3rd Cat Delete and Valve Controller Opinion

[RyanGphoto]

I just spent quite a bit of time in my car (factory) and a friends who just did the 3rd Cat and Valve controller.. My opinion might be a little different..

1. When you are ON the gas in any gear, it sounds AMAZING.. with the valves 100% open in Sport mode.
2. When you are just cruising around in Sport mode and valves 100% open and between 2500 - 3500 rpms is doesn't sound much different than in sport mode without the 3rd cat and VC installed.
3. Revving the car sounds absolutely intoxicating.. It now sounds like it looks.

I love that his car can be put into various modes where you can choose what you want to hear. You need quiet, put it in OEM mode on the VC and Tour Mode on the car and it sounds pretty damn close to stock in Tour Mode. Want a little grumble put it in Sport with VC in OEM.. Nice and just a little better than regular sports mode with no VC or 3rd cat. Want a bit more grumble and burbles, yep they got that too.. Tour mode with 100% open on the VC. Want it to sound like a V8 with aftermarket exhaust (IMO) then Sport Mode (or Track) and 100% open on the valves.. It so good when you are on the gas..

Again this is my opinion and your mileage might vary..

Hope this helps someone decide.

Ryan G

 

[Nova]

Thanks for summing it up.

 

[RyanGphoto]

Thanks for summing it up.

Yea. Glad I got to experience this for myself. It really was great to hear it and be able to drive his car and hear what it sounds like.

Worth the upgrade in my opinion, but I thought it would be a lot more volume cruising around also, but it's not.

 

[allenyao09]

VC and GRP 3rd cat delete ordered. I dare not switch to Sport mode in wet after spinning the car. Really need the VC to enjoy the sound in Tour mode lol.

 

[Blackthought_]

VC and GRP 3rd cat delete ordered. I dare not switch to Sport mode in wet after spinning the car. Really need the VC to enjoy the sound in Tour mode lol.

How’d you spin the car?

 

[allenyao09]

How’d you spin the car?

Too much throttle at the exit of a corner. Rainy day and Cup2. I know it's going to be slippery but didn't expect it. The ESC in the Emira didn't feel like it was doing anything. I tracked my GR Supra in wet before, and the ESC did a pretty good job saving my ass.

 

[Shake&Bake]

I plan on taking my Emira on long trips so my biggest worry with the 3rd cat delete is the drone on highways, but it sounds like there’s little difference when you put it on the quietest setting. I have the Milltek Valve control but I have not gotten a response back from Crown for installment. In the future, would you be interested in making a little money and installing the VC and maybe 3rd cat delete on my car?

 

[whupwhup]

I plan on taking my Emira on long trips so my biggest worry with the 3rd cat delete is the drone on highways, but it sounds like there’s little difference when you put it on the quietest setting. I have the Milltek Valve control but I have not gotten a response back from Crown for installment. In the future, would you be interested in making a little money and installing the VC and maybe 3rd cat delete on my car?

No drone with 3rd cat delete. I’ve driven for 8 hours at time with my wife in the car. In tour mode, all is quiet and peaceful at cruising speeds.

 

[grezex]

I did a good job saving my wallet and holding back on pre-purchasing pipe and controller during black Friday sales... told myself I'll wait a year in my car to see if I really want it (still waiting on delivery). Reading here how no drone and sounds can be controlled well is giving me regrets for not buying . Though the whole warranty worry still there, guess we'll see.

 

[kitkat]

There’s only drone when the valve is fully opened on the freeway imho. I just close the valve or put it in tour mode with the valve in oem operation.

 

[kitkat]

I did a good job saving my wallet and holding back on pre-purchasing pipe and controller during black Friday sales... told myself I'll wait a year in my car to see if I really want it (still waiting on delivery). Reading here how no drone and sounds can be controlled well is giving me regrets for not buying . Though the whole warranty worry still there, guess we'll see.

I’d kick myself in the ass if I had waited a full year to make the v6 Emira sound like it does after 3rd cat and valve controller.

Huge difference for a small amount of money.

 

[seriously]

Too much throttle at the exit of a corner. Rainy day and Cup2. I know it's going to be slippery but didn't expect it. The ESC in the Emira didn't feel like it was doing anything. I tracked my GR Supra in wet before, and the ESC did a pretty good job saving my ass.

That’ll do it. Engine in the rear makes it much more susceptible to this on throttle exit.

 

[RyanGphoto]

I’d kick myself in the ass if I had waited a full year to make the v6 Emira sound like it does after 3rd cat and valve controller.

Huge difference for a small amount of money.

Yea.. he couldn't wait anymore and glad he did..

 

[RyanGphoto]

I plan on taking my Emira on long trips so my biggest worry with the 3rd cat delete is the drone on highways, but it sounds like there’s little difference when you put it on the quietest setting. I have the Milltek Valve control but I have not gotten a response back from Crown for installment. In the future, would you be interested in making a little money and installing the VC and maybe 3rd cat delete on my car?

If you are asking me this I would probably have to pass. I could help on the VC IF you had a lift (which my friend did).. but the 3rd cat delete was WAY too hard and honestly a royal pain in the butt and took 3+ hours with having to the expand the pipe.

Shoot me a PM..

 

[NJ-Emira]

What is the impact of 3rd Cat delete on warranty? Anyone have any dealer pushback?

 

[MPD]

Well, the short answer is that they have to prove the issue that you are trying to get covered under warranty is directly caused by the 3rd cat delete. I can't think of anything that actually would be a potential .... but dealers can be difficult and try to make it hard on you.

I did mine in about 2hrs and did it on a lift as it would be a real pain if trying to do it from the ground.

 

[kitkat]

What is the impact of 3rd Cat delete on warranty? Anyone have any dealer pushback?

Some dealers have told people they need to go back to stock to diagnose various CELs. The problem is that the dealerships need authorization from Lotus regional HQ to be reimbursed. Your incentives, the dealer’s incentives and Lotus incentives are all really different, it’s a bit of a minefield honestly.

 

[kitkat]

Well, the short answer is that they have to prove the issue that you are trying to get covered under warranty is directly caused by the 3rd cat delete.

They do, but that would be in a court of law. Are you as a consumer prepared to sue Lotus to get some warranty repair done? I’m guessing most won’t and most will decide the financial cost of filing and risk of losing outweigh the cost of simply paying for the repair, whatever it might be.

 

[MPD]

They do, but that would be in a court of law. Are you as a consumer prepared to sue Lotus to get some warranty repair done? I’m guessing most won’t and most will decide the financial cost of filing and risk of losing outweigh the cost of simply paying for the repair, whatever it might be.

yes that is the longer answer

I do know two people that have had a run in with a car manufacturer wanting to deny a claim (GM) because of some aftermarket parts but they both referenced the MM Warranty law/regulation/whatever its called and they backed down. Lots of examples that are pretty clear the manufacturer has to do more than just say no but your point is valid they could try and drag out IF they wanted. I always keep OEM parts just in case I need to replace before taking in. Thankfully the 3rd cat doesn't have O2 so no CEL or much of anything it could cause. If I was having an issue with the engine or exhaust then I would swap it back ... most anything else I wouldn't.

 

[Steve24]

Given there are several purchase options in terms of the 3rd cat delete, is there a particular one that is having this issue with having to expand the pipe, and are there others that fit straight away?