In both the AWE thread and the thread that I started ("the eternal exhaust debate") there seemed to be a fair number of skeptics; at least before the results were posted. I'm not sure that I've seen any of them weigh in - although I'm sure that they are monitoring the thread.

So...are we missing something - or - is there actually meaningful performance to be gained with non-internal mods? Seems that there is, but the pessimists are conspicuously absent.

 

Nope,

Right here. 20 WHP for $6K? Tell ya true. 20 WHP can be overcome by driving skills alone in the 1/4. On the track, makes no diff at all unless things are just right.

As I said in the other thread. For just X 2 you could have real WHP gains ( I mean, "oh sh*t, WTF) and no worse off.

But if you're happy, so am I.

I said I'd pay $1K to the tuner that could show 40HP with bolt-on anything, as they claim to. The money appears safe for now.

 

I'm convinced that external mods can produce 20-25 hp gains. That's about a 6% to 7.5% gain, so is likely to be barely, if at all, noticable. Might cut one tenth or so from 0-60 times. That little seems hardly worth the expense and effort. I appreciate AWE posting their findings, as few other tuners seem willing to take such a risk.

 

just for comparison x51 adds 26 hp for $17000 but it does not void warrenty.

 

full exhaust mods does not void your warranty on the rest of your car. Changing the CPU will. But that's not the issue, for me it's the emissions test. The X51 is 50 state smog legal and my friend's was dynoed at 338 rwhp which equates to approx 390hp. Torque equates to about 314lbs/ft according to him. His car has 4k mile on. Mine is a tip so comparisons are not going to be useful.
If the gains offered by AWE, GHL or whichever brand and people want to do it , that's great. But to say 33hp gain by taken the highest dyno after mod minus the lowers stock rating is marketing not true facts.

 

I'm not sure calling us pessimists is actually appropriate. The debate was about a 39+ hp gain...then someone showed dyno results that did not achieve this...then the latest dyno results did not achieve this (even with the 93 octane). This is not pessimism...this is reality...so yes, I do think you are missing something...go figure! BTW X51 adds more than just HP (from what I've read).