Good summary, but just one more angle. A cheaper DIY/GReddy kit allows you to get into lower boost now and upgrade later as the money comes in opposed to waiting months to save up enough to buy it all at once.

I know that some people like to knock the GReddy kit, but the base kit works pretty darn well, it's just when us boost addicts turn up the boost on a kit designed for 5 psi that things need to get sorted. $1100-1200 to get 5 psi of boost is not bad to get started.

There are just different opportunity costs of boost now with lots of time/effort getting it properly upgraded vs. waiting, saving up, and getting a well sorted kit later.

That being said, if I had a pile of cash burning a hole in my pocket, I'd probably have bought a well sorted kit from a known vendor, but I'm also glad I gained all the knowledge to plan a future setup.

 

Would you say the average DIY has another daily driver? I can't imagine doing all this DIY work on a daily driver. Another reason you might pick the prebuilt BEGI/FM kits over a DIY setup.

 

Definately, my car has been down 2 or 3 months now. I've missed 6or7 autocrosses.

 

Yeah...this is probably why I'll end up going pre built. As fun as a DIY kit sounds, I don't have the space for two cars. =/ Perhaps when I move in a few months, but until then....just zero room. Though, I suppose if I found a Miata already turboed with a GReddy for a good price....I wouldn't turn it down. Time will tell.

 

https://www.miataturbo.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3553

Im surprised some of you guys will choose FM over BEGI.

 

Both my DD's have DIY turbos...and maybe the winter beater in the near future...