Supercharger IN!
LMS supercharger ($5000) is about a 20% gain in power. That isn't bad IMHO and matches the current price per hp as the $200 SRI available now (LMS, Fujita).
Bang per buck, take a look at the LMS and Fujita intakes available. You can spend upwards of $200+ for maybe 5hp over a stock 259hp dyno is about a .019 or 2% gain!
So basically around $200 for each 2% gain on this car. This supercharger kit that nets approx 50hp and at $200 per 2% gain to total the claimed 50hp increase in power = $5000 bucks.
Bang per buck, take a look at the LMS and Fujita intakes available. You can spend upwards of $200+ for maybe 5hp over a stock 259hp dyno is about a .019 or 2% gain!
So basically around $200 for each 2% gain on this car. This supercharger kit that nets approx 50hp and at $200 per 2% gain to total the claimed 50hp increase in power = $5000 bucks.
On top of that, an SC has much more impact on the car's warranty than I/H/E mods.
It also bugs me a bit that we aren't seeing how mid-range power is impacted. Peak numbers are fun to talk about, and probably apropriate for most I/H/E mods, but not for something that changes the character of an engine as much as an SC. I want to see how much may be lost down low. I imagine that the SC could be costing power (and significant fuel) at a 60 MPH cruise in 6th gear.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 8
From: Oregon
It also bugs me a bit that we aren't seeing how mid-range power is impacted. Peak numbers are fun to talk about, and probably apropriate for most I/H/E mods, but not for something that changes the character of an engine as much as an SC. I want to see how much may be lost down low. I imagine that the SC could be costing power (and significant fuel) at a 60 MPH cruise in 6th gear.
Driver
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: NC
I'm not trying to slam the product or those that install them. I'm just disappointed that the power gain per dollar is so low. Forced induction was the absolute biggest bang per buck in my previous cars. I would expect to hear comments like "DAYUMM! This thing is a friggin' rocket!" after getting an S/C, but instead, I'm hearing "Yes you can defintely feel and hear it". LOL
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 8
From: Oregon
I can see it possibly putting the engine in limp mode, but not the tranny. What would the "limp" be in a tranny that is locked in 4th gear? Even still, it is a diagnostic tool specified by Toyota, and I don't see why Toyota would want to limit the ability to diagnose something by automatically putting the engine in limp mode. We won't know until it is tried, but it certainly seems worth a look.
Departing from the argument now ...
Isn't there a general rule about percentage change in power based on each PSI of boost? I realize that some engines will respond differently depending on design, but it would still be nice to know how close this engine responds to boost compared to that ideal. I may be wrong, but I wouldn't expect an engine to benefit less from FI just because it has high compression. I would expect it to just tolerate less boost before grenading from detonation.
Isn't there a general rule about percentage change in power based on each PSI of boost? I realize that some engines will respond differently depending on design, but it would still be nice to know how close this engine responds to boost compared to that ideal. I may be wrong, but I wouldn't expect an engine to benefit less from FI just because it has high compression. I would expect it to just tolerate less boost before grenading from detonation.
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: GA
Damn. A company works on a completely new product for our cars and that yields pages upon pages of *****ing and whining?!
Why don't you wait until he gets the correct pully on the car and then he can post #'s with the original baseline data? Wow, that would be an idea [/sarcasm]
I am excited about this possability. I would really like to have a S/C on my car if it put me in the ~350+ rwhp range. I will wait on the new numbers and hope for me attention in this area from more companies (crosses fingers).
Why don't you wait until he gets the correct pully on the car and then he can post #'s with the original baseline data? Wow, that would be an idea [/sarcasm]
I am excited about this possability. I would really like to have a S/C on my car if it put me in the ~350+ rwhp range. I will wait on the new numbers and hope for me attention in this area from more companies (crosses fingers).
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: CA
Gernby's issue is that $5000 (which is probably 'in the biz' pricing) is not that great a bump in power compared to other FI applications. $5000 (consumer pricing) on a g35 or Z can get you ~400 rwhp (from 230-260 stock rwhp.)
As lobux stated, the high compression is what's keeping the potential down.
As lobux stated, the high compression is what's keeping the potential down.