After stage 1 ECU upgrade, what's next?

[jmaneyapanda]

So, in everyones opinion, what is the best "bang for buck" upgrade for performance after a stage 1 ECU? I gather a HFC from the forum, but my tuner tells me a CAI, while some think otherwise. So, what say yee?

[theredcaron]

You will see the most gains out of a hfc or test pipe. This is one of the few BIG bang for your buck mods on our cars.

[mr shickadance]

immediatly change your tuner now

EDIT, go HFC..... test pipe plus OEM exhaust doesn't sound that great...if you get a test pipe you might as well get a full exhaust bc the sound of an oem exhaust plus test pipe imo is not a great sound for our cars
consider the RS4 swaybar, doesn;t give you any hp or torque gains but stiffens up the car which i think is a great performance upgrade


but seriously if your tuner recommended a CAI then you need to switch tuners ASAP

[fly300kts]

Go HFC..... test pipe plus OEM exhaust doesn't sound that great...

I have to disagree with that

phil

[SoFarGon]

HFC

[mr shickadance]

I have to disagree with that

phil

if you ever experience temps below 40 and start you car you will know exactly what im talking about

[digitalAUDI]

why not let him decide if he wants a test pipe or high flow cat, either way he goes, the gains are just about the same.

What you could do is go one youtube, there are plenty of videos of our cars with the different setups that he can listen and decide how much noise he is willing to put up with. I personally have the full exhaust with the HFC and I like the drone..

[mr shickadance]

this is true....either or will satisfy you no doubt, i never liked my tp partly because i pulled the resonators on my OEM exhaust so thats a huge factor

[jimrobbington]

After I get stage 1, I always do full exhaust plus stage 2 next. The sound of a great exhaust is like sex to me, nothing compares to wot through a tunnel.

[jimrobbington]

Oh, and shicky is right, cai is a waste of money on our cars, unless you have fmic.

[mr shickadance]

its a waste of money regardless if you have FMIC or not gives you little to no gains


best bet is to get a k&n panel

[mo17k3y85]

little off topic but...

I got my car used and it came with magnaflow exhaust. The car has the stock cat, what size tp do I need for it to fit? I'm guessing 2.5 should do it?

[Schmaud]

if you ever experience temps below 40 and start you car you will know exactly what im talking about

It doesn't sound bad at all IMO. I had my TP on for quite a while without my exhaust.

[SykoraA4]

I'd say take advantage of our Introductory Sale. Test pipe all the way.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/407926-.-RAI-Motorsport-New-Product-Introductory-Offer-B7-TESTPIPE

[B72.0T]

little off topic but...

I got my car used and it came with magnaflow exhaust. The car has the stock cat, what size tp do I need for it to fit? I'm guessing 2.5 should do it?

3 in will fit also.

[SykoraA4]

little off topic but...

I got my car used and it came with magnaflow exhaust. The car has the stock cat, what size tp do I need for it to fit? I'm guessing 2.5 should do it?

You're test pipe choice is not limited by your exhaust, and can go with any test pipe you'd like. Ideally though you'd probably want a downpipe to really maximize the gains.

[theklug]

if you ever experience temps below 40 and start you car you will know exactly what im talking about

its not THAT bad....

[jimrobbington]

its a waste of money regardless if you have FMIC or not gives you little to no gains


best bet is to get a k&n panel

Maybe, but you can make your own TRUE cai at that point for much cheaper than any retail cai available, and you WILL notice an increase in throttle response, and to me, the sound can't be beat.

[billyhoyle]

Have you checked which revision of the diverter valve you have? You should make sure you have Rev D - the older part commonly fails on chipped cars. Same deal with the PCV valve. Either get the latest OEM part, or get BSH's PCV fix. The install on either of these is pretty cake, although the DV is tricky.

After that, I agree with the above - TP or HFC is the way to go.

[B7Daily]

2 months

AWE quad tip Black exhaust
AWE Boost gauge vent
PSS10's
APR HPFP
APR all program software
linea corse 19'' wheels

Almost got the ER DSMIC but the group buy fell out of the world .... I think???
I would like a K04 i dont really want to go big turbo when i put 1400 miles a week on my car

[mr shickadance]

Maybe, but you can make your own TRUE cai at that point for much cheaper than any retail cai available, and you WILL notice an increase in throttle response, and to me, the sound can't be beat.
truth

[mr shickadance]

its not THAT bad....

its not exxactly something your proud of tho lol