Does More Money Equal Better Performance? Decision Guide on How to Choose the Right Upgrade at the Right Time, for the Right Price

We all want the best for our cars. When chasing power gains, we can lose sight of our wallets too. We want to help enthusiasts find the right parts for their builds while still keeping value in mind. Let’s take a look at how you can find the best performance parts, while making sure not to overspend unnecessarily. 

How to Compare Similar Performance Upgrades

The buying journey can be difficult. There are lots of questions, conflicting answers, and so many brands and similar parts to choose from. That’s why it’s important to be intentional about what your next upgrade should be. Next, you’re going to need to know how to differentiate between brands to get the most bang for your buck. 

Personal preferences and past experience with parts and brands will play a factor. Trusting brands is helpful to eliminate choices, but if you’re willing to shop around to find the best deal, you’ll need to compare pricing and features to make sure you don’t overspend where you don’t need to. 

Comparing Exhausts

Let’s take a look at some comparable exhaust systems for the Evo X. While both exhausts will do the job, one comes with 2x the investment on your end. In a scenario like this, it’s important to decide what you want most out of the specific part you’re shopping for. For example, both of these exhausts will offer sound and performance benefits for an Evo X, so you must ask yourself if an extra $1,000 is worth it for your use case.

 MAP Evo X Exhaust 

ARK Evo X Exhaust

Comparing Turbochargers

We have two turbochargers with legitimately different construction and functionality. In this case, both turbochargers are from proven, high quality brands. Both would be considered good options from a part performance and reliability standpoint, however, the Precision comes with an extra $1,000 or so out of your pocket. 

Precision Next Gen 6266 BB

FP Red 76HTZ JB

Let’s pretend both turbos are from the same brand for a second, since brand is not what this comparison is about.

One main difference you’ll notice is the Forced Performance turbo is a journal bearing type, while the Precision is a ball bearing type. Most would consider a ball bearing turbo to be superior from a performance standpoint, thus they typically cost more by default. 

Now, let’s say both parts you’re deciding between are physically the same, yet you see a large price difference. This is where brand credibility and experience come into play and should not be overlooked. More expensive doesn’t mean “rip off”, especially if you’re comparing a well known manufacturer to something glued together from overseas. In that case, the savings aren’t worth it! 

Comparing Intakes

Let’s compare the Mishimoto Intake and GrimmSpeed Intake for 2013-2020 Subaru BRZ and 2013-2016 Scion FR-S models. 

The GrimmSpeed comes in at $375 while the Mishimoto stands a little higher at $466. Mishimoto and GrimmSpeed are both great brands with lots of performance-based upgrades that enthusiasts swear by. 

The Mishimoto offers a 10 horsepower and 8 pound-feet of torque bolt-on power increase.  The GrimmSpeed offers 6 additional horsepower and 3-4 feet-lbs of torque. Both models can operate without a tune, but the GrimmSpeed benefits more from a tune. The Mishimoto is louder, more aggressive while the GrimmSpeed offers a more refined sound. If installation time is a concern, the GrimmSpeed is designed for easy installation, avoiding bumper removal to swap out the OEM intake. 

Overall, these are comparable intakes that can offer quick performance boosts and add sound improvements to your setup. If you want bigger gains with aggressive sound, you should go with the Mishimoto. If you want an easy-to-install intake that offers modest gains, but offers a better torque curve, the GrimmSpeed is great for the price. 

The takeaway here is, when on a budget and deciding which part to buy vs. another part in the same category; try to pinpoint legitimate differences in the functionality of both. If you can’t find any differences, and both brands are legitimate and trusted, we’d say it’s safe to consider the less expensive option most of the time. 

Learn More: Best Bang-For-Your-Buck Mods

Shop Performance Upgrades at MAPerformance 

You can find plenty of performance upgrades on our website. Check out our blog for more helpful tips, part recommendations, and industry news to keep up to date so you can make your build the best it can be. Contact our team if you have any questions about our parts, our purchasing process, or any other needs you have.