Perhaps I am just an idiot and this is the dumbest question of all time, but I see these terms thrown around constantly on car forums.
"I just put in a kick-azz Stage 3 clutch!" and "My killer Stage 4 package Neon will blow you away!", "This Awesome Stage 2 suspension rocks on the curves!"
What does it REALLY mean? Is there some international standard that applies to this asinine and non-descriptive terminology? Does the SAE have some guidelines delineating the usage of these phrases? Is it pure marketing fluff?
Or is everyone who spouts off like this a poseur ricer punk?

If you have some solid information I'd really like to hear it, thanks!
Mike

 

My S2000 is currently at stage 7 with the kick-arse Weapon R Supercharging Intake.

 

Most brands have stages of a certain upgrade.. It's usually with Turbos.. The higher the stage the bigger the turbo and intercooler - typically.

With the SRT4's thats Mopar's way of describing turbo upgrades for it. Higher the stage = more boost, injectors etc..

Clutches also have it because each stage usually dictates the hp rating the clutch is good for..

 

And despite all that, the use of "stage" based upgrades is pure marketing fluff, because it implies a linear progression when there just isn't one. A "Stage 3" clutch isn't necessarily an upgrade from a "Stage 2" clutch since you really would only need a stage three clutch if your car was overpowering the holding abilities of the "Stage 2" setup.

A lot of times i've also seen companies offer different "stages" of a certain type of equipment (turbos and superchargers quite often) but anything lower than the second or third stage is really just an incomplete setup.

In general i find the whole "Stage" based upgrade thing to be designed to capitalize on the consumer's lack of knowledge rather than offer a realistic solution for their needs.

 

very well put, thats prety much how it goes and BTW as much as I hate to admit it my friend has an SRT-4 that is stage 4 and it is just a straight line beast! No lie he takes new corvettes with ease (yet to see him go against a ZO6). But the funny part is he actually rolls with an all viper crew now that we met in VA Beach, they call him mini viper. i know everyone here seems to hate these cars but they are good for straight line power, sorry i know this was a bit OT but oh well..

 

Yeah, those SRT-4s can be crazy fast w/ some mods.

Dan

 

i've never heard any official designation for "stage X" with respect to gains over stock or any other standard measure. has anyone?

 

stage 12 here now that i painted my stock emblems... will most likely be entering stage 13 tomorrow.

 

It's like guitar amps on "11", everything is relative.

 

wow!! some of you guys are pretty far up on the stages...I just want to get to stage two.