Need Help With Controlling Boost

I'm looking at this one guy's car to buy, he has a greddy bov, greddy upper ic piping, ingen intake and a greddy 2.5" exhaust (gotta check if turbo back), rest stock. And well he told me he had a mechanic set the boost at 17psi max.

Well without a turbo timer or boost controller (w/ guage), I wouldn't know exactly would I? I mean how can I check and what levels should I be running to have it set at a safe level? The guy just turns on the car and goes, from what I heard thats not a good idea with turbo cars. But never having owned one I really don't have much info on it.

So if you guys can give me the run down on this that would be awesome. I wanna make sure everything is good. Speaking of which, would Pepboys be okay or a dealership be better? Any difference in the amount of tests they run or...?

Also what all gauges and controllers would you guys recommend I get if I do buy this car? If I do buy it, don't plan on upgrading the tubro right away, but if I will, probably the EVOIII 16g. I guess if I can make 300-350hp that would be good. The car will be a show car, so the performance aspect I'm gonna need to limit so I'd have enough $$$ for the other stuff too hehe. :D

I turbo timer is a thing that lets your turbo cool down after drving it.Let say i drive to somewhere...like a store...but your turbo is warm because of heating it up alot.You want to let your engine run alittle befor you shut it off...but who wants to sit in they're car for a minute to let it cool down?What the turbo timer does is lets it run for a minute or two (however long you have it set for) then it shuts off and your in side doing whatever.It saves your turbo in other words.

A boost controller is use to turn up the boost and will out one i dont know who to turn up the boost.Other then putting a bigger psi hold on the acuto on the turbo i dont know at all. But then maybe there is something i dont know.

I wouldn't run the stock turbo past...16 psi...that maybe pushing it...i dont know?How to know that it is really running that psi...i dont know.Dont think you can.

I would say for looks and performance Greddy gauge work really good and i like the Greddy PRofec B-spec II boost controller.But for really good looks...Apex'i Super AVC-R...but i dont like it that much.Plus cost to much.

As far as "The guy just turns on the car and goes" thats a good question...a question i have never heard.But i dont know about that one.

Hope this helps a little.Sorry i couldn't awnser some of your questions.

Umm...i just wanna recommend the Ac autotechnic gauges. they are bad ass!

Anyone that has a boost controller with no boost guage is an assclown. Run far, run fast. Plenty of other cars out there. Or, you can buy a guage and just run the line through the window. Have him get on it and see what it is. If its a reasonable boost setting, go for it if you trust his other work. If its set to 20 psi, you may want to pass. ;)

The t25 on a 2g cant do a whole lot of damage so you may opt to buy the car anyway. A 1g with 14b though could have some damage. Do a compression test at the least before you buy it.