This pretty much seals the deal for me. Thanks for the explanation. I've seen them for around that price but wasn't ready to pull the trigger. I'll just wait until I see another one and jump on it when I do. I'm just not sure if I want to go FMIC first, or AP first.
Is there anything I need to be careful of when buying a used AP? I've seen some people reference "married" or "unmarried." Does that matter?
Are there any reliability issues that I should be aware of with the increase in power? I haven't read anything along those lines but maybe I just missed something.
I bought my FiST used and it came with the MBRP as well as the stock exhaust. I've been considering going back to stock or possibly trading to go another route. I like the sound but it drones a little too much for me.
Yes, they MUST be unmarried, that means completely uninstalled from the previous car, a lot of people just flash a tune and set it aside, but the AP is still locked to that car, it can be uninstalled and reinstalled as many times as you want, just one at a time. When you see them listed they will always say "unmarried" and some groups/forums require to show the pic of it at ready to install screen. That's how one AP can't flash a bunch of cars, Cobb is actually fair and cool this way to let an AP be re-sold as many times this way... When you get one, fully register it at Cobb, they treat you like a new owner, update the firmware, get the latest Off The Shelf free tunes from Cobb and from there you have a half dozen major tuners offering tunes to add to it. Stratified and Dizzy being the least expensive but still VERY good, just not customized back and forth with datalogs from the AP, they are good simple Flash Tunes... Also, forgot to mention, the AP also has 0-60 and 1/4 mile modes for fun too, there is a LOT to enjoy with the investment.
Reliability is not an issue at all, the 1.6 is Ford's most reliable EcoBoost engine by FAR, it can literally handle double the power it makes stock without any engine upgrades, many guys will upgrade the turbo to 350 HP and still not need to upgrade the engine, just more fuel after 300 HP... Personally, as much as I like and respect Stratified, I DO feel they push the boost a little too high, Dizzy is smoother, only like 2 HP less but definitely feels safer too, best $75 I spent on my car...
So intercooler, is VERY nice to have but not a big deal to wait until later spring now especially the really hot weather is over even inland from you. I know how SD is being cool at the coast but gets really hot inland in the summer, the IC will simply let you maintain cooler charge temps if you make pull after pull or auto-x, etc. but once tuned for it, should make about 8 HP/ 10 TQ by itself with slightly more aggressive tuning and not heat soaking the factory one. In other words, tune first, re-tune after IC later. I won't post it out of respect to the vendors here but if you want a lead on a $200 IC, let me know, but keep in mind that at $300 supporting a vendor will get you a bigger IC too, depends on how much time you spend inland in the hot weather or want power pull after pull...
As far as your exhaust, not sure if you have the straight piped version or one with resonator and mufflers in place? You may need a beefier resonator to start with, like a Vibrant Ultra Quiet, which helps but not "too quiet"