[galaxy7]

I've been reading everything I can about FMIC's to the point my eyeballs now hurt and have either forgot what I read or forgot where it was at to go review it. Flame away if you must for me starting a new thread on this one, LOL:smile:

As I've read and shopped around, I think there's no debate that Cobb is quality kit, but a lot of people seem to think it can be overpriced. That also seems to be the main (if not the only) reason some/most of you don't have the Cobb. However, when I consider the Cobb kit comes with the charge pipes and such that it does, it really doesn't seem to be that big of a price point difference if you added in the cost of piping to some of the lower priced IC's. Would there be any attempt to talk me out of the Cobb because of the pipes other than they drive the price up?

CPE does seem to be amongst the top, if not THE top pick FMIC on the forum here, but is that only due to the price point/bang-for-the-buck? If price were not a factor, would you still have your CPE over the Cobb? And also, CPE, Depo, and Steeda seem to be the same unit, did I get that correct??

Anyway, like I said, not totally intending to start another "which FMIC is best" thread, but if you removed price, would you still try to talk guys out of Cobb? I also subscribe to the theory that charge temperatures are not the only measure of a good IC, but it seems like if you stick with one of the top mentioned brands, those other factors are not much of a major concern and the difference between top contenders is a pretty narrow margin...unless you have specific needs. My car is a daily driver that may see an aggressive curvy road on every now and then. A potential for a track day here or there and probably never auto-x. I'm just a gearhead that enjoys spending money on parts I can hot rod my car with.

Thanks guys for all your input.

 

[Bigmike7645]

Not going to try to talk you out of it, but I will offer my experience with a MUCH less expensive unit.
My car was stock save for a green filter and rs airbox when I installed the depo 5.5. I had no issues with fitment whatsoever. I'm not tuned, so I have no idea about charge temps and such. All I expected was consistent power from doing this. My car came alive in the midrange with no noticeable loss in boost response.

Moral of the story, our cars NEED this regardless of whether it's a $450 or a $1000 unit. From my experience with the big depo, it would be nearly impossible to convince me to spend double on a "better name" fmic.

 

[mazui]

Depo 3.5" with Depo pipes is 1/2 the cost of the Cobb. There you go.

 

[methodicreign]

I rock a delta core CP-E and my accessport tells me that my temps are 5-7 degrees Celsius below ambient. While I admit the depot is much cheaper I have never had a good experience with knock offs and considering I had 750km on the car when I put in the FMIC I wasn't going to trust a knock off with a car I was still paying for. I'm not sure about the COBB unit but mine is compatible with stock pipes so I won't run into issues in the future when I go big turbo.

 

[BlindAssassin111]

I rock a delta core CP-E and my accessport tells me that my temps are 5-7 degrees Celsius below ambient. While I admit the depot is much cheaper I have never had a good experience with knock offs and considering I had 750km on the car when I put in the FMIC I wasn't going to trust a knock off with a car I was still paying for. I'm not sure about the COBB unit but mine is compatible with stock pipes so I won't run into issues in the future when I go big turbo.

I agree so much, I was orginally going to go with the depo IC, but when the 3.5 Cp-e launced, I went for it. I do not regret buying that intercooler, it is such great quality and works so damn well, there is no reason to not be happy with it. I have had it on for white a while now and it has never failed me and keeps intake temps very controlled.

 

[Toadster]

check my signature for a rollup of FMIC costs and sizes

 

[galaxy7]

Thanks Toadster. As I eluded to in my opening comments, I would argue that you should remove a nominal $200 from the price of the Cobb on your sheet to "level the playing field" so to speak to account for the tubes. Yes, you could argue that's just how it is since the pipes automatically come with the Cobb, but it's not a fair across the board comparison for just the IC, IMO, since all the others are not including pipes. Does that make sense? Do you agree? The Cobb is not really a $1,000 IC, it's an $800 IC IMO. How does it stack up if you do that?

 

[Dean the Machine]

I know there is a diverter in the CPE cooler to even out airflow, and they are made in USA. Whenever possible I try to buy quality parts made in America.

 

[DailyDriver]

Thanks Toadster. As I eluded to in my opening comments, I would argue that you should remove a nominal $200 from the price of the Cobb on your sheet to "level the playing field" so to speak to account for the tubes. Yes, you could argue that's just how it is since the pipes automatically come with the Cobb, but it's not a fair across the board comparison for just the IC, IMO, since all the others are not including pipes. Does that make sense? Do you agree? The Cobb is not really a $1,000 IC, it's an $800 IC IMO. How does it stack up if you do that?

Do you have the option of buying it for $800 and not getting the pipes? If not thats an invalid argument more catered to making your decision geared toward one thing than another.

 

[angrychair]

ok that's easy OP, they are overpriced and undersized compared to others available.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e2TRJTtgseMp3Gugw0XoRuNU56k5th-RxFgvNt-4oWE/edit#gid=0

 

[CrypticAbyss]

Until you can get the IC for $800 it should stay the same. As for talking you out of it, like others have said, its one of the smallest IC available while also being the most expensive.

 

[mitch808]

If you think Cobb has good quality, and they do, but I agree their pricing is a bit outrageous. They should focus more on the AP platform, than parts these days...

Mountune on the other hand may be up your alley if you're willing to spend that kind of cash. It's bigger and is great quality.

 

[Lead_Foot]

As for talking you out of it, like others have said, its one of the smallest IC available while also being the most expensive.

Seems like a pretty easy point to talk you out of it OP. If you won't listen to all the members here, have fun paying a lot more than you should just for a sticker.

You could easily buy an AP and a larger FMIC and have money left over instead of buying the cobb one.

 

[brian60]

The money you'll spend on the Cobb could be used to get you: A bigger and BETTER intercooler AND enough leftover money for a downpipe upgrade/tune(with accessport). /Thread

If the thought of spending the money on one single average part as opposed to possible TWO parts (including an intercooler which is bigger and better like Depo 3.5/5.5" or something).

 

[SIstomper]

Logs have shown it doesn't work much better than stock. So if you feel the need to buy a $800 stock IC go for it. Depo, Steeda or CPE 5.5 or 3.5 Steeda and CPE are the same intercooler made buy CPE for Steeda

 

[galaxy7]

OK...you guys win. I have the Cobb cat back and love it and found it to be a fair value for what I got (also got it on sale). Was impressed with the quality so kinda got stuck in that rut.

 

[ChrisL]

Steeda announced a sale on their IC and I jumped all over it last year. No regrets and the sale price was close to half of what you'd pay for the Cobb unit.

 

[Bluestangii]

Cobb would have been my go to if i weren't as cheap as i am, and had the tools that i do. But DEPO was a much better price, although it does lack some quality as far as instructions and hardware. At less than half the price of cobb my Charge Air Temps on a wot pull are less than what the ambient temp reads on the dashboard.

TLDR; COBB if you want expensive and easy. DEPO if you want cheap and "figure it out".

 

[davesST]

How about the Mountune IC?

 

[Bluestangii]

How about the Mountune IC?

Mountune is pretty comparable to COBB. $$$ but easy to install.