hey every1,

i currently have a crap-o-meter boost gauge and i plan on replacing it asap cuz if you flick it, it'll jump 2psi or so. Im thinking about either the greddy or defi....opinions on which is better? plmk

-Zach

 

I'd go with the Defi if for no other reason, you can get them in English units....The only negative with the Defi's is the D-gauge series uses 1.25 psi divisions and goes up to 35 psi, so the scale is a little small. The Defi Link/BF series are much more readable in this respect, but they require a Link controller and therefore it doesn't make sense to get it unless you are going to buy multiple Defi Link gauges.

 

Personally I'm fan of the plain old autometer mechanical gauges. Cheap, and nice big numbers.

 

I have Defi D-Gauges. I like them a lot. Much better than my old PFS boost gauge. True, as Rynberg said, the Defi boost gauges has a slightly odd scale. But you get used to it rather quickly. Even though it goes up to 35psi, it still has a larger dial and is more readable than the PFS one. Plus, the thing looks AWESOME. Almost perfect match to the stock gauges both day, and night.

 

I would say go with the Greddy one. Thats what I have, it's been a good gauge to me so far.

 

Keep the autometer and use the 200 bucks for something else. Not worth it in my opinion. I love how people believe that Autometers are crap.

 

I have a Greddy 60 mm white face gauge for sale if you want it.

 

Blitz DC definitely

 

im using the blitz DC. i think it depends on what other gauges you want to use in the future and where you want to mount them. the blitz and defi link sys will need to run off the same box. it makes installation easy, the vacuum lines and wires go to the box, and a single wire goes to the gauge. with the blitz suction cup, i can mount it anywhere on the window, and best of all its easily removable (theft paranoid). the defi may be a better deal because they offer an EGT and the blitz DC does not have one. i havent used a greddy yet, ive heard some failed, but i didnt know any of these people personally

 

well its not that i "believe" autometers are crap....because they really are. Ive tested it out, and on certain days it'll read 8, on others, 10. And when i flick it the needle goes up or down to the correct reading. So for around $130 id rather fix it. I need a 52mm gauge to fit my pod as well.

 

According to the Lightning in a world of thunder site just about all boost gauges are inaccurate.

 

Maybe you happen to get a bad one. I've run autometer since I got my car 3 years ago, and flicking mine will not make the reading change.

Of coarse the reading will vary depending on weather contditions.

 

I just "flicked" mine and nothing happened. Maybe you got a bunk gauge. And maybe its not the guage, but your actual turbos that are bunk.

When it coms to boost guages, spending more money just gets you better looking ones. Last time I checked, Autometer has the drag racing scene locked down in America. And its not because they have "crap" guages.

 

yeah i guess mine is just flawed. The turbos are definitely not the case. i recently pulled the y-pipe off and both look brand new with no play, not to mention only have ~28k miles on them. I think i'll end up buying a defi for the PSI scale and orange backlighting.

-Zach

 

I have an SPI gauge and it works great, font even matches the factory gauges pretty well. The only bad thing is its a 30psi gauge, and seeing it not go past 12-13 is a bit rough.... ALL that gauge left, just sitting there, taunting me..

 

Maybe all gauges are innacurate but some can be more inacurate than others.

Autometer gauges do not tend to last long. Some work fine forever but your chances of getting a bad one are very high with Autometer.

I bought an SPI in 97, went through 2 cars with me and has been on my friends car working fine for the last 4 years.

Defis are really good and so are Greddy, Blitz, Apexi, Omri and all the other "expensive ones"

 

I have an Autometer in both of my cars. I've had one for 2 years and the other for about 4. They do seem to read about 1psi higher. I've validated this against the Haltech in my FC. Other than that I haven't had any problems with them, then again I haven't flicked either one.

 

ordered a defi 2night from rx7store.net hopefully i'll get it soon!

-zach

 

I've got an autometer ultra-lite boost gauge in a stiffly sprung miata. It's been there for a years without any noticeable hiccups. It's pretty consistent. The autometers just aren't as pretty as the others. And the lighting at night is crappy. The cobalt series are a step in the right aesthetic direction, IMHO. If only they were red.

I've been trying to get a hold of some Defi's for my FD for a few months now. Good luck finding them. I posted a thread on this less than a week ago. Take a look at it before you try breaking your *** trying to order some like I did.

 

I had an autometer for 2 years worked fine, was 100 pct accurate. Infact, using a Mitty vac and a pressure gauge I set my boost pressure switch to activate at 8 psi. My autometer showed 8 psi when it was activated...so I can confirm its accurate. also, its the closest looking stock gauge and even lights up the same color as stock.

I replaced mine with a digital gauge cause its easier to read, but otherwise the autometer is cool. I have no opinion on the greddy vs defi, except to say that the defi's look cool, but dont light up amber.

 

crazysuprakid ordered his from Jason about 3 months ago, he got the temp gauge, but still waiting on the boost gauge.

 

The VDO vision series boost gauge is a close match to stock. Lettering is very similar. With an orange bulb cover, the back lighting looks just like stock.

Good quality and not too expensive. OEM in some Porsches.

 

I replaced my Autometer with a VDO Vision purely for aesthetic reasons. The Autometer was perfectly accurate because I verified that before installing it. The VDO was affordable as well (and the Vision series fits very nicely with the FD interior).

It does not cost hundreds of dollars to accurately read air pressure. If you think it does, then I hope you have a $100 tire pressure gauge too.

 

3 months?! thats insane....ne other place i can buy one and cancel my order from jason???

-Zach

 

True, but IMO, the Defi looks like it costs 4x what the autometer costs...

Also, the 40-second record, peak/hold, and adjustable warning light functions may seem like gimmicks to some, but they are worth the expense, at least to me. Tuning my boost controller was SO much easier with those functions and it makes it easier to troubleshoot turbo control problems as well.