Nope, that's cheap, but functional crap made to a cost...

I would therefore want to replace it with something that doesn't fit that description.

I will add a too as you seemed to think it appropriate.

Built down to a price and with those hideous cats in there also. I agree they look horrible, but I chose to replace them.

I implied nothing. Are you inferring something?

Performance, Quality, Sound, Price in that order. I am a sad git and like good engineering, so I look at them on occasion and am happy to show those interested the workmanship. I am not sure I would rush to show these to an interested party. I have made no comment as to the performance or quality of any other item, from any other supplier, just the finish that is not to my particular liking. I am allowed a choice, as is the OP. I have made mine and he has made his..... simples!!

Alright guys the wait is over and the results are in for my 4.3 vantage!!!
49BHP!!!!! Yes, 49 BHP increase, taking the power to 429bhp!!! (more than a 4.7
vantage)

As a reminder, the package I went for was:

> Performance Exhaust
> 200 Cell Sports Catalysts
> Performance Equal Length 4-1 Exhaust Manifolds/Headers
> High Flow Motorsport Air Filters
> Performance ECU Tune
> All products via Stuart Dickinson at Velocity AP (www.velocityap.com)

The full description of all the data can be found on this link including the dyno chart:
http://www.velocityap.com/ProductDetails.asp?Produ...

I will attempt to summarise.

Basically the car was measured on a Dyno Dynamics rolling road at a 3rd party prior to all the upgrades and gave an initial reading of 335.5 BHP at the flywheel. Initially this got me very concerned as my car is supposed to be making 380 BHP as per manufacturer's official figures. However upon further research (and via a chat with Stuart) I was assured that my car wasn't missing 45BHP. Dyno Dynamics rolling roads are notorious for their low readings globally. The more important aspect of a rolling road is to compare a CHANGE in BHP, and it is in this aspect that "Dyno Dynamics" are very accurate.

Thus after the installation of all the various mods listed above, the second rolling road reading came to 378.8 BHP. Thus BHP increased by 43.3 or 12.9%.

Thus, as we know the car's real BHP is around 380, thus the true flywheel BHP increase for my car = 12.9%*380 = 49BHP (meaning the car is now at 429BHP).

More importantly, torque increased by around 13-15%, thus as above, if we assume car is producing 302ft/lbs of torque, the new figures becomes 345-350ft/lbs.

The Dyno chart is very interesting. Most of the increase in Flywheel power is gained at 4000 rpm and above, however there seems to be decent gains in torque between 1500-2000 RPM and also between 2500-3000 RPM.

Anyway, all these numbers don't mean anything if you cant feel the changes in the car.

Now I will try to be completely honest here and am not gonna pretend that the car is now like a GT-R. Based on a quick drive at around 3.50pm today when traffic was low, I noticed the car's performance had changed significantly. The biggest change is in mid-range torque. You can basically go anywhere in 4th gear now. There is now no need to downshift in order to get that all important torque delivery. Thus I think these mods have made a "ONE" gear difference which is pretty impressive. Also, the car now has that punch in acceleration that it was definitely missing especially compared to my previous cars (997 C2S & Maserati GTS). Overall, I'm very happy with the performance and the new sports exhaust SOUNDS AMAZING!!!! Perhaps a bit loud, but no drone and turned quite a few heads (but I did go for the louder exhaust option as I'm a show off!!). I cant really give any more commentary on the driving as I really need to drive the car a bit more on quiet roads to give a more detailed assessment.

Now, many people will be interested to know the price. You can simply convert his Dollar figures on his website but to be more specific, if you decide to go for the full power pack (without sports exhaust), e.g. use the OEM backbox, the price comes to £3,595+£500 installation = £4,100 installed. This also includes an ECU re-map. With the ECU Tuning, they can do customized programming for the exhaust valves, for example a guy in Australia who put the cats on with the stock back box asked Stuart to program the valves to open at 3000RPM, rather than 5500, so he could hear the volume a little more often, but without having lost the quieter sound at lower RPM

Anyways, without getting too complex, you get 49bhp for £4,100 (not incl VAT). The main competitor does the same package without an ECU Remap for £5k (not incl VAT).

Let me know what you guys think??

Readings tend to be consistently low vs manufacturers official figures.

They also tend to be 10-15% lower than other main brand rolling roads such as DYNOJET.

They are very accurate in measuring CHANGE in BHP, and that is whats important here.

Please do some research before dismissing

What were the at-the-wheel figures before and after? As you say, at the flywheel is (a) extrapolated often poorly, and (b) useless.

He does say that a pre mods RR session showed 335.5 bhp, and post mods was 378.8.... So I think it's fair to say the improvement is 43.3 BHP........ The outright figures don't mean much at all as long as the runs were done on the same dyno under similar onditions, I don't see a problem....

My old Griff was tested on one dyno at 235bhp..... And on the same day at another dyno it was 298. Making the results totally meaningless...... But if the runs are on the same dynos, I think the results are valid...

I'm just trying to give you what I know based on my own research and via a chat with Stuart who has been tuning astons since 2007.

Anyway, just went for a quick blast on some country roads near my house in caversham and all I can say is, WOW, WOW, WOW!!!

I'm thinking better brakes and I might change those front tyres sooner than i thought!! Didn't realise the true extent of power change until I really
put my foot down when the roads were clear. Also, you really, really, dont need to downshift now for overtaking anymore!

Would now be very keen to Drag race a 4.7 vantage to see how my car compares!! Im feeling confident!!

No, I went for their complete "Sports" exhaust system, thus I think the valves are open at all times, and that the way I wanted it.

Stuart had given me an example of someone who kept the OEM backbox and was then able to control noise levels via an ECU-REMAP (as opposed to a switch).

This is how my exhaust sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3M1cncpS-k

I will try to make a video of my own car, but I dont have a decent micrphone for my DSLR, thus will wait until i get one. (or do you guys reckon
the DSLR own microphone might be sufficient??)