What are the benefits or supercharging a car? How much should I pay for a supercharger?

Question

I've got a Scion tC and have been thinking about installing a supercharger. I currently have 160 hp.

Answer 1

Regarding the previous posts, supercharging IS reliable. Many OEM cars (e.g. Mercedes) use superchargers. Modifying the intake and/or exhaust on a normally aspirated motor will have minimal gains - 10 or 15 hp at the most. Ask to see dyno results if anyone tells you differently. With the proper care, a supercharger (or turbocharger) can reliably double the horsepower of an NA car (e.g. Subaru 2.5l I-4 makes 165 hp; STi turbo I-4 makes 300 hp).

Regarding supercharging in general, basically, running the motor under pressure increases combustion completeness and efficiency. A supercharger is nothing more than a fan that runs on the driveshaft that forces air into the cylinders (forced induction - a turbocharger is the same thing, but runs on exhaust gases). Once a car has a "blown" engine, things like removing restriction on inlet flow to the engine or exhaust flow from the engine become important, so freer-flowing aftermarket (or TRD) intakes or exhausts will have a significant impact.

A major influence on the power you produce is boost pressure - how hard the fan blows. The higher the pressure, the more strain you put on all the original parts. Low pressure blowers (say, up to 7 psi) won't cause a problem, but going to higher pressure may require new hose fittings and the like.

TRD does offer a supercharger with warranty for $3K - http://www.newscionparts.com/product/?id=78. Given that this is an OEM part, I'm sure the pressure they run is relatively low.

Answer 2

TRD has a supercharger available for the tC, as well as a Cold Air Intake, but you cannot install both of them at the same time...without modifing the hood. There is no room.

The Supercharger will not void your warranty because it is a Toyota Genuine Accessory. It will set you back about $3-4K and only bumps you up to about 200HP (only running a stock 7psi of boost). If you have a manual, 1st and 2nd gear are gone like that. If you add the exhaust to your ride, it will boost the HP as well.

A supercharger is a part that you do not want to skimp out on. So much can go wrong with a cheap (hell an expensive one for that matter) that you want to pay good money for a well develop brand.

Do your research and make sure that you can make the finanicial commitment. You will enjoy your new toy!!!

Trust me.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What are the benefits or supercharging a car? How much should I pay for a supercharger?
I've got a Scion tC and have been thinking about installing a supercharger. I currently have 160 hp.

Answer 4

How To Supercharge A Car

Answer 5

Depends, if you race and have the money from you pocket and sponsors, go for it. If not, then don't.

A supercharger or a turbo charger are probably the one most impacting mod effecting horsepower, but it does come at a price, usually costing at least three grand and in many cases more. Either way, the TC is so new, that parts are still being developed for it, and there isn't that many turbos/superchargers on the market for it yet, so you'll end up paying even MORE. Off the top of my head, one of the kits that cost about that much, get you up to about 250-300hp on a stock ride (with dyno tuning).

But, if you don't have money to blow like that. Put some money down on a nice exhaust (Magnaflow or Borla), a nice intake (AEM), a set of headers (DC Sports (AEM)), and a lightened flywheel and clutch (Findaza) and you'll be in good shape for around $1000-1500. With some decent dyno tuning you'll be probably be pushing around 200-215hp atleast, which isn't bad at all. More money? Always other bolt on upgrades such as cams, pulleys, spark plugs, wires, and just as important, suspension, brakes, and tires.

Answer 6

Supercharging increases air flow into the cylinder through a mechnical connection which takes power from the engine. Turbo charging runs from exhaust with no loss of brake horse power. Increasing air flow will increase combustion, but no two engines designs will gain equal power. Cylinder design, piston head shape, valve placement, and fuel injection volume will affect the benefit of supercharging. Adding performance parts to a stock engine may not always be the best method to get power for the money. It may be wiser to pay extra for a better designed engine. Also, it depends on how one drives and how responsive one wants the engine. A quicker response requires higher RPM's and lower torque. A higher revolution will need more air and will cause more wear and tear which will require better lubrication at higher temperatures. Bottom line is the entire engine and auxiliary machinery design and function must be evaluated before slapping on advertised performance enhancers.

Answer 7

The benefits of supercharging your Scion tC, is the increase in horsepower and torque for higher top speed and rpm. The TRD supercharger is sold by your Toyota dealer for your car. In order to preserve your car's warranty, have the dealership install it for you. You will not lose you warranty since the installation is covered by your dealership and the Supercharger is made by Toyota. Look to spend around $3,149 for a Supercharger at: http://intensepower.com/trdsukittc.html

Answer 8

the supercharger is going to set you back a few grand easily. it puts more air in the carb producing more air and gas to combust giving it power. if the engine is stock, you can blow it as the stock carbs won't handle it. bigger pully's have to go on. just as the blowers do the same. there is a show on discovery on saturdays that talks about and shows how to do it. most only produce 20 more hp. the engine would need to be built for real power. if you look at dragsters, they have aluminum big blocks but are built with racing cams and printing the upper and lower of the the engine. with the blower on it, they produce 3 to as much as 7,000 hp. no matter which route you go, its going to cost you as much as the car or more if done right, but it push 150 plus mph.

Answer 9

Toyota TRD supercharger for smaller Scion motors is a whopping $ 6000,- and a lot of work. Use your present 160 hp wisely and wait untill there is a factory tC with turbo or super is available. By hanging something on your stock tC, you really diminish it's value for trade in and may only gain 30hp if you're lucky. tC is a nice car...keep it nice and it will take care of you

Answer 10

No benefits in installing a super charger in your scion, put the money in your 401k or start a IRA if you don't have one. Cars as you will learn when you get a little older are the worst financial investment as a liquid asset. The value depreciates every year and some upgrades like the one your proposing can hurt the resale value even more.My bottom line is there are a lot of smarter ways to spend your money especially since you already have a reliable,trendy car