Eco vs. Perf

[Stubby]

Now, I may make myself an outsider here, or may piss someone off, but after reading some of the threads, it has been burning in my mind.
I get it, some want to go max performance on their Sonic, and that is cool. I am not hating on anyone, but I often wonder to what ends.
I have been a long time owner of economy cars, from the Geo, to the Aveo, and now to the Sonic. And for each car, I have done all I could to create a better look, and a better sound for my car, but I have done very little in the performance with my cars. The same with my Sonic, I am looking for better lighting, already tinted the windows, wind guards, and a lot of sound enhancements, but to date, this has been the zippiest of sub-compact economy cars I have owned, and I am pleased with it.
I don't understand the idea of removing cats, large exhaust, different intakes, and all that. I mean, it is not like we are all going to have little race cars.
Again, this is not meant to offend anyone, just to gain understanding.

 

[Eric Smit]

Because I want more. to understand best, I have been bitten by the mod bug. I cannot stop.


-Eric Smit

 

[rdss]

I've owned Mustangs and V-8 trucks (current 5.3 Sierra and SS Silverado before that) as well as a modified, quick HD Sportster and before that lightly worked on CBR 600 RR. I tinker and prefer the engine mods and making something slow..... not slow..... I honestly could care less about looks (except for the 15's, their just sad and are the only looks mod I have done and plan on doing for a while). And to be honest with you, I'm done with performance mods as well. A tune, intake and second cat delete and cat back exhaust is all I have planned. Nothing has changed my fuel economy and for the increased perfomance I have (even though my tuned Sierra will crush it and the Ex's 12 Regal GS is more fun than both to drive) it honestly only improves my personal experience driving my car.

No offense taking, that's why we pay our own loans..... It's my car!

 

[sx sonic]

Same. I will try to explain it in short.

The more fuel that is burnt the more power is produced. The cavaet is a certain mixture of air is required for a certain amount of fuel to get a proper combustion cycle. Usually 14.7lbs of air for 1lb of fuel, more fuel/less air is used for more power and economy uses more air/less fuel. But as you can see a lot of air is required for only a small amount of fuel. This is why some people refer to an engine as an "air pump".

Adding more fuel is easy, but getting more air in is the hard part and where most performance modifications are aimed at.

Removing catalytic converters, putting on a performance exhaust, and chnaging out the intake are all for the sake of removing restrictions so the engine can ingest more air and thus use more fuel for more power.. this also usually results in a more effecient engine.

The strange thing is that some performance mods will actually increase fuel economy as well. The short awnser for why, is that it will remove a bottleneck that was both limiting airflow and required the engine to struggle agianst this restriction. The part that was replaced could be seen as actually detracting from effeciency (like a dirty airfilter).

Also if the mod increases effeciency in the right way the increase in power will out weigh the fact that more air and fuel are being used and actually allow less fuel to be required for the same amount of power which will increase mpgs..

This probably isn't the best description but I figure id give it a try

-tyler

 

[Larry]

Why? Because I only get one life and today might be my last. If a mod makes me happier, why the **** not?

 

[Eric Smit]

Blah blah blah; the general answer is because while the car is great, each and every person has different views and opinions, and may see fit to modify the car to better suit the individual.


-Eric Smit

 

[rdss]

That and without that cat-les down pipe you would have never known about that hidden bolt! And that your tool box was kind of lacking. It's all about life experiences and growing as people....

 

[sx sonic]

Well said RDSS

 

[Eric Smit]

god damn hidden bolt. :/


-Eric Smit

 

[Kuntryboy865]

Well I don't make a lot of money so I can't afford a fancy sports car, i'm not trying to make a race car, I just want my car to go a little faster/quicker. I'm thinking about maybe doing autocross in the future. I have to study up on it as I really don't know anything about it as of yet.

 

[cndctrdj]

Women try and fail at taking a man and changing them to what they like. Men try and succeed at taking a car and changing it to what they like.

It's pure nature. We just do it better hahaha

 

[laborsmith]

Well I don't make a lot of money so I can't afford a fancy sports car, i'm not trying to make a race car, I just want my car to go a little faster/quicker. I'm thinking about maybe doing autocross in the future. I have to study up on it as I really don't know anything about it as of yet.

There is a whole bunch of good autocross info in this thread by some forum members who know this subject: http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t1106/

Don't let the title (refers to classes of cars not school type classes) fool you.


Laborsmith

 

[SUPER SONIC BOOM]

Sh*t, car modding is all fine & dandy (even fun) until warranty work rears it's ugly head, probably stemming from that damn mod you just did lmao!

My powertrain will be untouched, that 100k mi/5 yr warranty is much too valuable to me atm. All I need is low & loud, hence the lowering springs & resonator only mods (that's it). I want my car to last, not pretend it's faster than everything on the road. It's already quick for what it has to me, so looks overtake performance in my book for this car, I know I ain't gonna win drag races with this 'lil hatch. Now my SRT-4 & STi were a different story...

 

[Kuntryboy865]

Sh*t, car modding is all fine & dandy (even fun) until warranty work rears it's ugly head, probably stemming from that damn mod you just did lmao!

My powertrain will be untouched, that 100k mi/5 yr warranty is much too valuable to me atm. All I need is low & loud, hence the lowering springs & resonator only mods (that's it). I want my car to last, not pretend it's faster than everything on the road. It's already quick for what it has to me, so looks overtake performance in my book for this car, I know I ain't gonna win drag races with this 'lil hatch. Now my SRT-4 & STi were a different story...

Oh ok you want to lower it and make it loud and be like a teenager and their honda civics. And you try to make fun of people that want to squeeze a little more HP out of their car.

 

[dvn]

And, when you lowered it, you voided your suspension warranty. To each his own.

 

[Larry]

Warranties will cover the things that really need to be covered, mods or not.

 

[rdss]

SSB, don't forget that you also void parts of your power train lowering your car, if you have problems with you cv shafts they aren't going to warranty them because of the drop and if you have transmission problems they will try and tie them to your non-factory springs. Changing ANYTHING on your car leaves you open to being denied warranty work. The Pedders coil-overs are the only ones approved by GM and if you drop them as low as possible they will try and blame any problems on them.

 

[Opticon]

Make friends with (or bribe) a GM tech.

WARRANTY ALL THE THINGS!

 

[RS Turbo]

Make friends with (or bribe) a GM tech.

WARRANTY ALL THE THINGS!

LMAO!!!! opcorn:

 

[sx sonic]

Good thinking opticon!!!

I didn't know doing performance mods to this car (or any car for that matter) automatically means said person is disillusioned into thinking they have the fastest car on the street.. looks like I needto see my counselor and tell him I've gone insane because I think sonic=ferrari..

I thought modding was a form of expression and making the car what you want. In several cases, mine inlcuded its about promoting a better driving experience.

We know add ons void the warrenty, that has never been in dispute. I also expect my car to last over 200k mi. I'm sure there are members that have modded cars that have lived long lives.

Mods are what car enthusiast do, plan and simple

-tyler