I got to thinking that there might be a clue to how best upgrade a car by analysing what the Upgrader Dude does - what does he choose? etc. First of all, got to simplify dealing with him. Auto Updater Dude is too much typing. AUD is better. I have decided that it should be pronouned "uhhd", kind of like "duh" backwards... anyway...
I find his lists interesting. I have Acura Integra that I plan to build out for the D, C, and B classes. In looking at his proposals for each class, I saw a few problems.
- The AUD can't read your mind, so he can't upgrade according to your future plans. This means that you will have every interation of Air Filter in stock by the time you get to your top class. Kind of a waste of capital, I think.
- It takes him all the way to A class to get to the Race Springs, S Class to get the race Transmission. Tuning stuff is not one of his priorities, I guess.
- He always starts engine upgrades with the Air Filter. It is first on the selection menu, but his next item is most always valves, which is up the menu quite a ways. So, breathing seems to be high? But, exhaust is way way down on his list...
- He seems to be high on tires and WR in front of suspension pieces.
- For the B Class, he opts for a Race Front ARB, and a Street Rear ARB. Hmmmm...
So, this is his build for taking a bone stock Acura Integra to D350. He winds up with a D349 that has 218 Hp, weighs 2591 lbs and has a lateral g value of .973. His cost: $13940
- Sport Oil and Cooling
- Street Air Filter
- Front and Rear Tire Width (215)
- Street Clutch
- Street Ignition
- Street Brakes
- Street Driveline
- Street Weight Reduction
- Street Fuel System
- Street Flywheel
This is what I came up with, keeping an eye toward future use and tunability. I hit the PI at D350. It has 218 Hp, weighs 2587 and a g benchmark of .98/.94. My Cost: $38140 Now, he seems to be a bit more frugal than me, but looky at what all I got.
- Sport Air Filter
- Sport Valves (both these parts will make it to B. He has to upgrade them - wasted money.
- Street Oil Cooler
- Street Brakes
- Race Springs
- Race F and R ARB - these parts actually get a PI point back. But they do cost 8 lbs.
- Street Weight Reduction
- Sport Clutch
- Sport Transmission. The Race one costs too much PI (11 points) at this stage of the game.
- Street Driveline. Free as far as PI goes.
- Race Differential. This is another weight for PI points deal.
- Front and Rear Tire Width (205) His 215s cost him 8 PI and 2 lbs
For what I can see, I get tunability and the performance of the race parts, he has a bit more g rating and about a third of the expense. But then I would argue that a good piece of that money comes back to me when I build out the C and B classes.
So, a couple of things I wonder. His track through engine upgrades. Exhaust is on the back of his list, it was always on the front of mine. His methods could have some input to Drifts engine building treatise perhaps.
In Future projects of this type, I think I will start with the high class, in this case B, and then work backwards to the other classes. That may be a way to save money.
Have you guys messed with the AUD any?
?
