I love both

hey, don't forget about SC man, that's what i'm planning on... way later on when i got some money...

cost, cost, cost... its cheaper and easier to go faster turbo.  thats the bottom line.

u max out on n/a, or at least if ur not MAXING OUT, ur close to it with each mod u add.

boost, just turn a knob, or increase ur psi.  more power within 2 seconds... yes it has its limits but every day ppl are finding ways around the spec-v electronics...

hahaha! very true. when i bought my spec, i had no idea the limited access to parts and w/e. but i'm happier with my spec than i would be with just another honda or toyota... i hate having something not many other ppl have...

(oh, and btw... it def doesn't help us out when we get companies make products that do zilch... but at least there are some that are trying... just need them to do a lil more R&D... and testing... my $0.02)

i think a lot of the turbo people really don't give a shit about going to the track and seeing what they run.  gurov is a good example.  he doesn't give a shit what he dynos or what he could run under ideal conditions.  i'm becoming more like that as well.  (he's a bad influence ).  eventually people realize they don't gotta prove anything to a bunch of people behind a computer screen.

N/A is fine.  Sometimes its all people can afford, or all they wanna deal with, or all they want because they like it.  There's many reason to stay N/A.  Hell, my car was N/A much longer than I've had the turbo.  I also probably would've been a lot richer (or have a lot more shoes and clothes ) if I didn't go turbo...

I think one of the problems is that lately we get newbie going "what's the easiest way to make lots of power."  Well, the truth is, and what they are often told, is turbo.  And then that leads to discussion such as this.  There's no denying a turbo is going to be easier to make sheer power than N/A on this car.  Now, telling people they are retarded, stupid, or whatever because they don't want a turbo, well, perhaps that is something that should be worked on as that is not a helpful attitude. 

In all actuality, I'd like to see LESS people attempting to turbo their Specs... I think a lot of people get in way too deep into something they don't know, and then you get the "I blew my car at 1psi" and the "help something is wrong" every two seconds from people that have no idea whatsoever about boost.  I don't say that to insult people, I just think there are misguided people out there that are lead into thinking having a turbo is simple and easy, and you just put it on and the car will be fine.  Yes, it is the "easiest" way of increasing power, but that doesn't mean it's easy... catch my drift?

It's all about preference. Right now I'm content with N/A, but only because I could only afford to do a little at a time to my car. Boost would be nice, though.

N/A VQ build FTMFW

cute02spec wrote:

N/A is fine.  Sometimes its all people can afford, or all they wanna deal with, or all they want because they like it.  There's many reason to stay N/A.  Hell, my car was N/A much longer than I've had the turbo.  I also probably would've been a lot richer (or have a lot more shoes and clothes ) if I didn't go turbo...

I think one of the problems is that lately we get newbie going "what's the easiest way to make lots of power."  Well, the truth is, and what they are often told, is turbo.  And then that leads to discussion such as this.  There's no denying a turbo is going to be easier to make sheer power than N/A on this car.  Now, telling people they are retarded, stupid, or whatever because they don't want a turbo, well, perhaps that is something that should be worked on as that is not a helpful attitude. 

In all actuality, I'd like to see LESS people attempting to turbo their Specs... I think a lot of people get in way too deep into something they don't know, and then you get the "I blew my car at 1psi" and the "help something is wrong" every two seconds from people that have no idea whatsoever about boost.  I don't say that to insult people, I just think there are misguided people out there that are lead into thinking having a turbo is simple and easy, and you just put it on and the car will be fine.  Yes, it is the "easiest" way of increasing power, but that doesn't mean it's easy... catch my drift?

that's exactly why i'm gonna go w/ SC. i know nothing about, boost, or major modifications... i think i am a fairly competent technician, but this is a whole different game... and by the time i'm ready to SC, i will have another DD or a bike or something else i can drive if i'm having problems... i just wanna take it fairly slow and paced, so i can figure out what i am doing [especially the tuning part i.e. safc]

Black04SpecV wrote:

I have had both. Before I went the turbo route I had pretty much all the N/A bolt-ons. Bolted N/A QR vs. turbo QR is not even close. Bolted N/A QR is slow. I almost traded in my car because of that, I'm glad I didn't and went turbo instead. Even at weak 6psi turbo QR is a LOT of fun. Bolted N/A QR sucks balls in the power department, my bolted QR was more loud than fast. Besides the QR is great engine for turbocharging; turbo friendly 9.5:1 compression, 2.5L of displacement can spool fairly large turbo and still has enough low-end torque.

The reason we have not seen a hardcore N/A build is very simple. To get some decent power N/A the QR has to be modified internally; blueprinted and balanced rotating assembly, high compression pistons, longer rods, 07 crank, higher redline, etc... Just to make 210whp with N/A QR it would take at least $5k if not more, depends if the person is doing the work themselves. Right now you can spend 3k on Treadstone kit and have bolt-on 280whp at 8psi and great upgrade ability... Just build the engine and turn the boost up. No wonder more people are choosing boost over N/A, its just more cost efficient and most SpecV owners don't have tons of cash...

Understand boost is NOT hard. I was complete boost n00b few weeks before I purchased my Treadstone kit. I did a lots of research asked a few questions and I was able to install my kit myself. It's not rocket science. Keep in mind this was my first time installing a turbo kit on any vehicle and I have no mechanical training what-so-ever. I'm daily driving my turbo specV without any issues so far since the turbo went in.

I do NOT understand people who get shops to get their turbo kit install. If you cannot do the work yourself, leave your car stock. It is much better to do the install yourself, you will know EXACTLY which vacuum line goes where and how everything works, it is a great learning experience! Plus you won't be waiting forever on the shop to finish the work.

All that said, if you are on a budget bolted specV with I/H/E, RSB and nice tires is a very fun car to drive around any track or auto-x ring.

+1 I knew little about boost before my install and i had it done in two days, before i had my turbo I had I/H/E and i loved the car then...even with n/a the car shocked alot of people, but since I sold my 240 i had a little extra money so I went the turbo route, not just for the power, but to be different, around my area youll have a haard time finding spec's and an even harder time finding turbo ones, you will never be able to count how many wrx's, swapped civics, ls1's, and srt4's around here, and i just wanted something that was different and luckily no one knows about around my town

V8 killer ftw.  although it took being built and a little bit more boost its fun beating v8 cars and them being like wtf was that.  Im only on 15psi now but i cant wait to go up to 25psi.  Everyone that gets in the car is impressed.

i'm thinking of going turbo later on but first i want to build my head for n/a...i wanna see what it can do...i got another head waiting to be port/polished and milled with oversized valves and a 5 angle valve job with cams/springs...i didn't have enough money for turbo so i just bought a used head and starting buying parts little by little...can't wait to have everything done and installed...but imagine later on when i do get turbo...i'll still benefit A LOT from bolting on the turbo kit with my built head, and i can always sell the intake and header and maybe the exhaust when i upgrade to 3" piping

Last edited by orange_spec04 (2008-07-08 03:32:23)

im personally an na  guy myself. i love turns, which if i floored a turbo n the turns it would spin the tires and send me in the ditch lol.  i also have a jetski that i pull with my car, and id hate to roast the tires comning up the boat ramp.  both have pros and cons, and ppl are happy with them. i personlly dont have or cant come up with $3000 at a time to turbo my car, i have to buy piece by piece, and i really didnt wana wait two and a half years to save it up, which is how long ive had my car and how much i got in it, stereo and all. even though i do get parts at cost, so retail it would be a lil more. but  if i ever wana go a lil faster i just hit the button

Porthos wrote:

The reason I am staying N/A has nothing to do with how much power I can squeeze out of the car. I think a lot of people neglect to remember that we have one of the best handling FWD cars on the market. I do a lot of mountain driving and I don't really want a 300+hp car running of the mountain. I am in it for the ride not the power.

Yes "one of the best handling FWD cars on the market" comes with a rear beam, dream on s0n, dream on.

If you try to push the specV to the limit, you WILL end up three-wheeling like a motherfucker. Besides the SpecV on stock suspension is very, very tail happy at higher speeds.

02SERious wrote:

TechSalvager wrote:

I love both

i love lamp.

but really i'm starting to side with the f/i people. i don't care what i'm putting down on a dyno. Instead, i'm just tired or building my n/a car without any real noticeable gains.

Thats exactly what I got tired of. You buy 1k worth of mods, than you go to a dyno and you see you gained measly 5-8whp...lol

NA=GHEY BOOST=THE ONLY WAY!!

Unless you want to spend 5+K then NA might be cool....

Black04SpecV wrote:

I have had both. Before I went the turbo route I had pretty much all the N/A bolt-ons. Bolted N/A QR vs. turbo QR is not even close. Bolted N/A QR is slow. I almost traded in my car because of that, I'm glad I didn't and went turbo instead. Even at weak 6psi turbo QR is a LOT of fun. Bolted N/A QR sucks balls in the power department, my bolted QR was more loud than fast. Besides the QR is great engine for turbocharging; turbo friendly 9.5:1 compression, 2.5L of displacement can spool fairly large turbo and still has enough low-end torque.

The reason we have not seen a hardcore N/A build is very simple. To get some decent power N/A the QR has to be modified internally; blueprinted and balanced rotating assembly, high compression pistons, longer rods, 07 crank, higher redline, etc... Just to make 210whp with N/A QR it would take at least $5k if not more, depends if the person is doing the work themselves. Right now you can spend 3k on Treadstone kit and have bolt-on 280whp at 8psi and great upgrade ability... Just build the engine and turn the boost up. No wonder more people are choosing boost over N/A, its just more cost efficient and most SpecV owners don't have tons of cash...

Understand boost is NOT hard. I was complete boost n00b few weeks before I purchased my Treadstone kit. I did a lots of research asked a few questions and I was able to install my kit myself. It's not rocket science. Keep in mind this was my first time installing a turbo kit on any vehicle and I have no mechanical training what-so-ever. I'm daily driving my turbo specV without any issues so far since the turbo went in.

I do NOT understand people who get shops to get their turbo kit install. If you cannot do the work yourself, leave your car stock. It is much better to do the install yourself, you will know EXACTLY which vacuum line goes where and how everything works, it is a great learning experience! Plus you won't be waiting forever on the shop to finish the work.

All that said, if you are on a budget bolted specV with I/H/E, RSB and nice tires is a very fun car to drive around any track or auto-x ring.

There is a reason why I say go turbo if somebody comes asking how to get more power out of the specV. Turbo is much better bang for your buck in terms of power. I wish I didn't waste 2-3k on N/A mods and went turbo right away.

I love driving my car. Everytime I hear the turbo spool it puts a smile on my face, I could less how much whp it makes or how fast it goes down the 1/4mile.

I also wish I would of went the turbo route in the first place.  I agree tho Tony I should do the turbo intall myself I just spent a bunch of money on tool's to do the JWT BSR so I have a bunch of tool's so I definatly could do it.  I am sick of going to shop's especially if they don't know anything about my car I don't trust people installing a turbo kit onto my car that don't know anything about our engine's.  I actually thought it was fun to work on my car lol which is a good thing .  I agree it will be a fun and good learning experience to install a turbo kit your self and learn about it.

Curtisftracing wrote:

Black04SpecV wrote:

I have had both. Before I went the turbo route I had pretty much all the N/A bolt-ons. Bolted N/A QR vs. turbo QR is not even close. Bolted N/A QR is slow. I almost traded in my car because of that, I'm glad I didn't and went turbo instead. Even at weak 6psi turbo QR is a LOT of fun. Bolted N/A QR sucks balls in the power department, my bolted QR was more loud than fast. Besides the QR is great engine for turbocharging; turbo friendly 9.5:1 compression, 2.5L of displacement can spool fairly large turbo and still has enough low-end torque.

The reason we have not seen a hardcore N/A build is very simple. To get some decent power