what makes the comptech supercharge $10k?

[RyRy210]

Back then Comptech pretty much had a monopoly. I have also noticed that most aftermarket part prices are somehow related to the car. I mean, have you checked out renntech's prices for mercedes stuff? Parts for Ferraris? Prices compared to an average import like an Integra? Alot of it also has to do with brand equity. I mean, some people care more about prestige than function. Kinda like how my friends would pay $1,400 for an Armani jacket when I can get one that looks the same for $300 at some other store.

 

[MAJOR STONER]

Doesn't a 9psi Comptech upgrade kit cost over $1600 for what is essentially just a thicker spring?

 

[cojones]

Originally posted by MAJOR STONER:
Doesn't a 9psi Comptech upgrade kit cost over $1600 for what is essentially just a thicker spring?

and a smaller-diameter pulley, larger fuel injectors, and (??) an ECU adjustment


[This message has been edited by cojones (edited 15 April 2002).]

 

[Yellow Rose]

There is no ECU adjustment, when upgrading from the CTSC 6 PSI to 9 PSI.

 

[Jimbo]

I just wanted to add a few words about the cost of anything specific for the NSX.

In manufacturing there's a thing called "economies of scale."

Simply put, the more parts you make or the more things you can sell, the lower the price of manufacturing.

Now granted, the core supercharger or turbocharger that is used for the NSX is used in other applications, but there are other factors.

Each vendor, whether it's Comptech, Gruppe M or Basch has to purchase these units in quantity. You can buy 100 for a lot less money than you can buy 10.

This obviously affects the sale price.

Also, there's a fair amount of NSX-specific engineering, packaging and testing that is required. If you're only able to sell 300 units total then you need to recoup that expense over a smaller number of units.

This engineering cost is a fixed cost. What I mean by this is that whether or not you sell 10 units or 1000 units you still have to spend X dollars to bring this product to market. Let's say the cost to design and implement a supercharger product for the NSX is $100,000. With all the testing, documentation and engineering prototypes that's required I think this is a fair guess. That $100K has to be made up for in the sale of the units and it has nothing to do with the cost of the goods/parts or a reasonable profit. After all, manufacturer XYZ could have taken that $100K and invested it.

A "smaller number of units" is a relative thing but someone used the example of the supercharger kits sold through TRD. Big difference! TRD has a marketplace of potential buyers that's at least an order of magnitude larger than the NSX market. I'm guessing that TRD also has access to significant buying power and discounts.

Even the market for S2000 superchargers is probably much, much bigger than for the NSX.

There's just not that many NSXs out there and it's the main reason why a lot of performance and add-on goodies are more expensive than one might expect.

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
Looking for 76-79 Honda Accords

[This message has been edited by Jimbo (edited 15 April 2002).]

 

[Jimbo]

One final thought...

There's obviously enough competition in the NSX supercharger/turbo marketplace.

There are different designs different prices, etc.

The "problem" of high prices isn't one of a lack of competition.

The problem is that Honda just doesn't sell enough NSXs. No more, no less.

If Honda sold 3000 cars a year then there would be a vital and much more interesting 3rd party accessory market.

Just look at how much stuff there's available for the Corvette. I'm not saying that Honda needs to sell 30,000 cars a year, but when you sell 300 cars a year, of which only maybe 50 people are interested in such mods...it makes for a small market with higher prices.

I'm frankly surprised that we have as many options and vendors that we do.

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
Looking for 76-79 Honda Accords

 

[Barn Man]

Ladman wrote,
TRD offers supercharger kits which arguably are more reliable then any Comptec unit for their new cars for less then 3500.00

I've heard that the new IS 300 has a 14k option for a TRD blower. Is this less than the 10k? I don't think so. As far as more reliable, I doubt it. There are hundreds of CT chargers out there with very little reliability probs. The TRD's may be as reliable but I doubt they are more reliable.
CT does have high prices, but they have always been there when I needed them to stand behind something. (old style header crack etc...little stuff). When you think of spending money on something, you have to take into consideration if the company will be there when you need them...*IF* you need them.
I know that some people have had issues with CT, but they have never failed ME yet. This is VERY important to me when recomending a mod to one of my customers. Don't get me wrong, there are MANY reliable vendors out there, but we are talking about CT right now. So please, no flames.
Barn Man...

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by Barn Man:
CT does have high prices, but they have always been there when I needed them to stand behind something.

I bought something from Comptech which was clearly defective. They admitted that it was defective, but refused to stand behind it. Based on my experience, Comptech's customer service stinks.

 

[ilya]

NSXTASY,
For what it's worth I think Comptech should have addressed your issue a long time ago. Regardless of whether they were in the right or not, you're one of the more vocal members of the community. That means them pissing you off gave them a whole lot of bad press. If I was in their position, I would have satiated your claim a long time ago and made you a satisfied customer, regardless of the situation. And it's for the miniscule cost of a set of rotors... not a Supercharger.

Although all customers should be treated equally, it should behoove vendors to treat certain people with exceptional respect. It's to their benefit in the long run (like my support for NSX Modified) versus their detriment as in your case. They should have sent you a complimentary set of rotors long ago.

 

[nsxtasy]

I would like to think that a vendor would want to satisfy all its customers, and not give preferential treatment to anyone based on their prominence in the community. Just my O.

What really bugs me about it is that they promised me over the phone that they would issue a refund if I sent them back, then reneged. IMO that's even worse than refusing a refund in the first place.

And, as you note, it wasn't even for a whole lot of money...

 

[Yellow Rose]

NSXTASY and ILYA - you two are deviating from the original topic of this thread.

I open forum posts based on the subject matter, and when I want to read something about superchargers, I do not appreciate seeing something about brake rotors.

Thanks.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by AndyVecsey:
NSXTASY and ILYA - you two are deviating from the original topic of this thread.

I disagree. I think the level of customer service that you can, or cannot, expect from a vendor is totally relevant to a discussion about whether a vendor's products are worth the money.

 

[Periokid]

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
I disagree. I think the level of customer service that you can, or cannot, expect from a vendor is totally relevant to a discussion about whether a vendor's products are worth the money.

I am with you nsxtasy. Customer service can effect an items value tremendously. For a $10k supercharger kit, I would expect superb customer service. I, for one, put a lot of value in the way I am treated as a customer.

------------------
1991 NSX Red/Black

 

[ilya]

no hard feelings.

 

[true]

Originally posted by legendr34:

what makes the comptech supercharge $10k?

While i haven't searched hard, I see at least 2 things right off the bat..

1.
<img src=http://www.boosted.org/images/comptech.gif>

2.

AndyVecsey

posted 07 May 2002 08:56    
          
>Too bad the a/f didn't work right..i'd >love to see comptechs.
*********************

The a/f mixture on the Comptech was the smoothest of the three superchargers. Throughout the entire RPM range



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jack of all trades, master of some.

[This message has been edited by true (edited 14 May 2002).]