Why don't manufacturers do "mods"?
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,552
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From: Rockville, MD (right outside DC)
to somewhat add to the original post/ add my 2 cents. the reason scion came about was to make affordable tuner cars for the younger crowd. the whole market campaign is to invidualize your ride. for scion, they offer all types of mods, and as long as its the toyota/scion specific brand and installed by a dealer or w/e it does not void the warranty. they even offer a trd supercharger that will not void the warranty if installed by the certified installer.
Professional
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 116
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From: Kansas City, MO
Even if they did put headers, intake and exhaust on from the factory, there would still be something better. Why would any manufacturer waste the time? Toyota only did it for marketing, but i'm sure there are better flowing headers out there for the Tundra, so real enthusiasts will end up replacing them.
Same with a tuner, no matter how good Dodge gets it, people like superchips and diablosport can out do them, so why not make it right, and let the customer void the warranty as they see fit?
Same with a tuner, no matter how good Dodge gets it, people like superchips and diablosport can out do them, so why not make it right, and let the customer void the warranty as they see fit?
Professional
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 138
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From: Detroit Suburbs
Just an added thought here... Don't forget that the manufacturers are required to meet minimum fuel economy standards, or they get hit with additional taxes slapped on the sticker price.
In the factory programming, there is, more often than not, a lot of room left in the fuel/spark curves, and other tuning areas to get substantial power gains. As with most power gains, these come at a cost of fuel consumption, as well as possible reliability concerns. To the automaker, an mpg or two per vehicle at the cost of some horsepower can make the difference between making the minimum standards, or paying those hefty taxes/fines.
In the factory programming, there is, more often than not, a lot of room left in the fuel/spark curves, and other tuning areas to get substantial power gains. As with most power gains, these come at a cost of fuel consumption, as well as possible reliability concerns. To the automaker, an mpg or two per vehicle at the cost of some horsepower can make the difference between making the minimum standards, or paying those hefty taxes/fines.
Site Moderator
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,657
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From: Louisville, Ky
No, I'm not really that naive for asking the question. "one size fits all", "it's only $nnn, but enough $nnn adds up", etc. However...
Since the manufacturers also make a huge marketing blitz on phrases/specifications like "best hp in class", "more powerful than other_manufacturer", etc., you'd think that some of the "but $nnn adds up" could be charged against marketing expense.
- Freer (what an odd-looking word, but it exists) flowing exhaust. What is the real incremental cost vs bragging rights to 5-15hp more power?
- CAI. A bigger filter and a different location is supposed to add power. Why not some kind of scoop and relocate?
- Tuners. I find it really odd that the Hemi "recommends 89 {or whatever} octane, but 87 is acceptable". Since the PCM "learns" over time, why not default to a higher performance tune and automatically de-tune if knock sensors, etc. say "don't do that"?
There are obviously financial/warranty and possibly liability concerns. But, based on what I've read about the various bolt-on mods, it seems like Chrysler (and other manufacturers) could easily add something like 20 HP and 30 pounds of torque with maybe something like $500 of incremental cost (making up numbers) and advertise "not only do we beat Chevy/Ford, but they can't even come close!"
The answer probably does essentially boil down to money, but it just seems like the wholesale, assembly-line costs of a lot of the bolt-ons would trend toward zero while the performance improvements are noticable.
Since the manufacturers also make a huge marketing blitz on phrases/specifications like "best hp in class", "more powerful than other_manufacturer", etc., you'd think that some of the "but $nnn adds up" could be charged against marketing expense.
- Freer (what an odd-looking word, but it exists) flowing exhaust. What is the real incremental cost vs bragging rights to 5-15hp more power?
- CAI. A bigger filter and a different location is supposed to add power. Why not some kind of scoop and relocate?
- Tuners. I find it really odd that the Hemi "recommends 89 {or whatever} octane, but 87 is acceptable". Since the PCM "learns" over time, why not default to a higher performance tune and automatically de-tune if knock sensors, etc. say "don't do that"?
There are obviously financial/warranty and possibly liability concerns. But, based on what I've read about the various bolt-on mods, it seems like Chrysler (and other manufacturers) could easily add something like 20 HP and 30 pounds of torque with maybe something like $500 of incremental cost (making up numbers) and advertise "not only do we beat Chevy/Ford, but they can't even come close!"
The answer probably does essentially boil down to money, but it just seems like the wholesale, assembly-line costs of a lot of the bolt-ons would trend toward zero while the performance improvements are noticable.