Should I buy an induction kit?
Discussion
As the title says really - are they worth having and should I buy one? I should start by saying I wouldn't want one for any power gains they may offer. I am hoping that a kit may improve throttle response and will also improve the noise - I already have a 2bular on the car so would be interested to know what, if any, difference to the sound I might expect.
I'd argue against it. My friend has an Exige and the best it ever sounded was with the lotus stage 2 pipe and standard airbox. He added a pricey airbox system that made the car louder but not nicer sounding. It also makes the sound a bit left biased as the induction noise is coming from the left side scoop.
It also seems to have confused the ecu to some degree which has been a difficult thing to sort out and I think he's on a different type of airbox now. I think a good session on the rolling road is required to make the most of anything more than a simple silencer replacement. Certainly sports cats or decats plus induction kit wants remapping for best results.
I'd love my elise to sound like his did at its best but I was told that lotus think the car runs best as standard. I have a stage 1 lotus pipe at the moment but it's barely any noisier than standard. Oh well, at least the tail pipes look better and I have no worries on trackdays!
It also seems to have confused the ecu to some degree which has been a difficult thing to sort out and I think he's on a different type of airbox now. I think a good session on the rolling road is required to make the most of anything more than a simple silencer replacement. Certainly sports cats or decats plus induction kit wants remapping for best results.
I'd love my elise to sound like his did at its best but I was told that lotus think the car runs best as standard. I have a stage 1 lotus pipe at the moment but it's barely any noisier than standard. Oh well, at least the tail pipes look better and I have no worries on trackdays!
Apologies, I should have added that I was talking about the toyota engined cars.
I'd love to tinker a bit with mine but I think it's a case of very nominal improvements (if any) with the R engine. My ideal would be to have 9k revs (at least!) and an even more aggressive cam set up. Alas all the mods seem to revolve around smoothening out the power curve and improving torque. Having driven an elise SC I might end up spending lots of money for a car that's faster but not as much fun.
If it's a k-series I'd mod the daylights out of it. I've got one in my 7 and the more I mod it the better it gets.
I'd love to tinker a bit with mine but I think it's a case of very nominal improvements (if any) with the R engine. My ideal would be to have 9k revs (at least!) and an even more aggressive cam set up. Alas all the mods seem to revolve around smoothening out the power curve and improving torque. Having driven an elise SC I might end up spending lots of money for a car that's faster but not as much fun.
If it's a k-series I'd mod the daylights out of it. I've got one in my 7 and the more I mod it the better it gets.
I should have clarified, its an n/a Exige that I have. The_Pits, interesting you mention the ecu problem as I have heard of this happening with the yota engine. Doesn't the ecu 'learn' by itself though?
Still very tempted from a 'throaty noise' perspective. I hear the ITG kits are the ones to have. Does anyone have one of these with a 2bular on a toyata engined car?
Still very tempted from a 'throaty noise' perspective. I hear the ITG kits are the ones to have. Does anyone have one of these with a 2bular on a toyata engined car?
Edited by ChrisJG on Saturday 2nd May 14:02
I've got an ITG maxogen with a Larini Sport exhaust. With a CAT it's bearable but certainly not track friendly 103+ db. Without a CAT it was fun for a bit but became a nightmare. YouTube of mine...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JqrBdUpRiw
Plenty of others on YouTube to give an idea. Most notable bit is right at the very end, the sucking noise is the induction. Sounds like Darth Vader in traffic. Mine needs a bit of a tune as the engine definately "hunts" at idle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JqrBdUpRiw
Plenty of others on YouTube to give an idea. Most notable bit is right at the very end, the sucking noise is the induction. Sounds like Darth Vader in traffic. Mine needs a bit of a tune as the engine definately "hunts" at idle.
Edited by 21TonyK on Friday 24th April 12:37
ChrisJG said:
I should have clarified, its an n/a Exige that I have. The_Pits, interesting you mention the ecu problem as I have heard of this happening with the yota engine. Doesn't the ecu 'learn' by itself though?
Still very tempted from a 'throaty noise' perspective. I hear the ITN kits are the ones to have. Does anyone have one of these with a 2bular on a toyata engined car?
I had a hurricane on my 111r, therefore same engine as you. No power gains but lovely growl from 2.5k revs _ get one.Still very tempted from a 'throaty noise' perspective. I hear the ITN kits are the ones to have. Does anyone have one of these with a 2bular on a toyata engined car?
Passengers will feel the chest cavity vibrate as you accelerate hard! Always good for a laugh.
The chip is self learning.
Combine it with any exhaust other than a lotus stage II as it becomes very 'boomy' at cruising speeds.
Zebra
I've got an Exige n/a with K&N induction and a 2Bular 7x24.
Makes a nice noise! If you have a fly-by-wire throttle like me you need to make sure it all works together though.
You get some nice induction noise from it and the 2Bular keeps the noise down whilst still giving a good sportscar scream on 2nd cam. No comment on if it is more powerful with it on though.
Makes a nice noise! If you have a fly-by-wire throttle like me you need to make sure it all works together though.
You get some nice induction noise from it and the 2Bular keeps the noise down whilst still giving a good sportscar scream on 2nd cam. No comment on if it is more powerful with it on though.
I've got a yota exige with an ITG and Lotus stage 2, bought it like that. I used to have an elise S (2007 yota) fitted a pipercross filter to that and it sounded much better (than before fitting, not better than the exige). I did have a few problems with the engine light coming on, fault code said that the car was running too lean, although I think that it was right on the limit - even went up to pipercross and met the bloke that designed it (a decent chap).
I've had no problems from the exige, although the ITG does seem a bit better than the Pipercross in terms of build etc.
I'd say do it.
I've had no problems from the exige, although the ITG does seem a bit better than the Pipercross in terms of build etc.
I'd say do it.
Edited by Sonicboon on Friday 24th April 12:53
zebra said:
ChrisJG said:
I should have clarified, its an n/a Exige that I have. The_Pits, interesting you mention the ecu problem as I have heard of this happening with the yota engine. Doesn't the ecu 'learn' by itself though?
Still very tempted from a 'throaty noise' perspective. I hear the ITN kits are the ones to have. Does anyone have one of these with a 2bular on a toyata engined car?
I had a hurricane on my 111r, therefore same engine as you. No power gains but lovely growl from 2.5k revs _ get one.Still very tempted from a 'throaty noise' perspective. I hear the ITN kits are the ones to have. Does anyone have one of these with a 2bular on a toyata engined car?
Passengers will feel the chest cavity vibrate as you accelerate hard! Always good for a laugh.
The chip is self learning.
Combine it with any exhaust other than a lotus stage II as it becomes very 'boomy' at cruising speeds.
Zebra
Gooby said:
I would avoid the K&N kit. There was loads of problems in MR2OC with engine and inlet valve wear. It was put down to K&N filter kits. Apparently the K&N filters do not stop the fine particulates (the really abrasive ones) unless you service them at least once a month.
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