<I>-----Original Message-----
From: Hoppen4MTM@aol.com [mailto:Hoppen4MTM@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 1:11 PM
To: jennerl@tpt.com
Subject: (no subject)


Thanks for your email. It is most important on a Turbo engine that the
Turbo, exhaust, and EPROM are tuned together and work in harmony. Since
there are no Dyno tests withthe combination of your components and our EPROM
we must tell you that we are sorry, but we are not in a position to help you.
Sincerely,
Joe Hoppen Motorsport</I>


I was at their website yesterday and I noticed they have the EXACT same kit as PES/AWE/GIAC for the TT. That would be:
<B>"Stage 3 consists of MTM's full stainless cat-back exhaust, KKK K04 Turbocharger, Bosch 4 bar fuel pressure regulator, Bosch performance spark plugs, K&N air filter and appropriately modified ECM."</B>

I have all of that hardware now. Since they have a 30 day money back program, I figured I could try their software and see how it compares to the GIAC chip. So I wrote them and asked if I could purchase just the chip. The above is the reply.

MY K04 kit with all the same hardware and GIAC chip only cost me $1550 + $700 install labor. Their kit is $3455 + shipping + install labor.

They won't sell me their setup unless I purchase everything. Obviously that's not going to happen. The email at first struck me as a snobby/elitest attitude, but after I thought about it, I realized that they don't offer custom tuning/support and only want their product to work with other MTM parts.

The high price they charge is for all of the testing of their parts working together. I am sure that leads to a very sweet setup but the price is just out rageous. I guess they prefer few high price sales vs. many lower price sales.

 

Sorry I know this was posted before but I can't find it. I wanted to get details of your seats as I may persue something very similar. Yours look awesome and it gets over 100degrees here in the valley!

 

So by insisting you use only THEIR equipment they are behaving like Audi. Interesting.

 

Please send the info my way also, including costs

 

Jenner, still waiting for the long story if I'm so lucky to hear.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/tt/msgs/174919.phtml">Jenner's Alacantra Post</a></li></ul>

 

Most companies that sell engine upgrade packages don't actually produce the parts, they just integrate them. As you pointed out, they have high startup costs because they actually do the testing and development, and they want/need to recoup that as quickly as possible. Isn't that the same as the computer software business?

Their price of twice what you paid may seem out of line, but perhaps it is what the market will bear. Look at other supercharger/turbocharger kits for other cars, and $3500 seems normal.
I think you got a "bargain"...relatively speaking.

IMO, aftermarket parts for TT's are higher priced than for some other cars (eg Corvette) because of a possible lower volume, and because TT owners are willing to pay more. For example, a CORSA cat back for C5, which is absolutely top of the line quality, and has about twice as much mandrel bent stainless steel tubing, muffler and polished tips as a TT system costs $850. Only the tips are polished, not the pipes or the mufflers. In fact I got the black mufflers so they wouldn't show.

As a parts manufacturer, it isn't too difficult for me to figure the costs to produce hardware. There's LOTS of markup in TT parts. That was reinforced at the FW meet. If we TTers are able and willing to pay, the parts will be there.
It's a free-market economy at work.

You keep proving to me that you have a very good grasp on things automotive. Either that or we think alike. That's a scary thought.

Good to see you again, J.

 

In Germany, tuning is a very precise art and MTM is highly respected as the master coder. MTM does do custom coding as the Bi-turbo TT monster that was posted here was code by them for that specific set up. I'll take a sniper rifle over a shotgun anyday.

 

Sniper Rifle over a shotgun... depends on the situation