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Are the STS bolt on turbo kits...

1.1K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  Madmax13  
#1 ·
Are they worth it? I'm looking for just a mild boost, seeing as it's my DD. I've heard good and bad about them. For the price, and for the quality turbo I know STS makes, I don't think it'd be too bad. In fact, it seems like it'd be just perfect for what I'm wanting.

Thanks,
Adam
 
#8 ·
#9 ·
To try and answer i would buy used. So that way when you sell you wont lose as much money. Then buy a used maggie first and be done. Sounds like you are trying and save money and this is the route for both. Now if you want to keep car and dont care about cash go tvs series. Ipersonally have heard more bad then good about STS unless you are building a strip only warrior then still up front turbo or tvs.
 
#10 ·
I personally love my STS and wouldnt change it for anything, runs great, no problems 23k miles on it so far.

Some of it appears cheesy and poorly engineered but its held up very well.


my 2 cents
 
#11 ·
And yes use the darned search button. Alot of people have *good* reasons for disliking it and others dont...
 
#12 · (Edited)
To actually answer your post...

The STS kit in itself really isn't too bad. Like bradley said, some of it is poorly engineered. If you can pick a used kit up, that would be your best bet. For the "retail price" you could build your own custom system with better quality parts.

Pros:
--Sounds firetrucking INSANE (INSANE!!!!!!)
--Makes good power
--Cool to show people a turbo under your fender
--Clean engine compartment

Cons:
--Some pieces poorly engineered
--When something does go wrong, you have to work on your back
--Slight boost lag (very slight.. not really such a bad thing)
--Definitely not worth retail
--Customer service can be shoddy (spent weeks waiting on a part to find out it hadn't even been ordered, although their technical guys are always around and very willing to talk)
--Low clearance in the back (can be a pain sometimes, can't back up onto a ramp, etc)

Pro/con:
--While it sounds insane, it's a little loud for me sometimes.

So, if you want something unique that will turn heads, sound like a goddamn spaceship, make decent power, have 100% stock driving characteristics, and sweet blow off valve, but have to deal with fixing shit from time to time, it's a great kit.


I'm currently making 471/491 @ 7.5 through an A4 without meth with a very conservative tune. So they "work".

P.S. I might be selling mine :angel: