...I know when I'm trying to decide whether or not to buy something I like to read as many personal reviews as possible so just adding another ATS 4.9 FD review.

First off let me talk a little about the purchase/install. Bought it form Yack @ http://www.p1auto.com and had him install it too. Customer service was great, as usual, and Jack went the extra mile by coming in on a Sunday to do the install cause I couldn't make it down during the week. Thanks a million for taking your day off to help me out Jack The install took about 4 hours and went flawlessly. Jack finished the install we hopped in the car and drove ~200 miles home w/o a hiccup

Now for the impression, it's everything everyone says. The car feels like it's stuck in fast forward, it absolutely rips through the gears. An amazing difference! It's hard to believe that no power was added because the car is much quicker. No need to downshift when passing, plenty of power in 5th. Only the first day I'm planning to do some driving tomorrow and will try to update this post. As far as my first impression, yes I'd recommend it, if you buy nothing else buy this. Probably my favorite mod so far (although I still like my flywheel a lot), every mile I drove I was loving it more.

Justin, thanks for riding shotgun

See you guys at the Expo!

 

Awesome to hear

I will be adding one in a few weeks along with a fresh clutch and synchro's

 

How good is it for Daily Driving... Cuz some people say the JDM one is more suitable for that.

 

Good review! I am jealous!

Still Gonnagetrolled with the FD bling.......

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Girl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How good is it for Daily Driving... Cuz some people say the JDM one is more suitable for that.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Chris' car is a garage queen, not a daily driver. It only comes out on weekends.

 

Nah I'm gonna take it out tomorrow and that's a Monday

 

looking fwd to the review chris! still don't know whether to get the jdm fd or the ats fd.

go and drive and post your review right now durn it!

kepani

 

ATS owns JDM FD in everyway. If you are worried about high rpms or gas mileage, get a LS 5th gear

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kepani &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">looking fwd to the review chris! still don't know whether to get the jdm fd or the ats fd.

go and drive and post your review right now durn it!

kepani</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd drive and post my input. But I'm on "the list". Maybe Chris will have a change of heart...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by J B G &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'd drive and post my input. But I'm on "the list". Maybe Chris will have a change of heart...</TD></TR></TABLE>

No you've proven time and time again that you have no self control behind the wheel. You shall remain on "the list" for ev er. Muhahahaha

Perhaps Ferrell can give his review he drove for a hundred miles or so on the way home.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B2FiNiTY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ATS owns JDM FD in everyway. If you are worried about high rpms or gas mileage, get a LS 5th gear </TD></TR></TABLE>

for track use, i'd disagree.

 

Depends which track you are talking about.

 

LS 5th

ats review

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Captain Commando &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

for track use, i'd disagree.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why would you say this? Driven both?

ATS is a great FD. I would definitely recommend a GSR 5th or even LS 5th for those that daily drive.

FYI . . . ATS + LS 5th = Stock FD and ITR 5th exactly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Captain Commando &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">for track use, i'd disagree.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No way would I use a JDM FD at any track I drive except for Summit point (and even then, you'll have to short-shift for T9)

It will run out of gear in all the wrong places at alot of tracks.

Would the RPM drop in 5th gear be that bad with a GSR 5th? You'll be hitting 5th quite a bit with the ATS FD.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No way would I use a JDM FD at any track I drive except for Summit point (and even then, you'll have to short-shift for T9)

It will run out of gear in all the wrong places at alot of tracks.

Would the RPM drop in 5th gear be that bad with a GSR 5th? You'll be hitting 5th quite a bit with the ATS FD.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I assume when you say run out of gear you don't mean in 5th every time? Have you studied the speed/rpm/gear you are in at each turn vs the ATS and JDM FD charts? I never found a track the ATS didn't like.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Asahi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I assume when you say run out of gear you don't mean in 5th every time?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm referring more to 3rd/4th gear. There are alot of tracks that i'm close to or at redline exiting some corners, and many of them are many places that I can go faster without changing the car. I would not want to drive VIR (full or north) with the JDM FD, but I think the ATS would work out very well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'm referring more to 3rd/4th gear. There are alot of tracks that i'm close to or at redline exiting some corners, and many of them are many places that I can go faster without changing the car. I would not want to drive VIR (full or north) with the JDM FD, but I think the ATS would work out very well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good to clarify. I love people that think they will run out of top speed.

I can see your point. I have a lot more time with an ATS and it would put you deep enough into the next gear with noticably better acceleration that I think you would find it useful and a lot of fun.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Asahi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it would put you deep enough into the next gear</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats the problem with the JDM FD, you wont be deep enough into the next gear for coming out of the corner.

I like the stock 4.4 though, it works well enough for me, for now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I like the stock 4.4 though, it works well enough for me, for now.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is what im forced to like b/c its all i can afford at the moment .....all in good time though!

 

Good choice


A LW FW is a great companion to the FD.

I won't say much more for fear Ken will start posting charts and whatnot

RJ, make sure to grab at least 1 student with the 4.9 at Expo. Coming up the hill into the front straight is alot more fun with the ATS/FD. Bryan Sprinkle was impressed last year with mine and I haven't been disappointed yet, and am hoping to redline 5th this year somewhere, but that'll likely never happen.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">RJ, make sure to grab at least 1 student with the 4.9 at Expo. Coming up the hill into the front straight is alot more fun with the ATS/FD. Bryan Sprinkle was impressed last year with mine and I haven't been disappointed yet, and am hoping to redline 5th this year somewhere, but that'll likely never happen.</TD></TR></TABLE>

speaking of hill's, i hated you every lap coming through the toe of the boot last year at the glen. hrmmm....maybe i'll have enough time before this year's glen dayz....hrmmm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lanceh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

speaking of hill's, i hated you every lap coming through the toe of the boot last year at the glen. hrmmm....maybe i'll have enough time before this year's glen dayz....hrmmm</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, that seemed to be the great equalizer for almost every track thus far, (LRP, Beaver and the Glen) We'll see how it fares at VIR and possibly Slummit this year or early next.

Are you commin to Watkin's again this year Lance? If so the only thing I've added are some fat R comps on the TE37's, and have completely resolved my brakes. We should have a blast. I learned so much in 2 days there, I can't wait to do it all again.

Seriously though, if I was tryin to stay on Lances tail down 6 into 7, I'd catch up to him on the hill into 8 and 9 and be ready to pass. It may not be perfect for Every course, but it hasn't been a negative issue yet.

Note to self, must learn not to fear turn 10 into 11.

 

ATS FD ---&gt; best mod

 

Chris- thanks for the great writeup. I just finished upgrading my FD to the ATS 4.9, along with a new clutch/flywheel. I will be driving it after work, for the first time, and this post just made me jones even harder!

I can't wait to drive beaveRun with this gearing change. I think it will really come in handy on the last uphill turn before hitting the front straight. (T11?)

I remember being neck and neck with RealtypeR on the back straight, and he walked away from me. Turns out it was the gearing, not his driving...

Everyone please humor me tonight as I will most-likely be posting the same feelings!