Also, you should probably have your own garage to work in because your Twin will be on jack stands for several straight days.

I would consider a 300whp Twin a fast car. That car should do 0-60 in the low 5's, maybe even high 4's and 1/4 mile in low 14's or high 13's. Maybe my standards aren't as high as yours, but to me that's fast.

thankyou. I planned on doing it myself, I work at a Collision Center so I have the tools and knowledge to do it myself but I also have a daily so that wont be a problem. I just cant decide which turbo kit is the best, Greddy?

Greddy isn't bad. Speed By Design sells a good replica of the Greddy kit.

Most of the turbo kits out there are front mounted. With a a FM turbo, be diligent about protecting your car from the heat a FM turbo produces.

Most important thing is to wrap the downpipe and/or have it painted with ceramic coating.

I painted my downpipe with 9 coats of VHT Flameproof ($10 on Amazon; used the whole can) and doublewrapped it.

Also, put thermal tape (which is different from thermal wrap) around all the plastic electric wires (like O2 sensor wires) and rubber hoses near the turbo.

Look at this thread about combating heat with front mounted turbo's in a Twin:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...51#post1391851

I know it's two hours away but come out to boxer fest and the dyno day next month. There will be plenty of turbo cars at the shop.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82095

I already planned on attending, me and my buddy are going in his 2015 wrx. Looks like I'll see ya there!

I would say it's worth it if you are installing it yourself and enjoy working on cars. for me it is just as much about the experience and memories than a much faster car to drive. You tend to get used to whatever power level you are at. If you plan to track a FI car expect to pay a lot on cooling accessories on top of what a FI kit includes.

You'll spend a lot more than 5k if you're not installing and tuning yourself. A LOT MORE. Is it worth it, fuck yeah it is.

JRSC installed last weekend. By myself. Worth every penny!!

Worth it. Have Sprintex stage 2 with e85 flex fuel. I'm broke now but... worth it.

I can get low 14's in my stock BRZ some others have posted 14's stock as well. If i double the horsepower I sure as heck better be tilting the earth of it's axis or in the very least low 13's to high 12's in the 1/4

lol

you really gotta start a thread asking this?

FI is the best bang for the buck mod, I know it may sound a bit awkward but after compared to all the other mods combined, that's the truth

I am a turbo guy but after seeing all the kits in the market (except maybe Avo kit), I say Rotrex based Centrifugal type systems like Kraftwerks or Jackson Racing are exception since they are relatively easier to install and more reliable than the turbo kits...and almost a must for those who consider track use down the road, since they're simple they are also less expensive.. of course Turbos are more efficient but also more temperamental..

I also don't like the fact that the turbo systems share the same engine oil as opposed to independent lubrication of the (one mistake and you lose the whole engine) ..


I say do more research on the topic :thumbsup:

Not saying your lying but I have to see video of people getting low 14's in a bone stock Twin. Same goes for 0-60 in mid to high 5's in a bone stock Twin (which another guy claimed).

I'll believe it when I see it.

How much time do you spend WOT in the twisties? Not the straights between the twisties, but the twisties themselves.

If you're not at a level of driving where you can't WOT comfortably in the corners, then you're not gonna WOT with more power, so youre cornering isn't going to be any faster.

I'd recommend you consider spending $5k on a driving school to maximize your enjoyment of the FRS :thumbsup:

mike but dont u realise we cant show up at da car meet and brag about how much we gained taking hpde to these meetboyz..

He said he wanted more power for canyoning.... basically

Off topic, but speaking of canyoning in SOCAL, what's your opinion of Angeles Crest?

i didn't save my slip however, i did see someone else post theirs on here, now 5 sec 0-60? ya i call scam on that all day

I spent nearly $10k on FI and supporting mods and still only made 258WHP. It was still worth it.

Great road, I've gotten at least a handful of citations there in various cars I test and set up....

Also, a NA BRZ can hit 120mph+ in sections with a skilled driver, single laning...

what kit do/did you have?

Kraftwerks C38 with Skunk2/Kraftwerks oil cooler, JDL UEL header, JDL overpipe and JDL front pipe, Greddy SP Elite.

$10k Canadian for all of that stuff and stuck with our relatively shitty fuels here.

Was about to say... lol.

$10k CAD with shitty fuel sounds about right. I've personally experienced Nova Scotia's crappy fuel so I feel bad for you.

keep scrolling then, I don't get your point.

#noclutterzone

Value means nothing if not put into perspective. Asking "is it worth it" without the "to whom" is a question nobody can answer. Nobody here knows you as well as yourself

If you're asking if the performance gains outweigh the required expenditures of effort, time, and other resources... Then head to the other thousand or so "is FI for me" threads as well as some well established, knowledgable discussions of various setups and kits on this site ya?

Unless you're a true unique badass and have some unique or not well discussed goals and conditions.. Not just some splashing ones feet around in the water asking if the lake's too cold