Who would honestly pay $2000 for an Intake?

wdkwang · 12-21-2012, 03:08 AM

So I'm just browsing through a random performance parts site I found and happen to check out intakes that they have. My eye dotted Top Secret Z34. I check it out and see that it's a mind blowing $1973. It's just a pretty fabbed up short ram system with probably titanium piping and pretty burnt colors, and carbon fiber covers. Yes it's made by the awesome Top Secret company but who the hell is going to pay $2000 for a simple intake system that probably does not beat out the ~$500 Stillen Gen3 CAIs. Also being mindful of the pricing of the car. $2000 for an intake for something like a Ferrari/Lambo/Supercar may be justified because what's $2000 when your car is $200k-400k. I see the $2000 for the intake and think to myself how that's about 1/4 of a GTM TT kit. How do they expect to actually see buyers with such outrageous prices?

Top Secret - Z34 Super Induction Kit - Nengun Performance

DEpointfive0 · 12-21-2012, 03:12 AM

The same guys who buy their strut bar for $2k, the Amuse exhaust for $5k, and the rear chassis stiffener for $2k...

The people who want to show off

phelan · 12-21-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

The same guys who buy their strut bar for $2k, the Amuse exhaust for $5k, and the rear chassis stiffener for $2k...

The people who want to show off

Quote:

Originally Posted by edub370

people who are insecure and NEED to have the best name brand parts reguardelss of whp gains will....

Don't lump people who buy some of the JDM brands into one group.

For example - everybody knows I hate taking my car out lol

forza370z · 12-21-2012, 12:38 PM

Same as people used to spend crazy money on Paris Hilton sex tape when it's just came out while regular porns are free.

Red__Zed · 12-21-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phelan

Don't lump people who buy some of the JDM brands into one group.

For example - everybody knows I hate taking my car out lol

yeah but you are a rare example. so JDM you swapped your german DD for a subaru.

DEpointfive0 · 12-21-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phelan

Don't lump people who buy some of the JDM brands into one group.

For example - everybody knows I hate taking my car out lol

Lol, sorry, my issue is more with things like the $2k strut bars and such... I think the Top Speed Strut bar is REALLY ugly too...

If someone really needs a titanium rear chassis brace and is willing to pay $2-3k, they have more money than brains, I can came the same thing with titanium for MUCH less

People think Ti costs as much as gold, yeah, it's difficult to weld

At the same time, Phelan, I have met you personally, and your car looks awesome to say the LEAST, I'm not saying because you have a full authentic Amuse kit that you're insecure about Johnson or anything, lol, and having the 5k exhaust completes the total package as well, and I think it's more functional than the intake or the other pieces I talked about

And the article that compares them to the G3's has to be wrong... I know the stock intake boxes are really efficient, and those look like they use the same inlets, but I still don't buy Baker's dyno runs (if they are correct it would seem that Stillen's G2 would be as good as the G3, but why does everyone buy/recommend the G3's???)

edub370 · 12-21-2012, 08:16 AM

people who are insecure and NEED to have the best name brand parts reguardelss of whp gains will....

Chuck33079 · 12-21-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edub370

people who are insecure and NEED to have the best name brand parts reguardelss of whp gains will....

I wouldn't say insecure. Maybe they are willing to pay a premium for aesthetics. Some people just like things to be pretty. And that intake is really really pretty. Not worth it in my opinion, but I'm not building a show car.

theDreamer · 12-21-2012, 08:19 AM

Funny you mention they would lose....because they actually beat the Stillen Gen 3.
Stillen vs. Smoky: your take on intakes

Remember, just because a system is a CAI does not mean it is optimized for the car, they are just attempting to feed the car better/colder air to improve it.

KERMIT · 12-21-2012, 08:32 AM

Has anyone actually measured the pressure drop on the factory system? I am willing to bet it is less than 10 kPa. And what does the new intake achieve? Nobody talks about the numbers that matter!!

Aftermarket annoys me with lack of relevant info.

VDC_OFF · 12-21-2012, 08:39 AM

Or someone who swings on Smokey's nut sack

jcosta79 · 12-21-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdkwang

I check it out and see that it's a mind blowing $1973. It's just a pretty fabbed up short ram system with probably titanium piping and pretty burnt colors, and carbon fiber covers.

There's your answer.

edub370 · 12-21-2012, 10:33 AM

i would couple this with nitrogen filled tires and a gtr start button for best bang for the buck performance

1st · 12-21-2012, 10:38 AM

2k for intakes is a joke. I bet these are in boxes collecting dust.

enkei2k · 12-21-2012, 12:50 PM

The same people that would pay $2000 for a catalytic converter. See post below.

If money were no object...

12-21-2012, 03:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
wdkwang Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 899 Drives: slidewayz Rep Power: 21	Who would honestly pay $2000 for an Intake? So I'm just browsing through a random performance parts site I found and happen to check out intakes that they have. My eye dotted Top Secret Z34. I check it out and see that it's a mind blowing $1973. It's just a pretty fabbed up short ram system with probably titanium piping and pretty burnt colors, and carbon fiber covers. Yes it's made by the awesome Top Secret company but who the hell is going to pay $2000 for a simple intake system that probably does not beat out the ~$500 Stillen Gen3 CAIs. Also being mindful of the pricing of the car. $2000 for an intake for something like a Ferrari/Lambo/Supercar may be justified because what's $2000 when your car is $200k-400k. I see the $2000 for the intake and think to myself how that's about 1/4 of a GTM TT kit. How do they expect to actually see buyers with such outrageous prices? Top Secret - Z34 Super Induction Kit - Nengun Performance __________________ Powerhouse Amuse \| K&N Typhoon Intakes \| MotorDyne ART Pipes \| Borla Catback Exhaust \| B&M Short Shifter \| Intake Ducts \| Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers \| Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap \| Tints \| 10000k HIDs \| Vtak, yo!

12-21-2012, 03:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17152	The same guys who buy their strut bar for $2k, the Amuse exhaust for $5k, and the rear chassis stiffener for $2k... The people who want to show off bigdog1250, IDZRVIT, Trips and 5 others like this.

12-21-2012, 08:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 21	people who are insecure and NEED to have the best name brand parts reguardelss of whp gains will.... __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq

12-21-2012, 08:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4211	Funny you mention they would lose....because they actually beat the Stillen Gen 3. Stillen vs. Smoky: your take on intakes Remember, just because a system is a CAI does not mean it is optimized for the car, they are just attempting to feed the car better/colder air to improve it. G37sHKS, Mr&Mrs and VDC_OFF like this. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

12-21-2012, 08:39 AM	#11 (permalink)
VDC_OFF A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Houston (Pearland) Age: 45 Posts: 1,205 Drives: 2011 370Z M6 Rep Power: 17	Or someone who swings on Smokey's nut sack __________________ DRIFTING JOURNAL \| Follow me on Instagram \| Facebook \| Houston Halos

12-21-2012, 12:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
forza370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: 403 Forbidden Posts: 2,512 Drives: 2009 NISMO 370Z Rep Power: 19	Same as people used to spend crazy money on Paris Hilton sex tape when it's just came out while regular porns are free.

12-21-2012, 08:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
KERMIT Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Republic of Wadiya Posts: 301 Drives: Ms. Daisy Rep Power: 14	Has anyone actually measured the pressure drop on the factory system? I am willing to bet it is less than 10 kPa. And what does the new intake achieve? Nobody talks about the numbers that matter!! Aftermarket annoys me with lack of relevant info.

12-21-2012, 10:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 21	i would couple this with nitrogen filled tires and a gtr start button for best bang for the buck performance b1adesofcha0s and DEpointfive0 like this. __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq Last edited by edub370; 12-21-2012 at 10:43 AM.

12-21-2012, 10:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
1st A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: I 80 Biz U.S. 50 Posts: 1,710 Drives: Platinum Z Rep Power: 1616	2k for intakes is a joke. I bet these are in boxes collecting dust.

12-21-2012, 12:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
enkei2k A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 6,365 Drives: '12 G41 B/S M6 Rep Power: 3717	The same people that would pay $2000 for a catalytic converter. See post below. If money were no object... __________________ ...need boost...

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