OEM boost gauge or aftermarket?
 

Hi all,
I'm ordering a WRX and would like some advice on whether to include the OEM steering column boost gauge (add'l $195 at invoice cost) or get an aftermarket gauge sometime later. I'm a little unclear of the pro's & con's with either option. The OEM gauge is likely to be less expensive and comes installed while an aftermarket boost gauge are probably better quality. I'm not interested in a gauge cluster that would replace the dash clock.

I'd be interested to know what others think of the OEM boost guage. Thanks!

You know, to be honest, I think actually boost gauges are overrated. I spend way more time using the peak-hold feature on my boost controller than watching the needle fly around on my boost gauge. So, I'd recommend not getting the OEM gauge and getting either a gauge that has peak hold (with warning!) or a turbo timer or boost controller with those features.

jason

i have the OEM boost gauge, only cuz it came with the car. haha.
it's decent. kinda lame and boring though. it's not all colorful and it doesn't glow or anything. no lights.. nothing. just a gauge. :)

not to mention, it measure in mPa. weak.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by escaflowne [/i]
[B]i have the OEM boost gauge ... doesn't glow or anything. no lights.. nothing. just a gauge. [/B][/QUOTE]

It should have a backlight - there is a tsb issued on this for gauges with weak backlighting.

sorry. it does have a backlight, but it's pathetic. i really hate that gauge. i like the size and location, that's all. im going to take it apart and use glow in the dark red paint on the needle. haha.

He's right there is a TSB and they should fix the light for you. There is a repair kit. The TSB is 15-106-02, this goes for both the triple and single gauge. If you e-mail me directly I can send you th PDF if you like.

aftermarket. oem is just expensive unless u get a used one, but then again it's also a mechanical gauge if i remember correctly. Plus it's dinky

I have the OEM gauge. Love the pod, hate the gauge. It's not at zero anymore...a bit below.

I'm planning to do this to my car, and my wife's when I find a good deal.

Check out Omori's 45mm "02 WRX look" boost gauges @ j-spectuning.com. [url]http://j-spectuning.com/gauge_pictures/hks_pod1.JPG[/url] (linked to not steal bandwidth).

J-spec has instructions on how to jam this gauge (that's YELLOW needles and PSI) into the factory pod. [url]http://j-spectuning.com/45mm_column.pdf[/url]

Looks really really nice.

go aftermarket :)