Notices
ScoobyNet General General Subaru Discussion

Is a boost guage worth getting?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 27 August 2003, 09:56 PM
  #1  
Neilo
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
Neilo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Behind the wheel of a Time Attack R33 GTR
Posts: 5,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Question

This has probably been asked before but ever since i got my car ive always considered getting a boost guage when i had the spare cash, but i thought that i would ask you lot on here if you thought it was a worth while addition to the car.

I was going to get the WR Sport one from subaru itself and have it fitted as i dont have the first clue, but i would be interested to know your thoughts on that. I dont want to violate any warranties as its an 03 car, but are there any alternatives?

Cheers o'wise scoobynetters!
Old 27 August 2003, 10:54 PM
  #2  
Tony_W
Scooby Regular
 
Tony_W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: England
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Neilo,

Have a look at the group buy going on at the moment for indiglo guages....

Can't see the point in getting one if you have a standard car though? Unless you just want to watch the needle whip round when the turbo cuts in?
Old 27 August 2003, 10:56 PM
  #3  
Brun
Scooby Senior
 
Brun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Harrogate
Posts: 14,229
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Post

Thats what it's all about innit
Old 27 August 2003, 11:06 PM
  #4  
Fatman
Scooby Regular
 
Fatman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

I find it interesting/useful to see when the car's about to go on-boost, so I can avoid doing so when driving from cold. I find I can actually drive a little faster (i.e. more acceleration) than I would have thought by sound alone, without using positive boost pressure.
Old 27 August 2003, 11:14 PM
  #5  
Tim Caddick
Scooby Regular
 
Tim Caddick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

I had a Subaru one fitted to my MY00 Turbo. Thought it would be a worthwhile purchase in the interests of gaining good economy, by being able to monitor when the turbo was going to kick in, thereby modifying my driving behaviour accordingly. Yeah, right! 12 months down the line, it's just a bit of fun that few other Imprezas, that I've seen, have. It's probably the same as the WRSport one for the MY03 - fits to the left-hand side of the steering column. It's backlit too, which was a bonus. It's not flashy, like some of the beautiful 3rd party gauges out there - it does exactly what it says on the tin & nothing more. Got my dealer to supply & fit. Came to around £100 all in. Get a quote from your dealer first, as I've heard of others on here being charged £160 for exactly the same job! And be warned when you get one fitted, it WILL be a distraction, particularly on that first drive! My gauge even came with this warning in the instructions!

[Edited by Tim Caddick - 8/27/2003 11:17:29 PM]
Old 27 August 2003, 11:26 PM
  #6  
Mr slayer 2 u
Scooby Regular
 
Mr slayer 2 u's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Its always handy to keep an eye on your boost! could save your engine as well if its over boosting.
Old 27 August 2003, 11:35 PM
  #7  
Dougster
Scooby Regular
 
Dougster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Get one, if you plan on modding.

Also afr and knock sensor.
Old 28 August 2003, 04:53 PM
  #8  
stanmo
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
stanmo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

How about a SECS ecu monitor as an alternative ?

This would give information about knock correction,
injector delay, coolant temp, as well as boost and airflow/fuelling depending on car year;
albeit from the ECU rather than sensors plugged in to
the gauge.
Old 28 August 2003, 05:40 PM
  #9  
Neilo
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
Neilo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Behind the wheel of a Time Attack R33 GTR
Posts: 5,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

i know that the subaru one apparently retails at 139.95 inc Vat, i would assume + fitting so id guess were not talking less than 200 at least. how did you lot get it so cheap??? am i missing something?

Cheers though, like i said i dont want to violate any warranty so im guessing a 3rd party one is out of the question until um....2006!!
Old 28 August 2003, 07:37 PM
  #10  
Tim Caddick
Scooby Regular
 
Tim Caddick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

I thought the same, but I asked my dealer (T H White, Cirencester) anyway, & they quoted "around £100". It came to £107 i think in the end, including 45 minutes labour & vat. Give your dealer a try, you never know!
Old 28 August 2003, 09:32 PM
  #11  
Tony MY03WRX
Scooby Regular
 
Tony MY03WRX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Waterlooville, Nr Portsmouth
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

I got a few quotes and the best i could find from a Subaru dealer was £230 fitted. Anyone got a better deal?
Old 28 August 2003, 09:33 PM
  #12  
redwrx
Scooby Regular
 
redwrx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

I fitted a racetech boost gauge to my car ... cost me around £30, fitted it myself .. took all of 5 mins.

wouldnt be without one now...and im driving a standard car.
Old 28 August 2003, 09:54 PM
  #13  
GC8
Scooby Regular
 
GC8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sheffield; Rome of the North
Posts: 17,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

You might be better off with an oil temperature gauge first; in a three dial binnacle Id suggest a combined oil pressure / oil temperature gauge and a water temperature gauge and lastly a boost gauge.
Old 28 August 2003, 11:07 PM
  #14  
skoosh
Scooby Regular
 
skoosh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Bought a gauge and A-pillar pod (carbon effect) for £50 and Subaru fitted it for me for £45.

Skoosh.
Old 29 August 2003, 09:34 AM
  #15  
Neilo
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
Neilo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Behind the wheel of a Time Attack R33 GTR
Posts: 5,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Skoosh, are you saying then that i could buy a 3rd party one and the dealer would fit it??
Old 29 August 2003, 10:25 AM
  #16  
leeps
Scooby Regular
 
leeps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Not sure!!
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

all i wanna say is that now i drive by my boost gauge, not my
speed or rpm's. So i think its definitely worth it and in a turbo
car thats really the way i like to drive. On price, rather fork out a little more and get a good one than save and get something that isn't really that accurate. Cos like its been mentioned before, a boost gauge can help u mould your driving style, whether u wanna thrash it around or get the most mpg out of ur tank ...

Cioa

leeps
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
psport
Subaru Parts
3
04 October 2015 07:35 PM
Ganz1983
Subaru
5
02 October 2015 09:22 AM
mistermexican
General Technical
2
01 October 2015 04:30 PM
STERNRITTER
ScoobyNet General
5
29 September 2015 09:05 PM
tjapplejuice
Drivetrain
9
25 September 2015 03:46 PM



Quick Reply: Is a boost guage worth getting?



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:29 PM.