Aftermarket bolt ons vs OEM dispute

[NYC-SE]

Every decision made by any manufacturer is in some ways a compromise. What are the priorities for this product? Is it price, performance, reliability, efficiency, legal compliance, etc.? With most products it is a mix of priorities with no one area dominant. Even products that are designed to be "the best" involve comprise. How does one measure "best"? "Best" what? Best performance? Best reliability?

So yes you can modify your car to improve certain aspects of it. Perhaps your priorities are different than the manufacturer's. Having said that, just because an aftermarket parts exists does not automatically make it superior to the OEM manufacturer's solution, especially when taking cost into consideration.

[tmontague]

Originally Posted by NYC-SE

So yes you can modify your car to improve certain aspects of it. Perhaps your priorities are different than the manufacturer's. Having said that, just because an aftermarket parts exists does not automatically make it superior to the OEM manufacturer's solution, especially when taking cost into consideration.

Absolutely. My issue in the op wasn't to do with the manufacturer, they will put out what they feel their market wants. My issue was people dismissing any aftermarket performance part because the manufacturer doesn't install it from the factory.

That argument is often used in the way of condemnation without investigation or as an excuse for ignorance of certain parts.

And yes, not all aftermarket performance parts will actually do anything. Some may actually make performance worse. Some cai's out there hurt performance with only that installed. That doesn't mean it won't benefit the engine if there are other bolt ons installed, but not everything will be better as you stated.

Every aftermarket performance part should be investigated for a realistic benefit for what the buyer wants and not only one stated by the aftermarket manufacturer. But on the same side of the coin, one shouldn't make blanket statements that those parts don't work simply because the manufaturer of the car didn't install it from factory.