Poll: to mod or not to mod
 

While I love driving my FR-S, I've been holding off on doing any pricey mods because I've been debating with myself on whether or not it's worth it. For example, I'd like to get wider rims, TRD springs, and a UEL header.

If I decide to keep the car for a relatively long time, then yes, it's probably worth it. But I keep asking myself if I should just save my money for something faster like a used C6. I think I'd be less tempted to mod something like a C6.

Just wondering where others stand.

How long is saving for a C6 going to take? 1 year, 2 years, 5 years?
If you know you're gonna sell it within the next year, save yourself the time and trouble, drive it and enjoy it and save the next owner from having another modified car in the used market.

Personally this car is worth keeping long term. I can't own this and not modify it.

You should sell it and get some used GM junk.

Unless Mazda hypothetically makes an RX9 in the next couple of years i'm holding on to this car for a while. i'll mod it to my liking, but keep the stock parts in case i have to sell. ideally even if there is no other car i want i can one day retire this car to a weekend/track day only car if i need something more practical (i.e. kids are out of car seats).

No matter what car you get, you will want to mod it in some way.

Depends if you are going to do the wrenching yourself. Will be a great learning experience you can carry on to a better car later on. I have my 86 and a C5. Both are modded right now I am loving modding the 86. I will get burned out after a bit then go back to where I left off on the C5

You call those mods? Lol

If you don't want to drop money on this car then don't. But wheels and lowering springs can be easily replaced back to stock. Headers on the other hand, not so much. And not everyone will want your brand of UEL headers.

I wouldn't mod based on how other people feel about it.

I had some people telling me forever to get a new exhaust *cough cough you know who you are* (or other mods) and I still waited about 10 months till I bought one and only after I knew I wanted something different based on my own opinion of it.

I also took about 14 months to lower the car a bit once I was ready for it, and only just now getting new wheels and tires, again because I felt like I had reached that point.

The right way to mod is to consider very carefully what you think the car could improve in, and if it's a thing that detracts from the feelings you have while driving the car then change it.

:laughabove:

I agree. The ls platform in all its varieties is an amazing experience you shouldn't deprive yourself of. A c5z is a very obtainable performance car that would take a twin a LOT of investment to even come close to performing like.

Add in the strength, reliability and overall ease of modifications..... ls vehicles are popular for a reason.

I'm 71 yo. What's this you're speaking of ?

Oh, go back to napping, grandpa, oh, BTW your throw slipped off your lap .. :)


humfrz

I plan on keeping it but it's hard to make up your mind on what route to take...

So, I decided to do them all.

A) Major weight reduction

B) Add back some creature comforts and do a NA build

C) Forced Induction, at some point, down the road

I want to experience each one on it's own.

No need to mod.
The car is "fun to drive" straight out of the box.

Forgot what's becoming the norm: "I'll buy a used FRS that already has $10-15K+ dumped into it.; snatch the mods for pennies on the dollar.

It absolutely is.

But, if you choose to modify, this car has a huge aftermarket and following.

Ls swap? Best of both worlds.

Define mod. Changing a shift knob is a mod but so is an engine swap. If you have certain goals in mind and have researched what the gains, costs and risks will be and are willing to accept the results then knock yourself out. If the risks are not acceptable then stay away.
As I recently said in another thread though DO NOT MOD if worried about warranty. To mod your car and then expect sombody else to repair it if something breaks is the definition of feeling entitled.

And why do half of the poll options include "save for something else"? Was this car a settle for situation since others cost too much? If so then modding isn't an answer since no amount of changes will turn it into a Cayman, Supra or Vette.

Wider rims can be sold whenever you like and lowering springs are not that expensive. An UEL header is not optimal and if you want to change it just for the sound an alternative is to check for an axleback exhaust.


Additionally, think the reason that you need the car. Is it a daily driven car or a weekend fun car or track car? Are you going on twisty roads or just on the autobahn? What are the speed limits in your area? Overall, no car is BETTER just because it is more expensive. It depends the application you need it, unless you need something for show off.

Handling mods are a must IMO, every new car I have ever owned has had the handling mods done from near on day one.

If staying NA and your not racing for sheep stations just get an exhaust so it at least sounds good, but then sound is relative to taste, but nothing really gives you a power to cost increase thats worth the money for a street car IMO.

But, if I was more flippant with my money the car would get the full monty, built engine, turbo running about 350 horse.

A nice responsive light(ish) RWD manual running at around 350 is just about perfect IMO.

Yeah, so do that.........

TL;DR, do what ever you want, it's your money

It is the reason I purchased the car: to mod it.

You won't have as much fun with any Corvette on the street. Enjoy your car, and if you feel like doing some mods, then do it! Just sold my super rare 520+hp C5 for another FRS.

If you bought the car because you couldn't quite stretch for another you wanted more, I'd just keep it stock and save up.

But if you bought it specifically because you wanted a twin, I wouldn't feel bad about spending some money on mods. Just make sure you're changing something you actually want to change, rather than letting the internet build the car.

At the end of the day though, there's nothing wrong with leaving the car stock if you're already happy with it.

Super rare?

True, even a window sticker is a mod. One of the main reasons I bought my FR-S was that it came stock pretty much exactly how I wanted it, wheels, interior,etc. The only mods I've done after 2 years is protective items ( 3M tint, weather tech floor mats, mud flaps, clear bra, 3M protective clear for the door handle and door trim, and Cover King storm-proof car cover).

There most likely will come a time where I may do a RCE spring install, maybe 1-2 other suspension upgrades, but after that I'm done. No engine mods, keep it clean, maintain with the best fluids....and keep Rollin smooth.

I'm hearing that. If I ever make another move toward another sports car, after taking some test drives it would most likely be a '10-12 C2 or C2S, 997.2 era (probably not, but maybe) , or a Cayman S '14-'16 (well optioned to how I would like it) . A GTS or GT4 is going to be $10-35k more money. The dilemma / decision would be to configure which transmission to go with

I'd rather buy a car with 320-350 hp , versus trying to build something up months/years later and dropping lots of coin. Bought, not built is my motto.

You can mod the iSt as well ;)

I have, but I'm done with it. I only did: wheel / tire, suspension ( eibach pro, Tokico adjustable front struts, TRD rear anti-sway bar)....handles 8x better then stock, tint, TRD drop in air filter, stereo system, and that's it. The ultimate would be to drop in the 1.8L vvtl-i celica/ corolla/ matrix engine, with 6spd manual....but i highly doubt ill ever get to that point with the car ( its more of a commuter, reliable, good mpg car). I'll try and post a picture of it here..at some point.

Wow, yeah, that's pretty much all you can do to it short of FI. Can get a DC header (definitely helped out my Yaris).

I have a couple of friends who swapped in the 2ZR in their Yarii, with one using a 6-spd (C60????).

Why? What do you find in the car that needs to be improved? Have you driven it enough to know what the car needs?

I suggest you drive your car for at least 7-8 months before you make a decision on modding it. Specifically because you made this post and you aren't even sure of your own decision :lol: You need more time to decide and research if the modding path you're going down is worth it and if you really need to do it on the car. A C6 is nothing like this car, it doesn't have the connected feel or agility you'd find on this car.

As for what you've selected I can say safely if you're getting a UEL don't get it without a tune of some sort either OFT or EcuTek or the like. Wider rims won't add much and springs sacrifice drivability in some conditions

The EGG. I'll try to get a more recent picture, side profile to share :

Attachment 169595

Nice!

See, as car guys, we're going to want to mod what ever car we have. :D

Sick.[emoji1360]

I can't help myself with cars. I have to mod them. My BRZ isn't extreme but I've done the wheels, springs, sways, strut brace, header, frontpipe, tune. I'm always looking for little improvements too.

My wife's car has aftermarket wheels, exhaust, engine tune, and tranny tune.

Hell I even covered the interior trim of our beater/kid hauler in carbon vinyl cause I hated the wood.

The way I look at it is simple: if you enjoy the car as is that's fine, you don't need to mod it. But I can't help myself tinkering with my cars. I try not to make big changes as to not upset the balance of the car, but all the small changes add up and if done will really make them more enjoyable to drive.

This is my second BRZ. I spent way too much modifying my first BRZ and realized I could've bought something better, so I did. The focus of my second one is to keep it close to the original formula and make small improvements without pushing it into $40k-total-cost territory. I have more fun with a stock-ish BRZ than I ever had with my heavily modified one. This car with more tire and slightly more power is the sweet spot IMO

Poll: to mod or not to mod
 

Sounds like we think alike. What tire and what size are you running? I'm second guessing myself and think I over tired the car a smidge by going with a max summer in 215 width. Maybe I should have gone with an Ultra high summer instead.

Stock size because it's cheapest and Potenza RE-71R because as a Bridgestone employee I get a hefty discount, and they're one of the best max performance tires on the market.

I can say with great confidence that any "mod" that I have ever inflicted upon a vehicle has likely NEVER improved it's reliability.