I have an 08 IS250 awd, I'm looking for 20-30 more hp. I really don't know where to start, I'm not trying to spend thousands of $$ either. Should i go for headers, catalytic converter, or exhaust system? I have no idea on what to do. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

nope..sorry to say aint worh it..u should've gotten ur selgf the 350..search on it there's tons of answer..including supercharger and NOS option..

 

all three items definitely wont get that HP, its supercharge or get a 350.....

 

He could maybe get 15 hp by going headers,cat back exhaust and intake.

 

Sell for 350.

 

As other have noted, you bought the wrong car. That said, 20-30 is relatively modest. Your options:

1. Trade it in for a RWD 250. This will probably put $ in your pocket, or at least not cost you any. Plus you'll gain probably 10-15 hp at the wheels immediately and improve mileage by ditching that useless, heavy, power sapping, AWD system. After that a simple axle back exhaust and a Joe Z intake will give you another 10-12 hp, and you're done. Those two mods will total between $450ish to as much as $1500 depending what exhaust and intake you pick, power gains will be about identical for all of em, only sound and cost differ. With a RWD car you also have the option of PPE headers, though they're illegal in all 50 states and will run a grand or so installed.... they'll add 10-15 hp themselves though. But again, RWD models only.

2. Trade it in for a RWD 350. This might cost you a bit, or might be closeish to an even trade if you're getting an 07-08 350. This adds over 100 hp and requires no aftermarket parts at all... and is easily be the best bang for the buck on having a lot more power.

3. Keep your current car. Then realize nobody makes headers for AWD models at all. Nobody makes a midpipe either. So your mod options are:
Axle-back exhaust for $400-1200 bucks for about 7 whp.
Intake for $125-450 bucks for about 5 whp.

And that's it unless you wanna throw nitrous on the car.

 

No tunes are available?

 

no tunes



10 char

 

Hey Kurtz, PPE now makes AWD headers. Check the link http://www.ppeengineering-onlinestor...&categoryId=20

 

Huh... glad they finally got around to that... I'm curious if they actually dynoed it though (don't see a graph on that page there) or if they're just claiming gains based on a dyno from the RWD headers... I know Mazzuri had relatively disappointing results on his AWD prototype compared to the RWD versions.


Still, if it manages 10 in real life it at least gives the OP his chance- $825 for these, $125 for a Joe Z inake, $600 for a tanabe exhaust... $1550 plus install for probably 20-25 whp. Still a poor deal per hp compared to just getting a 350, but should give him the gain he's looking for.

 

Has anyone heard anything good about the Armaspeed Supercharger? I saw the Armaspeed supercharger on youtube and it looks impressive. I know all the superchargers cost about as much as you would get robbing a bank, but maybe a possibility still. I know a few banks in the area with old security guards that can't run and should be on disability! No disrespect...lol

 

It's made in china and I'm unaware of anyone who genuinely, reliably, runs one.

(there was one thread from a 0-previous-posts poster on my.is from a guy claiming "his friend" ran one, but the pics he had were the same as from the Arma website and after a couple posts he vanished, so I suspect that was a shill for Arma or a distributor posting that)

Plus, of course, it costs about twice as much as just getting a 350 instead of a 250 does while adding less power.

 

This really is the best advice, assuming you don't take a bath in the process. the 350 is 100 hp more than the 250, and you would likely spend more than the difference in the price of the two cars trying to make that much hp. Not hating on the 250s, they are the same sexy cars as the 350s, but the difference in power is substantial. I have a 350 with several mods already. Do the same to your 250 and you still don't have the same power that the 350 came with stock.
When I had the valvetrain recall done last year, they gave me a 2011 IS250 as a loaner, and I was really surprised that it didn't "get up" like my 350. It is never easy to sell and buy a different car, but I would certainly look into it if you are chasing hp. You may end up dumping more than you should in the 250, trying to get it to where a stock 350 starts out.

 

i want a 350

 

Get you one! There are plenty of them out there. If the look of the IS is all a person wants, go 250. If you want speed and power, the 350 is the way to go. Much quicker than the 250 and much cheaper than the ISF.