[Marcadelic]

First off i know a lot of these threads up going no where because everyone just ends up saying what ever intercooler they have on their car is the best, so lets try to keep that from happening here

I'm going to be having a shop in Tampa order/install a new intercooler for me in the near future. I've been looking around and was about to pull the trigger on the vrsf one but after reading some of the reviews on there downpipes i'm a little worried about the quality of their products.

The only 4 intercoolers that the shop (Lutz Performance) offers are the AA sport/race, HPF and agency powers. Is race AA worth the money? or should I go with the HPF?

Also does the HPF have the option to upgrade the piping so that I can get ride of the restrictive oem parts?

[cbad335]

I have an AA sport (6"), which I installed myself. I purchased it directly from AA and found them to be very helpful with the few questions I had. I have no idea if it's any better than the other units I was considering, but I can tell you that it fit well, and that I didn't have to do any trimming whatsoever.

[135Pats]

The VRSF FMIC is well made, you shouldn't be worried from that standpoint. Installation was seemless outside of modest trimming, my unit had the larger connection piping that replaced the OE pieces.

[Marcadelic]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

The VRSF FMIC is well made, you shouldn't be worried from that standpoint. Installation was seemless outside of modest trimming, my unit had the larger connection piping that replaced the OE pieces.

hmm alright thanks, it really is very tempting considering i'd be saving $400...which could get put to good use else were, aka downpipes lol

[MrRetep]

I'll second the VRSF opinions. Good quality, easy install aside from some necessary trimming wasn't bad though. And it performs very well at a reasonable price.

[cbad335]

How much do the VRSF units cost? And what size are they?

[MrRetep]

Originally Posted by Marcadelic

hmm alright thanks, it really is very tempting considering i'd be saving $400...which could get put to good use else were, aka downpipes lol

Tiago @ VRSF offers combo deals, so you could pick up his DP's and FMIC for a very good price. Just an idea since you need DP's as well.

[MrRetep]

Originally Posted by cbad335

How much do the VRSF units cost? And what size are they?

$435 and they are 7" and I think they are releasing a 5" version soon as well.

[Marcadelic]

Originally Posted by cbad335

How much do the VRSF units cost?

Think it's right around $400

Originally Posted by MrRetep

Tiago @ VRSF offers combo deals, so you could pick up his DP's and FMIC for a very good price. Just an idea since you need DP's as well.

PMing back and forth right now ha

[cbad335]

Originally Posted by MrRetep

$435 and they are 7" and I think they are releasing a 5" version soon as well.

That is a good price. I paid $699 shipped for my 6" AA sport.

[foghat]

thiago is out of stock on the 2.75" connectors right now though. So you would get oem size ones.

[Marcadelic]

Originally Posted by foghat

thiago is out of stock on the 2.75" connectors right now though. So you would get oem size ones.

i know i might wait for them to come back in stock

[E90Company]

In this Florida weather, you want the best core that will give you the lowest IAT's and curb heatsoak. I say go Helix

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Why limit yourself to what the shop offers, you can always have an intercooler of your choice sent to you by a vendor like me

If the basis of your decsion is on 1 customers review of a product, I hate to say but every single product for sale would not be up to the task as EVERY manufacturer has had a bad batch of something, even the best guys in the industry. Even some of the ones you mentioned here.

Which intercooler do you want, what do you expect out of it performance wise, and what intention do you have with it.

Do you want to maximize cooling and tendency to heat soak? Are you worried about trimming? Do you have a specific core type in mind? Do you have a specific budget in mind? Is quality concern? Where it is made? Those are the answers to intercooler questions and choosing one for your needs.

[benzy89]

Decide how far you want to mod your car, then decide which FMIC best suits those needs -- Besides DPs (which are just welded metal), buying anything because it's the cheap option is stupid. There are plenty of proven FMICs that have both the vendors & forum users data posted that illustrate who's cooling effectively.

[Marcadelic]

Originally Posted by Jeff@topgearsolutions

Why limit yourself to what the shop offers, you can always have an intercooler of your choice sent to you by a vendor like me

If the basis of your decsion is on 1 customers review of a product, I hate to say but every single product for sale would not be up to the task as EVERY manufacturer has had a bad batch of something, even the best guys in the industry. Even some of the ones you mentioned here.

Which intercooler do you want, what do you expect out of it performance wise, and what intention do you have with it.

Do you want to maximize cooling and tendency to heat soak? Are you worried about trimming? Do you have a specific core type in mind? Do you have a specific budget in mind? Is quality concern? Where it is made? Those are the answers to intercooler questions and choosing one for your needs.

Definetly on a budget, trying to keep it under $650 before install (which doesn't leave me with very many options). Trimming is not a problem as the car is no longer a lease. In a perfect world i'd love to have the aa or big tom but ones way to expensive and the others extremely hard to find now.

I might have to try and find a used one

Originally Posted by benzy89

Decide how far you want to mod your car, then decide which FMIC best suits those needs -- Besides DPs (which are just welded metal), buying anything because it's the cheap option is stupid. There are plenty of proven FMICs that have both the vendors & forum users data posted that illustrate who's cooling effectively.

the plan is to go FBO with everything but meth .....but that could change

[DR-JEKL]

I went with an ams fmic, and had custom 3" piping made up going from the core to the charge pipe and am extremely happy with it!

But really I'm sure if I went with a xyz fmic I would be happy also

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Have you thought about the AMS FMIC? Also the ER one is probably the best on the market but might be out of your budget. The AMS is at the max end of your budget but its a great unit.

Mike

[Marcadelic]

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

Have you thought about the AMS FMIC? Also the ER one is probably the best on the market but might be out of your budget. The AMS is at the max end of your budget but its a great unit.

Mike

looked at it awhile ago but haven't recently, does it get rid of the oem connectors?

[mave198]

Originally Posted by Marcadelic

Definetly on a budget, trying to keep it under $650 before install (which doesn't leave me with very many options). Trimming is not a problem as the car is no longer a lease. In a perfect world i'd love to have the aa or big tom but ones way to expensive and the others extremely hard to find now.

I might have to try and find a used one



the plan is to go FBO with everything but meth .....but that could change

http://www.cxracing.com/mm5/merchant...gory_Code=INCO


If you're willing to make up you're own piping and trim ALOT..........

[Marcadelic]

Originally Posted by mave198

http://www.cxracing.com/mm5/merchant...gory_Code=INCO


If you're willing to make up you're own piping and trim ALOT..........

i feel like the amount of work a shop would have to do in order to make piping would end up costing just as much as an 600-700 intercooler though. If it came with piping i would have already bought it haha

[psmitty95]

I have the VRSF downpipes and FMIC and have no issues here. I've also posted a review with logs of the iat's and the VRSF FMIC is working perfectly.