I know there is going to be little [FONT=Verdana]sympathy [/FONT]for someone complaining about the cost of aftermarket parts for a car that stickers for close to $70k once all the boxes are checked. Since similar prices on BMW/Benz parts is common place, but on my first CTS-V prices were reasonable. A corsa full cat-back system retailed for around $1,500 and could be had for $1,200 or less.
Now they want $1,600 for mufflers.
But the latest item that rub me the wrong way was a 4" air filter tube that they want $250 for. Now I am not sure of the R&D and exact benefits but to me it looks like $40 in parts and a very expensive sticker.
Someone can argue low volume model will have costly parts, but the V2 is selling more units that the V1. Someone can say higher sticker but the V2 has $5k more for a starting price. Hopefully this is just the aftermarket picking off the low hanging fruit of people willing to pay the price for being the first with these mods. Also maybe once more people are making parts for the LSA with the ZR1 coming out the competition will drive the prices down.
Regardless I love the car and have started to pick up some goodies while it is in storage this winter.
Do yourself a favor and don’t buy either of those things.
Corsa has always been a rip off. They raised the 4th generation fbody catback prices to $1200.00 or something rediculous like that. They are pieces of shit to top it off.
If you are going to spend that kind of coin on an exhaust/intake setup you might as well do it right.
Right now the K&N drop in will probably be all I do, but who knows about the future.
As for exhaust many guys are just running headers and stock exhaust, but I think headers are more of a red flag then exhaust at a dealership.
Right now the options for exhaust are:
Corsa (mufflers)
B&B
Stainless works
Borla
Mangaflow
Some are going 2.5" others are running 3". A lot of complaints about drone which is keeping me on the fence from a couple. I loved the sound of my corsa on the V1 and the drone free quiet hwy travel. I am also wondering if the added cats in the V2 is causing corsa from not making a full cat back. Borla’s system says off road use only.
I am still considering getting a second set of stock mufflers and gutting them and seeing how that sounds.
I worked with an ex-employee of corsa. A lot of time and research goes into canceling sound and pressure waves and stuff. Wether they’re worth it or not I couldn’t tell you.
I’m guessing most people buying this type car are making bank, and people making that type of bank are generally not machinists or engineers who know that’s a $40 piece, so the $250 90° mandrel bend must seem reasonable to the ignorant CEOs and doctors driving these things.
but I hear ya, the aftermarket prices have been soaring as the public becomes less and less mechanically inclined
It’s the tax that comes with owning these vehicles. I bought brakes for the 335 recently (Front pads and rotors) and for my s10 (Pads, rotors, calipers, wheel bearings, tie rods, serpentine belt, windshied wipers, coolant hoses and a battery) they were just about the same price.
I am afriad of the 6 piston brakes. But I have only put 9k on it so far, so I have some time to think about that.
Tires at $500 a pop though might be on the list for next year.
I am considering waiting for a ebay coupon for car parts and low ball offer on a magnaflow system. But I would like to hear one in person first.
Why would you buy OEM tires to put back on? I’m sure a better tire can be had for cheaper. You’re driving a 70,000 car that comes with 550+ hp so I don’t honestly see the point of you complaining about prices for replacement parts or modifications. I don’t feel sorry for you. You drive a bad ass car and you pay to play.
I think I agreed with all your comments in my first post. I will also say one of the reasons I can afford the car is because I save money whenever and where ever possible.
Regarding the tires the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 seem to be the best tire available in the stock size. You can go with Pirelli PZero Corsa System at $600 a piece, some people go Hankook Ventus V12 and save some change but lose some lateral performance. Another option is to go up to a 20" rim and have more tire options, but I like the stock rims for now.
