Thursday I Guess...
VIP Member
iTrader: (17)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 22,776
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Car Info: '13 BRZ Limited / '02 WRX
ah man! WaMu gave me the choice of 1% cash back or 7.99% APR through May both starting the day I enroll in whichever program. Unfortunately my new tires were charged yesterday 
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,232
From: Front pleated TWill pants...
Car Info: 2004 PSM WRX
So to continue yesterday's "When Your Local Tuner Rants" episode....
Yes, VRT I realized your post was teh funnay.
Anyway, Case Study #1 in Home Tunezing Failures:
Dude asks for quote for various powaR mods & install.
I provide quote.
He scoffs at it, saying he can save ~$400 doing it himself and just have me tune the car.
A few month's time pass, he shows up with a sick car.
Rod knock.
Fix the problem by replacing the engine.
And the turbo inlet hose that was destroyed during turbo install.
And the turbo, because it was the wrong one for his car.
All done for $5000
Lesson: $5000 is greater than $400.
Yes, VRT I realized your post was teh funnay.
Anyway, Case Study #1 in Home Tunezing Failures:
Dude asks for quote for various powaR mods & install.
I provide quote.
He scoffs at it, saying he can save ~$400 doing it himself and just have me tune the car.
A few month's time pass, he shows up with a sick car.
Rod knock.
Fix the problem by replacing the engine.
And the turbo inlet hose that was destroyed during turbo install.
And the turbo, because it was the wrong one for his car.
All done for $5000
Lesson: $5000 is greater than $400.
Okay, fine, I'm feeling the peer pressure...and since IRdum with cars, it might be a good idea to go through you. I didn't even realize that an UP install takes more work than a TBE/CBE (I serially R dum), and didn't realize how inexpensive it would be to get it installed "professionally". So now I'm thinking of going with a Cobb TBE w/Cobb Stage 2 ACN base map (but I might need to wait until I get my additional refund and rebate from the Feds).
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,232
From: Front pleated TWill pants...
Car Info: 2004 PSM WRX
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 799
From: trunk monkey
Car Info: 92 Paseo with spinaz, 2011 tooth white wrx
So to continue yesterday's "When Your Local Tuner Rants" episode....
Yes, VRT I realized your post was teh funnay.
Anyway, Case Study #1 in Home Tunezing Failures:
Dude asks for quote for various powaR mods & install.
I provide quote.
He scoffs at it, saying he can save ~$400 doing it himself and just have me tune the car.
A few month's time pass, he shows up with a sick car.
Rod knock.
Fix the problem by replacing the engine.
And the turbo inlet hose that was destroyed during turbo install.
And the turbo, because it was the wrong one for his car.
All done for $5000
Lesson: $5000 is greater than $400.
Yes, VRT I realized your post was teh funnay.
Anyway, Case Study #1 in Home Tunezing Failures:
Dude asks for quote for various powaR mods & install.
I provide quote.
He scoffs at it, saying he can save ~$400 doing it himself and just have me tune the car.
A few month's time pass, he shows up with a sick car.
Rod knock.
Fix the problem by replacing the engine.
And the turbo inlet hose that was destroyed during turbo install.
And the turbo, because it was the wrong one for his car.
All done for $5000
Lesson: $5000 is greater than $400.
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,494
From: Participating in some Anarchy!
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
The first example is just an example compiled from many horror stories; it does not represent anyone real.
By far the worst Case Study:
Dude asks for quote.
I provide it.
He scoffs, saying that he can save ~$1500 on all mods & install doing it himself.
Few month's later, car is towed in with a hydro locked engine.
All parts are either eBay or low quality; Turbo, FMIC, TBE, FI, etc.
He did not see the importance of having the ecm tuned for 850cc FI and dumped over a gallon of gas into the cylinders & sump.
Cost of repair: ~$800.
Takes car home & to another tuner.
Almost one year later, he returns, saying his car is jacked up, he's frustrated, and his local dealer is destroying his car. This is after he's returned the car to stock himself.
He tows it to me.
#4 cylinder is lowest, but all are below minimum compression.
Needs a new short block.
Oh, and the stock FIs that he installed, well they were modded ones some dude sold him as "oe".
Total cost of repairs: $4211.14.
All told, he spent ~$10k only to sell the car in frustration.
On the flip side, I've seen a few cars that the customer had done all the work & it was flawless.
It's rare, but it does happen.
I needed a new computer & did not want to spend more buying a name brand box.
"**** that...I can save $$$ building it myself", I remember saying quite gleefully.
I filled the cart with all sorts of electronic goodness.
I had no idea what I was doing, but *******, I was gonna save $$$.
It ended poorly for me & I have never built another pc.
Because I suck at it & no matter how much I read on the internet, I won't know as much as y'all that do computer-related **** day in & day out.
By far the worst Case Study:
Dude asks for quote.
I provide it.
He scoffs, saying that he can save ~$1500 on all mods & install doing it himself.
Few month's later, car is towed in with a hydro locked engine.
All parts are either eBay or low quality; Turbo, FMIC, TBE, FI, etc.
He did not see the importance of having the ecm tuned for 850cc FI and dumped over a gallon of gas into the cylinders & sump.
Cost of repair: ~$800.
Takes car home & to another tuner.
Almost one year later, he returns, saying his car is jacked up, he's frustrated, and his local dealer is destroying his car. This is after he's returned the car to stock himself.
He tows it to me.
#4 cylinder is lowest, but all are below minimum compression.
Needs a new short block.
Oh, and the stock FIs that he installed, well they were modded ones some dude sold him as "oe".
Total cost of repairs: $4211.14.
All told, he spent ~$10k only to sell the car in frustration.
On the flip side, I've seen a few cars that the customer had done all the work & it was flawless.
It's rare, but it does happen.
I needed a new computer & did not want to spend more buying a name brand box.
"**** that...I can save $$$ building it myself", I remember saying quite gleefully.
I filled the cart with all sorts of electronic goodness.
I had no idea what I was doing, but *******, I was gonna save $$$.
It ended poorly for me & I have never built another pc.
Because I suck at it & no matter how much I read on the internet, I won't know as much as y'all that do computer-related **** day in & day out.
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,494
From: Participating in some Anarchy!
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
The first example is just an example compiled from many horror stories; it does not represent anyone real.
By far the worst Case Study:
Dude asks for quote.
I provide it.
He scoffs, saying that he can save ~$1500 on all mods & install doing it himself.
Few month's later, car is towed in with a hydro locked engine.
All parts are either eBay or low quality; Turbo, FMIC, TBE, FI, etc.
He did not see the importance of having the ecm tuned for 850cc FI and dumped over a gallon of gas into the cylinders & sump.
Cost of repair: ~$800.
Takes car home & to another tuner.
Almost one year later, he returns, saying his car is jacked up, he's frustrated, and his local dealer is destroying his car. This is after he's returned the car to stock himself.
He tows it to me.
#4 cylinder is lowest, but all are below minimum compression.
Needs a new short block.
Oh, and the stock FIs that he installed, well they were modded ones some dude sold him as "oe".
Total cost of repairs: $4211.14.
All told, he spent ~$10k only to sell the car in frustration.
On the flip side, I've seen a few cars that the customer had done all the work & it was flawless.
It's rare, but it does happen.
I needed a new computer & did not want to spend more buying a name brand box.
"**** that...I can save $$$ building it myself", I remember saying quite gleefully.
I filled the cart with all sorts of electronic goodness.
I had no idea what I was doing, but *******, I was gonna save $$$.
It ended poorly for me & I have never built another pc.
Because I suck at it & no matter how much I read on the internet, I won't know as much as y'all that do computer-related **** day in & day out.
By far the worst Case Study:
Dude asks for quote.
I provide it.
He scoffs, saying that he can save ~$1500 on all mods & install doing it himself.
Few month's later, car is towed in with a hydro locked engine.
All parts are either eBay or low quality; Turbo, FMIC, TBE, FI, etc.
He did not see the importance of having the ecm tuned for 850cc FI and dumped over a gallon of gas into the cylinders & sump.
Cost of repair: ~$800.
Takes car home & to another tuner.
Almost one year later, he returns, saying his car is jacked up, he's frustrated, and his local dealer is destroying his car. This is after he's returned the car to stock himself.
He tows it to me.
#4 cylinder is lowest, but all are below minimum compression.
Needs a new short block.
Oh, and the stock FIs that he installed, well they were modded ones some dude sold him as "oe".
Total cost of repairs: $4211.14.
All told, he spent ~$10k only to sell the car in frustration.
On the flip side, I've seen a few cars that the customer had done all the work & it was flawless.
It's rare, but it does happen.
I needed a new computer & did not want to spend more buying a name brand box.
"**** that...I can save $$$ building it myself", I remember saying quite gleefully.
I filled the cart with all sorts of electronic goodness.
I had no idea what I was doing, but *******, I was gonna save $$$.
It ended poorly for me & I have never built another pc.
Because I suck at it & no matter how much I read on the internet, I won't know as much as y'all that do computer-related **** day in & day out.
VIP Member
iTrader: (17)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 22,776
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Car Info: '13 BRZ Limited / '02 WRX
oh well, next time I'll go with something a little more readily available
Father Time
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,699
From: You're doing it wrong!
Car Info: This aint a bag. It's a shipment.
wheels are already off of the car. Just need new tires on them. I haven't ordered the rubber yet.
