Biggest difference between cheap and expensive hfc

ddvette9 · 11-16-2010, 02:29 PM

Soneonle please post a link or chime in on berk for 500-600 vs ERZ or kinetix for like 300-400

m4a1mustang · 11-16-2010, 02:29 PM

Build quality.

puckshaw · 11-16-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Build quality.

Bingo. I've seen the difference for myself.

ddvette9 · 11-16-2010, 02:45 PM

Who's got top "cheap price tag" build quality that someone has seen first hand

Jordo! · 11-16-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckshaw

Bingo. I've seen the difference for myself.

Could you elaborate...?

TypeOne · 11-17-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Could you elaborate...?

I can't speak for him, but I can honestly see it in the difference in quality of anything in the automotive aftermarket industry.

Compare an Amuse cat back to an Agency Power. (I hate to say it) but Agency Power stuff is made in China and Taiwan. There is a wholesale company overseas that sells all of the parts that AP brands and sells under their own name.

The Amuse stuff is by far some of the nicest, highest quality stuff I have ever seen and the AP is just a low cost, copy.

You can see it in the thickness of the pipes, welds, and quality of the hardware... it's very noticeable.

I'm not trying to call anyone out, but if you look close enough, you'll see it. You get what you pay for... remember that.

PR370z · 11-17-2010, 12:41 PM

I have ERZ HFC's (china built) and JIC magic Y pipe (japan built) and I have to say the Y pipe looks a lot better built. For me its not a big deal because its something you cant see, and overtime looks all discolored from heat. As far as I know performance wise (cel count) its the same as the expensive ones. I did not have any issues installing or defects on mine. Hope this info helps

Jordo! · 11-17-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TypeOne

I can't speak for him, but I can honestly see it in the difference in quality of anything in the automotive aftermarket industry.

Compare an Amuse cat back to an Agency Power. (I hate to say it) but Agency Power stuff is made in China and Taiwan. There is a wholesale company overseas that sells all of the parts that AP brands and sells under their own name.

The Amuse stuff is by far some of the nicest, highest quality stuff I have ever seen and the AP is just a low cost, copy.

You can see it in the thickness of the pipes, welds, and quality of the hardware... it's very noticeable.

I'm not trying to call anyone out, but if you look close enough, you'll see it. You get what you pay for... remember that.

Well... okay.

But what I mean is, so long as nothing cracks or leaks, and everything bolts up, it probably doesn't really matter if it was made in a sweat shop in China or lovingly welded by elves in Wonderland.

How it looks doesn't really matter...

m4a1mustang · 11-16-2010, 02:56 PM

Berk and FI should both be top quality. I have held the FIs in my hands and they are very solid.

puckshaw · 11-16-2010, 03:08 PM

I've seen the ERZ and FI HFC's in person. Night and day difference. I posted pics of my ERZ HFC in a review thread. Had to send the first set back because the inlets were so bad. Second set was better but nowhere near as nice as the FI set. You really do pay for what you get with these. If I could do it over I'd definitely spring the extra cash for a quality part. Needless to say I didn't cheap out when it came time to buy a CBE and went with FI.

F.I. Inc. · 11-16-2010, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckshaw

I've seen the ERZ and FI HFC's in person. Night and day difference. I posted pics of my ERZ HFC in a review thread. Had to send the first set back because the inlets were so bad. Second set was better but nowhere near as nice as the FI set. You really do pay for what you get with these. If I could do it over I'd definitely spring the extra cash for a quality part. Needless to say I didn't cheap out when it came time to buy a CBE and went with FI.

Thanks for the positive words about our products.

As you all know it is hard (not impossible) but hard to get quality parts in your hands that are made overseas. We have explored overseas options in the past but in the end I have found the only way to keep the quality up is build it in house!

In addition whenever you see a part that is priced real low compared to everyone else, it is a safe bet to say it was not made in this country.

Now I have never seen the ERZ high flow cats in person so I cannot nor will not comment on their quality. I will leave that up to consumers like yourself that have had them in hand next to mine...

Thanks, Tony

TypeOne · 11-16-2010, 04:46 PM

^^^

I would have to agree.

China/Taiwan made parts aren't ever really a good idea if you are looking for quality. In some cases you can get it, but I'd say most of the time it's just a gamble.

Definitely looking at the FI stuff, all looks top notch.

spearfish25 · 11-17-2010, 02:17 PM

My ERZ cats have been perfectly fine for over 7k miles now. For a part that is buried under the car, I couldn't care less about how it looks. IIRC, they looked pretty nice when I unpacked them too. Maybe I got a special set since I was one of the first to install them on this site. If I had it to do over, I'd still buy the ERZs which left me $300 for sways.

tjlazer · 11-17-2010, 03:03 PM

I have the ERZ and they are awesome. Fit perfectly and no CEL issues at all. Paired up just fine to my FI CBE.

CBRich · 11-18-2010, 10:48 AM

I have the ERZ test pipes personally. But I will say that if I were going for high flow cats I would be more inclined to spend a little more money. There's a big difference between a piece of pipe and a cat.

11-16-2010, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
ddvette9 Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 823 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS Rep Power: 18	Biggest difference between cheap and expensive hfc Soneonle please post a link or chime in on berk for 500-600 vs ERZ or kinetix for like 300-400

11-16-2010, 02:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	Build quality. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

11-17-2010, 12:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
PR370z Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 108 Drives: 2008 BMW E60 M5 Rep Power: 15	I have ERZ HFC's (china built) and JIC magic Y pipe (japan built) and I have to say the Y pipe looks a lot better built. For me its not a big deal because its something you cant see, and overtime looks all discolored from heat. As far as I know performance wise (cel count) its the same as the expensive ones. I did not have any issues installing or defects on mine. Hope this info helps __________________ MODS:293 Whp/ 246 Tq K&N drop ins, ERZ HFC, JIC-Magic Y Pipe, HPS post MAF tubes, Nismo shift knob, 30% tints, JDM rear fog light more to come!

11-16-2010, 02:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	Berk and FI should both be top quality. I have held the FIs in my hands and they are very solid. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

11-17-2010, 02:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	My ERZ cats have been perfectly fine for over 7k miles now. For a part that is buried under the car, I couldn't care less about how it looks. IIRC, they looked pretty nice when I unpacked them too. Maybe I got a special set since I was one of the first to install them on this site. If I had it to do over, I'd still buy the ERZs which left me $300 for sways. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

11-16-2010, 02:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
ddvette9 Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 823 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS Rep Power: 18	Who's got top "cheap price tag" build quality that someone has seen first hand

11-16-2010, 03:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
puckshaw Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 620 Drives: 09 PW 370Z Touring Rep Power: 17	I've seen the ERZ and FI HFC's in person. Night and day difference. I posted pics of my ERZ HFC in a review thread. Had to send the first set back because the inlets were so bad. Second set was better but nowhere near as nice as the FI set. You really do pay for what you get with these. If I could do it over I'd definitely spring the extra cash for a quality part. Needless to say I didn't cheap out when it came time to buy a CBE and went with FI.

11-16-2010, 04:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
TypeOne A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 2,682 Drives: BSM 370 Rep Power: 1851	^^^ I would have to agree. China/Taiwan made parts aren't ever really a good idea if you are looking for quality. In some cases you can get it, but I'd say most of the time it's just a gamble. Definitely looking at the FI stuff, all looks top notch.

11-17-2010, 03:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 20	I have the ERZ and they are awesome. Fit perfectly and no CEL issues at all. Paired up just fine to my FI CBE. __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

11-18-2010, 10:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 545	I have the ERZ test pipes personally. But I will say that if I were going for high flow cats I would be more inclined to spend a little more money. There's a big difference between a piece of pipe and a cat.

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