Dude calm down....I'm not saying that this particular plastic intake is the best design ever....obviously its flawed. I am agreeing with you....if that many people are having a problem, its flawed. You are right.
As far as weight savings goes.....dropping ANY weight from the front of a car (especially a FWD, and probably with the exception of a Mid engined car) will help EVERY aspect of its performance.....acceleration, braking, handling, weight distribution....everything. Guys go thru hell to save a few pounds here and there. I know your average person only cares about gas mileage, which is why you mentioned only that. But I could give a shit about gas mileage. Weight savings is important.
We wont even talk about the advantages of a plastic intake for heat transfer and improving power...
My point about the intake is that GM is not the only company doing it because its "CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP".....Mazda, Ford, I'm sure a few others are starting to.
To be perfectly honest, I wouldnt be surprised if, in a few years, maybe 10 or 20, I dont know, that EVERY new vehicle will have a plastic intake manifold. Why? Because car manifacturers are ALL looking to save money. And because, when properly designed, plastic will outperform aluminum (for an intake manifold).
Quote:
Originally posted by james t kirk
If when i bought my buick they said to me, "Hey, you can have the car for X and get a cheap plastic intake manifold that will crack and destroy your engine at 65,000 miles costing you $5,000 hard earned dollars, or pay $100.00 more and get an aluminum intake manifold that will last forever"
Wonder what I would have done?
|
When car manifacturers started making aluminum manifolds (and heads
), people had the same agrument.....aluminum cant stand up the the heat produced in an engine, it cracks, it warps....same exact shit.
But why did the manufacturers do it? Cheaper(
), lighter(
), and better heat transfer properties.....same exact shit.
And yes, there were problems with the first aluminum intakes and heads, but obviously, they did get worked out. So will plastic.