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In my continuing research on potential performance mods for the SSR, I have been trying since 5-09 to get a dyno chart from Corsa Performance that would quanitfy the actual gains achieved by installing their exhaust system on an SSR (either 03 or 04 or 05, but preferaby BOTH 03-04 and 05). It seems like they are not very eager to provide the information. I’m going to lconronicle here what has occurred, and let you draw your own conclusions.
Jeff Mackevich, Corsa Sales, confirmed for me on 5-09 that there are 2 modesl of Corsa exhaust for the SSR: The “Touring” version is the more civilized of the two, and the “Sport” is for those who want to flaunt the sound! He stated that they both produce identical power (Hard to believe, but he IS the manufactuer).
Jeff also confirmed that the systems are available through any GM dealer, as well as aftermarket, as a GM licensed accessory. I later that day actually called a local Chevrolet dealer parts and service department, and they confirmed that they can sell you the system, and the quote I got for price was the Corsa list price, and the labor quote was $150 for the entire install (a good deal on the install!).
I asked Jeff for actual dyno curves. He said that he could provide that infromation for the 03-04 SSR exhaust, but that Corsa had discovered that when that exhaust is mounted on an 05 SSR, it makes an annoying sound at highway speed, so they were currently trying to develop a new system for the 05, so no data available on it yet. I said I would be satisfied with the 03-04 dyno cruve for now.
Jeff told me he was on his way out of town, but would tell Paul Santiago in Technical Sales to send me the data.
I called on 5-10-05 and asked for Paul. He told me VERBALLY that the system would increase power by “10 to 13 horsepower” (quote), and that he would get me a dyno curve for the 03-04 system. He repeated that the 05 system was still under development, so no data was available on it.
I called a couple more times over the next week or so, and for some reason the data was not yet available. By 5-17-05, Jeff was back, so I asked for HIM. He THEN told me that the reason I have not been provided a dyno curve is that they are REPLACING the exsiting 03-04 kit with one that will also work with the 05 without the annoying sound. Therefore, suddenly, no dyno curve is being made available at all, since the old system will no longer be offered.
I asked, and Jeff confirmed, there ARE EXISTING 03-04 design systems in inventory. Therefore, presumably 03-04 buyers might not know when they buy WHICH of the 2 systems they are getting (old or new), since the old systems are not marked to distinguish them from the upcoming new ones (because Corsa didn’t know they would NEED a new one when they packed the old one). Furthermore, an un-alert, or unscrupulous, seller could sell the 03-04 system to an 05 buyer.
So, it certainly sounds to me like SSR owners are being asked to accept VERBAL assurances that the existing system makes more power than stock, with no back up actual data being provided. That’s an easy to make but totally unsupported claim in my book. I am not impressed.
Furthermore, if I had an 05 SSR and were in the market for a Corsa system, I would be concerned if a dealer, or Corsa, were to offer me a system right NOW, since they have stated that they do not have an 05 solution yet that does not make the annoying sound.
Finally, I am disturbed that their story changed between 5-09 and 5-17. Maybe they really just decided that they would standardize on ONE system that works on 03 through 05 SSRs, but what stops them from giving me the dyno data they admitted they have for the 03-04 system (even quoted verbally 10 to 13 horsepower gains!), so that 03-04 buyers of THAT in-stock system could know what they are paying for? COULD it be because the system does not actually produce gains of “10 to 13 hp”?
This does not pass my tests for sincerity and full disclosure.
Before you assume that Corsa is the ONLY company with this disease, wait until I post my thread on the Magnaflow exhaust. I am being my usual cautious self in completing the research on THAT system, but so far, I can say at least “there are issues” there too.
I am researching a third alternative that I can actually observe the testing on.
Jim G
Jeff Mackevich, Corsa Sales, confirmed for me on 5-09 that there are 2 modesl of Corsa exhaust for the SSR: The “Touring” version is the more civilized of the two, and the “Sport” is for those who want to flaunt the sound! He stated that they both produce identical power (Hard to believe, but he IS the manufactuer).
Jeff also confirmed that the systems are available through any GM dealer, as well as aftermarket, as a GM licensed accessory. I later that day actually called a local Chevrolet dealer parts and service department, and they confirmed that they can sell you the system, and the quote I got for price was the Corsa list price, and the labor quote was $150 for the entire install (a good deal on the install!).
I asked Jeff for actual dyno curves. He said that he could provide that infromation for the 03-04 SSR exhaust, but that Corsa had discovered that when that exhaust is mounted on an 05 SSR, it makes an annoying sound at highway speed, so they were currently trying to develop a new system for the 05, so no data available on it yet. I said I would be satisfied with the 03-04 dyno cruve for now.
Jeff told me he was on his way out of town, but would tell Paul Santiago in Technical Sales to send me the data.
I called on 5-10-05 and asked for Paul. He told me VERBALLY that the system would increase power by “10 to 13 horsepower” (quote), and that he would get me a dyno curve for the 03-04 system. He repeated that the 05 system was still under development, so no data was available on it.
I called a couple more times over the next week or so, and for some reason the data was not yet available. By 5-17-05, Jeff was back, so I asked for HIM. He THEN told me that the reason I have not been provided a dyno curve is that they are REPLACING the exsiting 03-04 kit with one that will also work with the 05 without the annoying sound. Therefore, suddenly, no dyno curve is being made available at all, since the old system will no longer be offered.
I asked, and Jeff confirmed, there ARE EXISTING 03-04 design systems in inventory. Therefore, presumably 03-04 buyers might not know when they buy WHICH of the 2 systems they are getting (old or new), since the old systems are not marked to distinguish them from the upcoming new ones (because Corsa didn’t know they would NEED a new one when they packed the old one). Furthermore, an un-alert, or unscrupulous, seller could sell the 03-04 system to an 05 buyer.
So, it certainly sounds to me like SSR owners are being asked to accept VERBAL assurances that the existing system makes more power than stock, with no back up actual data being provided. That’s an easy to make but totally unsupported claim in my book. I am not impressed.
Furthermore, if I had an 05 SSR and were in the market for a Corsa system, I would be concerned if a dealer, or Corsa, were to offer me a system right NOW, since they have stated that they do not have an 05 solution yet that does not make the annoying sound.
Finally, I am disturbed that their story changed between 5-09 and 5-17. Maybe they really just decided that they would standardize on ONE system that works on 03 through 05 SSRs, but what stops them from giving me the dyno data they admitted they have for the 03-04 system (even quoted verbally 10 to 13 horsepower gains!), so that 03-04 buyers of THAT in-stock system could know what they are paying for? COULD it be because the system does not actually produce gains of “10 to 13 hp”?
This does not pass my tests for sincerity and full disclosure.
Before you assume that Corsa is the ONLY company with this disease, wait until I post my thread on the Magnaflow exhaust. I am being my usual cautious self in completing the research on THAT system, but so far, I can say at least “there are issues” there too.
I am researching a third alternative that I can actually observe the testing on.
Jim G
